Michael Davis has enjoyed a very interesting career. In his twenties he lived and worked on a vintage wooden boat, sailing up and down the BC coast. In his late twenties he decided to do something different with his life and an avid interest in politics led him to manage various campaigns of some well-known politicians from all sides of the spectrum in BC. 

Michael is a graduate of the Royal Roads University Public Relations Management Program, and has provided counsel to a variety of organizations, including Wal-Mart Canada, the City of Fort St. John, and Insite (Canada’s first supervised injection site).

He is passionate about community and the environment and has been a long-time volunteer and board member of family and community service organizations. A man with an irreverent sense of humour, Michael continues to be an avid sailor and has added a new motorcycle cruiser, Jolene, to his land life.

Leader: Michael Davis, Board Chair

Organization: Board Voice

Tenure: Since November 2013

Leadership motto: Find the win for everyone at the table.

Upcoming Projects: 

Advocating for a Social Policy Framework for BC. An overarching set of documents that live at the highest political level of government. A SPF would outline the goals of all our social policies, desired outcomes, and strategies to coordinate across ministries and between government, community benefit organizations and the public. It would measure success by the outcomes for the end users.

The BC Social Reports. Work with multiple organizations to define the top measures of how BC is doing on social issues and publish them annually.

What is your personal mission statement?

Contribute real change on issues that matter to me: social justice, the environment, democracy.

What is the best advice you’ve received?

Go straight at it. 

Too many times we skirt the real issues because they make us uncomfortable. A direct approach –with some tact—is best. 

What is your greatest fear?

Irrelevance. 

What trait do you most admire in yourself?

The ability to think strategically and follow through with concrete action. And my sense of humour: I kill me!

If you ruled the world, what is the first thing you would change?

I would end child poverty.

What do you do for fun?

Sail an old wood boat on our beautiful coast.

What kind of child were you?

A brat. But lovable.

What is your passion? Where does it come from?

That everyone have a fair chance at contributing at their highest ability. 

Growing up gay, bookish and chubby, I know what it feels like to be excluded. We lose too much when we dismiss people, their knowledge and experience because they are not like us. I came very close to falling off the mainstream path many times, but good people at the right time have helped me grow and learn and make a contribution. And that feels very good.

How do you nurture your sense of wellbeing?

Balancing work and play and volunteering is important. The sense of accomplishment that comes through my paid and volunteer work is rewarding. Getting out of the city, out in nature soothes my soul. Time with friends and family enriches my life. The balance and variety of all these aspects makes for a pretty good life.

What is the one thing you can’t live without?

Music!