VIU Welcomes New General Counsel and University Secretary

Vancouver Island University (VIU) is pleased to announce that Bill Boyte has been appointed to the role of General Counsel and University Secretary.

In this critical role, Boyte will act as the senior policy advisor responsible for providing leadership, direction and oversight related to legal matters and the University's bicameral system of governance. In this role, Boyte will also serve as the University’s Privacy Officer and is responsible for matters related to privacy and access to information, policies, procedures, bylaws and elections.

“I’m thrilled to be joining VIU and supporting the University to move forward during this time of transition,” says Boyte. “I look forward to contributing my knowledge, my track record as a leader and my interpersonal skills to VIU to help leadership, the Senate and the Board of Governors continue to build an educational experience that is accessible, inclusive and rooted in community.”

Boyte brings a depth of legal and executive leadership experience to this role, having held the position of  Director of Employment Standards for British Columbia from 2017 until joining VIU. In this position, Boyte was the statutory decision-maker tasked with administering the provincial Employment Standards and Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Acts. Boyte has also held a number of executive roles in the BC Ministry of Labour. He is a legal expert with experience in Board governance and privacy law with a proven leadership track record in the provincial public sector.

Boyte is a practicing member of the Law Society of British Columbia and a former member of the Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society. He volunteered as Chair of the Canadian Association of Administrators of Labour Legislation: Labour Standards Committee from April, 2018 to October 2020 and is currently a volunteer faculty member with the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC.

“On behalf of the VIU community, I am delighted to welcome Bill as our new General Counsel and University Secretary,” said Dr. Deborah Saucier, VIU President and Vice-Chancellor. “He comes to us with a wealth of executive leadership experience and expert legal knowledge in areas that directly affect the institution. I know he will be a key member of our leadership team.”

Boyte holds a Master of Laws (Dispute Resolution) from York University, Osgoode Hall Law School (2018); a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New Brunswick (2005); and a Bachelor of Arts from Dalhousie University (1999).

When not serving the community through his various roles, Boyte enjoys spending time with his wife and sons cruising the Salish Sea and camping on Vancouver Island. He also coaches youth sports and can often be found at the ball field during softball season. 

Bill Boyte started his new role with VIU on May 17, 2020.