Garrison Duke is named Chief Operating Officer (COO) of DIVERSEcity
DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Garrison Duke as Chief Operating Officer, effective October 3, 2022.
Garrison comes with extensive experience of 20 years of developing impactful community programs, fostering team growth and creating an environment of shared learning. He has served as the Director of Employment, Language and Enterprise Development at DIVERSEcity since 2018 and holds a master of business administration (MBA) from Simon Fraser University. In his senior executive role, Garrison has created new opportunities for marginalized populations, while mentoring his team to do the same. He has strong convictions about improving the wellbeing of individuals through collaboration, positive outlook and providing access to empowering interventions.
As part of our commitment to strengthening our leadership teams at DIVERSEcity, this is the first of the many announcements to come.
In his new role, Garrison will be responsible for the overall programs and services of DIVERSEcity and will work with CEO Neelam Sahota and the Senior Management Team at DIVERSEcity to implement the strategic vision and values of our organization. He will also be responsible for planning, implementing, managing and overseeing all of DIVERSEcity’s program and services teams.
During his tenure, Garrison has led DIVERSEcity’s Immigrant Entrepreneur Program, which was presented the national CANIE Award for its innovative work. Garrison was also presented with the Surrey-Now Leader’s Community Leader Honourable Mention Award for the Above & Beyond category. He is also a host of our DIVERSEtalks: Conversations for Change panel series.
“Garrison has been an invaluable team member who has performed at a consistently high level, has earned the respect of all team members and partners, and demonstrated a high commitment to our organizational values. I look forward to working even more closely with Garrison in his new role to propel the innovation with which we are envisioning the future at DIVERSEcity,” said Neelam Sahota, CEO, DIVERSEcity.
Garrison is always seeking to build new partnerships, help more people and look for innovative ways of doing so. For most of his career he has been a community builder and influencer. He sits on a variety of boards and committees including AMSSA, BC Career Development Association Board of Directors, Regional Ethnocultural Advisory Committee, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), and previously British Columbian Multicultural Advisory Council. Garrison has advocated for clients and services through media appearances, such as Breakfast TV Vancouver, CKNW 980, Asian Pulse TV, Global News and CBC radio.
“I am looking forward to the next steps in my journey with DIVERSEcity, helping to lead the registered charity’s work in supporting our clients in their own journeys toward success, wellbeing and belonging in Surrey and the Lower Mainland,” said Garrison Duke, Chief Operating Officer, DIVERSEcity. “The work we are doing is vital in building back strong communities in this era of recovery, and I am excited to help lead this work, alongside CEO Neelam Sahota and Chief Financial Officer Gavrielle Tran.”
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are very excited by this announcement as it will bolster the vital work that is being delivered by DIVERSEcity to newcomers and other diverse communities as they build their lives in Canada. This important work will be further strengthened through Garrison’s new position and enhance our ability to meet our strategic goals,” said Upkar Singh Tatlay, Board Chair. “We would like to welcome Garrison Duke to the position of Chief Operating Officer.”