ABOUT LISA

Lisa Dominato is a strategic leader with 20 years’ experience in government administration, public policy, communications and stakeholder relations. She is currently a public relations consultant, specializing in building social license for projects aimed at delivering benefits to the public.

Elected to the Vancouver School Board in 2017, Lisa is passionate about public service and is a strong mental health and housing advocate. Lisa served the past six years on Vancouver’s Kettle Society Board, which delivers local mental health and housing services, and recently concluded her term as Chair. She is also a Board Director of the National Institute of Families for Child and Youth Mental Health (FamilySmart™).

Lisa has served as a public servant in several senior management positions with the Government of British Columbia, specializing in social policy. She is also former Chief of Staff to the Deputy Premier and Minister of Education as well as political advisor to the Minister of Management Services. Lisa is known for her collaborative and pragmatic approach to tackling complex issues and building strong relationships to achieve common goals.

Lisa holds a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia and University of Burgundy in Dijon, France. She is fluent in French and English and is a recipient of the Premier’s Annual Innovation and Excellence Awards – Partnership Category.

In her first term, Lisa successfully led the restructuring of the Vancouver School Board’s governance framework; introduced live-streaming for VSB meetings; garnered support from all 60 school boards for a provincial student-centered mental health strategy, and; initiated discussions between the VSB and City of Vancouver to fast-track building and development permits for all new schools and seismic upgrades.

Lisa lives in Hastings-Sunrise with her husband, Dale, and two daughters, Alexis, 6, and Lia, 4.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In her first year on School Board, Lisa pushed for strengthened leadership, transparency and measures to support student success across the district. She successfully brought forward a number of motions that achieved the following:

  • Upheld her commitment to fostering a safe and welcoming work environment for all district staff and elected trustees.
  • Initiated a governance review, including the implementation of a modern governance framework and Board workplan to ensure the VSB is acting in the best interests of students, fulfilling its stewardship, co-governance and advocacy roles, and restoring confidence in our exceptional education system.
  • Called on the City of Vancouver to fast-track building and development permits for all new schools, as well as school renovations, additions and seismic upgrades.
  • Introduced live streaming of board and committee meetings to enhance transparency and accountability.
  • Called on the Province to implement a student centered mental health strategy focussed on mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention. The motion was passed unanimously by the VSB and BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA).
  • Supported the expansion of the existing Health Care Aides Dual Credit program to meet the diverse learning interests of student and growing need for health professionals who care for our seniors.

Lisa also supported:

  • A balanced budget that includes funding for an additional Filipino speaking settlement worker, additional mentoring and curriculum support for teachers, and additional supports for our most vulnerable students participating in alternate education programs.
  • A proposal to enable the Vancouver School Board to expedite the building of two new schools in the West End (Coal Harbour site and a Lord Roberts Annex site).

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