Am Johal brings the governance discipline and institutional experience required to steward a complex financial cooperative like Vancity. Through his leadership at SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement and his service on multiple non-profit and foundation boards, he has demonstrated fiscal oversight, strategic planning, and accountability at scale. His backgroud in economic development, public policy advising, and cooperative community finance reflects both the technical acumen and values alignment members expect. I am confident Am will bring rigorous judgment, collaborative leadership, and long-term vision to the Vancity Board of Directors.

Khelsilem

I am pleased to offer my strong support for Am Johal.

For many years, Am has been a deeply committed contributor to community life in Vancouver and across British Columbia. His work consistently bridges grassroots organizing, public policy, and institutional governance in a way that strengthens the social fabric of our region. He brings both principled leadership and practical experience to every role he takes on.

Am has significant governance experience, including serving as Director of SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement and Co-director of SFU’s Community-Engaged Research Initiative, Chair of the Board of Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) and as Vice Chair of Greenpeace Canada. In these roles, he has demonstrated thoughtful stewardship, financial oversight, and a strong commitment to mission-driven organizations. He understands how to balance fiduciary responsibility with bold, values-based leadership.

He is a clear and consistent voice on climate action and financial inclusion. Am recognizes that financial institutions have a critical role to play in accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy while ensuring that underserved communities have meaningful access to capital. He has long advocated for progressive banking models that prioritize community benefit, democratic accountability, and long-term sustainability over short-term returns.

Importantly, Am understands that institutions like Vancity must be regional leaders in tackling housing affordability and advancing equitable economic development. He brings the vision and experience necessary to ensure that Vancity remains a driving force in building resilient communities across the Lower Mainland and beyond.

Am Johal’s integrity, experience, and unwavering commitment to social and economic justice make him exceptionally well qualified for leadership in this space. I offer my full endorsement.

Sean Orr,
Vancouver City Councillor

Am Johal has spent decades showing up for communities that need it most, as an activist, organizer and author. That kind of grounded, grassroots perspective is exactly what Vancity’s board needs. Am understands that a credit union’s strength comes from its members and the communities it serves, and he’ll make sure that never gets lost in the boardroom.

Glen Clark,
former Premier of BC, former BC Minister of Finance

Am Johal has a long record of supporting community economic development in BC. His extensive governance experience, including being Chair of VIFF, past Co-Chair of the Vancity Community Foundation and as a past member of the Vancouver City Planning Commission will be vitally important in stewarding Vancity. He has embodied through his community work the values that Vancity members hold dear.

Joy McPhail,
former Minister of Finance, Province of BC

Like Vancity itself, Am Johal is a Vancouver treasure. Am’s remarkable career and civic contribution span so many of the different sectors that make up our unique and vibrant city: he has left an indelible mark on Vancouver’s culture, politics, artistic and intellectual life and grassroots community. The hallmark of all of Am’s work is connection – he stands at the intersection of Vancouver’s many worlds, listening and reflecting, welcoming and connecting. Am would be a sparkling addition to Vancity’s board.

Avi Lewis,
UBC Associate Professor of Geography

In a time of social and economic upheaval, we need strong, experienced leadership at Vancity Credit Union. We need values driven leadership so Vancity can truly be ‘The People’s Bank’ it aspires to be. Am Johal will roll up his sleeves and get to work.

Glen Coulthard,
UBC Associate Professor, Director of the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies and author of ‘Red Skin, White Masks: Rejecting the Colonial Politics of Recognition.’

It’s my honour to endorse Am Johal for the Vancity Credit Union Board. At 221A – a Vancouver based cultural research and space-making organization that supports artists and community initiatives through affordable housing, infrastructure and public programming. Am was Chair of the Board, providing steady leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and through a significant period of growth, helping expand access to resources for communities most impacted by structural inequities. 

He is a trusted voice with decades of experience connecting community impact with strong governance, and he understands how to build partnerships that make institutions more responsive and accountable. Am is thoughtful, grounded, and deeply embedded in community, and he would be a strong asset to Vancity and its members.

Brian McBay,
Executive Director and Co-founder, 221A

I’ve known Am Johal for 28 years, which is only one year less than I’ve been a Vancity member. In all that time, I’ve known Am to be deeply committed to the core values that Vancity stands for: cooperation and collaboration; culture and community; democracy, diversity, and equity. He has my enthusiastic support and will make a fantastic addition to the Vancity board.

Charlie Demers,
Vancouver author & comedian, Vancity member

Am Johal has had long connection to Vancity Credit Union, including taking part in their program on Coooperatives at the University of Bologna in 2007. His decade and a half at SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement shows his commitment to working with inner-city communities and supporting social enterprise and financial inclusion. With Am as a board member, we can ensure Vancity is living up to its progressive ideals. In this tough economic environment, we need strong leadership on the board.

Ujjal Dosanjh,
Former BC Premier and Former Federal Minister of Health

Am’s vocation is serving people. 

It is more than a job. It’s his life. 

He lives his life in a disciplined and distinguished way. 

He pays attention. He cares about what people have to say. He excels at working with them to amplify and achieve their goals. 

This most difficult and democratic way of representing people ensures Am never loses touch with the people he represents. He is inexhaustible in ensuring their best interests remain front and centre and never compromised. That means he does his homework and is always being prepared. Equally he respects the institutions he is part of. He boosts. He doesn’t tear down.

I am a fifty year member of Vancity Credit Union.  We will be in good hands with Am Johal on board.

I’ve followed his careers for decades. I’ve worked with him. I admire him. 

He knows how money works. He knows how politics works. He knows how culture works.

And he knows how to get all of them to work for the best interest of Vancity’s members.

Am is a gift to the future well being of our remarkable institution.

Al Etmanski,
Community organizer, writer, disability advocate, City of Vancouver’s City of Merit award and City of Surrey’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient

I met Am Johal when I was taking an anthropology class at UBC with Michael Ames and Jim Green about the Downtown Eastside over 25 years ago. I later was on the Board of the Indian Summer Festival while he was Chair and he was outstanding in his role. I have no doubt that he would make an excellent contribution to the Board of Vancity given his relationships with diverse stakeholders and inclusive, values-driven approach to governance and solutions.

Jasmeet Wahid,
lawyer

Am Johal is a brilliant candidate for the Vancity Credit Union Board and has my enthusiastic support. His deep curiosity about how the world works, dedication to community building, and strong track record as an advocate of a more cooperative, inclusive and sustainable alternative to our extractive and unequal status quo make a vote for Am Johal a no brainer.

Astra Taylor,
author, filmmaker former CBC Massey Lecturer and co-founder of the Debt Collective

I’ve worked with Am for many years. He understands the complex nature of challenges we face everyday, and is a dedicated partner to any project he takes on. It’s my joy to call him a friend and colleague, and I know that I can trust his expertise and thoughtfulness in seeking a more just and sustainable community.

Landon Hoyt,
Community Developer

Am Johal is a community node. He serves as a nexus of people, resources and values, shaping constituent parts into a whole that enriches those around him. He’s an innovator and a deep thinker. He is values driven and makes our community better. It is clear to me that any organization, institution or community would be served by having him as a member and a steward.

Khari Wendell McLelland

Am Johal is an outstanding and rare individual who is committed to radical reciprocity and building sustainable relationships. I chose to bank with Vancity because they stand for a transformed economy that protects the earth while focusing on equity for all. Am shares in those commitments and doesn’t just talk the talk. He walks the walk. His transparent community ties and his intellectual acumen would be a wonderful complement to VanCity’s priorities. I can’t imagine anyone better on their board. 

Minelle Mahtani,
Chair, Canadian Studies
Associate Professor, UBC 

Am Johal is a community influencer who has a long record of inclusive community economic development and climate leadership. As Chair of VIFF, Vice Chair of Greenpeace Canada and former Co-Chair of the Vancity Community Foundation, he has the governance experience to take Vancity to the next level and be responsive to member needs in tumultuous economy. I fully support his candidacy.

Melanie Mark,
former MLA, Vancouver-Mt.Pleasant

I have known Am Johal for more than three decades. He brings extensive experience and knowledge in advancing innovative ideas to practical application for the betterment of communities in and out of government. Always striving for inclusion, equality and fairness, his engagement in every capacity is rooted in the fundamental belief that the foundation for success is premised on a strong social solidarity economy. With his background in international economic relations and community-engaged research and policy, he would be an excellent addition to the Vancity Board.

Jenny Kwan,
MP, Vancouver-East

Am Johal is a strong supporter of walkable neighbourhoods and thriving small businesses. If he is elected to the board of Vancity, he will ensure the credit union is responsive to the emerging needs of members including small businesses that are the backbone of the regional economy.

Gabriel Yiu,
Co-owner, Angela and Gabriel’s Flowers Inc.

Am Johal’s understanding of public finance, governance, and cooperative values makes him exceptionally well suited to serve on the Board of Vancity Credit Union at a time of extreme economic and technological changes underway. Am has consistently demonstrated an ability to bridge diverse perspectives while staying grounded in equity, accountability, and long-term sustainability. With a background in entrepreneurial management, I’m confident he would make a meaningful contribution to Vancity’s continued leadership in values-based banking.

Katrine Conroy,
former Minister of Finance, Province of BC

My name is Tret Jordan. I am a small business owner, chef, and father living and working in Vancouver and am a proud member of Vancity. Over many years in our community, I have had the pleasure of knowing Am Johal, and I wholeheartedly endorse him for the Vancity Board. Am has demonstrated a deep commitment to community values, collaborative leadership, and supporting local priorities that matter to people and businesses across Vancouver. I am confident that his perspective, integrity, and vision will be a strong asset to Vancity’s board and its members.

Tret Jordan,
Chef and Small Business Owner

With his support for artists, non-for-profit organizations, Am Johal has been playing an instrumental role in the arts and culture communities in Vancouver. Am’s invested in equity and diversity–based work , showing ongoing support and care through his contributions to the Indian Summer Festival and his collaboration with BIPOC-led Festival such as the MENA Film Festival (of which I’m a co-founder). In his role as Director of SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, he has empowered me and many artists, giving them a voice that amplifies pertinent social and political issue and raises awareness about both art and social justice. Am has become a trusted and esteemed member in the arts and academia whose pertinent work is affecting many people.

Ghinwa Yassine,
Co-Founder, MENA Film Festival and Artist

Am Johal has spent years working alongside communities, listening carefully to their needs and translating that insight into thoughtful, effective action. His administrative strengths and unwavering commitment to social justice align closely with the cooperative principles that guide Vancity, making him a compelling candidate for the board of directors.

Andrew Petter,
former SFU President and former BC Minister of Finance

Vancity is among the country’s best credit unions. I met Am Johal through Bob Williams when they were working on the redevelopment of 312 Main Street. I think Am would make a great contribution to Vancity because he understands not only the history but the values that underpin its impact in the community. As we are presently in troubled economic times, Am’s calm and rational approach to governance, entrepreneurial thinking and fresh eyes as a potential new board member will be of immense benefit to Vancity and its members.

Tonya Surman,
Centre for Social Innovation

Am is a proven leader and advocate for the arts, serving as Chair of VIFF, working with Indian Summer, and formerly Chairing 221A. He brings deep governance expertise and a strong commitment to community engagement, demonstrated through his work with diverse communities at SFU’s School for Contemporary Arts. Am provides principled leadership on climate action as Vice Chair of Greenpeace Canada and will be a responsive and accountable advocate for credit union members.

Esther Rausenberg,
Artistic Director, Eastside Arts Society

Am’s experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors, his generosity and his talent make him ideally suited to serving all of us on the Vancity Board. Like Vancity, Am builds community and makes everyone around him better. I am proud to support and vote for Am Johal.

Adrian Dix,
MLA, Vancouver-Kingsway

Am Johal is a true community builder—someone who brings people together, deepens our understanding of complex issues like climate change, and never loses sight of the humanity at the heart of it all. Their commitment to positive change and support for the social economy is inspiring to everyone around them.

Lyndsay Poaps,
Environmental Advocate

In our community engagement work together at SFU, in the development and launching of 312 Main, and in our advisory work with Solid State Community Industries, Am Johal has been exceedingly good company during all the dynamics of doing the hard work of culture building and transformation. 

Am listens well, thinks brilliantly, and speaks clearly. 

He is a team player adept at taking the next right step from any position, effectively and collaboratively.  

Am’s character is consistent and exceedingly capable of adapting to crisis and opportunity. I would trust him with people, money and the values that take care of both of them. 

I will vote for Am Johal to join the Vancity Board of Directors for so many reasons. 

Vanessa Richards

Am Johal is a superb candidate for the Vancity Board of Directors due to his profound alignment with Vancity values and decades of stellar community-based accomplishments. He has been particularly impactful in economic development portfolios, cultural programming, advocating for sustainability policies around climate change issues, and fostering healthy relationships between academia and off-campus stakeholders. He is simply unparalleled in his ability to engage with every sector from corporate to non-profit, government to activists, and would be a major asset for Vancity’s board.

Mark L. Winston, FRSC,
Professor Emeritus and Senior Fellow, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue

I am writing to offer my strong support for Am Johal as a candidate for the Board of Vancouver City Savings credit union.

I have known Am for well over 15 years and have had the opportunity to observe his work closely. Throughout that time, he has demonstrated integrity, sound judgement and a deep commitment to the well-being of the community. As a long standing community activist, Am consistently approaches issues thoughtfully and with a clear focus on what will best serve the broader interest.

In my experience, Am listens carefully, weighs competing considerations responsibly, and acts with fairness and transparency. These are precisely the qualities required of a board member of a financial institution, where governance, accountability and community trust are paramount.

I am confident that Am would bring diligence, independence of minds, and a principled approach to the Board of Vancity Savings credit union. I encourage you to support his candidacy.

Harinder Mahil,
Secretary, Dr. Hari Sharma Foundation

As a business owner who banks with Vancity, And as somebody who has known Am Johal for nearly two decades, I can speak with absolute certainty and with great endorsement  as to Am’s qualifications and experience for the board position at Vancity. 

Am is a tireless community advocate, with a clear ethical framework that centers transparency, good governance, clear communication, and equity.

Am deeply understands how the social, economic, and political issues of our times impact us at a range of scales, from the household to the neighbourhood to the city to the region and beyond. This deep understanding is one of his many gifts and crucial for the board of Vancity, especially in these times. 

Jessica Hallenbeck, PhD, RPP
Producer, Lantern Films

I’ve had the privilege for knowing Am for years – as a leader, collaborator, community builder and friend. He is an insightful, passionate and values-driven advocate who has worked across sectors and communities to bring people together. A committed progressive, yes – but with a unique capacity to listen and hear opposing perspectives. He leads not only with conviction, but with care. Every institution Am has been involved with is better for his participation. Vancity will be no different.

Caitlin Jones,
arts leader

As a Vancity member for almost 50 years, I think Am would be a great Vancity Board member who would work to invest profits in the community and support social housing.

Jean Swanson,
community activist

I had the chance to work closely with Am Johal over several years while I was Executive Director of Binners Project, and our paths crossed often within the same community. We collaborated on many occasions, and he was consistently involved, present and a strong advocate for our work. He actively helped us spread the word and supported our growth as an organisation.

Am is a thoughtful and responsive leader who genuinely listens to community needs and acts on them. His support has always felt sincere and values driven, particularly in advancing innovative entrepreneurship within social enterprises. I believe Am brings a broad and grounded perspective. He is a genuine, caring person whose influence and commitment make a meaningful difference.

Anna Laurence Godefroy,
former Executive Director of the Binner’s Project

Am knows how organizations should be governed and exemplifies this in his leadership roles with The Vancouver International Film Festival and other successful community-leading and forward-thinking organizations.

I served on the board of Indian Summer Festival when Am was chair: he was strategic and tactical, thoughtful, and attentive to both the governance demands on directors and also attuned to each one’s strengths and competencies.

Am Johal is a celebrated author, activist and civic leader; he is also sensitive to the balance and sensitivities of board and senior management relationships that lead to successful organizations.

James Wright,
Retired General Director, Vancouver Opera

Am has been a champion for organizations in the DTES for decades, and as the Director of SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, was a voice for change in the community. I’ve personally had the pleasure of working with Am for years and can speak at length to the empathic and measured approach that Am takes in all of the work he does. Am would be an excellent addition to the Vancity Credit Union board, and I wholeheartedly endorse him for this role.

Sean Miles

Vancity is lucky that Am is running for the board. I’ve had the pleasure of working and collaborating with him for years, and have witnessed first-hand his deep care for community and his true commitment to positive social change – the values that make Vancity stand out. Paired with his intellectual depth and charm, he would be a stellar board member, and steward of Vancity’s mission.

Jorge Amigo

As a long time Vancity member, I’m thrilled to support Am Johal to guide our credit union into the future. Am is a skilled and experienced board member and I know he’ll be an excellent addition to the board

Dr. Meaghan Thumath,
UBC Nursing Professor and Entrepreneur

Am Johal is a leader who lives the values he espouses through his work. He is equally loved and respected within institutions that he contributes to, and community members he walks with every day that he meets on the street. He brings decades of governance experience and values that align with an important community institution like Vancity. He will be deeply responsive to the needs of members and is a great listener.

Kari Grain, PhD,
author of Critical Hope

Community gathers around Am Johal. He is an ethical, respectful and engaged leader who brings decades of experience as an organizational leader in the arts and post-secondary sectors. He understands the urgent priorities shaping community needs and will work to shape a pragmatic and action oriented vision that supports the future of our region and province.

Dr. Stuart Poyntz,
SFU School of Communication and Director of SFU’s Community Engaged Research Initiative

I believe Am Johal’s multifaceted history of action and his ability to successfully collaborate make him an ideal candidate for the Vancity board. I worked with Am, as part of the BC government’s Social Alternative Unit and Vancouver Agreement. Since then I have witnessed his work in fighting for a better society including the creation of the Centre for Social and Economic Innovation at 312 Main Street, supporting a BC wide strategy for co-operatives, advocating for marginalized people, facilitating cultural events and hosting international thinkers through his Below the Radar podcast and in-person public events. I believe his ability to understand local everyday lives together with the international context will be of real benefit to the Vancity board.

Fay Weller

Am Johal is a rare bridge-builder who combines deep community trust with serious governance chops. He puts community first, without losing the plot on strategy, accountability and results. He brings credible governance experience from leadership roles at VIFF, Greenpeace Canada and the Vancity Community Foundation.

Mark Busse

Am Johal is a passionate leader who builds and supports communities; he is concerned with creating possibilities for cultural, intellectual, social and environmental progress. He conducts himself with integrity, intelligence and joy.

Hilda Fernandez,
Psychoanalyst

Across senior public-facing roles in community, culture, and the environment, behind-the-scenes work as a community organizer, and as producer and host of countless artistic, intellectual, and cultural initiatives, Am Johal works with tireless integrity to put the tenets of community-building and social justice into action. He commits wholeheartedly to the organizations he represents, and he has shown time and again how working with organizations and institutions can benefit local communities. We owe much of Vancouver’s cultural and community vitality to the sustained work of Am Johal. His cultural and community leadership, experience with various forms and levels of organizational governance, and people-oriented approach to his professional and community endeavours make him an ideal candidate for Vancity’s Board of Directors.

Dr. Erin Silver,
Associate Professor, Art History, The University of British Columbia  

I’m pleased to endorse Am Johal for the Vancity Board. 

For me as a long-term member, Vancity’s directors must combine strong governance discipline with a deep respect for member voice and accountability. Am brings exactly that.

Am has substantial governance and leadership experience, including serving as Chair of VIFF, Vice-Chair of Greenpeace Canada, and former Co-Chair of the Vancity Community Foundation. But just as importantly, Am is committed to being responsive to members. He has a long history of community engagement and brings a calm, constructive presence to difficult conversations—an essential quality for a board that must balance financial stewardship with cooperative values and community impact.

On a personal level, Am is a genuinely kind person and an exceptionally intelligent one. He leads with integrity, humility, and respect, and he consistently ‘shows up’ authentically. With this I believe he would be an outstanding director who strengthens Vancity’s governance and helps ensure the credit union remains true to its cooperative mission—guided by its members, transparent in its decisions, and accountable in its outcomes.

I recommend Am Johal without reservation.

Tracey Anderson,
Co-operative and Community Builder

Am Johal is an established organizer, scholar, and teacher with an unwavering commitment to social justice. He is exceptionally skilled at grasping what matters most to communities, and what works to bring them together. He has deep experience of what it means to work within and between institutions, as well as an impressive knowledge of municipal, provincial and national politics. He also regularly collaborates with colleagues and groups engaged in the arts, culture and education., locally and around the world. Am brings a profound intelligence and kindness to everything he does. I cannot imagine a stronger, more qualified candidate for a Vancity board position.

Roxanne Panchasi,
Associate Professor, Department of History

With stellar experience and affiliations across BC, the wise, considerate and always curious Am Johal will bring a precious lens to the Vancity Board – one focused on the interests and intersection of social, economic, and environmental change. For the better. For the better of everyone. As a 15 year member of Vancity, I am delighted to endorse Am for the Vancity Credit Union Board of Directors.

Amy Nugent,
Urbanarium Executive Director 

Am is a remarkable community organizer whose work brings people together with vision, integrity, and care. The insights he brings to his work result in powerful calls for collective action, grounded in deep responsibility to people and the planet. Am combines strategic clarity with creativity, inspiring others to imagine—and actively build—more just and vibrant futures.

Lyana Patrick,
Associate Professor, Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar, SFU Faculty of Health Sciences

One could hardly encounter anyone whose name and work is synonymous with community engagement across the City of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland like the indefatigable Am Johal. Am’s imprint and impact on community building traverses every single landmark initiative that has enriched and diversified our city, from climate organizations and social enterprises to social financial inclusion. His extraordinary leadership and stewardship at the SFU Vancity Office of Community Engagement was truly transformative through bringing a vast array of stakeholders and embodying Vancity’s community values in an exemplary fashion. Through his education in entrepreneurial management and substantial governance and board experience–including Co-chairing the Vancity Community Foundation, Chairing the Vancouver International Film Festival, Vice-Chairing of Greenpeace Canada, and the Indian Summer Festival (to name just a few)–Am has set the bar extremely high for strategic planning in Vancouver. During these dire financial times, I have unreserved confidence and trust that Am will provide sound strategic planning and grounded community-based counsel that is suited for our difficult financial times.

Adel Iskandar,
Associate Professor, SFU School of Communication

Am Johal actively supports a breadth of Vancouver’s non-profit organizations, arts festivals and centres, and small businesses. He sits on boards, volunteers, fundraises, patronizes, and connects people with the resources they need to thrive. Am truly believes in the cultural, social and economic prosperity of Vancouver. As a Vancity Board Member, Am Johal will champion small businesses, entrepreneurs and cultural innovators.

Amy Kazymerchyk,
Pale Fire Art Projects

I wholeheartedly endorse Am Johal in his run for the VanCity Board of Directors. I have been consistently impressed by Am’s strong support for progressive action on climate change in his capacity as Vice Chair for Greenpeace Canada; his advocacy for affordable housing in Vancouver, and his capacity to show others how these issues are interconnected. His superb communication skills, depth of knowledge and active engagement with movements for a strong sustainable economy make him an ideal candidate for the Board.

Brenna Bhandar,
Professor, UBC Allard School of Law

Am Johal has been a steadfast presence in our community for decades, bringing leadership, expertise, and a collaborative approach to all the important work he does. From advocacy to the arts, he has championed initiatives that strengthen the Downtown Eastside, support diverse cultural communities, and drive meaningful social change. His commitment to connecting people, research, ideas, and resources makes him an invaluable advocate for the community and a natural choice for leadership at Vancity Credit Union.

Hope Hart,
Community Impact Real Estate Society Community Economic Development Manager and DTES Coordinated Community Response Network Lead

Am is one of the most deeply committed communitarians in Vancouver.  His dedication has always expressed itself with thoughtfulness and creativity, over hard decades of selfless action.  His generosity of spirit and effective administration of programs in the public interest perfectly embody the values asserted by Vancity.  For members who still believe in the social objectives of a community-based credit union, Am is the board representative we deserve. 

Mark Jacobs

I strongly support Am Johal’s candidacy for the VanCity Board. Am’s experience at the Vancity Community Foundadtion Board, with SFU’S VanCity Office of Community Engagement and past work with a variety of non-profit organizations will be an asset to the Vancity Board. Am brings his vast network of relationships built over many years, the fruit of his organizational skills and advocacy for vulnerable communities. 

Joe Barrett

I’m thrilled to endorse Am for a board position at VanCity. I’ve known Am for many years and have always been inspired by his love and commitment to those around him – as shown through his incredible work with SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, bridging the often wide chasm between higher education and the needs of our most vulnerable residents. If there is anyone who’d make a principled, compassionate, and deeply thoughtful board member of Vancity, ensuring that the needs of the organization is perpetually rooted in community -Am would be the one.

Cara Ng

Am Johal’s record of supporting community in Vancouver, especially through effective non-profit governance work, make him uniquely qualified to serve as a Director at Vancity.

Whether its his service as chair of the Greater Vancouver International Film Festival Society or years of leadership at the Vancity Office of Community Engagement, Am has always been there for the great variety of people that make up our city and province. I’ve seen it myself when I’ve worked with Am in the past.

I’m glad to be able to endorse him. If elected, I’m confident he will collaborate with Board colleagues to act in the best interest of all Vancity members.

Blair Redlin

Over the almost thirty years I’ve known Am, he has brought diverse communities together and taken on important leadership roles across the cultural and nonprofit sectors. Those qualities would make him an excellent addition to the Vancity Board.

Vancity has always been about strengthening our communities by pooling our resources and working together. Am’s work shows a deep empathy and understanding of how to support underserved communities, and as a long-time Vancity member I’m excited about the prospect of him helping Vancity continue this vital part of its mission.

Duncan Cavens,
Councillor, Township of Esquimalt

Am and I met when we joined a group of concerned students called Action Now! at the University of British Columbia over 30 years ago at the Alma Mater Society. Am’s integrity, resourcefulness, and camaraderie bring positive energy to all that he does. He is a natural community-builder and Vancity would benefit from his commitment to cooperation.

Namiko Kunimoto,
Art Historian

Am Johal has been a tireless community liaison and organizer for several decades. As such, he is respected throughout the region as a friend and mentor to countless people whose projects  he has helped foster and seen through to completion. He has certainly done so for me on a number of occasions over the years. As a dynamic community-forifying force, Vancity (and, by extension, the entire province) would benefit tremendously from having Am on its Board.

Dan Adleman

It is my pleasure to strongly endorse Am Johal’s candidacy for Vancity’s Board of Directors. Over the many years I have known Am, I have been consistently impressed by his deep and genuine care for people, his integrity in leadership, and his exceptional ability to build and strengthen community. Am has an established record of advocacy for social, environmental, and economic justice, paired with a collaborative approach that reflects the values and principles of cooperative governance. He is the right person to help guide a member-owned, values-driven financial cooperative such as Vancity.

Baharak Yousefi

If elected, Am Johal will work night and day to represent the members of Vancity at the board level. He has my support.

Bill Duvall,
Vancity member and lawyer

I have known Am for over 20 years through my work in the arts community. Am understands the vital role the arts play in building communities that are responsive to every citizen. He is a creative thinker who is dedicated to change making. His super power is his ability to action big ideas for maximum impact. 

Heather Redfern,
Arts Advocate

Am Johal is a leader in our community. In the decade I have known him, he has been a mentor and champion for artists and community workers, creating opportunities to learn and grow within the city. From his work with VIFF, Vancouver Office of Community Engagement, The School for the Contemporary Arts at SFU, and artist run centres across Vancouver, and well as an active member with the NDP, Johal demonstrates an enviable and diverse set of skills and qualification across politics and the arts. I know him to be responsive and collaborative as a colleague and mentor — someone who leads with knowledge, kindness, creativity, style, and curiosity. Few people love this city and contribute more to the success of its communities. I welcome any chance I have to work with him and know he will be a benefit to any organization he participates in. 

Yani Kong

Am Johal is a remarkable neighbour and community-oriented leader who generates a positive impact throughout Strathcona and elsewhere; we are fortunate to witness his snappy wardrobe and his commitment to others’ well-being. Am’s work at SFU and beyond demonstrates both vision and integrity. His deep involvement across departments and organizations shows a rare ability to build meaningful bridges between academia, the arts, and community-based initiatives. As a writer and leader, he brings a thoughtful, justice-focused perspective to some of the most pressing issues today. I wholeheartedly support Am for any position that values strategic thinking, teamwork, and genuine public engagement.

Kelly Lycan,
Visual Artist and Educator

Am Johal has already made a huge difference to the quality of life in Vancouver. Through his community development work in the downtown core, leadership roles at the Vancouver International Film Festival and the Indian Summer Festival, as a widely recognized writer and broadcaster, and an engaged expert on fair and inclusive social policy, Am Johal has the qualifications. As a Vancity Board Member, he will support sound business decisions that make life better for everyone. Am is for real.

Hank Bull,
artist

As a Vancity member and a next door neighbour of Am Johal I would be really happy to see him elected to the Vancity board. His public service in a variety of positions is a matter of record but what is more important is the way he conducts himself in community situations. He listens carefully and speaks when his thoughts are collected and coherent. He seems to operate without bias or ego, projecting an ethos of fairness and care for human rights. He has an active sense of humour and fun. All this with his extensive community experience; in my opinion the Vancity board could not do better. 

Liz Magor,
Strathcona resident 

I’m happy to endorse Am Johal for the Vancity  Board of Directors. I’ve known Am for over 20 years and have observed with great respect his involvement and leadership on Boards such as VIFF and Greenpeace and his community building in his role at the SFU Vancity office of Community Engagement. Am would be a great addition to the Board of Vancity. 

Linda Mix,
Vancouver 

I am writing this letter offering my full support and endorsement of Am Johal to serve on your board. I have had the pleasure of serving on the board of directors alongside Am with the Vancouver International Film Festival for the last few years. 

I have found him to be very professional, highly intelligent, flexible and a great leader as our Chair for VIFF. 

He will make a fantastic asset to your board and I know will make a vital contribution to advancing your goals.

If you have any questions,  please feel free to reach out anytime.

Tina House

Am would definitely be an asset as a valued member of the Vancity Board of Directors. His understanding of cooperatives and time spent on Vancity Community Foundation gives him a strong understanding of the culture and character of our credit union. Am easily discerns strategic directions and would add an innovative voice. I would heartily endorse Am Johal for a director of Vancity.

Gene Blishen

Am has been a fantastic connector in the Vancouver arts and culture scene. VIFF, a significant festival that brings together meaningful stories, has allowed me to witness Am’s impact as a board member. As an artist myself, Am has introduced me to crucial conversations, particularly on his show “Below The Radar,” which focuses on engaging discussions with individuals who strive to effect social change.

Vanessa Nostbakken,
musician

Am is a true champion of people and planet — his seasoned track record demonstrates that he is laser-focussed on building vibrant communities and institutions that serve the 99%. In a time of unbridled corporate greed and government austerity, I believe Am will be an unrelenting force for good, keeping climate and economic justice at the forefront as he stewards Vancity’s mandate. As a lifelong Vancity member, it is a real honour to endorse such a principled, passionate leader for its Board of Directors.

Emily Lowan,
BC Green Party Leader

I’ve known and worked with Am for over 20 years. He is an inspiring friend and collaborator who has a unique ability to find new  and innovative solutions to societal challenges. He also cultivates and nurtures one of the most extensive diversity of sectors, interests and backgrounds. Am would be an excellent audition to the board of Vancity.

Matt Smith,
Former Chief of Staff to the Premier of BC

I’m thrilled to support Am Johal for the Vancity Board of Governors. I know Am to be a pillar of the community, with relationships across the spectrum of community members. As a climate justice advocate, I have shared many spaces with Am and have witnessed his deep understanding of the climate crisis and its connections to other issues. As a Vancity member, I believe that he would bring a strong and clear voice for equity, justice and inclusivity to the organization.

Anjali Appadurai

From working alongside him on political and community organizing campaigns to his leadership at SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, I’ve seen Am build a career grounded in community, equity, and bringing people together across differences. He leads with both thoughtfulness and action. Vancity would benefit from his steady, values-driven approach and deep commitment to the communities it serves.

Rachel Marcuse

I am writing to wholeheartedly endorse Am Johal for election to the Board of Directors of Vancity without reservation. I have known and admired Am for over twenty years. During this time he has demonstrated his deep integrity and commitment to the empowerment of the diverse communities he has served whether it be his students, residents of the Downtown Eastside, or the numerous arts and cultural groups he has led. Am is a brilliant leader, he is visionary, trustworthy, open, and friendly.

kathy slade,
artist 

With an extensive record of community engagement and a strong commitment to sustainable economic development, Am Johal would be an ideal addition to Vancity’s board.  Am has been Chair of the Vancity Community Foundation and is Executive Artistic Director of the Indian Summer Festival, among many other roles.  My interactions with him, in his role as Director of SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, have been fulfilling and productive.  He is a generous leader, effective communicator, and strong ally of community groups of all sorts.  He makes connections, fosters innovation, and is always available to help shape a better city and world.

Eugene McCann,
SFU Professor of Geography

I have known Am for 30 years and strongly recommend him. He has a proven track record. His strong governance experience has been demonstrated as Chair of the Vancouver International Film Festival, Vice Chair of Greenpeace Canada, and as former Co-Chair of Vancity Community Foundation. He has a 15 year record of inclusive community engagement at SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement. He was involved in the redevelopment of 312 Main Street into a community hub. Finally, he travelled to the University of Bologna on Vancity’s cooperative education program.

Tim Louis,
Former City Councillor, Former Board Chair of Vancity Credit Union and Former Board Chair, Vancity Community Foundation

I wholeheartedly endorse Am Johal for election to the Board of Directors of Vancity. I have worked closely with Am for more than a decade and have witnessed firsthand his deep commitment to community engagement and to the art and culture sectors in Vancouver and beyond. He is an exceptional leader, an accomplished administrator, writer and educator, with meaningful connections across diverse communities. His extensive governance experience includes serving as Chair of VIFF, Vice Chair of Greenpeace Canada and former Co-Chair of the Vancity Community Foundation. He is also the recipient of two Heritage Vancouver Awards.

Elspeth Pratt,
former Director, Associate Professor, SFU School for Contemporary Arts

I have worked in Vancouver’s community health system for many years, including with Vancouver Coastal Health and previously with Insite. I have also served on the board of REACH Community Health Centre. Throughout my career, I have been committed to strengthening public health responses that are grounded in evidence, compassion, and community partnership.

Over many years, I have known and worked alongside Am Johal in Vancouver’s civic and social sector landscape. Am brings intellectual rigor, principled leadership, and a deep respect for community-based institutions. He understands how complex systems – whether financial, health, or social – must remain accountable to the people they serve.

In my experience working at the intersection of public health and community services, I have seen how critical it is to have leaders who can bridge policy, practice and lived experience. Am has consistently demonstrated that ability. He listens carefully, things strategically, and approaches governance with integrity and care.

I am pleased to endorse Am Johal for the Vancity Board. I believe he would bring thoughtful, steady leadership and a strong commitment to members and community.

Jeff West

I am a retired community arts and education programmer and program manager, and a proud Vancity member. Since first volunteering there in 1992, I devoted more than three decades to the Carnegie Learning Centre and the Carnegie Community Centre serving Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. 

Carnegie has long been known as the “Living Room” of the Downtown Eastside – a place of gathering , creativity, learning, and mutual support. Over the years, I worked alongside residents to build accessible, low-barrier programs in art and education, and to create opportunities for people to express themselves, connect with one another, and participate fully in community life. That experience taught me that institutions matter most when they remain accountable to the people they serve. 

I have known Am for many year and have seen his steady commitment to equity, democratic engagement, and community leadership. He brings integrity, intellectual depth, and a genuine respect for grassroots voices. In a time when public trust in institutions is fragile, we need leaders who carefully, think broadly and act with principle.

For these reason, I am pleased to endorse Am Johal for the Vancity Board. I believe he would serve members with thoughtfulness, courage and a strong send of responsibility to community. 

Rika Uto,
Vancity member, Retired Arts and Education Programmer and Manager, Carnegie Community Centre

In my work advancing community-owned housing and strengthening neighbourhood resilience, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with Am Johal for many years. I am pleased to offer my wholehearted endorsement of his candidacy for the Vancity board. 

Am brings a rare combination of principled leadership, strategic thinking and deep community connection. His longstanding commitment to social justice, inclusive economic development and democratic governance aligns closely with the values that have defined Vancity’s role in our region. He understands both the structural challenges facing our communities and the importance of building practical, values-driven solutions.

I am confident Am’s integrity, thoughtfulness and collaborative approach would make him a strong and constructive contributor to Vancity’s board and its members.

Andy Bond,
Executive Director, Community Land Trust, Vancouver

Am Johal has a deep history of community organizing in Vancouver. From his co-founding of the Humanities 101 program at UBC in the late 90’s to a decade and a half at SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, he has always worked tgo connect communities with liberation. There is no one better suited to guiding Vancity Credit Union and being a voice for economic justice.

Clint Burnham,
SFU Professor of English

Am lives credit union values. I’ve watched him stand up for the kind of communities I want to live in. He is tireless, compassionate and smart. He will work hard for all of us. 

Adrienne Smith,
Vancity member since 1982

Am is a tireless community advocate and has a long history of supporting DTES residents, nonprofits and businesses. I have personally and professionally banked at Vancity for over a decade and I believe Am can bring a grassroots approach to a bank that is community driven. 

Sarah Blyth,
Executive Director / Founder, Overdose Prevention Society

Am is grounded in strong ethics and values. He cares deeply about BC and the diverse neighbourhoods and people that make up our region. He embodies the community-mindedness that is important to many Vancity members. I believe he would serve in this role with his characteristic enthusiasm, thoughtfulness, and integrity.

Jenny Malcolm

Through the last decade Am Johal has shown himself to be an inspiring community member and leader, championing equity, access, justice and representation. From the ethics of social housing to the necessity and joy of culture, Am Johal has thoughtfully guided debates, united communities, and made a real difference to the diverse lives of people in Vancouver. At this moment when credit unions are changing, I fully trust Johal to be an inspiring and productive Board member for VanCity and all of its members.  

Jeff Derksen,
SFU Professor of English, Vancity member since 1985

Am has long been a mainstay in community spaces across Vancouver. He has served on boards, convened difficult and necessary conversations, and worked as a cultural producer bringing people together across sectors. He understands governance, but he also understands relationships — how trust is built and how institutions can show up responsibly in community.

Vancity has supported several community-based projects I’ve been involved in. I’ve seen how important it is to have a financial institution that truly invests in local initiatives and shared well-being.

I believe he would bring grounded, thoughtful, values-driven leadership to the Vancity board, and I’m proud to endorse him.

Tara Mahoney,
Research and Engagement Manager, SFU Community Engaged Research Initiative and Principal, Creative Publics

I can’t think of a more perfect candidate for the Vancity Board than Am Johal. Am’s deep roots in local communities, his rich history of collaboration with a striking range of scholarly, political, and arts projects, and his longstanding commitment to a remarkable number of progressive local efforts would be absolutely invaluable to Vancity. Credit unions must empower the communities that need it most, and Am has worked with and is deeply respected by the many communities Vancity aims to lift up. If you don’t usually vote in Vancity Board elections then please make a change this year and vote for Am. If you only vote for one new Board member this election, then vote for Am Johal.

Enda Brophy,
Professor, SFU School of Communication, Associate, Labour Studies

I am recommending Am Johal to the Vancity Board of Directors.

Vancity has been my first and only bank: from the 80’s in Delta/Surrey, then from the 90’s to the present day in Chinatown. 

Am and I have worked alongside and helped each other with projects since the late 90s in our shared Downtown Eastside neighbourhood. Over the years, I’ve watched Am bring new and substantial resources to our neighbourhood through 312 Main, Woodwards, SFU and UBC. He is a trusted community member and would be a great representative of our community on Vancity’s board.     

Wendy Pedersen,
Downtown Eastside Organizer, Long-term Vancity member

Am’s extensive community experience, proven leadership, and background on boards of public institutions makes him an ideal candidate for Vancity’s Board of Directors. I know he will bring the forward-looking approach, dedication to good governance, and commitment to cooperative values that we need in these challenging times. 

Stephen von Sychowski,
President, Vancouver and District Labour Council

I have known Am since 1999 and have with him on numerous boards and committees in the past 27 years. Am has consistently demonstrated his knowledge, leadership and commitment to all his work and would be an excellent asset to the Vancity board. 

Rob O’Dea,
Non-profit Housing Developer

Am has worked tirelessly for decades to build up community infrastructure in the arts, social services, and education. He knows how to convene people with purpose, to better understand the contemporary conditions of climate change, social inequity, and political instability, and to scope out concrete possibilities for positive social change. From non-profit boards to 312 Main Centre for Social and Economic Innovation, Am has been a critical actor in the pursuit of programs and infrastructure that make our lives better. The Vancity membership will be well served by someone as committed to community building as Am Johal. 

Julia Aoki,
Community Research Manager and former Executive Director of Megaphone Magazine

Am Johal is an exceptional community leader and a passionate champion of thoughtful, well-managed projects that strengthen social infrastructure and build meaningful connections across diverse communities.

I had the privilege of working with Am for several years on the 312 Main project, Vancouver’s Centre for Social and Economic Innovation, where he served on the management committee oversight board. In that role, he provided outstanding strategic direction and governance. His approach was both empowering to staff and attentive to the needs, vision, and accountability requirements of project partners.

Am has a remarkable ability to grasp the nuanced details of complex initiatives while maintaining a clear big-picture perspective. He understands how to navigate and build relationships across diverse political landscapes, consistently delivering tangible, meaningful results.

Thomas Bevan,
co-founder 312 Main Project

I am keen to express my strong support for Am Johal as a candidate for the Vancity Board of Directors. As a Vancity member, I cannot think of a person I would rather endorse. Am has a deep commitment to progressive change which is matched by his remarkable interpersonal skills. In the ten years that I have known him I am continually impressed at how he is able to understand what really matters to people and approaches challenges with empathy and advocacy. Am possesses a fundamental understanding of Vancity’s values and would be a tremendous addition to the Board. 

Laura Sworn,
legal counsel for the Health Sciences Association of BC

Am has a clear and inspiring commitment to ensuring that human rights, justice and equality prevail in our communities, our country, and our world. That passion and determination would be a tremendous contribution to the work of the Vancity Credit Union Board of Directors.

Alex Neve,
Order of Canada, Former Secretary-General of Amnesty International Canada, 2025 CBC Massey Lecturer

I have had the great privilege of being in relationship with Am Johal for a decade. Am brings critical care, profound and astute research, deeply forged relationships and a sense of wonder to all that he does. He unrelentingly centres dignity by being keenly attuned to the importance of acknowledging our humanity. Am has built a rich scaffold of relations across academia, community mobilization, the arts, and small businesses. He prioritizes action, empathy, mindful practices, right relations and critical problem-solving. It is always a privilege and deeply enlightening to work with Am Johal.

Justine Chambers,
dancer, Assistant Professor, SFU School for Contemporary Arts

I’m excited by the candidacy of Am Johal, a man of great integrity, passion, and intellect, for the Vancity Board! Am has a wealth of experience, and demonstrated deep committment to the values that make Vancity special as a financial instiitution, including community engagement, sustainable regional development, and climate justice, to bring to this position. That’s exemplified by his co-leadership of Greenpeace Canada’s board, chairmanship of the Vancouver International Film Festival, and directorship of SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, amongst other key accomplishments. My parents Irving and Dorothy Stowe were not only key founders of Greenpeace, they were strong supporters of cooperatives and credit unions, and played an important role in starting the first food co-ops in Vancouver. If they were alive today, I know they’d be rooting for Am with my sister Barbara and I! 

Bob Stowe

Am Johal is a bridge builder, a skilled and thoughtful communicator and a creative leader. I have known Am over many years at Simon Fraser University. His capacity for leadership, team building and collaboration is consequential. Am makes a  difference by connecting ideas, people and resources. He will make an outstanding contribution to the Vancity Board. 

Dr. Joanna Ashworth,
Senior Research Associate, Faculty of Environment, CERi (Community Engaged Research Initiative) and the Wosk Centre for Dialogue

I’m proud to endorse Am Johal for the Vancity Credit Union Board of Directors. As a dedicated community builder in Vancouver with deep experience in strategic planning and a strong track record of supporting social enterprises like Tayybeh, Am brings the values-driven leadership, insight, and commitment needed to help Vancity strengthen its impact across our communities.

Nihal Elwan,
Tayybeh Restaurant

It is hard to imagine someone who has put more heart and soul into community building than Am Johal. Heart, soul, and I should say, a lot of thought. Am Johal has done nothing but engage and support local arts and communities across a wide range of social investments. He would be a great addition to the VanCity Credit Union Board.

Steve Collis,
poet and SFU English Professor

I am pleased to endorse Am Johal’s candidacy for the Board of Directors of Vancity. I worked closely with Am in the creation and oversight of the BC Alliance for Co-operative Development in 2023-24 and became keenly aware of his principled, articulate, and thoughtful approach to collaborative and informed decision-making, and his strong commitment to the co-operative values and principles that need to continue to define our credit unions in British Columbia. Am’s strategic and systems approach to conversations will be an asset to the Vancity board table, and I encourage members to vote for him to best  represent their interests.

Zoe Creighton,
Executive Director, Upper Columbia Cooperative Council

Twenty years ago Jim Green told me, “Talk to Am Johal, he’s the smartest guy I know.” Smart, principled, and committed to supporting social justice, as evident during his tenure as Director of the Office of Community Engagement at SFU Woodward’s, where Am created the key venue in our city for public dialogue on matters of social, political, cultural and economic import. I had the pleasure of working with Am directly through his participation on Vancity’s Emilia-Romagna Cooperative Study Tour and on the establishment of the Alliance for Cooperative Development, where we secured an unprecedented investment by the Government of BC into the cooperative movement. Am has proven himself an asset to civil society and the co-op movement, and the Vancity Board would benefit greatly from his keen mind and big heart.

Elvezio Del Bianco,
former Vancity Cooperative Portfolio Manager & former Co-Executive Director of the BC Cooperative Association

I joined Vancity Credit Union because Am Johal told me to!

Dan Young,
artist

At a time when the careful work of relationship-building has never been more necessary, Am Johal has always been there, laying the foundations for communities to come together. Am and I used to work together at SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, and I have always seen him amplifying the voices of underserved community members and partners, leading the way for inclusive collaboration. With a strong governance record, such as being the Chair of the Board at VIFF and Vice Chair at Greenpeace Canada, I have no doubt that he will use his experience to bring uplifting accountability to the Vancity Credit Union Board of Directors. Besides, he literally wrote a book on friendship. I encourage you to give Am your vote. 

Steve Tornes,
North Vancouver resident, urbanist and recent father

As a longtime Vancity member, I’m excited to support Am, and quite frankly, you should be too! I’ve been consistently impressed by his leadership, depth of experience and commitment to community. He would be an excellent Vancity director. I recommend him without reservation!

Paul Taylor,
Co-Founder and Strategic Advisor, Evenings and Weekends Consulting

I have known Am for over 30 years when he was a student organizer at UBC who, amongst other things, helped create the Humanities 101 program which continues to this day. Since then, Am has built a formidable record of governance and activism in the arts, climate change initiatives, and community building. For the past decade I’ve worked closely with Am at SFU, where his leadership and collaborative approach built SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement into a vital link between the university and the local community. Am has a 30 year record of building organizations and relationships that make lasting change.

Joe Clark

I’ve known Am Johal for over 20 years. He would be an excellent board member with Vancity because he has a collaborative leadership style, would be responsive to members and has deep connections with many communities, including in arts and culture. As a small business owner, he has my full support.

Nicole Lefebvre,
owner, This Must Be the Place

I first met Am Johal 25 years ago when we both worked out of the 411 Senior’s Centre and would get lunch together and talk about the city. Years later, we partnered with him at SFU with Women Transforming Cities for a series of public forums. Am is progressive, solutions-oriented, a creative thinker and delightful to work with. I fully endorse his candidacy for the board of Vancity Credit Union.

Ellen Woodsworth,
former Vancouver City Councillor

Am is a connector. He brings people together and gets things moving. I know him as someone with real ties to Vancouver’s artist community, who carries that same energy and commitment into broader, progressive movement-building. He has a sharp instinct for where energy should flow, and a knack for turning introductions into real momentum. His presence on the Board would be immediate — bringing fresh energy where it’s needed most.

Andrew Witt,
Art Historian

I am pleased to endorse Am Johal for the Board of Vancity. I have known Am in various capacities over many years, including working closely together in the 1990s on community development initiatives focused on improving the lives of low-income and marginalized people. Over time, I have also had the pleasure of seeing his continued involvement in arts and community events, reflecting his deep and ongoing commitment to the community. I have great confidence in his sound judgment, integrity, and character, and I fully support his candidacy.

Susi Milne,
Artist and Culture Advocate

The scope of Am Johal’s activism, work and subsequent impact on the city of Vancouver is truly remarkable. He has a unique ability to bring people together and transform complex challenges and ideas into extraordinary realities, such as turning a Downtown Eastside bank into an opera house for the community and transforming a dilapidated police station—once a symbol of trauma—into a massive hub for social innovation. Am is a rare leader who pairs deep intellectual vision with a humble, relentless drive for justice to build bridges of understanding for us all.

Colin Askey,
Filmmaker

Am has been convening vital public discussions on a wide spectrum of important subjects that affect the city of Vancouver and its citizens for as long as I can remember. A couple years ago I had a chance to work on a community art project with Am and SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement. Overcoming multiple obstacles, I saw Am get things done in the face of adversity. On this project and others I have seen him do what he always has done: work collaboratively to implement activities that make the community a better and more engaged place. 

Jordan Strom,
Curator

I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Am Johal since 2016, when I became involved in community planning and housing advocacy in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. As a part-time professor and staff member at my alma mater, Simon Fraser University, Am brought both academic insight and a deep commitment to community engagement.

Over the years, we collaborated on several community organizing initiatives, using film as a powerful dialogical tool to foster meaningful conversations. Our work explored important issues connected to both Rwanda and Canada, including the history of Hogan’s Alley-Vancouver’s only historic Black neighbourhood, which was displaced by urban renewal policies in the 1970s.

Am’s dedication to community service, both as an academic and as an engaged community member, reflects a rare combination of thought leadership and grounded action. I am confident that he would be a tremendous asset to Vancity. Having someone of Am’s integrity, vision, and collaborative spirit on the board would strengthen its commitment to equity, inclusion, and community-centered decision-making.

Lama Mugabo,
Community Activist

I can’t think of anyone who has dedicated more of himself to our communities, or for longer, than Am Johal. He has been deeply involved in arts, culture and governance for decades. From chairing the Vancouver International Film Festival, co-Chairing the Vancity Community Foundation, and Vice-Chairing Greenpeace Canada, to helping organize the Indian Summer Festival and 14 years as Director of SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement. He has put endless time and energy into trying to make Vancouver and all of  BC a better, fairer, more beautiful, and more fun place to live. He will bring all of this to the Vancity Board, and we will all be the better for it.

Geoff Mann,
SFU Distinguished Professor of Geography

Am Johal has been involved in community organizing in BC for over 30 years, and I’ve known him for most of that time. I wholeheartedly endorse him for the Vancity Credit Union board.

As a lifelong Vancity member who has run multiple businesses and community programs that banked with Vancity, I know how important it is to have someone like Am on the board.

Am has long been a strong supporter of arts and culture through his work with the Indian Summer Festival and through leadership roles with 221A, the Alliance for Arts and Culture, and as Chair of the Vancouver International Film Festival. He also serves as Vice Chair of Greenpeace Canada and is deeply committed to climate action.

Nathan Lusignan

Am Johal will be a strong voice for climate solutions if he’s elected to the Vancity board. He will ensure that a strong economic regional force like Vancity has a social and environmental vision in this time of crisis. He has a 30 year track record of working collaboratively in community.

Tzeporah Berman,
Founder and Chair of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty

Am has been a champion of our precarious worker organizing since day 1. He was instrumental in securing provincial funding for the cooperative sector in BC.

He’s accessible, community-driven, and dedicated to building a world that embodies union, cooperative, and credit union values. He has our votes.

Jonny, Nadia, David
Co-Directors, Union Cooperative Initiative

Am Johal is the real deal – he walks the talk and is all about being there for our community with decades of experience serving on boards and facilitating engaging community programming that brings vibrance and insight to our city!

Ashley Daniel Foot,
Arts Administrator and Singer

My experience with Am Johal as host of Below the Radar highlighted his ability to listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions, and create respectful space for complex and sometimes uncomfortable conversations. I have also appreciated his leadership through his work at SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, where he brought care, curiosity, and depth to public dialogue. I respect his genuine commitment to the public good and support his candidacy for the Vancity Credit Union Board. 

Kora DeBeck,
Distinguished Professor of Substance Use and Drug Policy, School of Public Policy, SFU

I am writing this message to offer my endorsement of Am Johal to be elected as a Board Member for Vancity Credit Union. I have known Am for well over a decade, and have witnessed his longtime dedication to improving our local community and societal support systems. With his sincere commitment to public engagement and advocacy, Am has demonstrated value in working with organizations that uplift and promote the people and places that need it most. As a member of Vancity Credit Union myself, I would be very pleased  and encouraged to see Am Johal elected to the Board, and offer my strong endorsement for his nomination. 

Jodie Giesz-Ramsay

I am voting for Am because of his long-standing commitment to urban economic and social development. As a respected cultural leader and community builder, Am is widely known for his work fostering dialogue and creativity across diverse communities. Am understands the essential role that Vancity plays in strengthening community partnerships, and for that reason he has my full support. 

Alexandra Rutherford,
Vice-Chair, Jim Green Foundation

Am Johal is the leader we need.  Am’s deep historical knowledge and active engagement in our local civic discourse, as well as his nuanced understanding of the issues threatening BC institutions like Vancity serve to provide the very type of stable and grounded leadership which is critically required in moments such as these, where our civil-society institutions are facing modern-day existential risks of the types not seen before.  This, combined with Am’s selectively-stitched and vast-reaching network of influential peers, colleagues and loyalist supporters provides Am the connectivity platform required to be the most effective and influential candidate for election to the Vancity Board.  Again, Am Johal is the leader we need.  

David Cookson,
Jim Green Foundation

I first met Am Johal when he worked on the Vancouver Agreement 26 years ago – a partnership between three levels of government and health authority on social and economic development in the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood. He is highly collaborative, a great listener and values-driven. He is committed to climate solutions and to making a difference for everyday working people. Am would make a great contribution to the Vancity Board.

Trish Webb

I have known Am for more than a decade. Am is dedicated to the value of sociability in a range of forms, creating inclusive situations from across the table, across the street, or across the globe. Am has contributed to several boards including VIFF, Greenpeace and he is a former Co-Chair of the Vancity Community Foundation. He is not only committed to climate justice, arts and culture, and a livable wage, but can speak generously and convincingly to these and a broad range of issues. 

Judy Radul,
Distinguished Professor, SFU School for the Contemporary Arts

I strongly endorse Am Johal for membership to Vancity’s governing Board. Am brings an invaluable combination of strategic leadership, community engagement and a long standing commitment to the non profit sector. As someone with a long and growing list of allies and who maintains deep roots in the progressive community, Am will also bring credibility to Vancity’s vision and mandate.

Colin Gusikoski,
lawyer

Please receive this as an unreserved recommendation for Am Johal for a position on the Vancity Credit Union Board of Directors. Over approximately fifteen years of knowing Am—first through reputation and then more directly—he has consistently demonstrated an exceptional capacity for bridging creative, cultural, and social concerns. His breadth of civic and institutional leadership speaks for itself: currently serving as Chair of the Vancouver International Film Festival, contributing fifteen years of community engagement work at the very much missed SFU Vancity Office of Community Engagement, sitting on the Board of the Alliance for Arts and Culture, serving as former Chair of 221A, and now as Executive Artistic Director of the Indian Summer Festival. Throughout all this work, what distinguishes Am beyond so many others is the quality of his attention. He is an exceptional listener and leader—someone who not only makes space for multiple viewpoints but synthesizes them with care and discernment. In any collective context, and particularly one rooted in community values like Vancity’s, that capacity for genuine engagement is rare, critical, and precisely what good governance requires. 

James Long,
Assistant Professor and Area Co-ordinator of Theatre & Performance, SFU School for the Contemporary Arts

I’ve known Am for over 25 years and can honestly say he’s a gem of a human. He’s smart, creative, community-minded, and a constant champion for social justice. Am would be a fantastic addition to the Vancity board, bringing a fresh perspective, strong principles, and a pragmatic approach. I am thrilled to endorse Am for the Vancity board and honoured that he is both my colleague and friend.

Christine Tapp,
small business owner

I am endorsing Am Johal for the Vancity Board of Directors. I have worked with Am in his capacity as Director of SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement at Simon Fraser University (Woodwards) and found him to be responsive to the neighborhood, open to dialogue and compassionate. He has been able to work within the intersection of academics and community, listens effectively and I believe he would take a community-centered approach to this role at Vancity.

Fiona York,
community organizer

Am Johal has thirty years of experience with community organizing and in governance roles, including as Chair of the Vancouver International Film Festival and on the Advisory Committee of the Labour Studies Program at SFU. He has deep and extensive community connections and a proven track record of relationship-building. Am will work hard to ensure that Vancity remains a values-led organization that is inclusive and responsive to its members.

Dr. Kendra Strauss,
Director, The Labour Studies Program and the SFU Morgan Centre for Labour Research
Distinguished SFU Professor, Department of Sociology & Anthropology

Credit unions are vital social and economic institutions, advancing human equity, economic access, and social justice.  I believe that Am Johal would be an invaluable member of the board, given his track-record in these areas. He has worked with large and powerful organizations, opening up space for possibility.

Nick Blomley,
long time Vancity member

Am listens with care and will provide clear insight on a values-driven path forward for Vancity. He builds bridges and will get the right people to the table when it matters. He’s calm in a crisis. I support Am Johal for the Vancity Board, and you should too!

Amanda Dowling,
Midwife

I am very appreciative that Am Johal, with his extensive knowledge as a climate crisis scholar and leader in community engagement and arts programming, has decided to stand for the Vancity Board of Directors. For decades Am has been doing the crucial behind the scenes work of sitting on organization boards as well as programming and facilitating public forums for life-long education. His understanding of the political landscape and communications skill-set are exactly what the Vancity Board needs as we move further into a time of uncertainty. I unequivocally endorse him. 

Selena Couture,
long-time Vancity member

I enthusiastically endorse Am Johal for election to the Vancity Board of Directors. Am is a public intellectual and leader of the highest order, with a wealth of experience in community building spanning several decades. He is firmly anchored in the city and is uniquely alive to its complex diversity, challenges, needs, and potentials. It is simply impossible to think of a better, more worthy candidate for this position than Am!

Samir Gandesha,
Professor of Global Humanities
Director, Institute for the Humanities, Simon Fraser University

It is my pleasure to support Am Johal for the Board of Vancity Credit Union. A longtime leader in community engagement, Am has helped build meaningful connections between universities and communities. His leadership across the arts, environmental, and nonprofit sectors reflect a deep commitment to public dialogue, culture, and social justice. Am brings thoughtful, collaborative leadership and a strong record of community service that would make him a valuable addition to Vancity’s board.

Lindsay S. Gibson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education, UBC

It is my pleasure to recommend Am Johal as a potential member of Vancity’s Board of Directors. 

I have known Am over several decades – as a colleague at SFU and in shared initiatives for social justice, including through the arts. He is a thoughtful, smart and strategic proponent of action for progressive change with a strong commitment to community building. 

I believe he would amplify and enrich dialogue while offering and developing fresh and practical ideas with other Board members.    

I recommend him most highly.

Judith Marcuse, LL.D. (Hon.),
Founder, Judith Marcuse Projects
Founder/Director, International Centre of Art for Social Change (ICASC)
Senior Fellow, Ashoka International

Am Johal was one of the first people I met when I came to Vancouver, and is one of the finest. As listener or interlocutor, in his constant hospitality, or as a holder of history. Am shines a rare light.

Christine Atkinson,
Bowen Island resident

My colleagues in the co-op sector are thrilled that Am Johal is running for the Vancity board of directors because his understanding of the cooperative model and its benefits were clearly reflected in his support for the Alliance for Cooperative Development.

Melanie Conn,
co-op founder, developer, mentor and instructor, and Vancity member for 35+ years

Am Johal will bring decades of innovative community building expertise to the Vancity Credit Union Board of Directors. He brings thoughtful people together to share knowledge and create solutions and get things done. The Board needs Am’s voice and skills on their table!

Jane Hurtig,
Hurtig Consulting

I’ve known Am Johal for many years and he has consistently been a passionate voice for justice and ecological health. He has also been someone willing to roll up their sleeves  and do the invaluable hard work nobody ever sees. We would be lucky to have someone with his principles and experience on the board.

Ben West,
climate activist and community organizer

Am Johal is an exceptional community organizer and executive leader. I have worked with Am both professionally and in a volunteer board capacity and have consistently been impressed by his sound judgment, strategic thinking, and deep commitment to community impact. Am will be an outstanding addition to the Vancity Board of Directors. He brings strong values alignment, significant governance experience, and a clear commitment to advancing the credit union’s mission while remaining deeply connected to the communities it serves. 

Sean Markey,
Professor and Director SFU School of Resource and Environmental Management

Am Johal is a transformative leader, and we are honoured to endorse his candidacy for the Vancity Board of Directors. Through his long-standing work at SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, Am has demonstrated an unmatched ability to build bridges between institutions and the communities they serve. He brings a wealth of experience in governance and management, along with a deep passion for arts and culture, and a steadfast commitment to value-driven leadership that will serve all Vancity members exceptionally well.

Terry Hunter, C.M, LL.D & Savannah Walling, C.M., LLD,
Co-Founders, Vancouver Moving Theatre / Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival (retired)

I don’t think there are many people who know the city and the people of Vancouver from a multiplicity of perspectives better than Am Johal. His resume reflects his commitment to public service as Vice Chair of the Board of Greenpeace Canada, his role for 15 years at SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, his many years of work in the Downtown Eastside and his position as Co-Chair of the Vancity Community Foundation. But what really impresses me is how often I see him around the city at various events, cafes, restaurants engaged in conversation with Vancouverites about their live and their city.

Rodney Decroo,
poet and photographer

Am Johal has been a long-time, dedicated, and inspiring leader and supporter in the Downtown Eastside community where we’ve worked together. I’ve watched Am’s articulate words and powerful actions help bring people from diverse backgrounds together to create community-led solutions to difficult challenges and make positive change. In the early days of WePress Community Arts Space, Am was a staunch supporter of its work to support local, equity-deserving artists and bring free, accessible art-making opportunities to the neighbourhood – which is one of the reasons the society exists today. Am brings decades of experience, knowledge, and his own lived experience to every project and collaboration, which always benefit from his contributions.

Kathy Shimizu,
Powell Street Festival Society Community Outreach Manager

I write this in support of Am Johal’s interest in becoming a board member of Vancity Credit Union of which I am a long time member. I have worked with Am Johal for many years on a multitude of issues from the intergovernmental process the Vancouver Agreement in the early 2000’s, the City of Vancouver’s Four pillars drug strategy and recently as the director of a national organization advocating for a public health and human rights approach to drugs based at Simon Fraser University. Am brings a deep understanding of championing community voices and perspectives and understands the importance of institutional responses to issues that community members have. He has significant institutional experience from his various leadership roles as Chair of the Vancouver International Film Festival; his former role as Co-Chair of the Vancity Community Foundation; and recent work with diverse communities as the Director of the Vancity Office of Community Engagement at Simon Fraser University. 

Donald MacPherson,
former Drug Policy Coordinator, City of Vancouver and former director Canadian Drug Policy Coalition

Am is a pillar in the community, bridging artists and people across Vancouver and beyond through shared dialogue. He opens conversations and points the way toward possibility and a path forward by bringing folks together to discuss, reflect, laugh, learn, and exchange in meaningful ways that enrich our lives. Since first moving here, I’ve often heard: “Go see Am. He is the glue that tirelessly connects the beautiful and diverse communities of this city.

Erika Latta,
Assistant Professor, School for Contemporary Arts, SFU

Building community is the through line of Am Johal’s immensely diverse and impressive professional, academic and volunteer experience.  He is ideally suited to working on the Board of Vancity Credit Union to maximize its considerable and important community impact.   

Micheal Vonn 

I’m very pleased to endorse Am Johal for the Board of Vancity Credit Union.

Am is a connector. He’s spent decades working at the intersection of culture, community, and public institutions. Through his leadership at Simon Fraser University, including serving as Director of the Vancity Office of Community Engagement, he has consistently helped connect artists, scholars, and community organizations with the broader public.

As Chair of the Vancouver International Film Festival, he’s helped steward one of Canada’s most important cultural institutions while strengthening the festival’s ties to the city’s diverse film-loving community.

The arts sector in Vancouver faces real economic pressure while remaining a source of extraordinary civic energy. The sector plays a vital role in the city’s health and wellbeing. It brings people together and it generates significant economic activity. Vancity will benefit from board members who understand the value of the cultural industries and what it takes for them to flourish.

Am brings intellectual insight, practical governance experience, and a deep commitment to strengthening both the cultural and civic life of Vancouver. These qualities are central to making our city a great place to live, and for that reason I strongly support his candidacy for the Vancity Board.

Richard Wolfe,
Artistic and Producing Director, Pi Theatre Productions

Am Johal is one of Vancouver’s most valued community leaders with a lifelong commitment to bringing together people from all backgrounds for our mutual benefit. His deep understanding of cooperative economics coupled with his progressive governance experience and Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management is exactly the combination the Vancity Board needs in these volatile and divisive times. I fully endorse Am’s candidacy.

Kennedy Stewart,
former Mayor, former MP and Associate Professor, School of Public Policy at SFU

Am is a keystone that supports different communities working in the arts, culture and research in the Lower Mainland and across the province. I met Am through SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement as an artist who had just moved to Vancouver. Over the last decade, in my capacity as arts worker, I have consulted with Am on strategies for strengthening resources and opportunities for emerging and early-career artists and writers. He knows how to find common ground between institutions and community, which is why I think Am will be an invaluable addition to the Vancity Board of Directors. 

Brit Bachmann,
Artist & Arts Worker

I am pleased to offer my enthusiastic endorsement of Am Johal in his campaign for election to the Vancity Board of Directors.

Over the years I have known Am, he has consistently demonstrated a deep and sustained

commitment to advancing social and economic justice in British Columbia. His leadership as

Director of Simon Fraser University’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, along with his work as Co-Director of SFU’s Community Engaged Research Initiative, has helped foster meaningful dialogue and collaboration across communities on issues central to the well-being of Vancouver and its diverse populations.

Am’s contributions extend well beyond academia. He has played a vital role in shaping

Vancouver’s cultural landscape, including his leadership within organizations such as the

Vancouver International Film Festival and the BC Alliance for Arts and Culture. Through this

work, he has strengthened the city’s cultural vitality and reinforced the importance of inclusive public spaces and storytelling.

Equally significant is Am’s longstanding dedication to community service and equity. As an

author, educator, and organizer, he has consistently worked to amplify marginalized voices and build more just and inclusive institutions. His roles as Chair of the Impact on Communities Coalition, and as a board member with the Vancity Community Foundation, the Vancouver City Planning Commission, and the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House, reflect a career grounded in service to community.

Am brings a rare combination of integrity, vision, and practical experience. His ability to bridge sectors—community, culture, academia, and policy—makes him an exceptional candidate to contribute to Vancity’s mission as a values-driven financial co-operative.

I strongly believe that Am Johal would be an outstanding addition to the Vancity Board, and I offer my full support for his candidacy.

John Restakis, 
Co-founder, Synergia Co-operative Institute
Former ED, Community Evolution Foundation
Former ED, BC Co-operative Association

As a non-profit leader committed to building inclusive futures, I understand deeply the need for transformative leaders in social innovation- and that is Am Johal. I have experienced first hand his ability to listen deeply and inspire change in the communities he serves. Vancity would benefit greatly from this type of leadership on the board. 

Anthonia Ogundele,
Executive Director, Ethos Lab Educational Society

I have known Am Johal for over a quarter century, both as a friend and a participant in the many cultural endeavours he has lent his talents to. Am Johal is among the most generous people I have ever met – generous with his time, his knowledge and his understanding of the contexts that layer our city. A hands-on public intellectual as comfortable at street level as he is in the boardroom, I cannot recommend Am Johal highly enough for a seat on the Vancity Board of Directors.

Michael Turner,
writer

Over decades, Am Johal has established himself as a pillar of progressive, diverse community arts and politics in Vancouver. Through his extensive community engagement programming at SFU, he demonstrated an enormous capacity for creating meaningful conversations across different communities, tying scholarly, activist and artistic groups together in inspired ways. Am is a visionary community leader who shows what a small band of dedicated people can do for a city.

Zöe Druick,
Professor, SFU School of Communication

Am brings a rare combination of big ideas, commitment to community, and practical governance skills to his leadership roles. In the more than 10 years that I’ve known him, notably through his work leading the SFU School of Contemporary Arts Office of Community Engagement, he has consistently led with integrity, innovation, and genuine care for the organizations and people he serves. I cannot recommend Am enough for the Vancity Credit Union Board of Directors.

Kelty McKerracher,
Lawyer, Miller Titerle + Company
Vancity member since 2005

Am is a grassroots organizer, a good listener and a dedicated social democrat. His values are grounded in a commitment to social justice and equity. As a longtime Vancity member, I know we would be lucky to have him on the board and I encourage everyone to join me in supporting him.

Layne Clark,
labour leader

I wholeheartedly endorse Am Johal for the Vancity Board of Directors.

Having known Am for nearly 30 years through my work in housing and homelessness services, I can confirm his deep commitment to social justice, equity, and improving the lives of low-income residents and the overall well-being of the community. Am has advanced this work through writing, art, community engagement, project and policy development, research, and interdisciplinary events.

Am exemplifies leadership, integrity, and accountability. He would be an invaluable asset as a Vancity Board member.

Celine Mauboules

Vancity plays a critical role in shaping the kind of economy we want to build, rooted in community wealth, equity, and long-term resilience.

Am brings a rare combination of deep community roots, cultural leadership, and a clear understanding of the impact Vancity can make.

Value based financial institutions matter more than ever right now. I know Am will bring thoughtful, principled leadership to the Vancity board.

Jarrett Hagglund,
Housing Co-op Advocate

Am Johal has been involved in social and economic justice issues for over 30 years in BC. I’ve known Am for many years and I endorse his candidacy for the Vancity Credit Union Board of Directors. He has always been supportive of a quality $10aDay child care system in BC and I know he has the capacity to be a strong and principled board member.

Sharon Gregson,
former Vancouver School Board Trustee

I’ve known Am Johal since being a UBC student in the mid 90’s. If elected to the board of Vancity Credit Union, I know he will be responsive to Vancity members. With his governance experience as Chair of the Vancouver International Film Festival, former Co-Chair of the Vancity Community Foundation and Vice Chair of Greenpeace Canada, he will be an excellent representative on the board of the Vancity Credit Union.

Jeremy Valeriote,
MLA, West Vancouver-Sea to Sky    

Am Johal’s experience and commitment will be an asset to the board and all members wanting to make sure Vancity stays focused on investing to make positive change supporting people and communities.

Larry Campbell,
former BC Chief Coroner, Mayor of Vancouver (2002-05) and Senator (2005-23)

Am Johal and I met through an invitation he extended to me and my colleague to have our work as part of Indian Summer Festival, as a curator Am made space for me to execute my work in a magnificent way. Am’s experience in governance and knowledge of protocol is full, necessary, and innovative. As the chair of VIFF, Vice Chair of Greenpeace, and former Co-chair of Vancity Community Foundation, he leads by example and has a collaborative instinct that is unique to his leadership style. Without a doubt, he will be responsive and attentive to members of Vancity.

Simran Sachar,
Dance Artist

Am Johal has been a community leader for many years. As an admirer of his many contributions to events at Simon Fraser University, I have also enjoyed the insights he shared at meetings of the Vancouver writers book club of which we were both members. Now, as a senior with failing eyesight, I am counting on Mr. Johal to articulate the concerns of our demographic and our accessibility needs.

Tony Penikett,
former Leader of the Yukon

My 30 years of friendship and work with Am Johal, are grounded in our shared belief that Vancouver can become stronger through inclusion, compassion, and local innovation. His ability to foster community development and spearhead innovative civic partnerships make him an ideal candidate for the Board. His strong moral compass and strategic thinking will aid Vancity as it responds to the current challenges facing the City, the credit union and its members. 

Allison Dunnet

Am Johal truly embodies the values that make Vancity distinct: a lifelong commitment to equity, reconciliation and climate action as a community-engaged leader and prolific writer on social and ecological justice. Working alongside Am in both community-based and scholarly contexts has given me direct insight into his collaborative engagement with Vancouver’s diverse communities. Am’s passion for inclusive representation and creative innovation, combined with decades of experience stewarding finances with integrity, makes Am’s presence on the Vancity Board a timely and vital addition.

Carrie MacLeod,
Educator and Community Facilitator

I’ve known Am for 20 years and have had the great pleasure of collaborating with him on a wide array of projects, like the Vienna Model at MOV on Housing, or programming at SFU through Vancity Office of Community Engagement. As a friend and ally, I know that Am truly cares about our city and brings a mix of ability, integrity, and deep solidarity with people in precarious situations. His value-driven approach to climate and economic justice is urgent and I trust that he will use his position on the Vancity board for opening up possibilities.

Sabine Bitter