Richard Grounds was appointed to a three-year term as chair of the Skilled Trades BC Appeal Board (STBCAB) effective Monday, Aug. 18, 2025.

The STBCAB provides a specialized, independent, accessible and cost-effective forum where decisions made by Skilled Trades BC can be appealed. Skilled Trades BC is the Crown corporation responsible for leading and co-ordinating the province’s skilled trades system, working with employers, employees, industry, labour, training providers and government to issue credentials, manage apprenticeships, set program standards and increase opportunities in the trades.

Grounds is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia and was called to the bar in B.C. in 1998. He has been a member of the STBCAB since 2018 and has prior experience working in the forestry and construction industries.

After starting his legal career as a federal and provincial Crown prosecutor, Grounds has been an independent lawyer for the past 23 years, primarily focusing on private workplace investigations, as well as adjudication work for B.C. and federal tribunals. He is a member of the British Columbia Employment Standards Tribunal and has previously been a member of the British Columbia Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal.

Quick Facts:

• The STBCAB reports to the attorney general and is supported by the ministry’s tribunal and agency support division, which oversees operations in the tribunal sector, agencies and independent offices.
• The rigorous, merit-based recruitment process involved a written assignment and an interview with a panel, following which Grounds was recommended to the attorney general and confirmed via an order-in-council.

Learn More:

For more information about the Skilled Trades BC Appeal Board, visit: https://www.stbcab.ca/

For more information about Skilled Trades BC, visit: https://skilledtradesbc.ca/