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Board of Governors

The Board of Governors is responsible for the overall stewardship of York House School
The Board of Governors is composed of 12 elected Board members, as well as three Advisors: the President of the Parents’ Association, the President of the Alum Association, and the Chair of the YHS Foundation. The Immediate Past Chair is also a member of the board for the duration of their two-year term.

All Board members are unpaid volunteers who give generously of their time and resources in support of the school. Most Board members have already participated extensively in school activities as volunteers prior to joining the Board. Previous Board members have come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences; most are parents, past and current, and some are also alums. They are united in their desire to see York House School as the best place for educating girls. They wish to see the school empower girls to achieve their full potential, and be prepared to be effective in a rapidly changing world.

The Board of Governors is responsible for the overall stewardship of York House School. The Board sets policy directions through strategic planning and goal setting to ensure the financial stability of the school and to advance the school’s mission and vision. The Board is also responsible for appointing the Head of School to whom it delegates authority over the administration of the school and matters of curriculum and staffing. In keeping with the membership requirements of the Canadian Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), the Board oversees the school and remains at arm’s length from the administration.

Board of Governors 2024-25

List of 15 items.

  • Joanne Lee-Young '90, Board Chair

    Chair, Head Evaluation Committee, ex-officio member of all board committees
    Bio
  • Dr. Indira V. Samarasekera, Vice Chair

    Member, Head Evaluation Committee
    Bio
  • Kathy Butler, Treasurer

    Chair, Finance Committee
    Bio
  • Michelle Ostrow '89, Past Chair

    Member, Governance Committee, Head Evaluation Committee
    Bio
  • Shamir Alibhai

    Chair, Master Planning Advisory Committee
    Member, Governance Committee, Facilities and Maintenance Committee, Head Evaluation Committee
    Bio
  • Gina Arsens

    Member, Finance Committee
    Bio
  • Jill Donaldson

    Member, Facilities & Maintenance, Neighbour Committee
    Bio
  • Michelle Grant

    Member, Finance Committee
    Bio
  • Mike Hudson

    Chair, Advancement/Major Gifts Committee
    Member, Facilities and Maintenance Committee, Finance Committee,
    Governance Committee, Master Planning Advisory Committee
    Bio
  • Omar Ladak

    Chair, Facilities and Maintenance Committee
    Member, Finance Committee
    Bio
  • Jennifer Mackenzie

    Chair, Neighbour Committee; Member, Advancement/Major Gifts
    Bio
  • Kirsten Sutton '83

    Chair, Governance Committee
    Bio
  • Helen Shen, President, YHS Parents' Association (Advisor)

    Bio
  • Connie Chan '95, President, YHS Alum Association (Advisor)

    Bio
  • Margot Keate West '93, Chair, YHS Foundation (Advisor)

    Member, Advancement and Major Gifts Committee
    Bio
With respect, we acknowledge that the land on which we learn, play, and work is the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xwməѲkwəyəm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səlílwəta/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.