Rebecca Shields doesn’t remember a time in her life where she wasn’t fundraising or volunteering.
“I come from a family of volunteers. It was always in me to be active and involved.”
It would only make sense that her career path would follow suit, with progressive positions at the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society to the Deafblind Services Society of BC.
At the latter, where she spent eight years, Shields succeeded in initiating new contracts valuing $2.2 million annually, effectively increasing the capacity of the society by more than 625% in less than five years.
Now executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Vancouver-Burnaby branch, Shields has led the organization through difficult times.
“I came in a time of economic downturn and led the organization through a huge change-management process to revitalize the whole organization and to rebuild capacity to better serve the population.”
The results have been significant. Shields spearheaded the CMHA winning a $400,000 annual contract from the Fraser Health Authority toward a new rehabilitation and recovery-focused program for the mentally ill in Burnaby.
With her fundraising background, she has expanded the CMHA’s fundraising program. Before, it was heavily reliant on government contracts, but under Shields’ supervision it has become more sustainable by seeking out various sources of funding.
Throughout her career, Shields has been a huge proponent of advocating for those who can’t do it for themselves.
She remembered something someone once told her: “You never know who the one person is going to be to impact and change the world, and if we don’t offer everybody the potential, we all lose out.
“I have an inherent belief that everyone should have the same opportunities, and if we are inclusive and accessible we raise all of our lifestyles and chances for a better life.” •
