
Vicki Wang, Co-chair of the CLBC Vancouver Richmond Community Council.
Vicki Wang is proud of the work she has done on the CLBC Vancouver Richmond Community Council. Membership has grown with more than 20 members regularly attending meetings after a recent merger with the Richmond council. They’ve been keeping busy, recently organizing the third annual Vancouver Inclusion Fest in March.
It’s a growing event where community members, organizations, city officials and government leaders come to make connections and learn from people with disabilities. This year’s theme was “Aging Within Diverse Populations.”
Vicki and co-chair Spencer van Vloten credit self-advocates, and their insights and ideas, for helping to build a valuable relationship with the City through their recent input on its accessibility strategy.
They say not everyone is aware of barriers faced by people with developmental disabilities. But once community members learn from people with lived experience, they become allies.
“Self-advocates have an amazing impact when they can speak, for example, about challenges finding employment, difficulties in school, or the amazing effect on their lives of being able to find housing and live independently,” says Spencer. “When community leaders hear from self-advocates, the effect is so great that it is something that stays with them.”

Council members Anne-Marie and Annie welcome attendees at the 2025 Inclusion Fest.
Karen Lai, a City of Vancouver Accessibility Planner, said that when creating its accessibility strategy, the City wanted to hear different perspectives and held one of 21 focus groups with CLBC’s local community council. The process brought valuable feedback on issues like transportation and the built environment.
It is very important to hear directly from people with disabilities, says Karen. “People with disabilities are part of community. They have jobs, they have a social life. It’s not us versus them. We all have different needs and we need that community thinking.”
Vicki also serves as Vice President of BC People First and says, “Accessibility is very important to us and we are so happy that people are listening to us. Now self-advocates have a voice and it makes me feel great.”
“Before I joined this work I didn’t know what I could do,” says Vicki. “I am very shy, and I told myself I need to get out of my comfort zone. My goal is to maybe one day be president of BC People First where I can build even more awareness. Many people are so shy, but I want to help them to speak out!”
To learn more about how CLBC Community Councils can support inclusion and accessibility in your community, contact: CLBC.Connect@gov.bc.ca |