2019 Board of Directors: (back row from left to right) Don McCormick, Owen Torgerson, Krista Turcasso, Murray McConnachie, Corky Evans, (front row from left to right) David Raven, Carol Andrews, Ron Ozsust, Larry Binks, Jocelyn Carver, Rick Jensen. Missing from photo: Vickie Thomas
Our Next Meeting
Join Us at Our Next Board Meeting
NOTE: At this time, meetings in the near-term will be held via videoconference. Locations for future meetings will be updated based on ongoing assessment of the COVID-19 health risk.
Date: September 18 AGM
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. MT.
Location: Videoconference – Register here
If you wish to make a specific presentation to the Board, contact Jane Medlar at 1.800.505.8998 or jmedlar@ourtrust.org.
Meeting Schedule
2020
- September 18/19 (AGM) videoconference
- November 20/21 Radium
2021
- January 29/30 Castlegar
- March 26/27 Fairmont
- May 28/29 Revelstoke
- July 23/24 Salmo
- September 24/25 Kimberley (AGM)
- November 26/27 Fernie
Meeting Highlights
Read a Summary of Recent Meetings
The Trust is governed by a 12-member Board of Directors. The five regional districts in the Basin and the Ktunaxa Nation Council each nominate a director, and the Province of BC nominates the remaining six directors. The Lieutenant Governor in Council makes all final appointments to the Board. All directors must reside in the Basin.
Board of Directors
Jocelyn Carver, Chair
Jocelyn Carver (Nelson) has been living and working in the West Kootenay since the mid 1990s, having lived previously in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Alberta. She was immediately struck by the commitment to community development and regional self-determination that characterizes so many of Basin communities. This led to many years happily engaged in the development of regional cooperatives and non-profit initiatives. She worked in both Human Resources and Marketing/Outreach at the Kootenay Coop in Nelson, as it grew to become Canada’s largest natural foods retail consumer cooperative, as well as sitting on the founding board of Kootenay Cooperative Radio and contributing to the creation of the Upper Columbia Cooperative Council. Since 2015, she has been the Executive Director of Kootenay Career Development Society, providing a variety of employment and career development services in in the Boundary/West Kootenay and Central Kootenay region. She has served on multiple boards and advisory committees including the Nelson & Area Economic Development Partnership Advisory Committee, the ‘Nelson at its Best’ Poverty Reduction Initiative, City of Nelson’s Cultural Advisory Committee and the Columbia Basin Development Corporation. She is excited and honoured to be part of the Columbia Basin Trust Board. She lives in Nelson with her husband and daughter.
David Raven, Vice-chair
David Raven (Revelstoke) was raised in Nakusp and after receiving his Professional Forester designation from UBC, has spent most of his life in Revelstoke where he had a 35-year career with the British Columbia Forest Service. As an active community member, David served on the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce, Revelstoke Ski Club, Revelstoke Rotary Club, Revelstoke Credit Union, Association of British Columbia Forest Professionals, Canadian Institute for Forestry, as Mayor of the City of Revelstoke, Chair of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District and as a previous Director of the Columbia Basin Trust. David has three grandchildren.
Carol Andrews
Carol Andrews (Castlegar) was raised in Castlegar and has lived and worked in many communities within the Basin. She has been a strong supporter of rural self-reliance and has a deep interest in higher education and its role in empowering the citizenry of the region. Carol is a Registered Professional Forester and worked as a consultant across the province before becoming an instructor in the School of Environment and Geomatics at Selkirk College in Castlegar. Carol is involved in various college committee work and currently sits as the faculty rep on the Selkirk College Board of Governors. Carol is committed to personal and professional work around reconciliation and strengthening relations with our Indigenous communities. Carol has two courageous and wonderful children, and in her spare time likes to stay active and grow food.
Larry Binks
Larry Binks (Creston) has a strong educational and work background that has benefited him in his role as the RDCK Area C Director, a position he held from 2008 to 2018. He has degrees in business administration and emergency medicine management and diplomas in financial administration, conflict resolution and dealing with troublesome employees, as well as Life Skills Level 4. Larry is also a certified alcohol and drug counsellor. After working 34 years with the BC Ambulance service, 18 of those as a senior manager, he retired and relocated to Creston. Larry demonstrates an ongoing and passionate dedication to the community he represents. He serves as an advisor for the East Kootenay, Central Kootenay and Boundary districts on pre-hospital care and medical evacuations. He is past chair of both the Creston Valley Services Committee and the East Waste Management Committee. He is past Vice-Chair of the East Kootenay Regional Hospital District Board. Larry volunteers his time speaking to Prince Charles Senior Secondary High School students and College of the Rockies nursing students about the dangers of alcohol and drug consumption and addiction.
Corky Evans
Corky Evans (Winlaw) has lived in Winlaw since the mid 1970s. He logged and did other forestry jobs for 20 years. He served on the Regional District of Central Kootenay for five years and was an MLA for 14 years. He was a founding board member of Columbia Basin Trust, and served on the board in 1995/96. He served as Ministers of Agriculture, Transportation and Health. Corky ran for Provincial office for 25 years, losing twice and winning three times. He retired in 2009 and now grows food and flowers with his partner, Helen Sebelius.
Murray McConnachie
Murray McConnachie (Trail) was born Nelson and raised in Warfield and Trail, and has spent most of his life in the Columbia Basin apart from five years after university and a short stint at graduate school. He believes this is a great place to raise our families and spend our lives, and credits the success of his three children to the friends, families, communities, organizations and facilities that make this region so wonderful. Murray has spent 25 years teaching, coaching and working with youth in the Basin, plus working in the various facets of his family’s businesses, the KES Group of Companies, where he is now Vice-President. He acts in advisory roles to several organizations in the areas of training and corporate restructuring, and is the Coordinator of Trades and Technology Training for School District 20 (Kootenay-Columbia). He has also served as the President of Greater Trail Minor Hockey. Murray feels he has been incredibly lucky to have worked with and been associated with amazing teams of people striving to better the lives of those of this region.
Don McCormick
Don McCormick (Kimberley) is serving his third term on Kimberley City Council, his second as Mayor. Originally from Saskatchewan, Don and wife Bev moved to Kimberley in 2003. Don’s first community commitment was the Kimberley Rotary Club, of which he is a Past-President; Don is also a Past-President of the Kimberley Chamber of Commerce, a founding Director of Tourism Kimberley and a past Chair of the Community Futures East Kootenay Board of Directors.
Ron Oszust
Ron Oszust (Golden) is a journeyman tradesman who was owner/operator of multiple different businesses during his working career. He served as a director on the Trust’s board from April 2000 to March 2008 and from April 2010 to March 2012. Ron is currently the Mayor of Golden and has been on Council for seven years; he also served his community as Electoral Area Director for 12 years and School Board Trustee for six years. Ron continues to be involved with his community serving on many local boards including the Rotary Club, over 25 years with BC Ambulance Service, and he volunteered with Golden and District Search and Rescue, Golden Fire Department, Kinsmen Club of Golden and many youth sport and development organizations. With his wife Carmen, they have lived in Golden for the past 30 years and are fortunate enough to have all three grown children (Michelle, Richard and Anik) reside in the community with them. They are proud grandparents of Aven Chantal.
Vickie Thomas
Vickie Thomas (ʔaq’am)Owen Torgerson
Owen Torgerson (Valemount) is a life-long resident of Valemount and currently serving as its Mayor. He also leads operations in the civil construction sector, particularly earth works, and oversees Crown tenure permits, land-use planning, mapping, 3D-modelling, emergency response, Indigenous relations and provides multi-organizational logistics on larger projects.
Krista Turcasso
Krista Turcasso (Fernie) grew up in Fernie and after attending university and working in Calgary, AB returned to the community to set down roots. She immediately started Claris Media with a business partner, publishing a monthly magazine and guides to share their love and appreciation for their mountain town and the Kootenay region.
Bill van Yzerloo
Bill van Yzerloo (Castlegar) was born and raised in Castlegar and returned most recently in 2014. Bill began his career in 1980 working in the public accounting field, and joined the former West Kootenay Power organization in 1984 as Internal Auditor. He completed his professional accounting designation in 1986 and worked his way through the WKP organization becoming Vice President Finance in 1992. His career with WKP and its US parent company took him and his family to Calgary in 2000, where he continued as Chief Financial Officer. In 2003 Bill joined Inter Pipeline Ltd. as Vice President, Corporate Development. Soon after Bill was appointed Chief Financial Officer, a position he enjoyed for the last decade of his career, playing a key role in the company’s growth through corporate acquisitions and organic investment. He and his wife Shelly are retired with four children, three of whom live in the Basin, and four grandchildren.
Board Committees
Standing Committees
These are committees whose permanent existence is of fundamental importance to the ongoing effective governance of the Trust.
Executive Committee
Finance and Audit Committee
Investment Committee
Other Committees
These are committees intended to address issues in the short term, and to be dissolved upon completion of their duties.
Housing Initiatives Committee
View our 2019/20 Trust Director Attendance Summary for a summary of Trust Director attendance at Board and Committee Meetings for the past fiscal year.
President and CEO
Following the policies and directives of the Board, the President and Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the day-to-day operations that help us fulfill our mission.
Johnny Strilaeff
 | Johnny Strilaeff was born and raised in Castlegar. He joined the Trust in 2005 after working for several years with CIBC, and has been involved in every aspect of Trust business in a senior leadership role. He became Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer in 2012. The Board of Directors appointed him President and CEO in November 2016. He is also the Acting President and Chief Executive Officer for Columbia Power Corporation. Johnny is a graduate of Selkirk College (Diploma in Liberal Arts & Sciences) and the University of Calgary (Bachelor of Commerce degree with a concentration in Finance). He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder. ceo@ourtrust.org |
Subsidiaries
The Trust has several wholly and partially owned subsidiaries. Many of these are non-operating in nature and are in place for commercial and legal reasons to hold our investments and assets. View our annual report for a list.
We may also set up active subsidiaries to deliver on specific initiatives. These have operational Boards made up of Trust Board members, industry experts and others as appropriate. The Trust’s Board of Directors is ultimately responsible for these subsidiaries.
Here are our current active subsidiaries and their Board members:
Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation
Columbia Basin Development Corporation
Advisory Committees
One way the Trust involves Basin residents in its work is through its advisory committees. The Trust maintains various types of advisory committees at any given time. Committee members provide community perspectives, subject-matter expertise and strategic advice on the Trust’s activities and priorities and how we deliver benefits to the region. We convene new committees on an as needed basis to help guide development and delivery of our programs.
Committee members also help inform their communities (geographic and communities of interest) about Trust programs and opportunities.
The Trust strives to have its advisory committees include residents from different Basin communities, offering a variety of perspectives.
Our current advisory committees are listed below.
Environment Advisory Committee
Social Advisory Committee
Environment Grants Evaluation Committee
Helps evaluate grant applications and provides input on the environment program. Read the Terms of Reference.
Social Grants Evaluation Committee
Helps evaluate grant applications and provides input on the social program. Read the Terms of Reference.
Impact Investment Adjudication Committee
Helps adjudicate the applications under the Impact Investment Fund and provides input on the program.
