Regional District Board elects chair and vice-chair

Pemberton, BC – The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) Board of Directors elected the chair and vice-chair for the coming year at the November 19 Board meeting.

Resort Municipality of Whistler Director, Jen Ford, will serve her sixth year as board chair. Electoral Area C Director, Russell Mack, who has served as vice-chair since 2024, returns to the position. Both positions were acclaimed. 

“I am grateful to my colleagues for their trust and confidence,” said Ford. “It is a privilege and an honour to serve as Chair of the Regional District Board, and I do not take the challenge lightly,” she said. “I would like to thank my colleagues at the Board for their continued commitment to collaboration and community.”

The SLRD is governed by an 11-member board of directors consisting of four electoral area directors and seven municipal directors (one director from the District of Lillooet, one director from the Village of Pemberton, two directors from the Resort Municipality of Whistler and three directors from the District of Squamish). 

Regional district board composition and voting strength are determined by the formula set out in section 196(2) of the Local Government Act (LGA). 

While municipal directors are appointed to the SLRD Board by their respective municipal councils, electoral area directors are elected in each electoral area during the General Local Election. The positions of chair and vice-chair are elected annually by the SLRD Board of Directors.

The current SLRD Board of Directors: 

• Sal DeMare, Electoral Area A 
• Vivian Birch-Jones, Electoral Area B
• Russell Mack, Electoral Area C (vice-chair)
• Tony Rainbow, Electoral Area D 
• Laurie Hopfl, District of Lillooet
• Mike Richman, Village of Pemberton
• Jack Crompton, Resort Municipality of Whistler
• Jen Ford, Resort Municipality of Whistler (chair)
• Armand Hurford, District of Squamish
• Chris Pettingill, District of Squamish
• Jenna Stoner, District of Squamish

In addition to serving on the SLRD Board, directors also serve on standing and select committees as well as on external boards, committees and commissions representing a broad range of issues. The full list of these appointments for the coming year will be available on the SLRD website.

“As we look ahead to the coming year, our focus remains clear; to build on the momentum we’ve created and continue to move key projects forward. For all projects within our strategic priority areas, we are united in our purpose to deliver meaningful results for the people we serve,” added Ford. 

“Regional government plays a unique and essential role in shaping the future of our communities. By working together on solutions that benefit everyone, we amplify our voice and our impact.”

SLRD Board meetings are generally held in the SLRD boardroom at 1350 Aster Street in Pemberton on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Meetings can be attended in person, or viewed via livestream or recording. The meeting schedule, location details, agendas and minutes are available on the SLRD website.

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