MEET OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The strategic direction for the BC Rural Centre is set by an Advisory Committee of individuals from across the province. All of the Advisory Committee members are volunteers who bring a wealth of experience and background to the Committee. A small number of the Advisory Committee members form the Management Board for the BC Rural Centre.
CHAIR
Grace McGregor
Born and raised at Christina Lake, Grace and her husband Ronald raised their family and have owned and operated businesses there for a number of years. Grace has been the Regional District Director for Christina Lake and area for the last sixteen years. Grace has also served as Chair or Vice-Chair of the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust, the Kootenay Boundary Regional District, the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments, and the Kettle River Watershed Management Plan.
SECRETARY
Kukpi7 Judy Wilson
Judy has been Kukpi7 (Chief) of the Neskonlith Band since 2007. Judy has an extensive media background in audio-visual production, book publishing, broadcast journalism and web planning. She sits on the Boards or Advisory Committees of a large number of organizations including the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, First Nations Leadership Council, First Nations Technology Council, Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, and the BC Small Business Roundtable.
DIRECTOR
Brad Sperling
First elected as Director for Electoral Area ‘C’ in the November 2014 Local Government Election and re-elected in the 2023 by-election, has lived in Charlie Lake for over ten years and in Fort St. John for over thirty-five years. Being born and raised in the area, Brad brings experience, expertise, leadership, and a commitment to inspire change to the Board. Brad’s strong sense of community is demonstrated by advocating for rural and remote communities in the region. Brad cares about the people who call this place home.
DIRECTOR
Nicole Vaugeois
Born on a ranch in northern Alberta, Nicole has called Nanaimo home since 2003. From 2008 to 2017, Nicole was the Regional Innovation Chair in Tourism & Sustainable Rural Development at Vancouver Island University (VIU). During this time she travelled the province extensively, working on rural tourism projects and giving presentations on rural tourism development. Currently the Associate Vice-President of Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity at VIU, Nicole maintains her passion for rural community development.
DIRECTOR
Leonard Hiebert
Leonard was elected as Chair of the Peace River Regional District. He has a vast range of experience, focusing on management, agriculture, and paramedic in the oil and gas industry and has managed various hog farms in Canada and now focuses his spare time on developing his own farm. Leonard has lived in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta as well as in Dawson Creek before settling in Tomslake, BC in 2008. Leonard’s natural ability to take on a leadership role is what made him want to run for Director. As the Director for Electoral Area D, Leonard puts himself out into the community with the intention of rebuilding the relationship between the rural residents and the Peace River Regional District, sharing key points of communication and where possible, advocating on behalf of the resident.
DIRECTOR
Francine Carlin
For the past 15 years, Francine has called Saltspring Island home. Committed to rural economic development, Francine is the volunteer chair of the Saltspring Island Community Economic Development Commission and is a founder of the BC Rural Islands Economic Summit. A certified Family Business Advisor, Francine has over 30 years of business experience in marketing, public affairs and organizational leadership. Francine has served as both a faculty member and on the Board of Governors of Royal Roads University.
DIRECTOR
Rhona Martin
Rhona is a long-time resident of Malakwa and has owned and operated a family restaurant and catering business in the community for several decades. While operating the business and raising five children, Rhona still found the time to be involved in a wide variety of community organizations and initiatives. Her political career includes 32 years as an elected official on the Columbia Shuswap Regional District Board. Rhona is also the Past President of the Union of BC Municipalities and is a Board member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
DIRECTOR
Lennard Joe
A Professional Forester by training, Lennard has operated his own forestry consulting company, Grizzly Man Resource Management, for over a decade. He is also the general manager of Stuwix Resources Joint Venture and administrative advisor to the Skackan Indian Band. Lennard serves on the Boards of the Indigenous Business & Investment Council of BC, Interior Loggers Association, and National Aboriginal Forestry Association, and is a committee member on UBC’s First Nations Council of Advisors.
DIRECTOR
Gerry Thiessen
Gerry was born and raised in Vanderhoof, and other than a short hiatus away has always called Vanderhoof home. He feels fortunate that he & his wife’s four children and thirteen grandchildren all continue to live in the community. A long-time realtor by profession, Gerry has been active in the community and rural development organizations and initiatives including the former Omineca Beetle Action Coalition, the Rural BC Project initiative, and is the past Chair of Northern Development Initiative Trust. Gerry served as the Mayor of Vanderhoof from 2008 - 2022 and as the Chair of the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako.
DIRECTOR
Brian Simpson
Brian retired from the Provincial Government in 2015, after over 37 years of service. He began his career working as a wildland firefighter, moving through the ranks in a wide variety of positions. He spent 20 years as a senior manager in increasingly more challenging roles, including 10 years as a District Manager in 3 different areas of the province. He was the Executive Director of the BC Wildfire Management organization during the last 10 years of his provincial government career, in charge of arguably the largest wildfire management organization in Canada, with over 1,400 employees and an annual budget of $100-$325 million. Brian now provides consulting services in all aspects of wildfire and forest management.
DIRECTOR
Scott Kershaw
Scott Kershaw was born and raised in Barriere. He moved away for work but returned 15 years ago to start his family. Now, like some of his family before him, Kershaw is on council. "I see some really interesting challenges coming ahead.” He said Barriere is yet to form a plan for dealing with the legalization of cannabis. He said there are also real issues in solid waste management. “I think these are kind of fun challenges to figure out … I’m in a position where I want to take on some challenges.”
DIRECTOR
Bert Mercer
Bert was born in Cassiar Cannery at the mouth of the Skeena River, south of Prince Rupert. With an extensive background in project, economic and business development; Bert has served as the Manager of Economic Development at the Nisga’a Lisims Government for nearly a decade. Bert also serves as a Director on the Boards of CANDO (Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers) and Indigenous Tourism BC.
Check Out Our Accomplishments To Date
The BC Rural Centre has been around for a while now – from our humble beginnings as the Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition to transitioning to the nonprofit you see today – there have been many successes in our journey. And we look forward to creating more...
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