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Meet
the Board of Directors
President
Mr.
Fred Giesbrecht
Fred has been a BCLNA member since 1982 and a Director for the past four years.
Currently responsible for BCLNA personnel, Fred likes being informed and up to
date on the issues affecting the horticulture industry, and appreciates having
an influence on how these issues are controlled. Fred is happy to contribute
to an industry that has provided him with an excellent lifestyle and early retirement.
His favourite BCLNA memory is of the "Queen's" attendance at the 2004 AGM in
Victoria.
TFG Landscaping & Maintenance
1996 Loon Lake Road,
Cache Creek, BC V0K 1H0
Phone: 250-459-2774 Cell: 604-970-5040
E-mail...
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1st
Vice-President
Ms.
Ruth Olde
 Inside
BC Chair, Personnel / Administration
Ruth's most memorable BCLNA moment was receiving the Communicator of the Year
Award, a reinforcement of her personal theory "that talking too much does at
times pay off." Despite the thirty years she has clocked as a BCLNA member, Ruth
is tireless and exuberant; a Director for the past three years, Ruth was also
named 'Member of the Year' in 2006. Ruth explains her dedication to the BCLNA: "It
is continually exciting to see all that is going on in our industry - changing
at a phenomenal rate - and I am thrilled to be a part of it... AND it is an isolated
industry in which membership in the association has formed lasting relationships
and learning opportunities that helped shape our success."
Blasig Landscape Design & Construction
11360 256th St. Maple Ridge, BC V2W 1H1
Phone: 604-462-9144; Fax: 604-462-9134
E-mail...
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2nd
Vice-President, Legislation Director
Mr.
Sandy Mathies
 Legislation,
Urban Environment
Growing up in a horticultural family, Sandy has been associated with the BCLNA
for as long as he can remember. As a member of the Board, Sandy values the pool
of knowledge and the ability to make a difference. In the Horticulture sector
as a whole, he enjoys "the helpfulness of the people and the willingness to work
as a team to progress the whole industry."
Cannor Nurseries (1989) Ltd.
7640 Lickman Road, Chilliwack, BC
Phone: 604-858-4813; Fax: 604-858-4590
E-mail...
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Treasurer
Mr. Bill Hardy
Labour
Chair
An nineteen-year BCLNA member, Bill has been a Director, off and
on, for most of that period. This year his responsibilities include
being Treasurer and overseeing education and labour issues. Bill
believes that what you give through contributing to an organization
such as the BCLNA "is paid back many times." For Bill, this payment
has come partly in the form of innumerable memories, the ability
to effect change in the horticulture industry, and working with
great people (although he hints that rocks are periodically
more affectionate and forgiving).
Northwest Landscape Stone & Supply
38949 Queens Way, Squamish, BC V0N 3G0
Phone: 604-892-0191; Fax 604-892-0170
Email...
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Past
President
Mr.
Peter Levelton
 Governance,
CNLA Representative
Peter has been in the industry for 20 years and has served on the BCLNA board
for 8 years in various capacities including Director, Vice President, President
and now as Past President. The highlights of his board involvement include the
purchase of the new office building, the P. Ramorum certification program and
crisis surrounding the issue and the challenges created by the pest management
issue. Peter was recently elected as the BCLNA representative for the CNLA and
as a director for the Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C.
East Richmond Nurseries Inc.
18431 Westminster Hwy. Richmond, BC V6V 1B1
Phone: 604-278-0976; Fax: 604-244-2924
E-mail...
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Growers
Chair
Mr. Tim Loewen
BCLNA Board of Directors rookie, Tim, has been a general member
since 1994. He thoroughly enjoyed the 50th Anniversary Celebration
and when asked about his hobbies, reported, "I like stuff." (Note
to reader: we know that this means "too many to mention!") Tim especially
enjoys visiting the front desk at the BCLNA office, and gets his
kicks in the horticulture industry because, he says, "I work with
good people. There are lots of opportunity to be innovative."
Pine Meadows Tree Farms Ltd.
47561 Lindell Road, Chilliwack, BC V2R 4S4
Phone: 604-824-8787; Fax: 604-824-8727
E-Mail...
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Retail
Chair
Ms. Mary Ann Van Den Berge
A six-year BCLNA Member, Mary Ann has served three years on the
Board, with responsibility to the retail portion of the industry.
Mary Ann writes, "The BCLNA auction is always great fun, knowing
the proceeds are going to a good cause." Mary Ann appreciates
knowing that the members of the BCLNA can have "input into
things that can and do affect the industry." If everyone in
the horticulture industry were to join the BCLNA, she believes
that the strength of the members would be an even more powerful
force.
Trice Farms Pond & Garden Centre
24565 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge, BC V4R 1W9
Phone: 604-466-3254; Fax: 604-467-0439
E-mail...
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Landscape
Professionals Chair
Ms. Barbra Fairclough
 Barbra
joined the BCLNA while still a student at Kwantlen School of Horticulture
and has been an active volunteer ever since. Barbra chaired the
redevelopment of GardenWise Directory and currently sits on the
Inside BC Committee and the Membership Committee. She has
volunteered as Judge for both the Canadian Horticulture Technician
Certification and BC Landscape Awards of Excellence. Barbra has
consulted to Canada Wide Media Limited and has worked as Horticultural
Editor and contributing writer and photographer for GardenWise
Magazine. Barbra is a sought after garden speaker and currently
operates FarmHouse Gardens, a company specializing in high quality
residential landscape maintenance in the South Central Fraser Valley.
FarmHouse
Gardens
Aldergrove, BC
Cell:
604-309-5142
E-mail...
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Membership
Services Director
Mr. Michael Kato
 As
well as overseeing the BCLNA's Membership Services, Michael's
duties include overseeing special events such as the AGM/Convention,
the Auction, and the Golf Tournament. Kato's Nursery has been
a BCLNA member for over twenty-five years, and Michael has been
a Director for the last five. He relishes working
with the great people in the horticulture industry, and clearly,
they are partial to him as well: Michael won the 'BCLNA Young Member
of the Year' award in 2004.
Kato's Nursery Ltd.
29435 Downes Road, Abbotsford, BC V4X 1S3
Phone: 604-857-0036; Fax: 604-856-9307
E-mail...
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Environment
Director
Mr. Russ Bruce
 Russ
has been a member of the BCLNA since 2003 with Cedar Rim, and
was a long time member through Langley Garden Centre, having
worked in the industry since 1978. Russ
is a new director as of 2007, a position where his famliy
and friends hope that he will listen more and talk less. He
is excited to be part of the board and to participate and give
back to an industry which has given so much to him and
his family. Russ's wish is to able to help bring forth other
members views and ideas to the board in how to advance and
promote our industry here at home.
Cedar
Rim Nursery
Ltd.
7024 Glover Road, Langley, BC
V2Y 2R1
Phone:
604-888-4491; Fax:
604-532-1009
E-mail...
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Island
Representative
Mr. Stephan Cranz
The owner/operator
Landscape Solutions, a landscape installation,
renovation and maintenance company, Stephan is also the lead
horticultural skills instructor at Pacific Horticulture College.
PHC students know him from their IPKM, installation and maintenance
courses, but he is also recognized by community members who
have taken gardening courses, garden club seminars, or have
participated in "Introduction to Horticulture" courses for
First Nations adults. Says Cranz of his new appointment to
the BCLNA, "I believe I have an opportunity to increase the
profile of the association (BCLNA), promote education and the
sharing of information in our field and influence the stature
of professionalism in our industry."
Glendale Gardens & Woodlands, Pacific Horticulture College
505 Quayle Road, Victoria, BC V9E 2J7
Phone: 250-479-6162; Fax: 250-479-6047
E-mail...
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Interior
Representative
Mr. Anthony
Krakau
 In Anthony's
twenty years as a BCLNA member, his goal has been to create "landscapes
that clients really enjoy and use." Anthony is fascinated by the
cross-section of community represented by the people he has met
through the industry. Now in his eighth year as a Director, Anthony
is working "to increase awareness of the BCLNA in the Interior,
including increasing membership to the point where the Interior
has its own chapter to address regional concerns." He says that
the BCLNA is a valuable organization because it helps individual
business owners to realize "Your business problems are not unique
and you do not have to solve them on your own: there is a lot of
wisdom available."
The Garden Beautifier
454 Morrison Ave. Kelowna, BC V1Y 5E2
Phone: 250-763-8729; Fax: 250-861-3817
E-mail...
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Export
Market Development Director
Mr. Gurjit Sidhu
 Gurjit
has observed that owning a nursery has allowed him to really enjoy
growing plants of all kinds. Sidhu & Sons Nursery has been
a BCLNA member since 1987, and Gurjit is in his fifth year
as a Director. Gurjit is proud to be a BCLNA member because,
he says, "I like to
belong to such a well-managed and professional organization,
which provides many useful benefits."
Sidhu & Sons Nursery
9623 Sylvester Road, Mission, BC V2V 7K6
Phone: 604-826-3537; Fax: 604-820-9680
E-mail...
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Industry
Development Director
Mr. Andrew Flokstra
Andrew has been working with BCLNA member Inline Nurseries
since 1997 and volunteering as a BCLNA director since 2002. The
openness and networking between members is one of the biggest reasons
Andrew involves himself with the association. He feels that the
association gives so much to our industry, that the least he can
do is put a little back into it. Andrew has been involved as Director
of Safety /WCB and more recently as Industry Development Council
(IDC). He also sits on the Agriculture Labour Partnership Committee.
Aside from Working at Inline and going to industry meetings, Andrew
enjoys snowboarding, a low key round of golf on a par 3 course
and spending quality time with his wife Teresa and young children
Regan and Aaron.
Inline Nurseries Ltd.
49944 Yale Road East, Chilliwack, BC, V2P 6H4
Phone: 604-794-7096 / 1-888-846-5463 Fax: 604-794-7496
E-mail...
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Safety Director
Mr. Richard Desmarteau
Richard has served on the BCLNA board for eight years, having held
Inside BC, growers' chair, and safety portfolios. His current
responsibilities include the latter (working extensively with WorkSafeBC),
while also serving on the Industry Development Council board. While
Richard appreciates "the
regular communication that exists between the varied persons
from the various commodities" on the BCLNA Board, his main attraction
to the horticulture industry is horticulture itself, saying he
truly enjoys "working with the plants." His best BCLNA memory
is of "the
most exquisite tour of Butchart Gardens at the 2004 AGM & Convention
in Victoria."
Fairfield Tree Nurseries
9952 Gillanders Road, Chilliwack, BC V2P 6H4
Phone: 604-794-3005; Fax: 604-794-3004
E-mail...
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BC
Garden Profile Director
Ms. Michelle Pain
CanWest
Committee, Inside BC Development
Michelle believes that in the Horticulture Industry, "volunteering
is important, especially for young people/members. It is the only
way to cause positive change." Thus, Michelle is a four-year BCLNA
member and two-year Director, working with BC Garden Profile
and Communities in Bloom. She is currently the Chairperson
for CanWest. Michelle loves the horticulture industry for "how
dynamic it is. Every year has new challenges."
TerraLink Horticulture Inc.
464 Riverside Road South, Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M1
Phone: 604-864-9044; Fax: 604-864-8418
E-mail...
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Certification,
Education & HEBC Director
Mr. Cable Baker
After five years as a BCLNA member with his own company, and many
as a volunteer through his previous employer, Cable decided it
was time to jump onto the Board and add his opinion to the decisions
directing the horticulture industry. This year he is responsible
for the Certification and Standards portion of the BCLNA. Cable
takes pleasure in the contacts and friendships fostered through
the BCLNA. His best BCLNA memories are of summer barbecues at
various members' houses, a tradition he looks forward to continuing
with his wife Tanya, their twins Kendra and Aidan, and son Connor.
The best aspect of the horticulture industry, according to Cable,
is the freedom to be outside and to choose the direction of one's
own work.
RCB Garden Service
1415 - 231st Street, Langley, BC V2Z 2X1
Cell Phone: 604-657-5170; Fax: 604-539-5036
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Inside
BC Market Development Director
Mr. Ian Van Zanten
 Ian
has grown up around the nursery industry. He means this
quite literally; when he was a baby his parents lived in the back
half of the office at the original Pan Am warehouse. Says Ian, "I
probably counted bulbs before I could walk." His actual
experience in the industry has come from the last 11 years working
for the family business in many different capacities. To
compliment his hands-on nursery experience, Ian completed a Diploma
in Marketing and a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management.
Throughout the last 11 years Ian has met a lot of great members
of the BCLNA, both at the Can West Tradeshow and the FarWest Show.
Ian looks forward to meeting more members and having a positive
effect on the direction of the industry. Ian adds, "I hear
once you join the board you are on it for life. I better
make sure this industry is a place I want to stay."
Pan
American Nursery Products Inc.
5151 - 152nd Street, Surrey, BC V3S 0L2
Phone: 604-576-8641; Fax: 604-576-6560
Email...
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