What we do
This is the first CAG for the service established by PLS, a program of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). We look forward to working closely with this eight-member community advisory group to continually improve equitable access to health care services for deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing patients across British Columbia.
We would like to thank everyone who took the time to apply to become a member of the CAG. Sixteen applications from very qualified applicants representing diverse perspectives were received. After a comprehensive analysis of all the perspective presented by each candidate, the selection committee chose eight members based on the pre-set primary and secondary criteria. One spot is saved for Indigenous representation.
Primary criteria were:
- Geographic representation: ensuring we have representatives from Greater Vancouver, the Interior, Vancouver Island, and the North.
- Diversity in type of language support required: ensuring we have representatives who are deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing.
Secondary criteria were related to diversity of representatives related to the following categories:
- Age
- Indigenous ancestry
- Gender identity
- Urban/non-urban representation
- Immigrants/refugees
- Deaf-plus representation: ensuring that we have representatives for as many of the listed categories.
The eight selected members provide the most diverse representation of perspectives based on the selection criteria and those who applied.
- Craig MacLean (Deaf-blind/Lower Mainland)
- Dan Braun (Deaf/Lower Mainland)
- Gordon Rattray (Hard of hearing/Interior)
- Leanor Vlug (Deaf/Lower Mainland)
- Monika Lane (Deaf/Vancouver Island)
- Nancy Zavaglia (Deaf/North - Prince George)
- Sarah Taylor (Deaf/Lower Mainland)
- Paula Wesley (Deaf/North - Terrace)
The members of the selection committee were recruited from within internal government resources based on their neutrality (had not applied to be on CAG) and their understanding of the health care system. Selection committee was made up of two deaf people and one hearing and signing person. The process was facilitated by a neutral, third-party stakeholder engagement firm, Delaney + Associates.
