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Meet
the Board of Directors
President
Ms. Ruth Olde
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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1st
Vice-President, Legislation, Political Action, CiB Rep
Mr Sandy Mathies
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.
34261 Marshall Road, Abbotsford, BC V2S 1L8
Phone: 604-854-4153; Fax: 604-824-1353
E-mail...
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2nd
Vice-President, Personnel
Mr.
Tim Loewen
 Tim,
has been the Pine Meadows 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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Treasurer,
Education Chair
Mr. Bill Hardy
 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, Goverance
Mr.
Fred Giesbrecht
 Fred
has been a BCLNA member since 1982
and a Director for the past ten years, having served
as President and also Certification Chair; he is BCLNA's immediate
Past President. 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. He 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.
Loon Lake Contract Service
1996 Loon Lake Road, Cache Creek, BC V0K 1H0
Phone: 250-459-2774
E-mail...
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Growers
Chair & Industry Development
Council Rep
Mr. Len Smit
 Len
Smit has been in the industry for 28 years, working as a production
manager for Kato’s Nursery for the last 19 years, and owning
and running Bradner’s Growing Concern with his wife Denise
for the past 12. He sits on our environment committee, invasive
plant committee, special events committee, SOD task force, and
is a board member of the Industry Development Council. Len is
also a director and treasurer for the Abbotsford Soils Conservation
Association.
Bradner's Growing Concern
7774 Bradner Road, Abbotsford, BC, V4X 2B6
Phone: 604-856-7737 / 604-996-4129 Fax: 604-856-7759
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. Laurie Anderson
 Laurie Anderson
has over 20 years experience as a horticultural professional.
Laurie started her own business as Anderson Garden Services
Inc. in 1989. Her company has received three Awards of Excellence
for gardens that she has designed and built. Laurie has been
an active member of the BC Landscape and Nursery Association
since 1994. She is a Landscape Industry Certified Technician (CLT), a
Certified Arborist and recently received her Certified Landscape
Professional designation. Laurie is also a graduate of the
University of British Columbia Certified Garden Designers program.
Anderson
Garden Services Inc.
Vancouver, BC
Phone:
604-731-0246
E-mail...
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CNLA
Rep / Special
Events Chair
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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Labour
/ BCAC Human Resource Committee Rep
Mr. Jeff Hicks
 Bio
to come.
Pickett's
Nursery Ltd.
14610 Neaves Road, Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 0A8
Phone:
604-465-5221; Fax 604-465-4651
E-mail...
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Membership
Chair
Mr. Jeff Foley
Jeff
is a Landscape Industry Certified Manager (CLP), Landscape
Industry Certified Technician (CLT), I.S.A Certified Arborist
and Tree Risk Assessor, and has a Residential Landscape Technician
Diploma. His involvement in the industry includes participating
on various working groups including the BC Landscape Standard
Revision, and the development of a Pest Management Accreditation
Program. He has also worked with Hort Ed BC reviewing Landscape
Apprenticeship; the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council
to develop a national on the job training program; and with
the Industry Training Authority on the National Occupational
Analysis for Landscape Horticulturist. Jeff is currently Vice
President of multi-award winning landscape company, Para Space
Landscaping.
Para Space Landscaping Inc.
4097 Graveley Street, Burnaby, BC V5C 3T5
Phone: 604-291-2800 Fax: 604-291-2822
E-mail...
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Interior
Chapter Chair
Mr. Mike
Byland
 Mike Byland
is a third generation nurseryman at Bylands Nurseries Ltd of
Kelowna. He has been involved at the nursery throughout his
life and full time since 2006 in sales and operations. He graduated
with honours from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New
Jersery with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Bylands Nurseries Ltd.
1600 Byland Road, Kelowna, BC V1Z 1H6
Phone: 250-769-4466; Fax 250-769-5566
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Export
Market Development Chair
Ms Sylvia Mosterman
Sylvia
and husband Theo own and operate Mosterman Plants Inc., a wholesale
propagation nursery. Sylvia recently
completed 10 years on Canadian Farm Business Management Council,
serving as Secretary, Vice-Chair and Director, and overseeing
complete revision of its Policy Manual. Sylvia also sits on the
board of COPF. In her alternate professional life, Sylvia is an
Occupational Therapist, so her perspective is geared towards identifying
limitations or challenges and working together with the client
(others) to enable the best management of these with the aim of
providing a balanced and enjoyable life.
Mosterman Plants Inc.
43583 Adams Road, Chilliwack, BC V2R 4L1
Phone: 604-823-4713; Fax: 604-823-4749
E-mail...
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Environment,
Safety Chair
Mr. Blair Veitch
 Blair
grew up on a farm west of Edmonton, Alberta.
He farmed and sawed lumber on his father’s mill
in the summer, and logged in the winter. In 1984,
he started working for Davey Tree to clear lines
for the utility company, and continued to learn
that aspect of the business for the next few
years. In 1989, Blair began learning and working in residential
tree care, and soon took over as manager. By 2000, Blair had
been transferred to Vancouver where he was later promoted to
residential/commercial operations manager of western Canada.
An ISA Certified Arborist since 1990, Blair also holds his
certified tree risk assessor, and BC certified pesticide applicator
licenses, has served on the Prairie chapter ISA board of directors,
and is currently vice-chair of BCLNA's Urban Forestry Council.
His extensive arboriculture background brings a new and unique
perspective to the BCLNA board.
Davey Tree Expert Co. of Canada
6146 Beresford Street, Burnaby, BC V9A 4V1
Phone: 604-294-2084; Fax: 604-294-2015
E-mail...
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CanWest
Hort Show Chair
Ms. Michelle Pain
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
Chair & HortEducationBC Rep
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 Chair
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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