Big news for our community!
Executive Director Announces Retirement
Maple Ridge, BC — On Tuesday, November 21, 2023, the Board of Directors for Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Community Services and Cythera Transition House Society announced the retirement of Vicki Kipps, Executive Director for both organizations. Vicki will retire from Community Services and Cythera in May, 2024. Vicki began working with Community Services over 27 years ago and held various leadership positions prior to becoming the longest serving Executive Director in the Agency’s 53-year history.
During her tenure as Executive Director, Vicki has been instrumental and an inspiration in building the reputation of Community Services within the communities that it serves and ensuring that program creation and delivery aligns with the needs of the populations in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Notable achievements include one of the first Child and Youth Advocacy Centres in BC (Alisa’s Wish), helping to create a standalone indigenous organization (what is now known as Fraser River Indigenous Society), bringing Foundry Ridge Meadows to the communities and the opening of Cornerstone Landing (a 94-unit affordable housing project); which includes a youth-housing program. More recently, Vicki initiated the deeper partnership with Cythera; resulting in Cythera becoming an official affiliate organization of Community Services in May 2023.
Vicki has expressed gratitude and stated, “I’m so very proud and grateful for the opportunity to lead such incredible organizations and I can’t say enough about our dedicated and amazing staff and volunteers and what we’ve accomplished for the community. I will miss everyone, including the wonderful community partnerships, generous donors and allies in this important work.”
The Board of Directors will initiate a thorough search for Vicki’s successor to ensure a smooth transition. Board Chair, Lisa Begg, expressed both sadness and appreciation, saying, “Vicki has been an integral part of Community Services for many years. Her dedication, knowledge and love for Community Services and the communities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows as a whole has contributed to the success of our programs. Vicki has built many relationships both professionally and personally and she will be missed by many. The Board wants to thank Vicki for her many years of leadership and wishes her all the best in her retirement
