Who We Are

Formally established in 2010, Vancouver Island Association of Family Councils (VIAFC) represents independent family councils from long-term care homes located within the Island Health region. We are organized into two groups: South Vancouver Island (and Gulf Islands) and North Vancouver Island.

We are families, friends, and representatives (companions and legal representatives) of residents, all of whom have lived experiences (either past or present) related to loved ones residing in long-term care. As a group of committed volunteers, we believe that the ongoing involvement of families and friends results in enhanced care and improved quality of life for residents in long-term care who live with progressive conditions, primarily due to the aging process.

Our regional association of family councils (VIAFC) exists to serve its long-term care home residents by promoting independent self-led, self-directed councils (both resident and family councils) in every long-term care home within the Island Health region. We do this by supporting the start up and maintenance of councils and by acting as a continual resource for residents and their families and representatives.

VIAFC’s goal is to ensure every long-term care home within the Island Health region is offered the opportunity to learn about family councils, to form a family council, and to offer their council a voice at the regional and provincial level. VIAFC serves to elevate the collective voices of family councils by encouraging discussion at our regional forums and then, taking issues and ideas for potential solutions to various forums in order to contribute to continuous quality improvement of the resident experience.

There is one regional association of family councils (RAFC) in each of the 5 health authorities. Together, the 5 RAFC make up the recently registered non-profit Society entitled: Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC (ILTCCABC). ILTCCABC is the provincial association of family councils.

As one of five members of the provincial association of family councils, VIAFC takes forward, to the ILTCCABC, systemic (common) issues and potential solutions raised at our forums as well as those raised by single family members, residents and others throughout the year. The ILTCCABC includes the systemic issues in a report that is then provided to the Ministry of Health for consideration of actionable items.

All of our volunteers have had lived experiences with someone we care about in long-term care. VIAFC cares about resident quality of life. VIAFC seeks to be informed on the many issues of aging, as well as what advances allow us to consider improving quality of care and quality of life in long-term care.

VIAFC wishes to acknowledge the legacy of Kim Slater, who started this journey over 20 years ago and whose tireless, unrelenting work helped facilitate the creation of VIAFC, the first Regional Association of Family Councils in the province. It was Kim’s reach, tenacity and leadership that led to the development of four additional Regional Associations in 2021 and, ultimately, a provincial association of family councils known as Family Councils of BC. Much of Kim’s focus was on developing healthy and productive relationships among all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health and Health Authorities, worker’s unions, service providers and loved ones of residents in care. Thank you, Kim.

Note: due to health reasons, Kim handed the torch to Nola Galloway in 2022, who then pursued incorporation of the Provincial Association and, on October 27, 2022, we became a registered society, the Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC (ILTCCABC)

Our People

VIAFC’s Terms of Reference establishes our structure, duties and responsibilities.
VIAFC membership includes members of family councils as well as others with lived experiences in long-term care within the Island Health Region.
We are families, friends, and representatives of residents, all of whom have had lived experiences with loved ones residing in long-term care.
VIAFC Executive duties and responsibilities presents a terrific advocacy opportunity for anyone who has ever lived through the journey of long-term care with a loved one. As with individual member family councils, we often share our tasks but for clarity, we elect an Executive, consisting of the following: a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary/Treasurer and 4 Regional Directors (2 for the North and 2 for the South).

VIAFC’s four Director positions:

Work closely with the rest of the VIAFC Executive
Assist in making connections or taking over connections made by the executive team
Act as the “boots on the ground” as our liaison to the long-term care homes in their respective areas

Past Chairperson

May remain as an Advisor to the VIAFC executive for a year after the election if elected

ALL Executives will:

Act in the best interests of the VIAFC.
Be familiar with the VIAFC’s terms of reference, bylaws, policies, procedures and strategic plan, mission, etc.
Ensures he/she avoids conflicts of interest of the association including operating in the best interest of the association not in self-interest or the interest of a stakeholder group.
Respect confidentiality policies that pertain to executive discussions.
Bring his/her own skills, experience and knowledge to VIAFC.
Attend executive meetings regularly and arrive prepared.
Supports Executive decisions once voted on.

By becoming a member of the VIAFC and participating in our forums, we hope that, in time, you will put your name forward to become one of our executive members and then, eventually, become an ILTCCABC representative and work at the Provincial Level to help facilitate improvement in the quality of care and quality of life for all residents in long-term care in BC.