Michael J. Prince, the Lansdowne professor of social policy at the University of Victoria, has been appointed chair of Community Living British Columbia (CLBC) by Shane Simpson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.

CLBC was created in 2005 to support services for people with disabilities. The appointment of a new chair provides an opportunity to reimagine the future of community inclusion.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Prince to the CLBC Board,” said Simpson. “He brings a wealth of knowledge, decades of experience, and a commitment to improving policies for people with disabilities. Our government is focused on improving services for people in our province and his expertise will help guide our decisions and advance our work.”

As a social policy advisor, Prince has helped governments and organizations develop policies and actions that further inclusion and accessibility, and has made substantive contributions to the understanding of disabilities in Canada.

He has served as a member of the social policy committee of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, and was a policy fellow of the Broadbent Institute. He is a recipient of a President’s Award from the Canadian Association of Community Living, in recognition of his contribution to Canadians’ understanding of public policy that builds an inclusive and accessible Canada.

Prince’s three-year term as board chair will begin on July 1, 2018. Prince is replacing chair Tom Christensen. Simpson's statement, regarding Christensen's term as chair, is available online: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018SDPR0038-000961

CLBC funds supports and services for adults with developmental disabilities. The board of directors oversees CLBC’s operations within the overall policy, mandate and budget set by the provincial government. The board works with management to establish an overall strategic direction for the organization, and to ensure appropriate community consultation.

A backgrounder follows.