viaSport BC announces changes to its Board of Directors

Oct 07, 2024

VANCOUVER, B.C. — viaSport British Columbia is announcing changes to its Board of Directors. After serving a three-year term, Rick Ramsbottom passes the Board Chair position to long-time Board member Geoffrey Wong and remains as Past Chair. Erica McGuinness continues in her role as Treasurer, and as the Finance and Audit Committee Chair. The Governance Committee Chair is now Sarah Harper. Kacey Dalzell steps into the board Vice Chair role. Erin Embley is the newest member of the Board of Directors as Jessica Burton leaves the board after a six-year term.

Erin has a strong record of leading successful corporate, strategic and operational plans and complex projects in land use, municipal, service and capital planning. She has strong experience in corporate, strategic and operational planning as a Regional Planner with Metro Vancouver, an Environmental Planning Instructor at Langara College and most recently as Manager Strategic Initiatives with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. Erin also has a deep understanding of the importance of good governance, clear processes and effective decision‐making. Erin is pleased to contribute to viaSport’s board to support safe, inclusive and equitable access to sport for all.

“As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen governance and diversity, Erin’s appointment brings a deep understanding of the importance of good governance, clear processes and effective decision‐making,” said Charlene Krepiakevich, CEO, viaSport. “We know that representation matters in sport and in all sectors, in order to promote full and equitable access to sport opportunities for all.”

viaSport BC’s board is comprised of Geoff Wong, Kacey Dalzell, Rick Ramsbottom, Erica McGuinness, Sarah Harper, Jon Festinger, Dr. Brad Baker (Tsnomot), Elaine Sanders, Eron Main, Erin Embley and Sam Punzo.

“I would like to thank Rick Ramsbottom for his incredible support and commitment to viaSport over the past six years. I would like to extend further thanks to Jessica Burton for her service to the Board,” said Geoffrey Wong, viaSport Board Chair. “Welcome to Erin Embley. Together with my fellow directors, I’m looking forward to working with viaSport to make sport better.”

viaSport continues to welcome expressions of interest to join its Board of Directors. In addition to a passion to help all British Columbians develop and realize their potential through sport, viaSport is eager to further enhance its regional representation bringing new perspectives from across the province, as well as skills, expertise and lived experience.

viaSport British Columbia is a not-for-profit organization created in 2011 as a legacy of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. With the support of the provincial government, viaSport leads the governance, promotion and development of amateur sport in British Columbia to build a stronger, more effective system that brings more families to the field of play, more fans into the stands, more athletes to the podium, and more sporting events to the province. viaSport directors are volunteers and nominated for up to three terms with a maximum of three years per term.

For more information about the viaSport Board of Directors, visit the Board page or contact the viaSport Board at board@viasport.ca.