Board Member Profiles

The Police Act establishes the composition of a municipal police board. As the VicPD has jurisdiction within two municipalities, a special Ministerial Order was passed by the Provincial Government to establish an amalgamated board consisting of a maximum of nine members, including the Chair. The Chair of the amalgamated board is the Mayor of Victoria and the mayor of Esquimalt is the Vice Chair. In addition to the mayors, there are seven appointed members, five appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, one by the council of the City of Victoria, and one by the council of the Township of Esquimalt.

Mayor Fortin of Victoria, Chair
Dean Fortin is the elected Mayor for the City of Victoria. Previously, he was the Executive Director of the Burnside Gorge Community Centre and helped establish and operated the Victoria Association for Street Kids. He has practiced as a lawyer in both Whitehorse and in Victoria. Recently elected to Victoria City Council, he chairs the Sludge Management Advisory Committee for the Capital Regional District, and is the Council Liaison for the Housing Advisory committee. He also sits as a Water Commissioner for the Greater Victoria Water Board. Previously he served as a member of the BC Benefits Appeal Board, a member of the Victoria Police Board, and is the former Head Coach for the Oak Bay Senior Girls Basketball team. Mr. Fortin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, his Bachelor of Laws and his Master of Education in Counselling.

Mayor Desjardins of Esquimalt, Vice Chair
Barbara Desjardins is the elected Mayor to the Township of Esquimalt. She currently serves on the Capital Regional District Board, Capital Regional District Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee, Capital Region Emergency Service Telecommunications (Alternate), Commuter Train Steering Committee, Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce, Esquimalt/Victoria Police Board, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, Greater Victoria Labour Relations Association, Local Government Treaty Committee, and the Municipal Insurance Association of British Columbia.

Mr. Ralston Alexander, Provincial Appointee
Ralston Alexander QC, is a Partner with the Victoria law firm, Cook Roberts. Previously, he practiced with Achtem Alexander/Alexander Greene. Within his community, he served the United Way of Victoria (past Director and President), the United Way of Canada (past Director and Chair), and the Rotary Club Housing Society (past Director and Chair). He served as a Bencher of the Law Society of British Columbia from 1999 through 2005 and was President of the Law Society in 2005. Mr. Alexander has a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia.

Ms. Lindalee Brougham, Provincial Appointee
Lindalee Brougham is the Principal of LL Brougham Inc., Chartered Accountant. Ms Brougham is a Director of the Victoria Airport Authority and a Director with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC. She is also a member and former Chair of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce and former President of the Canadian Home Builders Association. Ms Brougham holds her Master of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Management with Royal Roads University and Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Accountant, and Certified General Accountant designations.

Ms. Joan Kotarski, Council Appointee (Victoria)
Joan Kotarski is the Executive Director of the Fairfield Community Association. She has 30 years experience working in community development in rural, urban, and northern Canadian communities and 30 years of child care related issues from prenatal to after-school care to summer camps. Currently, she is a board member of the Métis Community Services. Ms. Kotarski holds her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Women's Studies from the University of Guelph and her Master of Arts in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia.

Ms. Kathy Mick, Council Appointee (Esquimalt)
Kathy Mick was born and raised in Victoria. Educated in the field of Dental Hygiene she graduated from the University of British Columbia. She has lived in Esquimalt for the past 21 years. With her husband Dave she raised her three children, Hayley, Paul and Corrina who are now working in the fields of journalism, medicine and engineering. An involved member of the Esquimalt community she formed the lobby group, West 61, in order to address the educational needs and school facilities of the western sector of School District 61. The renovation of Lampson Street School and Esquimalt Community School were the direct results of this group. Additionally Kathy has sat on committees for the school board, parents’ groups and sporting organizations. She was a member and the chair of on Esquimalt’s Parks and Recreation Committee. She coached numerous teams, been a tutor for Victoria Literacy and is an active member of the Gorge Vale Golf Club.

Mr. David Nicholds, Provincial Appointee
David Nicholds is self employed as the Lead Director for Food Technology Service. Mr. Nicholds is a recognized Corporate Lawyer with significant experience in dealing with complicated transactions and litigation matter. Previously, he was the Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary with MDS Nordion in Ottawa. Active in the community, Mr. Nicholds has assisted in fundraising for a local senior's centre, the Community Resource Centre, and the Food Cupboard. He holds his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics and Computer Science and his Bachelor of Laws (Magna cum laude) from the University of Western Ontario.

Ms. Christine Stoneman, Provincial Appointee
Christine Stoneman (CMC, RPR) as a Principal with Chemistry Consulting Group. Active in the community, she serves on the Board of Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council, the Victoria Airport Authority and is the Past Chair of Tourism Victoria.

Previously Ms. Stoneman was a Principal with Grant Thornton LLP, as a Consultant and Provincial Manager of GT Hiring Solutions. Her management positions in the Hospitality Industry have been with Four Seasons Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Trusthouse Forte, Keg Restaurants. Ms. Stoneman was a BC Representative on the National committee for the validation and development of National Occupational Standards for the Hospitality Industry, specifically for Reservations Sales Agent, Front Desk Agent and Tourism Trainer and is a nationally certified Tourism Trainer, Reservation Sales Agent and Front Desk Agent by the Canadian Tourism Resource Council. She is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) and a Registered Professional Recruiter (RPR).

Gurdial (Gordy) Singh Dodd, Provincial Appointee
Gurdial (Gordy) Dodd is the President and Owner of Dodd’s Furniture Ltd., a retail furniture store in Victoria. Active in the community, he was a member with the Parks and Recreation board and the Board of Variance and a volunteer with the Homeless Support Society, to name a few. Mr. Dodd is the recipient of numerous awards and honours including an award for community leadership from Toast Master International in 2005, Citizen of the Year for Victoria in 2006, and the BC New Canadian Entrepreneur Award in 2007 from the Ethno Business Council of BC.