The Vancouver Police Foundation is pleased to announce Christian Chia as our new Chair of the Board. Christian replaces outgoing Chair Dr. Sherri Magee, whose two-year term as Chair just concluded. Dr. Magee will remain on the VPF Board as Past-Chair and Trustee.
As the founder and long-time President and CEO of the OpenRoad Auto Group, Christian is one of Vancouver’s most successful business, community and philanthropic leaders. He brings incredible experience in strategy, marketing and fundraising to the role of Chair, in addition to a number of other important skills.
Christian will be looking to lean on this experience as the Foundation strives to raise even more money in the coming years to provide even greater support to the VPD’s community-building and public safety efforts that all outside of the regular operating budget. Despite the fact that 2022 has been a record-breaking year for the Foundation (over 120 initiatives committed to totalling more than $1.7M), Christian believes that the Foundation can do more to support the incredible members of the VPD who go above and beyond to develop and run these programs, often after shift or on their days off.
Introduced to the Foundation through former Trustees Wayne Deans and Ryan Beedie, Christian didn’t know much, if anything about us before that point.
Frankly, I’d never given that much thought to policing before that,” he said. “I was supportive of the VPD and believed they were doing a great job keeping our city and all of its residents and visitors safe, but I had no idea just how much more these officers give of themselves each and every day and how many people are positively impacted through the programs we fund.”
The Foundation is extremely fortunate that Christian agreed to become our new Chair, given his many other commitments around our city, including current and past volunteering:
- The Sauder School of Business Advisory Council
- The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
- Established the OpenRoad Foundation
- Partnered with Make-a-Wish Foundation for over ten years
- Numerous capital campaigns including the Vancouver Public Library and UBC Sauder’s Powerhouse project
- Young Presidents Organization
- Automobile Industry Association of BC
- Canadian Federal Advisory Committee on Financing
Beyond his volunteer time, Christian and his wife Carol are significant supporters of numerous causes around our city.
Welcome Christian and thank you!
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.
