I began volunteering with the BCRSP in 2013 as an internal auditor. In 2017 I became Chair of the Internal Audit Committee and a Governor of the BCRSP. In 2019 I was selected to be the Secretary-Treasurer. I continued my volunteering journey to become the Vice Chair of the board in 2020. And subsequently the Chair from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2023.
All of these volunteer positions within the BCRSP presented multiple opportunities to connect with and learn from representatives from many sectors across Canada where I promote the value of the safety profession. There is no replacement for the valuable experience and personal growth that I experienced during my journey with the BCRSP.
When I moved into the BCRSP Governing Board Chair role in July 2021 I had some ideas of what I hoped we could achieve but based on the previous year I did not have a clear idea of where we were headed. The worst of the pandemic was just winding down and the path to recovery was not clear at that point.
Now, with two years to reflect on, the BCRSP’s accomplishments, through the tireless work of our dedicated volunteers, management company and the Board of Governors, fills me with pride.
BCRSP engaged with interested parties old and new to work towards a better and safer future for all. We continued our work with CSSE, INSHPO (attending our first in-person meeting since 2019 in Barcelona, Spain in October 2022) and Threads for Life to name a few. We also forged new partnerships with the Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists (CRBOH) and the Canadian Association for Black Health and Safety Professionals (CABHSP). I am very excited we were able to lay the foundation for future collaboration with these organizations.
Another exciting development in 2022 was the return to in-person conferences, trade shows and BCRSP committee meetings. We were able to adapt and meet the challenges of the pandemic while still serving our certificants, but nothing beats face to face interactions at trade shows and conferences or committee members being able to meet in person. BCRSP had a presence at many trade shows and conferences including the Manitoba Health and Safety Conference, the Atlantic Workplace Health and Safety Conference and the Western Conference on Safety. It was great to get out there and connect one on one with CRSPs, CRSTs and applicants alike.
It was also exciting to see the in-person return of the BCRSP National Education Symposium (NES) and the CRST Examination Blueprint review, earlier this year.
Another big accomplishment during the past two years was in March 2022 when the Governing Board completed and approved the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan. The strategic plan was refreshed, and we created a companion document that succinctly groups our priorities and goals into easy to read and interpret segments.
And finally, during my term as Chair I am very proud of the fact the BCRSP Governing Board set up an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Task Force. This task force created a framework for the BCRSP to develop initiatives to support new and existing partners in the inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility spaces. I am excited to work with this amazing group of people who bring a wealth of knowledge and passion for IDEA.
Some of the many things the IDEA Task Force has completed include; added territorial acknowledgement to the BCRSP website, commenced a review of documents and policies from an IDEA lens, joined the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) as a non-aboriginal supporter member, and posting of regular social media posts highlighting different IDEA related topics or events and more. The Board approved the extension of the task force through to June 2024 at the recent board meeting. I look forward to seeing what this task force accomplishes in the future.
I would like to thank all the Governors, volunteers and staff that have supported me during my time on the Board of Governors. It gives me great satisfaction to look back on all that we have accomplished together over the past two years, and I look forward to seeing what is in store for BCRSP for the future.
For me, it is never about the destination, it is always about the journey.
As Past Chair for the next two years I will Chair the Nominations Committee that has a mandate from the Governing Board to create a slate of Governors for presentation at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) annually. Further communication will be forthcoming this fall so be on the lookout for opportunities to engage with the leaders of your BCRSP.
To complement my journey, I am also now the BCRSP representative, and the Secretary of INSHPO. I hope to continue to see you at future safety events where we can share and celebrate the world of safety.
There is nothing more humbling than to receive recognition from your peers. I was privileged to be chosen by my peers as TOP WOMAN IN SAFETY for two consecutive years.