Patti Bacchus

Named as one of BC’s Top 100 Influential Women by the Vancouver Sun and twice named to Vancouver Magazine’s “Power 50” list, Patti is a well-known public education and social justice advocate who was the longest serving chair of the Vancouver School Board (VSB).

She ran for the VSB in three elections — in 2008, 2011 and 2014 — topping the polls each time. She was elected as board chair from 2008 – 2014.

Patti played a key role in the grassroots campaign to seismically upgrade at-risk B.C. public schools and is proud to have signed several funding agreements to upgrade or replace seismically high-risk Vancouver schools.

Patti worked alongside her VSB colleagues and community members to develop plans for Vancouver’s first Aboriginal-focused school of choice and an Early Mandarin Bilingual program. During her term as chair, the VSB passed ground-breaking sexual orientation and gender identity policy changes.

Patti also serves as a director on the board of the Broadbent Institute, a progressive, independent national organization that champions change through the promotion of democracy, equality, and sustainability and the training of a new generation of leaders.

Born and raised in Vancouver and a graduate of the University of Victoria (Political Science) and Langara College (Journalism), Patti is married to Lee Bacchus and has a grown stepdaughter and two adult children.