Three new public members have been appointed to the B.C. Press Council. They are Barbara Buchanan, Vancouver, Shelley Chrest, Port Alberni and Ray Gerow, Black Creek.
Buchanan has a diverse law background in providing conduct and ethics advice to B.C. lawyers, heading up a corporate legal department, engaging in private practice including administrative tribunal, board work and teaching. She is employed by the B.C. Law Society.
Chrest is a law and policy advisor with the Workers’ Advisers Office, Nanaimo.
Gerow, a status Indian, has an outstanding record of working for First Nations/Aboriginal interests and economic and community development. He is chief economic development officer for the Heiltsuk Economic Development Corporation. He was Prince George’s Business Person of the Year in 2011 and Citizen of the Year in 2010.
Chair Vern Slaney said the skills of the three new directors will strengthen the B.C. Press Council and the appointment of Mr. Gerow will enable Council to better represent minorities. Council already has a sitting member representing the Asian community.
The B.C. Press Council was founded in 1983 to adjudicate reader complaints against member newspapers. To date it has heard 967 complaints and held 59 hearings.