Abbotsford Coun. Patricia Ross was elected to lead the Fraser Valley Regional District board, taking over as chair from long-serving Chilliwack Coun. Jason Lum.
At the same time Chilliwack Coun. Chris Kloot was elected vice-chair for the upcoming year.
Chair Ross took the opportunity to praise outgoing Chair Lum's example, for leading with "integrity, dedication and grace."
"I’m honoured to have been elected chair of the Fraser Valley Regional District board of directors," Ross wrote in an online post.
"These amazing group of people, elected to represent six municipalities and eight electoral areas from Abbotsford to Boston Bar, work so hard to improve the lives of people in our region.
"Congratulations to Chris Kloot on being elected vice chair, Sylvia Pranger as chair of the FVRD Hospital board and Paul Horn the vice chair."
Lum had been at the helm of the board for several years, through the pandemic and the atmospheric river disaster of 2021.
"My sincere gratitude to Jason Lum, who decided to step down as chair of the board, for his long and remarkable service.
"He left an outstanding example of leading with integrity, dedication and grace for me to follow," Ross added.
It was during the inaugural meeting of Nov. 28, the board elected the chairs and vice-chairs for the upcoming year, according to a release from the FVRD.
Ross was FVRD vice-chair from 2012 to 2024, and previously was in the role of board chair for 2009, 2010 and 2011.
It is the first time for Kloot to step into the role as FVRD board vice-chair.
Ross concluded with a word of gratitude, thanking the board for its support.
"I am confident that we will face the region’s inevitable challenges with climate, homelessness, and community growth, with grace while being collaborative and mindful of our strategic priorities of Climate and Environment; Growth Management; Indigenous Relationships; and Wellness and Prosperity,” Ross said.
