BCPVPA | BC Principals and Vice Principals

The BC Principals’ & Vice-Principals’ Association (BCPVPA) is a voluntary professional association representing school leaders employed as Principals and Vice-Principals in BC’s public education system. The BCPVPA provides its members with the professional services and supports they need to provide exemplary leadership in public education.

Our Mission Statement

Serving members by supporting effective leadership in education through representation, advocacy and leadership development

President

Brian Leonard

604.877.5388

Acting Executive Director

Magdalena Kassis

604.689.3399

The BCPVPA is proud to have more than 2,700 members in the province’s 60 school districts. All school districts in the province have a local Principal and Vice-Principal association recognized as a Chapter of the BCPVPA. BCPVPA membership is open to any Principal, Vice-Principal or director of instruction at the school or district level. The BCPVPA develops and presents programs to meet the professional needs of B.C.’s educational leaders and is an effective advocate for public education, working in co-operation with our education partners to inform and influence government education policies.

We engage our members in the development of our positions and the advice we give.
We communicate effectively with members.
We tell our stories to describe the critical nature of our roles and the challenges we face.
We share these with the government, partner groups, community leaders and the media.
We advocate for our members and for public education with the conviction that the BCPVPA is a respected and credible voice in education in the province.
We involve Principals and Vice-Principals in the development of public education policy.

BCPVPA - Key Dates for 2023-2024

BCPVPA AGM
November 25, 2023

Chapter Presidents' Meeting
November 24, 2023

Chapter Council Meetings
November 24-25, 2023
February 9-10, 2024
May 4-5, 2024

Board of Directors Meetings
October 27-28, 2023
November 23, 2023
January 19-20, 2024
February 9, 2024
April 12-13, 2024
May 3, 2024

(additional Zoom meetings as scheduled)

BCPVPA Disclaimer

The BCPVPA strives to provide helpful and timely information, guidance and support to BCPVPA members. Information or guidance provided by an employee of the BCPVPA to a member is based on the experience and training of the employee, both as an educational leader and in his or her role providing support to members. The support provided reflects the views and best professional judgment of the individual employee of the BCPVPA, and is not legal advice. If and when legal advice appears to be required or appropriate in order to assist a member, the BCPVPA may in its sole discretion engage its legal counsel.

BCPVPA Human Rights Policy

The BC Principals’ & Vice-Principals’ Association is committed to providing equal treatment with respect to employment according to the protected grounds as established under the Human Rights Code of British Columbia. The BC Principals’ & Vice-Principals’ Association has adopted this policy to ensure that our employees are provided with meaningful employment that is ethical and fair, and is in compliance with all applicable employment, and human rights legislation.

A Brief History

The BCPVPA was originally a Provincial Specialist Association (PSA) of the BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF). In January 1988, the BCPVPA became an autonomous professional association dedicated to helping Principals and Vice-Principals provide 'quality leadership in education.' The history of the Association has been marked by significant challenges and achievements — from recovering a fair share of the assets paid into the BCTF by Principals and Vice-Principals (The Claim for Assets: 1988-1995) to ensuring that Principals and Vice-Principals have satisfactory employment contracts.

For a more in depth history, In Their Own Words documents the early years of BC school leaders and what led to the formation of the Association told by the people who lived it.

Past Presidents (Provincial Specialist Association)

_{Tom Chalmers, (1959-1960)
Adam Robertson, (1960-1961) deceased}_{Jake Longmore, (1961-1962)}_{Al Stables, (1962-1963)}_{Cam McKenzie, (1963-1964) deceased}_{Roy Temple, (1964-1965) deceased}_{Chuck Withers, (1965-1966)}_{Jim Halcrow, (1966-1967) deceased}_{Charlie Hopper, (1967-1968)}_{Tony Embleton, (1968-1969)}_{Gordon Frew, (1969-1970) deceased}_{Dave Grant, (1970-1971)}_{Donald Smith, (1971-1972)}_{Greg Dixon, (1972-1973)}_{Dick Hesketh, (1973-1974)}_{Bill Melville, (1974-1975)}_{Lach Farrell, (1975-1976)}_{Bob Johnstone, (1976-1977)}_{Lach Farrell, (1977)}_{Norma Mercer, (1977-1978)}_{Robert Wilson, (1978-1979)}_{Norm Ornes, (1979-1980) deceased}_{Hank Stefaniuk, (1980-1981)}_{Gordon Moffat, (1981-1983) deceased}_{Ken McAteer, (1983-1984)}_{Gerry Powlik, (1984-1985)}_{Joyce Anderson, (1985-1986)}_{Dean Paravantes, (1986-1987)}

Past Presidents (BCPVPA)

_{Dean Paravantes, (1987-1988)}_{George Buckley, (1988-1990) deceased}
Stanley French, (1990-1992) deceased
Nick Parker-Jervis, (1992-1994)
Gord Wallington, (1994-1996)
Bob Mang, (1996-1998)
John Rizzuti, (1998-2000)
Stu Dale, (2000-2002)
Bob Lindsay, (2002-2004)
Tom Hierck, (2004-2006)
Les Dukowski, (2006-2008)
Marilyn Merler, (2008-2010)
Jameel Aziz, (2010-2012)
Shelley Green, (2012-2014)
Gordon Li, (2014-2016)
Kevin Reimer, (2016-2018)
David DeRosa, (2018-2020)
Darren Danyluk (2020-2022)