About United Way British Columbia
Helping British Columbians tackle critical social issues, through local love.
About Us
Our Vision
A healthy, caring, inclusive community.
Our Mission
We strengthen vital connections that support people in need in our local communities.
United we are stronger: we’re United Way British Columbia!
More than ever before, BC communities need help addressing critical social issues. As a unified provincial organization we have consolidated our resources to respond to urgent needs in real-time in order to drive positive, lasting change in our local communities.
The unified organization serves over 5 million British Columbians, delivering resources and support to the people who need it most. Our areas of focus include Emergency Response, Children & Youth, Seniors, Poverty, Mental Health, and Food Security.
Our Impact
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Annual Report (2024-2025)
Discover how your support is shaping a stronger future for our communities.
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Financial Statements (Year-end March 31, 2025)
Discover how United Way British Columbia puts donor’s money to work with transparency and accountability.
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Annual Report (2023-2024)
Discover the impact United Way British Columbia had last year because of you.
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Financial Statements (Year-end March 31, 2024)
Discover how United Way British Columbia puts donor’s money to work with transparency and accountability.
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Annual Report (2022-2023)
Together, we are strengthening vital connections.
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Financial Statements (Year-end March 31, 2023)
Discover how United Way British Columbia puts donor’s money to work with transparency and accountability.
Senior Leadership
United Way British Columbia Senior Leadership oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization and manages ongoing relationships with United Way stakeholders, including donors, investors, sponsors, volunteers, and employees.
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Michael McKnight
President & CEO -
Kim Winchell
Chief Program & Impact Officer -
Ben Keizer
Chief Financial & Technology Officer -
Shaffina Hirji
Chief People & Culture Officer -
Patrick Brophy
Chief Engagement Officer -
Sarah Bollozos
Chief Development Officer -
Lori Mayhew
Senior Director, Labour Participation -
Tanjeet Kalsi
Manager, Office of the President & Board Governance
Board of Directors for 2025-2026
Our Board of Directors is a group of dedicated leaders, both in their professions and in our community.
Their goal: to strengthen vital connections across communities to support those in need and to inspire
action. They volunteer their time to help govern the United Way with a mix of knowledge, insight, and
passion.
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Nicolas Jimenez
Board ChairPresident and CEO,
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. -
Etienne Bruson
Vice-ChairCommunity Leader
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Travis Bryson
Secretary-TreasurerPartner, Accounting and Assurance, MNP LLP
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Robin Dhir
Past ChairPresident, Twin Brook Developments Ltd.
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Helen Blackburn
Executive Consultant, Coast Capital Savings
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Chris Calder
Chief Administrative Officer, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George
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Monika Dean
President, CUPE 402, Surrey City Workers
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Deborah George
Community Leader
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Sally Ginter
Chief Administrative Officer, Regional District of Central Okanagan
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Ian Gordon
Union Activist
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Deborah Hopper
Vice President,
Nanaimo Duncan & District Labour Council -
Orion Irvine
Regional Director,
Canadian Labour Congress -
Lisa Kershaw
Managing Partner, Board Director, Boyden Canada
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Stuart Leatherdale
General Manager, People & Protective Services, City of Kelowna
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Lindsay Matthews
Vice President, Public Affairs and Marketing, British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
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Kirk Mercer
President, CUPE 951, University of Victoria; President, Victoria Labour Council; Regional Vice President, Vancouver Island, CUPE BC
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Jennifer Robins
Executive Director,
Launch Financial Services Society
United Way British Columbia is grateful for the Board’s dedication and commitment to improving our community. To contact any members of the United Way British Columbia Board of Directors please contact Tanjeet Kalsi at 604.268.1341 or tanjeetk@uwbc.ca.
Working together to strengthen our community
United Way British Columbia’s Campaign Cabinet consists of over 40 executive leaders from a variety of industries and sectors across BC.
By providing their extensive experience, expertise and knowledge to help us strategize and attain our goals – both financially and socially – the Campaign Cabinet is crucial to the success of the annual fundraising campaign.
Every year, this hugely talented and influential group generously gives their time to help us raise millions of dollars to strengthen vital connections to help those in need in the communities we call home.
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Paul Dangerfield
Campaign Cabinet ChairPresident, Capilano University (Retired)
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James Kitamura
Campaign Cabinet Vice-ChairRegional President, Personal Banking – BC & Yukon Region, BMO Bank of Montreal
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Armin Amrolia
Deputy City Manager, City of Vancouver
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Julie Armour
Senior Vice President – Pacific Region, TD Canada Trust
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Scott Baker
Vice President, Product Development & Technology Officer, Cespira
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Tim Bennett
City Councilor, City of Prince George
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Adam Blanchard
Vice President, Business Banking, BMO
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Anna Brace
Superintendent, Community Relations, Teck – Highland Valley
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Andrea Cadogan
Vice President, People, FortisBC
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Lisa Campardo
Regional Vice President, Vancouver Westside Market, RBC Royal Bank
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James Clarke
Chief Financial Officer, Seaspan
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Lesley Cormack
Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of British Columbia – Okanagan
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Bob Dhaliwal
Secretary Treasurer, ILWU Canada
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Lisa Dooling
Director, People & Community, Neptune Terminals
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Ryan Douglas
President, Klohn Crippen Berger
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Feras Elkhalil
President, IT | IQ Tech Recruiters
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Glen Farrow
Manager, Civic Ops, City of Kamloops
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Kate Furber
Vice Chair and Managing Partner, BC Region, PwC
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Michelle Furlong
Operations Manager, Westcoast Pipeline, Enbridge
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Stephen Gardner
Regional Vice President, Personal Banking, BMO
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Stephen Gaskin
Regional Vice President, BC Yukon, Scotiabank
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Mark Goldberg
Chief Information Officer, BCLC
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Kevin Gray
Partner, Deloitte
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Karen Hamberg
Partner, Financial Advisory, Deloitte
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Raj Khunkhun
Vice-President, Strategic Partnerships, Community Savings Credit Union
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Kara Kingston
Chief Public Affairs Officer, BC Hydro
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Steven Lee
North America Business Development Leader, Cummins
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Jason McDaniel
Interim President & CEO, ICBC
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Kirk Mercer
President, CUPE 951, University of Victoria; President, Victoria Labour Council; Regional Vice President, Vancouver Island, CUPE BC
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Rob Munro
Organizing & Membership Development, Unit 4 Assistant Business Manager, IBEW 258
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Jeff Murphy
Vice President & District Manager, PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc.
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Ray Noonan
District Vice President, North BC & Yukon, Scotiabank
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Ted Ockenden
Retired, BCLC/ICBC
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Simon Pow
HR Business Partner, Canfor
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Chris Roddan
Manager, Environment and Community Relations (BC), Evolugen
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Christina Sampogna
Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Public Service and Procurement Canada
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John Sandrelli
Managing Partner, Dentons
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Nawal Tandon
CEO and Founder, Drishti Magazine
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Martin Thibodeau
Regional President, BC, RBC Royal Bank
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Lane Trotter
President, Camosun College
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Yusuf Varachia
Vice-President, External Relations and Community Engagement, Langara College
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Arin Veerapen
Principal, Boyden
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Jill Yates
Partner, McCarthy Tétrault
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
DEIB stands for “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging”—four key principles that organizations and institutions focus on to foster more inclusive and supportive communities. Here’s a closer look at what each one means:
- Diversity – We believe that each individual and/or group of individuals bring a unique perspective, lived experience, and identity. We celebrate the differences that contribute to United Way BC’s collective impact.
- Equity – We welcome all people — regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, identity, postal code, health and ability status, or any other consideration. More than that, we believe that all people deserve absolute dignity, value, and the opportunity to participate justly, fairly, and fully in all dimensions of life in order to reach their full potential.
- Inclusion – We strive to ensure each community member, donor, volunteer, partner, advocate, and employee has equal access and opportunity to experience and create safe, inclusive, caring, and vibrant communities, teams and departments.
- Belonging – At UWBC, our objective is to create spaces where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to show up as their authentic selves. Through meaningful connections and shared purpose, we foster a sense of community where all can contribute and thrive.
Together, DEIB principles work toward creating environments where individuals, no matter their background, can thrive, feel valued, and have equal opportunities to succeed.
What does this mean for United Way British Columbia?
This means we are committed to actively ensuring that the work we do, and how we do it, recognizes the right of all peoples to be unique, to consider themselves different, and to be respected as such.
What is our commitment?
Our vision is a healthy, caring, inclusive community and we are therefore committed to continual growth, action, and accountability.
Where are we in the process?
While we are in the early stages of this process, we hope to achieve a clear path forward in embodying these DEIB principles. This is an evolving journey as we learn more and move to align our practices with our stated values.
The Donor Bill of Rights
At United Way British Columbia, we deeply value the trust our donors place in us. Your generosity fuels positive change in communities across our province, and we are committed to stewarding your support with the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and respect.
To reflect this commitment, United Way BC upholds the Donor Bill of Rights, developed by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and leading philanthropic organizations worldwide. This framework affirms your rights as a donor – ensuring you can give with confidence, knowing your contributions are used ethically and responsibly to create lasting impact.
We recognize the communities in which we work
At United Way BC, we dedicate ourselves to fostering understanding, respect, and an acknowledgment of the rich histories of the lands and waterways we traverse. Our mission guides us across vast and diverse territories, each with its unique tapestry of languages, governance systems, traditions, and cultural heritage. The relationship with these lands and waterways has been stewarded by Indigenous communities since time immemorial, long before the establishment of contemporary boundaries, and we humbly recognize that many of these territories remain unceded.
We also acknowledge that the following list of Nations is a work in progress, a testament to our ongoing process of improving our learning and understanding. Our commitment is to honor the cultural distinctiveness of each community as we continue to pursue improved and lasting partnerships built on the foundations of respect, humility, and open dialogue.