Patti Bacchus

Patti Bacchus was elected to the Vancouver School Board in 2008 and elected Chair of the Board for 2009, 2010 and 2011. As a Board chair and trustee, Patti is recognized province wide as a strong and articulate advocate for Vancouver’s public schools and for standing up for the learning needs of all students. She is proud of the Vision Vancouver school board team’s commitment to strengthening and vitalizing schools in Vancouver communities instead of closing down those who experience short-term low enrolment.

Named as one of BC’s Top 100 Influential Women by the Vancouver Sun, Patti listens to parents, students and communities and has worked to successfully minimize the impact of provincial funding shortfalls on classrooms and has secured additional provincial funding for Vancouver schools. A strong supporter of providing a continuum of services to meet diverse learning needs, Patti has worked alongside her colleagues and community members to develop plans for Vancouver’s first Aboriginal-focussed school of choice and an Early Mandarin Bilingual program.

A long-time advocate for school seismic safety, Patti continues to focus on getting all at-risk schools upgraded and improving school emergency preparedness.

Patti is proud of the work of the Vision Vancouver/COPE school board’s effective record and is looking forward to continuing to serve on the Board.

Born and raised in Vancouver and a graduate of Point Grey Secondary School, the University of Victoria and Langara College, Patti is married to Lee Bacchus and has a grown stepdaughter and two school-aged children.