Ways to become involved with Vancouver DPAC
- Login to our Website. General membership in Vancouver DPAC is open to all parents and caregivers (not only PAC elected officers) who have children enrolled at the Vancouver School Board.
To become a member of Vancouver DPAC, login to our website and fully complete your profile.
*** Please note that general members do not have voting powers at our meetings. Only DPAC Executives and verified DPAC Representatives or PAC Chairs have voting powers. - Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and share it with your parent community. Our newsletter usually contains a message from the DPAC Chair, a meeting calendar, and a listing of upcoming events being hosted by DPAC, the VSB, other PACs, partner groups, and others. We would be happy to list any events being hosted by your PAC that are open to parents outside your school community. To submit an event to our website or newsletter, please complete the article submission form.
- Invite someone from the DPAC executive to speak to your PAC. Consider inviting a DPAC executive to speak at your PAC meeting. DPAC executives often cover topics like engagement, governance, and advocacy in these discussions. We’re eager to learn from you and to share our own experiences as well. You can submit the request on our contact form.
- Join our Groups. Vancouver DPAC has several Working Groups and local School Area Groups to discuss various education issues.
When you log in to our website, navigate to the DPAC Working Groups & School Groups you can apply to become a member of a group. Working Group coordinators are responsible for their policies for accepting new members in their groups. - Join Our Meetings. Stay informed and share your insights by attending our monthly General meetings. These meetings are open to all parents and guardians with children in Vancouver public schools. Check our events calendar for dates, times, and topics.
- Elect a DPAC Representative at your Parent Advisory Council. All Parent Advisory Councils can elect a DPAC Representative under section 8 (5) of the School Act, which provides:
“8 (5) A parents’ advisory council, in consultation with the principal, must make bylaws governing its meetings and the business and conduct of its affairs, including bylaws governing…
(c) the election of a member to represent the parents’ advisory council on the district parents’ advisory council.
(6) Voting at an election referred to in subsection (5) (c) must be by secret ballot.”
If no DPAC Representative is elected by a PAC, then under Vancouver DPAC’s bylaws, the PAC Chair or Co-Chair may represent the PAC to DPAC.
*** Some important notes:
– To comply with our bylaws, we ask all elected PAC Executives to log in to our website and join their designated Area Schools group. Please keep your profile information updated so that our DPAC Executive Liaisons can easily reach out when needed.
– DPAC’s bylaws require each PAC to provide a general contact email, along with the name and contact details of its DPAC Representative and Chair or Co-Chairs whenever there are changes. Please submit this information to us through the DPAC contact form.
– Once your profile on our website has been verified by the DPAC team, a blue check mark will appear beside your name. - DPAC Executive applications. A DPAC Executive typically has prior experience as a PAC Executive or is an active member of one of our Working Groups. This volunteer position demands a considerable commitment of time and responsibility. Our Executives undertake multiple roles in our organization, including representing at VSB Committee meetings. Applicants for Executive positions should demonstrate a strong interest in leading an educational initiative for DPAC. If you possess the relevant experience, can dedicate 10 to 15 hours per week, and are interested in serving as an Executive, you must be nominated by your Parent Advisory Council. The Nomination form is here.
If you have any questions about the nomination process, or if you want more information about becoming an Executive, please contact the Vancouver DPAC officers here.