For the past two years, Dr. Sherri Magee has served as the Vancouver Police Foundation’s Board Chair, the first female to hold this role in 45 years. Dr. Magee’s term hasn’t been the easiest, with the pandemic and the upheaval it caused as well as necessary conversations taking place in our society about the role of the police.
Throughout it all, Sherri has demonstrated tremendous leadership, grace, dedication and a determination to make the Foundation successful, despite the steep challenges it faced.
And her determination certainly paid off. In 2021, the Foundation hosted its first-ever charity golf tournament. Despite the fact that it was held on the first day of what came to be known as “atmospheric rivers” and had to be called off, it still raised more than $400,000 for the programs the VPF funds. Also, in 2021, the Foundation celebrated its 45th anniversary – celebrating over $11M in community building funding initiatives over that time. Now 46 years old, the Vancouver Police Foundation is North America’s second oldest police foundation, after the New York Police Department’s foundation.
In 2022, the Foundation committed to over 120 VPD officer-led community building and public safety initiatives totalling more than $1.7M – a record breaking number, this includes support for Sherri’s favourite initiative – the incredible Women’s Personal Safety Program. Sherri participates in a WSPT workshop at least once per year and learns something new every time!
Prior to becoming the Foundation Board Chair, Sherri was the Vice-Chair of the Vancouver Police Board and served a full term of six years. It was through this work that she developed a deep understanding of the complex operations of the Vancouver Police Department, which greatly assisted her in her role as VPF Board Chair. She was able to use this knowledge to inform the Foundation board regarding its strategic choices and considerations.
When she’s not working on VPF business, Sherri also volunteers her time on the Streetohome Foundation Board and several other community initiatives aimed at addressing complex mental health needs within our community.
And when she’s not volunteering her time, she continues to work in her professional field of breast cancer research, counselling patients who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer or who are undergoing treatment. Dr. Magee brings the empathy and compassion she employs in this work to everything she does, making her not just a strong and determined leader, but one who focuses on ensuring the people around her are connected, engaged and feeling valued for their contributions.
Thank you, Dr. Magee, for your incredible leadership over the past two years, and we are so glad you are staying on the Board!
The Vancouver Police Foundation supports programs and initiatives that fall under one of four pillars: Youth Programs, Mental Health & Addictions, Community Outreach & Engagement, and Technology & Special Equipment. You can help build a safer Vancouver by donating to the Vancouver Police Foundation.
