About Us

Since our beginning in 2010, the Vancouver Division has grown to become a leader and facilitator of primary care, working to create an engaged physician community and a collaborative healthcare system in Vancouver. We are a not-for-profit society funded by the Government of BC and Doctors of BC, and work in partnership with the BC Ministry of Health, Vancouver Coastal Health, Providence Health Care, and other community organizations.

For the past 10 years, the Vancouver Division has grown and developed to lead, adapt and respond to the needs of our community and healthcare system. As a member driven organization our mandate has remained the same, to support and advocate for family physicians.

Our Mission

Vancouver Division will improve the primary care system in Vancouver for the benefit of our patients and members alike.

Our Goal

Building off the rich and diverse ways that family doctors provide primary care, the overarching goal of the Vancouver Division is to support our physician members and advocate that they get the necessary tools to look after their patients. We strive to ensure that family doctors remain central to system change in this community.

As the largest provincial division, membership of more than 1,200 family doctors represents 90% of the practicing family doctors in Vancouver and 18% of physicians in the province.

Click here to read our 2021 Strategic Priorities

Click here to read our 2019/20 Annual Report

Land Acknowledgement

The Vancouver Division of Family Practice and our membership and partners acknowledge that the work we do occurs on the traditional and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Nations of Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish. We are very pleased that these host Nations who each operate their own primary care centers, are our valued partners.

The Musqueam (pronounced Mus-kwee-um) traditional territory includes what is now Vancouver and surrounding areas. Today, parts of Musqueam’s traditional territory are called: Vancouver, North Vancouver, South Vancouver, Burrard Inlet, New Westminster, Burnaby, and Richmond.7  The name xwm θkw y’ m (Musqueam) means “People of the River Grass.” Today, the Musqueam have three reserves in Metro Vancouver. This is a very small portion of their traditional territory.

Tsleil-Waututh (pronounced Slay-wah-tuth) people’s traditional territory reaches from the Fraser River in the south to Mamquam Lake in the north. Their oral history and archaeological evidence shows that they have lived in the lands and waters of their traditional territory surrounding the Burrard Inlet for thousands of years. Tsleil-Waututh means People of the Inlet. They are sometimes called the “Children of the Takaya” or “Children of the Wolf”.

The Squamish Nation (pronounced Skwa-mish) traditional territory covers present day Metro Vancouver, Gibson’s Landing and the Squamish River watershed. The Squamish Nation has occupied and governed their territory since beyond recorded history. The Squamish People’s traditional language is Skwxwú7mesh Snichim. The Skwxwú7mesh Snichim, although in danger of being lost, is still an important part of the Squamish culture. The Squamish Nation has 24 reserves, and four of these are in Metro Vancouver and others extend up the coast.

The three Nations have signed agreements honoring their shared territory and their role as host Nations in Metro Vancouver.

“Musqueam Traditional Territory” Musqueam First Nation

Tsleil-Waututh Nation

“Our Culture” Squamish Nation