23.54°C Vancouver

May 30, 2023 9:20 PM - The Canadian Press

B.C. housing non-profit at heart of controversy names interim CEO

Share On
b-c-housing-non-profit-at-heart-of-controversy-names-interim-ceo
The housing provider says it's committed to rebuilding trust with the government, forming a task force to undertake a review of policies around real estate and conflicts of interest. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

The Atira Women's Resource Society says it has named a new interim CEO after former head Janice Abbott stepped down amid a conflict-of-interest controversy involving her husband, former BC Housing CEO Shayne Ramsay.

Atira says its new CEO Catherine Roome is an experienced leader in both the public and private sectors and will head the organization until a permanent replacement for Abbott is found.

Atira board chair Elva Kim says recruiting Roome is part of its effort to restore public confidence in the housing provider after Abbott's departure earlier this month.

The housing provider says it's committed to rebuilding trust with the government, forming a task force to undertake a review of policies around real estate and conflicts of interest.

It says it's supportive of an upcoming review by auditing firm KPMG, and has also returned nearly $2 million in funding to the provincial government after an investigation of BC Housing found Ramsay had improperly steered funding to his wife's organization.

Roome says in a news release that she looks forward to working to reset and renew the situation at Atira, and ensure its work to protect women, children and gender diverse people continues.

Latest news

BCAug 24, 2026

Kamloops Single-Vehicle Crash Claims Life of 22-Year-Old Woman

A 22-year-old Kamloops woman was killed in a single-vehicle crash Saturday evening. According to Kamloops RCMP, police were called to the 7000 block of Westsyde Road at around 6 p.m. after receiving reports of a crash. When Kamloops Fire and Rescue crews arrived, they found the vehicle off the road and crashed into a tree. The vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. First responders declared the 22-year-old Kamloops resident, who was driving the vehicle, dead at the scene. Kamloops RCMP said the cause of the crash remains under investigation. Police are asking anyone who may have important infor
b-c-premier-david-eby-backs-carneys-decision-to-halt-u-s-trade-talks
BCAug 24, 2026

B.C. Premier David Eby Backs Carney’s Decision to Halt U.S. Trade Talks

British Columbia Premier David Eby has backed Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to suspend trade negotiations with the United States, saying B.C. stands “shoulder to shoulder” with Canada. Eby said the latest round of trade talks had exposed the true position of the Trump administration. According to the premier, Washington was seeking to impose conditions that would restrict Canada’s ability to independently negotiate and conduct trade with other countries. Eby said such conditions would effectively amount to turning Canada into an economic “51st state” of the United States. T
canada-to-impose-matching-tariffs-on-u-s-goods-after-new-50-per-cent-u-s-tariffs
CanadaAug 24, 2026

Canada to impose matching tariffs on U.S. goods after new 50 per cent U.S. tariffs

Prime Minister Mark Carney has called the United States’ new 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods an attack on Canada’s economy and announced that Ottawa will respond with dollar-for-dollar tariffs beginning Sept. 8. Asked by reporters whether Canada has now entered a trade war with the United States, Carney said the country is responding to what he described as an economic attack. Carney acknowledged that tariffs could lead to higher prices and fewer choices for Canadians. He said, however, that rejecting what he characterized as a bad deal was in Canada’s interest. The prime minister
canada-us-trade-talks-collapse-as-ottawa-vows-dollar-for-dollar-tariff-response
CanadaAug 22, 2026

U.S. Tariffs on Canadian Imports Take Effect; PM Carney Warns of Dollar-for-Dollar Hit

U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports went into effect early Saturday morning after Prime Minister Mark Carney suspended trade negotiations just minutes before the midnight deadline. ​"I have decided to suspend trade negotiations with the U.S. and have directed Canada’s negotiators to return to Ottawa," Prime Minister Mark Carney said. "Last-minute changes in the U.S.-proposed terms were unfair, uneconomic, and called into question the reliability of any deal. Canada will match those tariffs dollar for dollar to protect our workers and businesses." ​In a statement released Friday night, U.S.
18-year-old-shooting-suspect-turns-himself-in-to-burnaby-rcmp
BCAug 21, 2026

18-year-old shooting suspect turns himself in to Burnaby RCMP

A suspect wanted in connection with a December 2025 shooting in North Burnaby has turned himself in to authorities. Burnaby RCMP said officers responded on Dec. 19, 2025, to a report of a shooting near Phillips Avenue and Woodbrook Place. A man was found suffering from gunshot wounds and was taken to hospital for treatment. The RCMP’s Investigative Support Team took over the investigation. On Dec. 25, charges were laid and an arrest warrant was issued for 18-year-old Ronin Tajali. Tajali has since surrendered to police and remains in custody awaiting a bail hearing. Police thanked the public

Related News