Description

This event stems from growing concerns expressed by our Chamber members regarding crime and public safety in New Westminster, particularly its impact on the business community. Our goal, as a Chamber, is to foster a productive dialogue between local leaders and business owners. By hosting this event, we aim to provide a forum for addressing concerns, answering questions, and sharing insights and solutions. 

Panel Discussion: Voices for Safer Communities

Moderator: Hayley Woodin Hastings 

Panelists:

• Honourable Terry Yung, Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services and MLA for Vancouver-Yaletown
• Chief Constable Paul Hyland, New Westminster Police Department
• Lynda Fletcher-Gordon, Interim Executive Director and Program Director, The Purpose Society
• Arbe Myhre, MBA - Executive Director of Fraserside Community Services 

Speaker Bio

Honourable Terry Yung

Terry Yung was elected MLA for Vancouver-Yaletown in 2024. Terry is the Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services.

Before being elected to the Legislative Assembly, Terry was a veteran, senior officer with the Vancouver Police Department and a community leader. In his policing career, he held leadership roles in Diversity, Community & Indigenous Relations, Operations and Administration, as well as on national and provincial advisory committees tackling issues like hate crimes.

An active community volunteer, Terry sat on the boards of Covenant House Vancouver, Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver, the Vancouver Classical Chinese Garden, the Justice Institute of British Columbia, and S.U.C.C.E.S.S., where he was the organization’s longest-serving Board Chair.

Terry holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern California and a Master of Arts from Royal Roads University.

He lives in Vancouver with his wife, Sarah.

Chief Constable Paul Hyland

Chief Constable Paul Hyland began his career with the New Westminster Police Department in 1995. After graduating from the Police Academy, he gained extensive frontline and investigative experience, serving in Patrol, the Street Crime Unit, the Emergency Response Team, and the Major Crime Unit.

Promoted to Sergeant in 2007, he supervised both Patrol and the Major Crime Unit. The following year, he was promoted to Staff-Sergeant and took on leadership responsibilities in Patrol and Criminal Investigations, later overseeing Human Resources, Staff Development, Recruiting, and Strategic Communications.

In 2014, Chief Hyland was promoted to Inspector, where he held leadership positions in the Operations, Support Services, and Administration Divisions. He was appointed Acting Deputy Chief in April 2019 and formally promoted to Deputy Chief in 2020. In January 2025, he was appointed as the Chief Constable of the New Westminster Police Department.

Chief Hyland holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Studies and has completed Executive Management training in Leadership, Public Sector Management, and Strategy at the Smith School of Business, Queen’s University.

Over the course of his career, he has been recognized with a number of awards and commendations, including the BC Award of Valour for his role in the apprehension of an armed suspect following an officer-involved shooting in 2003. In 2024, he was invested as a Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces. 

Today, Chief Hyland continues to serve the City of New Westminster with a commitment to excellence in policing and community safety. 

Lynda Fletcher-Gordon

Lynda Fletcher-Gordon is the Acting Executive Director of the Purpose Society.   Purpose is a accredited multi-service agency that employs over 250 people.  The Society has been providing social services in New Westminster and surrounding municipalities of Burnaby, TriCities, Maple Ridge and Mission for over 40 years.

Currently, Purpose operates a school for students with special needs (one of 13 in the province), Youth Hubs in New Westminster and Bunaby, family programs, Rent Banks in Burnaby, New Westminster and Maple Ridge, Housing Support programs, early learning programs for children, parenting programs, learning English groups for parents and children, a harm reduction and health program, a safe injection site, a 21/7 shelter and approximately 13 child care centres and after school programs.

Purpose has been recognized for providing quality and innovative programming as well as keeping all of its programs open throughout Covid, especially the child care centres that were open to care for the children of medical staff and first responders.