Introduction
The Division Board includes seven (7) FP Member Director positions and one (1) Resident Member Director position. Each year, approximately half of the FP Member Director positions and the one (1) Resident Member Director position come up for election – details related to open Board seats will be shared in early August. With the implementation of Primary Care Networks (PCNs), board members also serve as PCN Steering Committee Conveners. Find information about our current board of directors here. The role description of a board of directors can be found here.
Vacancies for Election in 2025
- This year there are six (6) board of director positions open for election – five (5) FP Member Director positions and one (1) Resident Member Director position.
Board Nominations – UPDATE as of Sep 29, 2025: The nominations period for the 2025 Board Elections closed on Monday, September 8, 2025 at 11:59:59 PM PT. For this year’s Board of Directors' elections, there were more open spots for elections than nominations received. When this occurs, a membership vote is not necessary, and the nominees will be acclaimed at the Division AGM on Oct. 16, 2025.
Choosing Between Board Participation Versus Project Participation
In compliance with the BC Societies Act, if a member is elected to the board of directors of the Vancouver Division, they are ineligible to engage and be remunerated for any activities at the day-to-day operations and programming level of the Division. This means a member must choose between being a board member OR participating in committees, working groups, programs or projects. A member cannot be remunerated for both.
Are there any exceptions? Yes, there is one exception, which is for members interested in serving on the board who are also officially a part of the Vancouver Division’s Long-Term Care Initiative program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nomination Period: Monday, August 18th, 2025 at 12:00:00 am PT to Monday, September 8th, 2025 at 11:59:59 pm PT. You can find the nominations form here.
Voting Period: Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 12:00:00 am PT – Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 11:59:59 pm PT.
Voting Period: Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 12:00:00 am PT – Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 11:59:59 pm PT.
Candidates must be a general member in good standing with the Division and the College of Family Physicians to be on the Board of Directors.
Actively Practicing and Resident members are eligible for election to the board and to participate in the membership vote. Retired members, as associate members, are unfortunately not eligible to participate.
Actively Practicing and Resident members are eligible for election to the board and to participate in the membership vote. Retired members, as associate members, are unfortunately not eligible to participate.
Board Composition: The board is comprised of 8 members – seven (7) FP Member Directors and one (1) Resident Member Director physician.
Positions Up for Election: For this year’s election, there are six (6) board of director positions open for election – five (5) FP Member Director positions and one (1) Resident Member Director position.
Please note: All applications received will undergo an initial review by the Vancouver Division’s Nominations Committee.
Positions Up for Election: For this year’s election, there are six (6) board of director positions open for election – five (5) FP Member Director positions and one (1) Resident Member Director position.
Please note: All applications received will undergo an initial review by the Vancouver Division’s Nominations Committee.
Yes, we have created a short role description that explains the role of the board. Click here to read it. If you are considering a board position, we have also compiled some key points for you to consider.
FP Member Directors (FPs who are actively practicing) play an additional convener role with a PCN Steering Committee. Resident Member Director do participate and share their perspective in PCN Steering Committee meetings, but their leadership role is more focused on activating Resident member programming and serving as an ambassador, building connections and bridges between the Resident community and the broad Division membership. Please see the role description for more details.
The role is designed with a doctor’s busy schedule in mind. It is part-time and all time is compensated based on the Joint Collaborative Committee (JCC) rate. Meetings are usually held in the evening (virtually or in person) and around a doctor’s typical busy work day. All activities are supported by staff and preparation for meetings is minimal.
There are typically 4 Division Board meetings a year. In addition to Board meetings, a full-day (6 hour) strategic planning session takes place in January on a Saturday and the AGM is held in October. Board Meetings are held at the Division office (6-8pm on the 2nd Wednesday), with approximately 2 hours of prep time to read and consider meeting material. The AGM is usually 3 hours long and takes place on a Thursday evening in October.
There are also approximately 8 PCN steering committee meetings between Board meetings. Each meeting is 1- 2 hours in length depending on need/focus. All meetings may be held virtually or in-person.
There are typically 4 Division Board meetings a year. In addition to Board meetings, a full-day (6 hour) strategic planning session takes place in January on a Saturday and the AGM is held in October. Board Meetings are held at the Division office (6-8pm on the 2nd Wednesday), with approximately 2 hours of prep time to read and consider meeting material. The AGM is usually 3 hours long and takes place on a Thursday evening in October.
There are also approximately 8 PCN steering committee meetings between Board meetings. Each meeting is 1- 2 hours in length depending on need/focus. All meetings may be held virtually or in-person.
The Division Board supports member’s interests and the PCN Steering Committees represent the primary care interests in that specific geographical area (there are six PCNs in Vancouver). To ensure both governance interfaces are in harmony and support one another, when elected you are automatically a member on both of these governance bodies. Specific training is provided for both roles.
The Vancouver Division is a typical non-profit governance board. Its mandate is to serve its membership of Vancouver-based family doctors through various programs and services within the geographical boundaries of Vancouver.
As a Division Board member, you are automatically appointed as a Convener for one of six PCN Steering Committees in Vancouver. The PCN Steering Committee provides strategic leadership for primary care within a specific subregional geographical area in Vancouver (there are six PCNs in Vancouver). The PCN Steering Committees are consensus-based and work as a team to support effective delivery of primary care in each PCN.
Both bodies provides strategic leadership and direction by establishing policies, making governance decisions, monitoring progress in key areas, and providing fiscal oversight.
The Board/ Steering Committee (neither as a whole nor as individual Board Members) is not involved in the day-to-day operations of the Division or the PCN Steering Committee.
As a Division Board member, you are automatically appointed as a Convener for one of six PCN Steering Committees in Vancouver. The PCN Steering Committee provides strategic leadership for primary care within a specific subregional geographical area in Vancouver (there are six PCNs in Vancouver). The PCN Steering Committees are consensus-based and work as a team to support effective delivery of primary care in each PCN.
Both bodies provides strategic leadership and direction by establishing policies, making governance decisions, monitoring progress in key areas, and providing fiscal oversight.
The Board/ Steering Committee (neither as a whole nor as individual Board Members) is not involved in the day-to-day operations of the Division or the PCN Steering Committee.
While past leadership work can be an asset, previous governance experience is not necessary. A willingness to learn about governance (and its distinction from management) along with the ability to think strategically and work collaboratively as part of a team are all that is required. If elected, orientation and training are provided to new Directors for the different roles.
In accordance with the BC Societies Act, the Division constitution and bylaws (when updated in 2016) provide clear policies and procedures that govern the role of a board member.
How is governance leadership defined in the current bylaws and constitution?
As described in the BC Societies Act there must be a separation between the people who provide leadership for the overall governance of the organization and the people who provide leadership by actively engaging in the work of the Division at the committee or program level.
What does that mean if you are considering being on the Board of Directors?
If a member is elected to the board of directors of the Vancouver Division, they are ineligible to engage and be remunerated for any activities at the day-to-day operations and programming level of the Division. Meaning a member must choose between being a board member OR participating in committees, working group, programs or projects. A member cannot be remunerated for both.
For a detailed chart on the difference, please click here.
Are there any exceptions?
There is one exception, which is for members interested in serving on the board who are also officially a part of the Vancouver Division’s Long-Term Care Initiative program.
How is governance leadership defined in the current bylaws and constitution?
As described in the BC Societies Act there must be a separation between the people who provide leadership for the overall governance of the organization and the people who provide leadership by actively engaging in the work of the Division at the committee or program level.
What does that mean if you are considering being on the Board of Directors?
If a member is elected to the board of directors of the Vancouver Division, they are ineligible to engage and be remunerated for any activities at the day-to-day operations and programming level of the Division. Meaning a member must choose between being a board member OR participating in committees, working group, programs or projects. A member cannot be remunerated for both.
For a detailed chart on the difference, please click here.
Are there any exceptions?
There is one exception, which is for members interested in serving on the board who are also officially a part of the Vancouver Division’s Long-Term Care Initiative program.
Find the nominations form here. Please note: The nominations form is open for receiving submissions, even before the nominations window is officially open.
Voting for both the board elections and bylaw changes will take place through an electronic voting process facilitated by www.simplyvoting.com. Members eligible to vote will be sent an email on September 25 with a unique link to access their online ballot. Members will be required to cast votes for the full number of vacancies on the board. The voting period is between Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 12:00am PT and Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 11:59pm PT. Election results will be announced and ratified at the Annual General Meeting, taking place on the evening of Thursday, October 16, 2025.
As noted above, due to changes in the Societies Act in 2016, Board Members are not allowed to be paid, or regularly participate in, committee, project or operational work beyond their role as Board representative, with the exception of the Long-Term Care Initiative. In accordance with the Act, fewer than 50% of the Division’s Board Members can participate in that Initiative.
Directors receive an annual payment to sit on the Board, designed to cover the time spent working as a Director, over a 12 month period.
Staff are always willing to support Directors to learn and evolve in the role of leaders within a governance organization. They are a great resource and are happy to answer any questions. Feel free to reach out to membership@vancouverdivision.com or call 604-569-2010.
Directors receive an annual payment to sit on the Board, designed to cover the time spent working as a Director, over a 12 month period.
Staff are always willing to support Directors to learn and evolve in the role of leaders within a governance organization. They are a great resource and are happy to answer any questions. Feel free to reach out to membership@vancouverdivision.com or call 604-569-2010.