Mayor Nancy Cooper, City of Salmon Arm
Mayor Doug Findlater, District of West Kelowna
Mayor Al Raine, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality
Mayor Stu Wells, Town of Osoyoos
Gord DeRosa, Councillor, Trail
Mayor Karen Hamling, Village of Nakusp
Grace McGregor, Director Area C, Christina Lake
Mayor Ron McRae, City of Kimberley
Tom Christensen, Vernon
Ronald Hovanes, Oliver, Chair
Richard Gibson, Kamloops
Keith Matthew, Barriere
John C. Zimmer, Cranbrook
Mayor Nancy Cooper, City of Salmon Arm
Nancy moved to Salmon Arm as a teenager and except for educational purposes has lived in Salmon Arm since that time. She feels she could never feel at home in any other community.
Nancy and her husband Harry have 5 adult children and are the proud grandparents of 4.
Work History
- Mayor of Salmon Arm
- Instructor - Okanagan College Salmon Arm campus. 1986 - 2007
- City Councillor - 2002 - 2005
- Business Manager - CMHA Shuswap Revelstoke Branch from 2007 until her election as Mayor of Salmon Arm in November 2011
Committees
- Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union – Board Vice Chair
- Columbia Shuswap Regional District Board member - Current
- Shuswap Lake Integrated Planning Committee member - Current
- Hon. Chair - Cancer Society Relay For Life 2006 – 2011
- Shuswap Emergency Services – 2003 - Present
Interests
- Dragon Boating
- Golfing
- Horseback Riding
Mayor Doug Findlater, District of West Kelowna
Doug Findlater was elected to serve as Mayor for the new District of West Kelowna on November 2008 and was re-elected to another 3 year term in November 2011. He also served as a Councillor on the first Council when the District was officially incorporated on December 6, 2007. He is also a Director representing the District of West Kelowna on the Board of the Regional District of the Central Okanagan, and a Director to the Okanagan Basin Water Board. He was recently appointed to the UBCO External Community Advisory Council.
Doug chaired the Westside Governance Committee for four years leading up to the governance referendum held in June, 2007. At the time of his election, he was also serving as an alternate director on the Board of the Regional District of the Central Okanagan. He is a past member of the Westside Advisory Planning Commission.
Doug studied at and completed degree programs and a post grad diploma in public sector management at Notre Dame University of Nelson and the University of Victoria.
He retired following as 33-year career with the federal government, in which his last position was District Manager for the Department of Canadian Heritage. He is currently serving as Director on the Board of Interior Savings Credit Union, and a member of UBCO's Deputy Vice Chancellor's Human Rights and Equity Committee.
In 2002, Doug was awarded the Queen's Jubilee Medal for Volunteerism and was a Westbank Chamber of Commerce Semi-Finalist for Business Person of the Year 2005.
Married with two sons, and three young grandchildren, he has been a Westside resident for 37 years and lives in Glenrosa.
Doug was elected on a platform of working to establish the foundations for a successful and balanced community through fiscal responsibility, public consultation, sustainable development and management expertise and implementation of many recently completed Master Plans.
Mayor Al Raine, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality
Al Raine has twice been elected Mayor of British Columbia’s newest Municipality, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality. Al is a Board member of Tourism Sun Peaks and former Chair of that association. He has spent his life in winter sports and the mountain tourism business.
A former Councillor in the inaugural Council in the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Al was named ‘Freeman’ of the Municipality for his leadership role in the development of Whistler as North America’s leading destination mountain resort.
Al is an inductee in the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame as a Former Program Director of Canada’s National Alpine Ski Team and was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canada for making a significant contribution to Canada.
Al resides in Sun Peaks with his wife Nancy. They have two sons and two grandsons who live in Whistler.
Mayor Stu Wells, Town of Osoyoos
Stu moved to Osoyoos from Penticton at an early age with his family. He spent a brief period of his life in Vancouver but he has always called the Okanagan Valley home.
He has been blessed with two children, Spencer and Taryn. He is a proud grandfather to Vienna and Cielle.
Besides having a vested interest in the Town of Osoyoos, Stu enjoys travelling, sailing, golf and spending time with family and friends.
In his working career Stu enjoyed 35 years with BC Tel and Telus.
Over the years, he has served the community in many differing capacities:
- Mayor for the Town of Osoyoos – currently;
- Chair of the Okanagan Basin Water Board – currently;
- Member of the Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society - currently;
- Osoyoos Desert Society on the Executive for 5 years and Volunteer Guide;
- Innovative Cherry Grower and Marketer – 20 years;
- School Board Trustee - 11 years;
- Chairman Community Futures and Board Member - 5 years;
- Member of the Okanagan Basin Stewardship Council – 4 years;
- Councillor for the Town of Osoyoos Councillor - 3 years;
- Local Chair of the acclaimed Osoyoos Lake Water Science Forum in conjunction with the International Joint Commission in Ottawa and Washington, DC
Councillor Gord DeRosa, City of Trail
BORN: October 13, 1942
FAMILY: Married to wife Bev since 1961 and have 3 grown children and 2 beautiful grandchildren with 2 more soon to be arriving.
OCCUPATIONAL HISTORY
- Employed at Cominco Ltd. (now Teck Resources Ltd.) for 26 years.
- Career at Cominco included: Electrician, Senior Industrial Relations Officer, Alcohol and Drug Referral Agent, Senior Safety and Health Officer (Local 480), Industrial Hygiene Officer, WCM Claims Officer and both Supervisor of Claims Department and Supervisor of Rehabilitation Centre.
- Retired since 1998.
Political and Board experience
- Elected as councillor for the City of Trail in November, 1988 and has served 22 continuous years.
- Past chair of the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary.
- City of Trail representative to RDKB Board for 8 years.
- Chair of the City of Trail Environmental Sustainability Committee.
- Board member of the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust
- Past executive member UBCM
- Past president AKBLG
Interests and Hobbies
- Organic gardening
- Fishing on the Columbia River
- Racquetball
- Sustainability and environmental stewardships
- Winemaking
Mayor Karen Hamling, Village of Nakusp
Elected to office of Mayor November 2005 and acclaimed to Council May 2004, this is Karen’s sixth term for the Village of Nakusp, having served on Council from 1987 to 1996. Karen currently serves on several committees including Ferry Advisory Committee, Community Consultative Group and Community Health, Council, Chamber of Commerce and Development Board Committee; Music Festival Agreement Committee, Emergency Services Building Committee and Physician Recruitment Committee. Karen is currently the Municipal Director for the Regional District of Central Kootenay and Director for the West Kootenay & Boundary Regional Hospital Board.
Karen was part of the committee who worked towards the establishment of Nakusp and Area Community Forest, Chairs the Steering Committee for CBT Community Initiatives and Affected Areas funding program and was one of the original directors and founders of the Nakusp and Area Community Foundation, coordinator for Music in the Park and a past Director with Community Futures of Central Kootenay for 16 years.
Karen has an extensive history of community involvement which included Chair, Self employment committee for CFDC of CK; Past President, Nakusp and Area Development Board; Council representative and Past Chair of the Arrow Lakes Senior's Care Society; member of the Halcyon Assisted Living Committee which contributed to bringing assisted living to Halcyon House and Elder at Robertson Memorial United Church from 1992-2008.
Karen retired from Arrow Lakes Hospital as the Health Records Supervisor.
She is passionate about Nakusp.
Grace McGregor, Director, Area C
Regional District Director Grace McGregor is in her second term as the elected official for Christina Lake. Grace is past president of the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Government and vice chair of the Southern Interior Beatle Action Coalition. She entered politics many years ago as a member and chair of the Christina Lake Advisory Planning Commission and member and chair of the Board of Variance.
Grace currently sits on the Kettle River Water Committee, Grand Forks Environment Committee, Hospital Board, Regional District Board, Regional District Finance, Rural Services, Boundary Economic Development, Rural BC Project and is newly elected to the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust Board. Grace is a member of Grand Forks Rotary and volunteers with numerous community groups.
Grace and her husband and two sons operated the Chevron Station and shop at Christina Lake for 30 plus years, and later contracted to Pope and Talbot as Excavation, Erosion Control and Hydro seeding Specialists.
Mayor Ron McRae, City of Kimberley
Ron McRae was elected Mayor of Kimberley in November 2011. He was Mayor for one term previously, 2002 - 2005, and a Councillor for one term, 1999 - 2002. Before that Ron was a School Trustee for six years sitting on the Board for what was then School District #3 Kimberley (pre-amalgamation days). Ron has always been very committed to his community by serving on a wide variety of boards and committees ranging from athletic organizations to cultural/social organizations to community service groups.
Ron has worked for College of the Rockies for close to 30 years filling a number of roles - he is presently in Administration at the College as a Dean overseeing a range of programs including all Trades Programs, Fire Services/ Emergency Services Programs, Adult Upgrading to name a few.
Ron looks forward to working with the other SIDIT Board members and staff in creating a climate for meaningful change for the communities in the Southern Interior.
Tom Christensen was born and raised in Vernon. He lived in Sweden for a year as a Rotary exchange student before attending Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and then the University of Victoria. He obtained a B.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies followed by a law degree. After articling in Vancouver, Tom returned to Vernon in 1995 and practised law at Davidson and Company.
Tom has a strong commitment to community service, having served as President of the Downtown Vernon Association, and a Director of the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation, and the Vernon Winter Carnival Society. In 2001, he chose to enter provincial politics and was elected MLA for Okanagan-Vernon, serving two terms. He has served as Minister of Education, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, and Minister of Children and Family Development.
Tom chose to retire from elected provincial office in 2009 in order to spend less time away from his family. He is enjoying being able to attend his children's piano recitals, soccer and baseball games, and plans to spend more time camping and skiing. He has returned to practising law and remains committed to serving the public interest in his role as a Director of the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust as well as serving as a Director of the Legal Services Society.
PERSONAL:
Ron is President of HOVANES COMMUNITY SERVICES Ltd., a contract agency to Community Living B.C. The agency provides one to one Self Help Skills workers to children and adults with developmental disabilities. Services are provided in the South Okanagan and South Similkameen. Ron also manages an Adult day program in the South Similkameen.
Ron’s past work history includes working as a licensed Realtor, a Special Needs teaching assistant and he also served in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Ron and his wife Tara are lifelong residents of Oliver. They feel blessed to have raised their family and enjoy working careers in their home town.
POLITICAL BACKGROUND:
From 1999 to 2008 Ron has served the Town of Oliver two terms as an Elected Councillor and one term as Mayor. During this period Ron also served a three year term as a Director of the Regional District of the Okanagan Similkameen. One of the Highlights of his Mayoral term was to have Oliver picked as the first community of its size to be given a “Green City’s Award” by the Province of B.C.
LOCAL INTERESTS:
Ron has always been an active community volunteer. He is a twenty eight year member of the Royal Canadian Legion and he is a Past President of the local branch. As a Legion member, Ron continues to promote remembrance in the schools and he has chaperoned B.C. High school athletes to three national championships.
Ron most recently has accepted a Directors position on the Oliver and District Historical Society.
John Christopher Zimmer Q.C., Cranbrook
Mr. Zimmer is presently a partner with the law firm of Miles Daroux Zimmer & Associates in Cranbrook BC.
He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with degrees in Arts and Law, and was admitted to the Bar of Saskatchewan in 1980, and the Bar of British Columbia in 1993.
He articled in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and later was appointed as the City Solicitor for the City of Moose Jaw. He held the position of City Solicitor for a period of ten years, reentering private practice in 1993. He and his family moved to Cranbrook BC in 1995, and he has practiced law there ever since.
John has appeared before all levels of courts in both Saskatchewan and British Columbia, as well as the Supreme Court of Canada. He has also appeared before various boards, commissions and other tribunals.
He is currently a member of the Law Society of BC, the Law Society of Saskatchewan, the Canadian Bar Association, and the Kootenay Bar Association. He is an active member of his community having served on various community boards, including the Cranbrook Rotary Club board and the Cranbrook Regional Hospital Board. He currently sits on the East Kootenay Crimestoppers Board in Cranbrook, and the East Kootenay Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. He is a former board member of College of Physical Therapists of BC, and continues to sit as a member of its Inquiry Committee. He is also active in his church, and various other community organizations. He was recently appointed a Queen's Counsel by the Province of British Columbia.
