• This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

2022/2023 Executive

Welcome to our newest executive members!  We still have openings for a secretary and one member at large.  If you are interested or would like more information, contact .

You may contact each executive member individually or send an email to  which will be sent to the group.

Tracy Humphreys (President) - 
Heather Currie (Vice-President) - 
Jodi Whiteman (Treasurer) - 
Paula Marchese (Member at Large) - 
Rachel McClellan (Member at Large) - 
Meredith Ruelle (Member at Large) -  

VCPAC have openings for a president, vice-president, secretary and one member at large.  If you are interested or would like more information, contact .

You may contact each executive member individually or send an email to  which will be sent to the group.

Nyssa Temmel (Treasurer) - 
Meredith Ruelle (Member at Large) -  


The Victoria Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils would like to inform you of what we think is a significant issue that emerged from this past Monday's combined SD 61 report that was included in the pack-up (see https://pub-sd61.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=420 pp 102-195) for the meeting. This report, "Shops in SD 61: Audit Findings and Status" indicated that district and middle school shops are significantly non-compliant with current health and safety standards and we see these findings as potentially gravely concerning. The report was to be reviewed at the board meeting that night but was pushed back and is tabled to be on the agenda for the Operations Policy meeting on the evening of January 11.

It is important to note that the district is fully aware that its middle and high school shops are not compliant with current health and safety standards. They state, "Shops in School District No. 61 are highly valued and provide relevant and engaging programming to a substantial number of students. Shops are expensive learning environments with many safety and compliance standards, and areas of responsibility. Shops are underfunded in terms of compliance, and a refresh cycle is non-existent. Shops are not yet compliant in today’s context, and require a significant investment to make them so." (pg. 107)

In the report the district says that it finds it a struggle to make sure shops can meet health and safety criteria, limit their liability, and meet operating requirements (pg 102). An estimated $12.9 million is required to bring the shops up to current standards (pg. 106) part of which includes a 12-year future funding suggestion to upgrade dust collectors as a priority(Appendix G, pg. 194). We are in complete disbelief that the shops are in this state as they pose a daily (electrical requiring updating to bring it to code, inoperable/ineffective eye wash stations, etc...) and/or potentially long-term threat (poor air quality caused by inadequate dust collectors) to students. Why has this issue not been raised prior to this week's meeting when the condition of the shops has clearly been non-compliant for years, leaving the children needlessly vulnerable to serious injury. If upgrading is a priority, why are they projecting a 12 year - plan to update essential equipment when this should be done immediately? The district appears reluctant to provide a safe environment for our children yet has a duty of care under the school act to do so.


Your VCPAC Executive is currently working on a plan moving forward.  Any updates will be posted in future editions of Snips, on the VCPAC website and through PAC email.  During weeks where there are no updates, we will not send out Snips. If your PAC email address or your PAC contacts have changed, please send updates to . 


Dear community members,

VCPAC  spoke with Shelly Green, Kim Morris and Marne Jensen this morning about the rapidly changing situation faced by our district and schools across the province.  

The District is in constant communications with the Ministry and its stakeholders, and are working to determine how best to continue to deliver education to our students in the not too distant future.   It will take some time to work out how to do so given the complexities involved.  Key considerations are restrictions on the number of persons who can meet at any one  time, capacities for remote education, supporting vulnerable populations and providing support for families of first line workers.  

Please look for and read carefully communications from the District and your School Principal over the coming weeks 

As parents our role is to focus on supporting our District and School community through a stressful time and to try to reduce the stress of social distancing on our families by creative and safe community building.    We are encouraged to be supports for our vulnerable families within our communities who rely on school resources.    

Also important is, for us as parents, to have reasonable expectations about what the school system can deliver and the time it takes to prepare alternate methods of education for delivery to our kids and communicate those changes to us. 

As School PACS are trying to figure out what to do about PAC events in May and June, the message from the District is to delay or cancel events at this time until the District has determined the framework for resumed regular educational services.  Once we know what that framework looks like we can then apply our tremendous energies.

Look into using web based conference tools to hold AGMS if the community feels that the events cannot be delayed or cancelled.  We understand Zoom is a good product.

VCPAC will work to identify key concerns and issues raised by our communities and bring them to the District. 

 If you would like to contribute your ideas or have feedback, you can email . please be patient as we work through this unique change to our school learning delivery.