On February 14, 2023, Vancouver City Council established 15 advisory committees for the current term. These opportunities may be of interest to Vancouver co-op members or friends.

Advisory committees are an essential part of the City’s public engagement work, and consist of volunteers who help to convey community perspectives to Council and staff while advising on City priorities, projects, and initiatives. This is a great opportunity to bring your co-op and lived experiences and advocacy to the City, to learn how City Hall operates, and to meet people with similar interests.

Applications and further information are available at www.vancouver.ca/volunteer. The deadline for applications is March 19, 2023.

Advisory committee meetings typically take place monthly, and members may be eligible for certain expense reimbursements related to attendance. Meetings are usually held in-person at City Hall, with meals provided, and there is often also a virtual attendance option. The City of Vancouver has been working to ensure effectiveness, accessibility, and equity in advisory committees, and to decolonize advisory committee practices wherever possible.

The specific committees with vacancies are as follows:

Type A (advisory to Council)

• 2SLGBTQ+ Advisory Committee
• Arts and Culture Advisory Committee
• Children, Youth, and Families Advisory Committee
• Older Persons and Elders Advisory Committee (formerly Seniors’ Advisory Committee)
• Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee
• Racial and Ethno-Cultural Equity Advisory Committee
• Renters Advisory Committee
• Transportation Advisory Committee
• Urban Indigenous Peoples’ Advisory Committee
• Vancouver Food Policy Council
• Women’s Advisory Committee

Type B (advisory to staff)

• Chinatown Historic Area Planning Committee
• First Shaughnessy Advisory Design Panel
• Gastown Historic Area Planning Committee
• Street Planning Committee (formerly Civic Asset Naming Committee)

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Other Municipalities

For co-op members outside of Vancouver, here are some links to information about advisory committees and boards in other municipalities. Each municipality has a different committee structure and application dates. If your municipality is not listed below, search for *Municipality Name* advisory committee in your search engine of choice.