BC Housing has confirmed Vincent Tong as its permanent chief executive officer after he stepped into the role in an acting capacity last September. Previously, he served as vice president of development and asset strategies at the provincial agency, which oversees the development, management and administration of subsidized housing, as well as the licensing of residential builders and associated consumer protection programs.

“Under Vincent’s leadership, BC Housing has been taking significant steps to strengthen our organizational structure and capacity, financial systems, governance practices and policies related to oversight, transparency and conflict of interest,” says Allan Seckel, chair of BC Housing’s board of commissioners.

Since last fall, Tong is credited with hiring more in-house legal counsel to better ensure legal, regulatory and privacy compliance, strengthening standards for conduct and creating new whistleblower protections.

“This is a pivotal time in B.C. where people are struggling to secure affordable housing. I am committed to ensuring BC Housing delivers on our mandate,” Tong says. “I look forward to continuing to work with BC Housing’s dedicated employees, along with our provincial partners, the non-profit housing sector and municipal partners as we work together to address the housing crisis that affects us all.”

Prior to joining BC Housing in 2021, he spent a decade working at Toronto Community Housing, rising to the role of chief development officer and guiding the revitalization of aging social housing communities. He is a registered professional planner and a member of the Urban Land Institute.