Governance Tag

Introducing Strathcona BIA’s New Leader.

The Strathcona BIA is privileged to have a long history of strong and dynamic leadership, a history that we are continuing to build upon. We are thrilled to announce that Vincent Kwan will be joining the Strathcona BIA as our new Executive Director starting November 1. 

Vincent joins us following the departure of our former Executive Director Theodora Lamb, who took on a new challenge as the Executive Director of Quest Food Exchange. Your Board of Directors and staff undertook a comprehensive search over the summer to find the Strathcona BIA’s new leader. The role attracted significant interest and many strong candidates, and the Board led a robust and thorough hiring process to find the right fit for the unique role of the SBIA’s Executive Director.

It is a tremendous honour for me to join the Strathcona BIA as the new Executive Director. To me, Strathcona has always been a community known for its creative energy, entrepreneurial spirit and hard work. It is also a community that takes pride for being diverse and inclusive. I can’t wait to roll-up my sleeves and start working with all SBIA members, the Board, staff, and volunteers to continue to build a resilient local economy that can both thrive with confidence and adapt with agility.

Vincent is the former Executive Director of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens in Chinatown, and comes to us from the City of Vancouver where he has been a Planner on the Chinatown Transformation Team. Vincent is deeply connected to the local community through his experience in the area. He brings significant experience in not-for-profit leadership, business development, programming, strategic planning, and governance. Vincent’s thoughtful demeanor, analytical approach, and business acumen will make him a strong advocate for Strathcona and the issues that matter to our members.

His experience working across cultures and business sectors has laid the groundwork for him to be an excellent bridge-builder between community and business. Vincent brings the skills and experience that are needed to help lead our district through the next steps of the pandemic and we are excited to see where his leadership takes Strathcona.

Please join us in welcoming Vincent Kwan to the Strathcona BIA!

A New Chapter.

This summer, the Strathcona Business Improvement Association will say goodbye to our Executive Director, Theodora Lamb. On behalf of the Strathcona BIA Board of Directors and staff, we want to express our thanks, gratitude, and appreciation for all of Theo’s hard work these past three years. We hope our members will join us in wishing her warmth and well wishes as she embarks on a new professional chapter!

Under Theo’s leadership over the last three years, the SBIA has enjoyed significant progress and innovation in advocacy, placemaking, and community development on behalf of our 840+ members. 

Some of her contributions include:

• Advocacy to municipal staff and elected leaders on issues including commercial taxation, vacant storefront activation and policy, municipal policing, permitting, transportation and mobility, homeless encampments, rising graffiti rates, industrial land protection, and COVID-19 policy relief measures

• Developing a new district commercial brand through community consultation which resulted in a new Strathcona placebrand identity

• Developing a new partnership between the City of Vancouver, Vancouver Police Department, and other social service organizations to address issues of public drinking and its impact on community-serving retail

• Navigating COVID-19’s impacts on members through targeted, rapid communications, webinar events, matching grants, a safety patrol partnership with the Gastown and Hastings North BIAs, and participation in the COVID Community Response Network

• Launching a district-wide engagement campaign on safety and security across the district, capturing member priorities and preferred economic trade-offs

• Launching Crap Trapper, a social enterprise pilot project designed to address issues of human waste clean-up

• Expanding the SBIA sponsorship portfolio to build better relations with equity-seeking and social serving organizations based in Strathcona including the Eastside Culture Crawl, Indigenous Wellness Fair, and the WISH Drop-in Centre serving sex workers in the DTES

• Identifying and activating vacant storefront space in Vancouver society buildings as part of the SBIA and City of Vancouver partner-funded Chinese Benevolent Society Buildings and Community Serving Retail Study

• Creating the Strathcona Tax Empowerment Program (STEP) designed to help members navigate the property assessment appeal process and lighten the tax burden on business and commercial properties

Strathcona business leaders remain among the most creative, innovative, and resilient people I’ve ever had the honour of working alongside” reflects Theo. “I know the Strathcona BIA will continue to be led by strong and effective governors and that member needs remain in the capable hands of SBIA managers Sam Hamilton and Johanna Lauyanto.

Theo is moving on to new leadership opportunities with a well-recognized non-profit organization serving the Lower Mainland region.

“It has been a privilege to work with Theo and we are saddened to be losing her as our ED, but we know she’s moving on to accomplish great things in service to community” says Emma Carscadden, President of the Strathcona BIA.

In the meantime, the work to secure our next Executive Director is well underway and the Strathcona BIA Board of Directors looks forward to sharing more news regarding this soon.

Our vision is for Strtathcona members to thrive in a mixed-use, inclusive, resilient and prosperous local economy. Our mission is to promote a strong local economy through advocacy, cultivating relationships, supporting business participation in the community, delivering innovative programs, and fostering community leaders. As our members continue to run their businesses, oversee their properties, and navigate the challenges that COVID-19 continues to pose, the Strathcona BIA is here to support you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to info@strathconabia.com or phone us at 604-258-2727.