The Honourable Wendy Cocchia, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, announced the thematic pillars of her mandate and the Chairs of her Honorary Advisory Councils at a reception held at the Vancouver Club in Vancouver.
Continuing a longstanding vice-regal tradition, Her Honour has established key themes that will guide her public mandate throughout her term. Often, these themes are tied to an area of focus about which the Lieutenant Governor is passionate. These pillars reflect her deep commitment to fostering equity, forward-thinking solutions, and inclusive prosperity across British Columbia. The Honourable Wendy Cocchia has identified the three distinct areas of focus for her term, which will serve as guiding principles as she develops programs and initiatives throughout her mandate.
The Lieutenant Governor’s themes are:
- Meaningful Inclusion: Dedicated to building a province where all British Columbians, regardless of ability, background, or identity, are not just present, but genuinely included, respected, heard, and empowered to shape the spaces, decisions, and institutions that affect their lives, and for people to feel seen, valued, and able to contribute fully and authentically.
- Innovation in Health: Focused on advancing new ideas, methods, and technologies that improve the quality, efficiency, and accessibility of health services, and drive meaningful change in how people experience and benefit from care.
- Economic Opportunity: Centred on preparing the province for the future of work, strengthening economic participation, and ensuring people have the tools and training they need to thrive.
“These themes reflect the values and challenges of our time,” said Cocchia. “They are about listening deeply, acting boldly, and bringing people together to shape a future that is more equitable, inclusive, and innovative for everyone all across British Columbia.”
To activate this work, the Lieutenant Governor has convened three Lieutenant Governor’s Honorary Advisory Councils, each led by a prominent British Columbian with subject-matter expertise and a commitment to public service. The councils are the first of their kind, and will begin meeting in early fall to advise on programming, partnerships, and strategic outreach that reflect the Lieutenant Governor’s priorities.
The Chairs of the Lieutenant Governor’s Honorary Advisory Councils are:
Hon. Carla Qualtrough, P.C.
Chair of the Lieutenant Governor’s Meaningful Inclusion Council
Human rights lawyer, disability inclusion expert, former Member of Parliament and federal Cabinet Minister.
Don Mattrick, O.B.C.
Chair of the Lieutenant Governor’s Innovation in Health Council
A pioneer in the digital games industry and technology visionary.
Tamara Vrooman, O.B.C.
Chair of the Lieutenant Governor’s Future Ready Workforce and Economic Opportunity Council
President and CEO of Vancouver International Airport, the Chair of Canadian Airports Council, and serves as the Chancellor of Simon Fraser University; a recognized leader in sustainability and inclusion.
The Lieutenant Governor’s Honorary Advisory Councils will bring together voices from across sectors and diverse regions of the province to explore opportunities and challenges in their respective fields, contributing ideas and insights to inform the Lieutenant Governor’s public engagements, outreach, and community programming.
The Honourable Wendy Cocchia is the 31st Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and assumed office in January 2025. The Lieutenant Governor also shared a preview of several new programs which will be launched later this year: a new collaboration for an LG award with Business in Vancouver; the Brave Paws award celebrating the inspiring contribution of service animals; and a school and library program with an educational story for children and activities to encourage meaningful inclusion. The Mandate in Motion event brought together leaders from civic, cultural, Indigenous, innovation, social enterprise, and business communities whose work reflects the spirit of Her Honour’s pillars. The evening featured remarks from each Chair, Premier David Eby, and provincial party leaders.