Atira hires Rosa as CEO
The Atira Women's Resource Society has appointed a new CEO, nearly a year after a conflict-of-interest scandal rocked the province's largest non-profit housing provider.
On Wednesday, the Vancouver-based group announced the appointment of Donnie Rosa as its new CEO, a move it said would continue its commitment to “open, transparent and proactive communication,” with B.C. Housing, the provincial government, tenants, staff and the public.
Rosa takes over from interim CEO Catherine Roome starting April 22. “This is a great time to be joining Atira,” Rosa said in a statement. “Atira's work is more essential than ever as a result of the overlapping crises we face in British Columbia, including housing, the poison drug supply and a deteriorating security situation.”
Rosa takes the helm of Atira 11 months after former CEO Janice Abbott resigned following a B.C. Housing investigation that found mismanagement related to a conflict of interest between Abbott and the former head of B.C. Housing, Shayne Ramsay, who is also her spouse. The report found Atira appeared to receive “preferential treatment” from the province and has been given greater access to public funds than similar housing providers.
Atira has received more than $120 million in B.C. Housing funding between 2018 and last spring. It operates hundreds of non-market housing units and social programs, helping about 3,000 women and children in Metro Vancouver.
Rosa previously served as general manager of Vancouver's park board before leaving the role last May. No reason was given for Rosa's departure. Rosa was hired in 2020 under then-mayor Kennedy Stewart. Rosa worked most recently as executive director of community services at the Squamish Nation responsible for land acquisition, community operations, and planning and capital projects, including housing delivery.
Rosa was hired after an extensive search across Canada, said Michelle Yung, an Atira board member: “Donnie immediately stood out as a visionary leader with the track record and experience needed to lead Atira.”