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 4.5 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 (2023-2024)
Discover the impact United Way British Columbia had last year because of you.
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Annual Report (2022-2023)
Together, we are strengthening vital connections.
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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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Financial Statements (Year-end March 31, 2023)
Discover how United Way British Columbia puts donor’s money to work with transparency and accountability.
Local giving, local results
Dollars raised locally, stay local. That’s our continued promise to you. Four Regional Councils exist to represent and drive the mission of United Way British Columbia in local communities and regions. Made up of multi-sectoral representatives – including community members and labour – the Regional Councils provide leadership, guidance, and help us identify opportunities for impact in local communities.
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 Officer -
Shaffina Hirji
Chief People & Culture Officer -
Irene Chanin
Chief Experience Officer -
Dan Nielsen
Chief Transformation Officer -
Lori Mayhew
Senior Director, Labour Participation -
Tanjeet Kalsi
Manager, Office of the President & Board Governance
Board of Directors for 2024-2025
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 United Way with a mix of knowledge, insight, and passion.
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Robin Dhir
Board ChairPresident, Twin Brook Developments Ltd.; Senior Strategic Advisor, Fasken
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Nicolas Jimenez
Vice-ChairPresident and CEO,
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. -
Sinéad Scanlon
Secretary-TreasurerPartner,
BDO Canada LLP -
Tracy Antoine
Senior Director Programs and Policies for Indigenous Markets,
RBC Royal Bank -
Jameel Aziz
Superintendent/CEO, Prince George School District No. 57
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Helen Blackburn
Executive Consultant, Coast Capital Savings
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Etienne Bruson
Vice Chair and National Assurance Leader for Canada, Deloitte
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Travis Bryson
Partner, Accounting and Assurance, MNP LLP
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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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Ian Gordon
President,
North Okanagan Labour Council -
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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Lindsay Matthews
Vice President, Public Affairs and Marketing, BC Ferries
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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, Fraser Valley 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
Vice President, Operations,
ICBC -
Kirk Mercer
President, CUPE 951, University of Victoria & Victoria Labour Council
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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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Geoff Payne
President, University of Northern BC
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Simon Pow
Manager, Human Resources – Corporate, Canfor
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Chris Roddan
Manager, Environment and Community Relations (BC), Evolugen
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Christina Sampogna
Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Competition Bureau 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
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Since our inception, United Way British Columbia (“United Way BC”) has been rooted in community and we recognize the critical work required to ensure we continue to evolve as an organization that not only works to serve, but also reflects the diversity of our communities. As such, we have started the process of transformational change by embedding the guiding principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) into our organization and the work we do within community.
Justice. We believe that justice is achieved when systemic, institutional, and historical barriers are removed so that all individuals and communities have equal access and opportunity to thrive in all aspects of life. In conjunction, United Way BC is committed to unravelling and dismantling white supremacy by challenging and re-focusing our current approaches to community engagement, funding, and internal practices.
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. All people deserve absolute dignity, value, and opportunity to participate justly, fairly, and fully in all dimensions of life in order to reach their full potential.
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.
Inclusion. We strive to ensure each community member, donor, volunteer, partner, advocate, and employee has equal access and opportunity to contribute toward creating healthy, caring, vibrant communities.
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 JEDI principles. This is an evolving journey as we learn more and move to align our practices with our stated values.
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.