New Trustees and New Executive Committee

February 4, 2022

VIRL Board of Trustees welcomes four new Trustees and elects Executive Committee at 2022 AGM 

On January 29, 2022, the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) Board of Trustees held its Annual General Meeting and elected its officers and Executive Committee members for the year. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the AGM and elections were again held in a virtual environment. 

Gabriele (Gaby) Wickstrom, Mayor of Port McNeill, was re-elected as Board Chair. Wickstrom served as the Chair in 2021, as Vice Chair for the two previous years, and sat on the Board’s Executive Committee from 2012 – 2014. 

Erin Hemmens, Councillor for the City of Nanaimo, was elected as Vice Chair. Hemmens has been on the Board since 2019 and sat on the Executive Committee in 2019 and 2021. 

“It is an honour to once again take the helm of this dynamic, inspiring, and progressive Board,” says Wickstrom. “2022 promises to be a busy year for Trustees as VIRL moves forward with a new Strategic Plan, takes important steps towards ongoing reconciliation with Indigenous communities, and continues to find innovative ways to deliver world-class library services as we begin to emerge from the shadow of the pandemic. I look forward to the discussions and decisions awaiting the Board.” 

 The following nine members at large were elected to serve on the Executive Committee: 

  • Daniel Arbour (Comox Valley Regional District) 
  • Vickey Brown (Village of Cumberland) 
  • Penny Cote (Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District) 
  • Vanessa Craig (Regional District of Nanaimo) 
  • Colleen Evans (City of Campbell River) 
  • Duncan McMaster (District of Tofino) 
  • Cheryl Northcott (Village of Tahsis) 
  • Evan Putterill (North Coast Regional District) 
  • Fred Robertson (District of Port Hardy) 

Four new Trustees are elected to the Board. They are: 

  • Jonathan Kerr (Town of Comox) 
  • Cheryl Northcott (Village of Tahsis) 
  • Rosalie Sawrie (Municipality of North Cowichan) 
  • Regina Williams (Village of Masset) 

The Board of Trustees, which is comprised of elected representatives from 28 municipalities and 10 regional districts, administers a budget of more than $31 million. 

For more information about the 2022 Board of Trustees, including elected officers and the 2022 meeting schedule, please visit https://virl.bc.ca/about/library-board/. 

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Media Contact
David Carson, Director, Corporate Communications and Strategic Initiatives
Cell: 250.327.3651
Email: dcarson@virl.bc.ca 

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