An Inter-Institutional Action on Climate Change: A Viewpoints Series

Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Virk joined the Canadian Armed Forces (Army) Primary Reserves in 2001 as an Armoured Reconnaissance Officer. He has held various positions including Officer Commanding Reconnaissance Squadron, Regimental Second in Command and Chief Instructor of 39 CBG Training Establishment. He is currently the Commanding Officer of the British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own) which is an Armoured Cavalry Regiment in Vancouver, BC.
He has supported domestic operations on three occasions, as the Domestic Response Company Commander with Operation LENTUS (2018) in the fight against the BC Wildfires, with Operation LASER (2020) as part of CAF pandemic response plan and most recently as the Op LENTUS 23-08 Land Task Force Commander for wildfire fighting efforts in BC.
He attended the University of British Columbia and completed over 20 courses and qualifications through the Canadian Armed Forces such as the Information Operations Course at the Peace Support Training Center and the Joint Command and Staff Programme (Advance Joint Warfare Stream) with the Canadian Armed Forces College. In 2013 he was awarded the Queens Diamond Jubilee medal for his efforts in recruitment diversity.
When not in uniform he is President of the Pallas Group of Companies, which focuses on vertically integrated hospitality businesses including conception, acquisition, development, and operations. As an avid industry advocate, he has formerly held the roles with the Intercontinental Hotel Group Owners Association as Chair of the Canada Region and Vice-Chair for the Americas Region. In 2021 he was inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society.
He lives with his wife and two daughters in North Vancouver, BC and is an avid skier, mountain junkie, and reader.

Chris has been the Rector of Christ Church Cathedral and Dean of the Diocese of New Westminster since 2020. Before that, he was the Archdeacon for Congregational Development in the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton and Rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church. Chris has served parishes in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Alberta. His focus is on leadership development and congregational growth.

Before Church service, Chris worked as a Research Scientist at the Yale University School of Medicine and as the Assistant Secretary of the State for Connecticut. Chris received a B.S. in Biology from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, and a Ph.D. In Biomedical Science: Neuroscience from UConn, an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School, a Certificate in Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, and a D.Min. in Congregational Studies at Church Divinity School of the Pacific.

He enjoys reading, CrossFit, hiking, fishing, snowshoeing, and board games. Chris is a fan of Monty Python, many sports especially Rugby 7’s, and NCAA basketball: particularly the UConn Huskies basketball teams. He is also a big supporter of theatre and the arts.

Chris has served on many civic and community boards and commissions in the US and Canada, as well as on several National Church committees including as the co-chair of the National Worship Conference. Chris is a strong proponent of ecumenism and interfaith activities and served the soldiers of the South Albert Light Horse as the regimental church padre and currently does the same for the British Columbia Regiment. He is active in promoting the Arts and the Environment, supporting those who have served in the military and building community.