David A Coggles
Vancouver,BC
Summary
Dynamic and patient leader with extensive experience in safety, security, operations, and management. Dedicated to serving vulnerable populations, and supporting teams in the successful implementation of their work. Skilled at guiding staff through change and complex challenges with steadiness and clarity. Building on the work initiated in my Acting Director role, I aim to strengthen services, foster collaboration, and deliver a positive community impact within the City of Vancouver.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Acting Director
City of Vancouver - Gathering Place Community Centre
Vancouver, BC
03.2025 - Current
- Strategic and operational leadership of the Gathering Place Community Centre, including planning, development, evaluation, management, and administration of the Centre.
- Managing in a unionized environment.
- Leading through change and a period of transition, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
- Ensuring safety and security standards and objectives are consistently applied, while evolving practices to meet changing operational demands.
- Working collaboratively with community partners and stakeholders, including the Downtown South Gathering Place Community Centre Association, to strengthen partnerships and develop and deliver programs and services that address community needs.
- Provide oversight to ensure equitable, consistent, and effective service delivery to vulnerable populations, including local Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC groups.
Security & Violence Prevention Manager
City of Vancouver
Vancouver, British Columbia
09.2022 - Current
- Recommend, develop, and lead the implementation of security and violence prevention policies, procedures, and practices.
- Lead and completed violence risk assessments for the City of Vancouver's Social Operations, Non-Market Housing, and Housing & Homelessness Services Divisions.
- Provide leadership, guidance, and expertise in the areas of security and violence prevention.
- Collaborate and coordinate with various City divisions and departments, including outside agencies and emergency services.
- Lead Non-Violence Crisis Intervention Training for various City departments.
- Developed and integrated new incident reporting system (Resolver) into Social Operations and Non-Market Housing Divisions.
Security Coordinator
City of Vancouver, Vancouver Public Library
Vancouver
01.2016 - Current
- Working in a highly dynamic environment requiring strong inter-personal and communication skills.
- Interactions with patrons: build relationships, handle complaints and concerns, respond to incidents, resolve conflicts, implement, and enforce patron restrictions/bans, support patrons following the removal of their bans
- Team support: train, coach and supervise security staff, respond to VPL staff security related concerns, instruct VPL staff in patron conflict resolution and de-escalation strategies, liaise with security contract manager
- Policy: assist in the development of policy and procedures, ensure policy and procedure adherence amongst security staff
- Health and safety: serve as a member of the OH&S and Security Committees, assist in the development and implementation of risk reduction procedures and processes
- Planning and implementing security procedures for large scale events
Acting Operations Manager (Covid-19 Redeployment)
City of Vancouver, Evelyne Saller Centre
Vancouver
04.2020 - 07.2020
- Company Overview: a community centre located in the Downtown Eastside that provides services to at-risk and marginalized adults.
- Managed day-to-day operations of the Evelyne Saller Community Centre.
- Ensuring the safety and security of staff and patrons, while also ensuring that all persons are treated with dignity, respect, and empathy
- Responsible for staff hiring, training, deployment, and performance management
- Responsible for the creation and implementation of effective policies, procedures and practices: Assisted with the development of the new Code of Conduct policy for all three Downtown community centres
- Building effective working relationships with clients/patrons, and other outside agencies and/or social service providers
- A community centre located in the Downtown Eastside that provides services to at-risk and marginalized adults.
Doorman
The Taphouse
Surrey, B.C
01.2015 - 01.2016
Front Desk Attendant
Total Fitness
Walnut Grove, B.C
01.2014 - 01.2016
Site supervisor
Securiguard Services, Vancouver Public Library
Vancouver
01.2012 - 01.2016
Support Services
The Salvation Army Belkin House
Vancouver, B.C
01.2013 - 01.2014
Assistant Christmas Kettle Coordinator (Annual Fundraising)
The Salvation Army
New Westminster, B.C
01.2010 - 01.2012
Child Care Worker
The Salvation Army
New Westminster, B.C
01.2010 - 01.2012
Family Services Driver / Swamper
The Salvation Army
New Westminster, B.C
01.2010 - 01.2012
Education
Criminal Justice Studies Certificate - New Westminster, BC
Douglas College
New Westminster, BC09.2025
Violence Prevention
Workplace Violence
01-2025
Non-Violence Crisis Intervention
Vancouver, BC12-2022
Standard First Aid CPR-C & AED -
01.2022
Occupational First Aid Level 2 -
01.2020
Basic Security Training - Burnaby, BC
Concord Security
Burnaby, BC01.2019
Advanced Security Training -
01.2019
Associate of Arts - Psychology
Douglas College
New WestminsterPEACE Interview Course
Vancouver, BCSkills
- Leadership and staff development
- Conflict resolution
- Relationship management
- Problem solving
- Effective communication
- Team collaboration
- Fitness
References
References available upon request.
Volunteer Experience
- Centre Church, Vancouver, BC, January 2025 - present, Safety Team
- BCSPCA, Vancouver, BC, April 2022 - May 2022 - Dog handler
- The Salvation Army, Camp Sunrise, Gibson’s Landing, BC, January 2011 - September 2024, Annual Men’s Social Services Camp - Music Team, Drummer
- The Salvation Army, Fort St. John, BC, 01/01/01, 12/31/06, Thrift Store: sorting clothes
- The Salvation Army, Fort St. John, BC, 01/01/01, 12/31/06, Care and Share Drop-In Centre: prepared and served meals for clients
Affiliations
- Fitness (weight-training and mountain biking)
- Musician
Timeline
Acting Director
City of Vancouver - Gathering Place Community Centre
03.2025 - Current
Security & Violence Prevention Manager
City of Vancouver
09.2022 - Current
Acting Operations Manager (Covid-19 Redeployment)
City of Vancouver, Evelyne Saller Centre
04.2020 - 07.2020
Security Coordinator
City of Vancouver, Vancouver Public Library
01.2016 - Current
Doorman
The Taphouse
01.2015 - 01.2016
Front Desk Attendant
Total Fitness
01.2014 - 01.2016
Support Services
The Salvation Army Belkin House
01.2013 - 01.2014
Site supervisor
Securiguard Services, Vancouver Public Library
01.2012 - 01.2016
Assistant Christmas Kettle Coordinator (Annual Fundraising)
The Salvation Army
01.2010 - 01.2012
Child Care Worker
The Salvation Army
01.2010 - 01.2012
Family Services Driver / Swamper
The Salvation Army
01.2010 - 01.2012
Criminal Justice Studies Certificate - New Westminster, BC
Douglas College
Violence Prevention
Workplace Violence
Non-Violence Crisis Intervention
Standard First Aid CPR-C & AED -
Occupational First Aid Level 2 -
Basic Security Training - Burnaby, BC
Concord Security
Advanced Security Training -
Associate of Arts - Psychology
Douglas College
PEACE Interview Course