Leadership Changes Aim to Strengthen Governance and Community-Focused Care
SURREY — Fraser Health has announced a series of new appointments to its Board of Directors, including a new chair and two additional members, as part of efforts to reinforce governance and enhance health-care delivery across the region.
The Province has appointed Cindy Oliver as Chair of the Fraser Health Board, replacing interim Chair Opreet Kang. The changes come at a time when health systems across British Columbia continue to face operational pressures and evolving community needs.
Oliver brings an extensive background in education, public service and workforce development. She previously served as President of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of B.C., representing educators across colleges, universities and institutes in the province.
Experienced Leadership with Focus on Workforce and Innovation
Oliver’s leadership experience spans multiple sectors, including skilled trades, governance and community initiatives. She has chaired SkilledTradesBC and the Interprovincial Alliance of Board Chairs, contributing to apprenticeship and workforce strategies at both provincial and national levels.
Her contributions to advancing women in underrepresented fields were recognized with the King Charles III Coronation Medal. Fraser Health said her governance experience and focus on workforce development position her to support innovation and system improvements in health-care delivery.
New Board Members Bring Indigenous Leadership and Community Perspectives
Alongside Oliver’s appointment, the Province has named two new board members: Leslie Bonshor and Loren Muth.
Bonshor, a leader from the Stó:lō Nation and member of the Nooksack Tribe, is widely recognized for her work advancing Indigenous inclusion and reconciliation. She has held leadership roles in health-care transformation initiatives, including efforts to integrate the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into policy and service delivery.
Her work spans multiple sectors, including collaborations with health authorities, Indigenous research initiatives and advisory roles with organizations such as the Vancouver Foundation and the University of British Columbia. Fraser Health noted that her experience will help strengthen Indigenous engagement and culturally informed care.
Muth, a councillor for Ch’íyáqtel (Tzeachten) First Nation, brings governance experience at both community and regional levels. He also serves as Deputy Chair of the First Nations Health Council and represents Fraser Salish communities.
Elected to council in 2016, Muth has worked closely with health partners and Indigenous leaders to advance culturally safe health systems. His broader leadership includes roles in environmental stewardship, emergency planning and regional governance, contributing to community resilience and long-term sustainability.
Departure of Interim Chair Marks Transition Period
Fraser Health also acknowledged the contributions of outgoing interim Chair Kang, who led the board during a transitional period.
“Serving as Board Chair for Fraser Health has been an incredible privilege,” said Kang. “I’ve had the opportunity to see firsthand the dedication and compassion of staff and medical staff across the region. While there are real challenges facing health care today, what stands out to me most is the commitment of our people to keep moving forward and finding solutions. I leave feeling hopeful we have the people, the partnerships and the focus to continue improving care for the communities we serve.”
The organization also recognized departing board members Jessie Kaur Lehail and Inderjeet Singh Hundal for their contributions to governance and system growth.
Governance Role Central to Health System Performance
The Fraser Health Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing organizational performance, ensuring accountability and maintaining quality standards across one of Canada’s largest regional health authorities.
Working alongside the executive team, the board provides strategic direction, monitors long-term priorities and supports engagement with diverse communities, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations across the Fraser Salish region.
Fraser Health delivers hospital and community-based services through a workforce of more than 50,000 staff, medical professionals and volunteers. The authority operates on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations, serving a population that includes 32 First Nations communities.
Continued Focus on Inclusive and Sustainable Care
The latest appointments underscore a broader provincial emphasis on inclusive governance, reconciliation and system sustainability. By adding leaders with expertise in education, Indigenous relations and community-based governance, Fraser Health aims to strengthen its ability to respond to complex health-care challenges while maintaining accountability and service quality.
With new leadership in place, the board is expected to focus on workforce capacity, culturally appropriate care and long-term system resilience as key priorities in the months ahead.