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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. 

Patti Bacchus, Dianne Turner

Dear Dianne Turner: "Here are my keys, VSB ID tag and parking badge."

A letter to Dianne Turner, Premier Christy Clark's hand-picked successor to the axed Vancouver School Board.

Axed by Christy Clark: Patti Bacchus's account of the final hours of Vancouver's school board

In case you were wondering, here's how it all went down.

VSB chair Patti Bacchus calls on parents to ask MLAs for more money for Vancouver schools

"I cannot overstate how difficult it will be to make up this $18.12 million dollar funding shortfall," Patti Bacchus, Vancouver School Board chairman said in an email yesterday. "The VSB has already m