Board of Directors

  • Hi, my name is Chris Kennedy (he/him). As someone who was raised in a small northern community, I have experienced the rollercoaster of growing up different from those around you. I struggled with body image concerns for most of my adolescent years; I struggled with feeling like I belonged or was genuinely a part of any community; and I shied away from expressing myself honestly, openly, and authentically.

    Fast forward to living in the Lower Mainland for the past 20+ years. I’m open, honest, authentic and transparent; I practice and promote body positivity every day; I celebrate sex positivity; and I’ve found a great community of friends and colleagues to be a part of.

    I look forward to bringing my entrepreneurial, event and project management skills to the Board; while building on VPS’ brand and awareness throughout the Lower Mainland. I’m also honored to advocate on behalf of our community in my roles with pflag Canada’s National Board; InterPride’s Communications Committee; as well as the remaining time in my term as Fierté Canada Pride’s Board Communications Director.

    contact: ckennedy@vancouverpride.ca

  • Hi, I’m Aidan Bancroft (he/they) and I’ve lived on the unceded territories known as Vancouver for 20 years now, but am originally from Ottawa, Ontario. I am a queer, fat, trans human who is also a member of the hearing-impaired community. My educational background is in communications and business. My professional background includes work in community engagement and dialogue, event and volunteer management, and communications. In the Summer I play softball with the Mabel League in East Vancouver, and in the Winter, I help organize a fat swim club. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve my communities through my role with the board, and I look forward to helping the VPS deliver programming that includes, elevates, and inspires.

    contact: abancroft@vancouverpride.ca

  • Hi, I’m Alan (he/him) and I’ve lived in Vancouver for 6 years now. I’ve been a board member with VPS for just over a year. I’m from Ireland originally and since moving to Vancouver I’ve spent my time in the wonderful outdoors of these unceded territories.

    I enjoy keeping active by biking and hiking, and am a member of the queer and inclusive Double Rainbow Dodgeball league. I’m a member of the Vancouver Queer Irish Group and had the pleasure of marching with them in the 2022 Vancouver pride parade. I work in training and development operations for a great company and am a championing member of our Diversity and Inclusiveness committee.

    A personal passion of mine is educating myself and others on body positivity and sex positivity (ask me for book and podcast recommendations and I’ll give you a long list).

    contant: adaly@vancouverpride.ca

  • Dylan (he/him) is an educator and stakeholder engagement specialist with a focus on preventing and addressing sexual violence and discrimination. With over 10 years of experience in equity, diversity, and inclusion, Dylan is committed to building inclusive and safe spaces for all Queer folks, particularly marginalized community members.

    In his current role at UBC's Investigations Office, Dylan works to provide accountability for students, faculty, and staff who have experienced sexual misconduct and human rights-based discrimination. He also brings to the Board his perspective as an equity, diversity, and inclusion coordinator, facilitating successful projects aimed at advancing menstrual equity, Trans-inclusion, multi-faith prayer and spiritual space, and anti-racism education.

    Dylan is eager to bring his passion, commitment to Trans inclusion and anti-racism, and professional experience to the Board of the VPS. He looks forward to working with the organization to create events and activities that align with their values to promote inclusiveness, equity, and safety for all members of the Queer community.

    contact: drobinson@vancouverpride.ca

  • Currently, Leeann (she/her) is an active member of the Tri-Cities Pride Allies committee, where she contributes to the ongoing efforts to advance LGBTQIA+ rights and visibility in the community. Leeann’s journey is a vibrant tapestry woven with diversity, performance, advocacy, and a passion for positive change. As a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community and BIPOC (Filipino) community, she identifies as pansexual, believing in the beauty of love that transcends boundaries. As a neurodivergent individual, she brings a unique perspective to the table that emphasizes the strength found in diversity.

    Professionally, she works for a non-profit agency as a Child Development Consultant where she plays a crucial role in the disability committee. In her role, she advocates for inclusivity, accessibility, and equal opportunities for individuals and families within the disability community. Through this work, she has witnessed firsthand the positive impact that advocacy and support can have on lives.

    contact: ltolentino@vancouverpride.ca

  • Sareeta (she/her) is a settler of South Indian, Hawaiian, Samoan, and Chinese ancestry, born and raised on the stolen territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations otherwise known as Vancouver.

    Growing up in an Indo-Fijian family, Sareeta embraced service and community values but struggled to find her place. She faced bullying in school, not for being obviously queer but for not fitting conventional norms. Grateful to now belong to a community that shares her values of inclusion, reconciliation, anti-oppression, and accessibility, Sareeta joined the Vancouver Pride Society in 2024.

    A natural facilitator and teacher with a background in trauma-informed care, Sareeta is a certified trauma-informed financial coach and workshop facilitator through her business. Proud to be a queer, neurodivergent educational professional, she also serves as the Program Manager for the Trauma-Informed Training Program at Vancouver Humane Society. In her work, Sareeta blends her facilitation, leadership, project management, and event planning skills with her passion for social justice.

    Living with roommates and three cats, she brings diverse personal and professional experiences to Vancouver Pride Society, grateful to contribute to its mission.

    contact: slopez@vancouverpride.ca

  • Mason (he/him) is new to the Vancouver area after moving down from Northern BC in 2023. Although new to the city, he has always had a passion for supporting diversity and inclusion initiatives through both local organizations and as part of his firm. He is proud to be involved in and contribute to this line of work within the Vancouver queer community.

    Currently, Mason is working as a chartered professional accountant with a national Canadian firm. His main focus is working with various indigenous communities and not-for-profit societies across Canada as a trusted advisor. His experience in supporting societies - and community focused organizations - enhance their processes and practices to maximize their growth and success will be an asset to the VPS. He brings 6 years of public accounting experience and a financial oriented perspective to the Board’s decision-making process.

    Mason looks forward to becoming an active member in the 2SLGBTQAI+ community and to supporting positive change for the community of the city he calls home. He hopes to become a key asset in the financial oversight for the society through its planning, activities, and events and to assist with the financial transparency for its members.

    contact: mwong@vancouverpride.ca

Some VPS Board Directors can’t be shared on this page to protect their personal security and privacy.  They come from countries where homosexuality is criminalized by law, and having their information on this page places their lives at risk. 

Feel free to contact office@vancouverpride.ca and we’ll forward your message to these individuals accordingly.

Become a Board Member

🌈 Join Our Team: Become a VPS Board Member! 🌟

Are you passionate about making a positive impact in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community? Do you want to be part of an inspiring team dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusion, and celebration? Then consider joining us as a volunteer Board Member at Vancouver Pride Society (VPS)!

Why Join Us?

Being a Board Member is an incredibly rewarding journey filled with opportunities to connect with diverse and fascinating individuals. It's not just about governance; it's about building friendships, making connections within the local advocacy community, creating change, and having fun along the way.

How It Works:

Board Members are elected during our Annual General Meeting at the beginning of each year, but we also welcome mid-year appointments to fill vacancies. To be eligible, you need to be a VPS member for at least 60 days and complete a nomination application.

Getting Started:

Interested in joining us? Start by reviewing our Board Terms of Reference and VPS Bylaws. Take a look at prior year Financial Statements and our Annual Report to get a sense of our work. We also encourage you to attend a few Board meetings to experience our culture and operations firsthand.

We're Always Open:

At VPS, we accept Board Member applications year-round. The process may take several months, but it's all part of our commitment to building a diverse and skilled board. We value a wide range of expertise, from legal and financial to personnel management and governance skills.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you're ready to embark on this exciting journey with us, simply fill in our Board of Directors Application Form and someone from our Nominations Committee will be in touch to follow up. Otherwise, if you have additional questions, feel free to reach out and we’d love to have a conversation with you.

Join us and be a part of something truly special!

2024 Nominations Committee:

Sareeta Lopez

Leeann Tolentino

Chris Kennedy