May 2, 2025 | Territories of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations/Vancouver B.C. – Vancity credit union members have elected Rita Parikh, Kristen Rivers, and Lynn Weaver to the credit union’s Board of Directors. The three successful candidates will join current board members, Vice-Chair Joel DeYoung and directors Bill Chan, Christie Stephenson, Heather O’Hara, Opreet Kang, and Juvarya Veltkamp in the governance of Vancity.
“At Vancity, our members play a direct role in shaping the direction of our organization,” said Joel DeYoung, Vice-Chair of Vancity’s Board of Directors. “I'm grateful to everyone who voted, and I look forward to working with our newly elected directors as we continue advancing our values and building a more equitable, sustainable economy.”
The election took place from April 7 to April 25, with a total of ten candidates and 30,910 valid ballots cast. Each of the elected directors will serve a three-year term.
Here are the full results from Vancity’s 2025 Board of Directors election:
- Rita Parikh: 17,507 votes – Elected
- Kristen Rivers: 16,373 votes – Elected
- Lynn Weaver: 12,890 votes – Elected
- Gil Yaron: 12,251 votes
- Tom Wong: 8,926 votes
- Mark Roseland: 4,114 votes
- Rob Schulz: 3,205 votes
- Seán Riley: 2,486 votes
- Sobhi Zobaidi: 2,336 votes
- Ashley Garib: 2,248 votes
“Thank you to all the members who took the time to vote in this year’s election,” said Opreet Kang, Chair of Vancity’s Nomination and Election Committee. “As a member-centred co-operative, participating in our democratic process is a vital way members shape the future of Vancity.”
The British Columbia Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) mandates a candidate recommendation process for credit unions' board elections to ensure strong governance of large and complex financial institutions. In line with these requirements, Vancity’s Nominations and Election Committee recommended five candidates based on their alignment with the board’s needs and regulatory requirements. The Committee includes four Vancity members at large and two current board directors not standing for re-election.