Board and Leadership

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.

Her term expires December 31, 2023.
chair@ourtrust.org

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.

His term expires on December 31, 2023.

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.

Her term expires December 31, 2021.

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.

His term expires on December 31, 2023.

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.

His term expires December 31, 2021.

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.

Don’s business experience includes 17 years of corporate sales and marketing; adventures with several start-ups; and as consultant to entrepreneurs whose companies are start-up or early revenue stage. He continues this work through Synersales Management, his consulting company.

Don is passionate about the potential for business expansion in the Kootenay region. He is actively involved in Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Alliance, the East Kootenay Columbia Community Investment Co-op and the Cranbrook-Kimberley Development Initiative.

His term expires December 31, 2021.

Codie Morigeau (Cranbrook) was raised in the Ktunaxa Nation community of ʔaq̓am, and lives in Cranbrook. She is married with four children and one grandson. She has been employed with the Ktunaxa Nation since 2001 and is currently the Director of Education and Employment on a temporary assignment as the Director of Traditional Knowledge, Language, and Culture. Codie is the President of the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Child and Family Services Board. She has served on many boards and committees including the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Treaty Financing Society, ʔaq̓am Chief and Council, and the Ktunaxa Nation Executive Council. In 2020, she completed her Master of Arts in Leadership through Royal Roads University. Codie sees similarities in the visions of the Trust and the Ktunaxa Nation and looks forward to contributing her skills, education and experience to the Trust board.

Her term expires December 31, 2022.

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.

His term expires December 31, 2022.

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.

Beyond the telling of many fishing stories, Owen is very well-versed with Kinbasket Reservoir and its operations. Since 2011, Owen continues to volunteer on the Kinbasket Debris Management Committee and now relaxes as Past-President of the Valemount Marina Association, a non-profit organization that manages Canoe Reach Marina.

He has been actively involved with local government since 2011, volunteering at first with the Village of Valemount Advisory Planning Commission, their Integrated Sustainable Community Planning Team and the Columbia Basin Trust Community Initiatives Adjudication Committee. In 2014 he was elected municipal Councillor where he focused on recreational development and tourism, forestry, municipal infrastructure asset management and emergency planning. In 2018, Owen was elected Mayor of his hometown, where he and wife Korie live, work and play.

His term expires December 31, 2022.

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.

Krista has worked with the Fernie Chamber of Commerce and Fernie Historical Society at the board level, and currently sits on the Emily Brydon Youth Foundation and Fernie Trails Alliance boards. She also co-organizes an annual mountain duathlon, Fernie Tears & Gears, which draws people to the valley to enjoy mountain biking and trail running.

Krista is passionate about community, history and outdoor recreation and enjoys sharing these passions with her partner and two young children.

Her term expires December 31, 2023.

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.

His term expires December 31, 2021.

Aimee Watson (Kaslo) was raised in Ontario, moved to British Columbia in 1997 and has called Kaslo home since 2004. Studies in herbalism, nutrition and botany, as well as experience working on a cooperative farm, fostered her passion for the farming community, organic farming methodologies, business owners and issues surrounding food security. Aimee led Kaslo’s “lawns to gardens” initiative, developed a food forum for North Kootenay Lake Community Services Society, and helped establish the Kaslo Food Security project, eventually opening the doors in 2009 to the first accredited Food Hub in Canada. In 2013 Aimee went on to write the book: “Groundswell: Building Food Security in Remote and Rural Communities.” In 2010, Aimee welcomed a son and commenced studies at Ryerson University in the field of Food Security. Aimee continued to work on food security projects while also assuming the role of Alternate Director for Area D, Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK). In 2014, Aimee was elected the Electoral Area Director for Area D and is currently the Chair of the RDCK Board of Directors.

Her term expires December 31, 2022.

Acts on behalf of the Board between meetings, oversees governance policies and processes, oversees human resources and addresses any other matters referred to it by the Board.

Members: Jocelyn Carver (Chair), Carol Andrews, Corky Evans, Don McCormick, David Raven

Terms of Reference

Ensures that the Trust’s financial information is accurate, monitors internal controls and oversees internal and external audits.

Members: Bill van Yzerloo (Chair), Aimee Watson, Murray McConnachie, Ron Oszust, David Raven

Terms of Reference

Oversees the governance and management of Trust investments.

Members: David Raven (Chair), Don McCormick, Codie Morigeau, Owen Torgerson, Krista Turcasso

Terms of Reference

Members: Owen Torgerson (Chair), Carol Andrews, Corky Evans, Simon Howse, Murray McConnachie, Celeste Mullin, Jenny Robinson, Vickie Thomas

Terms of Reference

Members: Carol Andrews (Chair), Corky Evans, Codie Morigeau, Ron Oszust, Krista Turcasso

Terms of Reference

Aimee Ambrosone, Executive Director, Delivery of Benefits for Columbia Basin Trust and Vice President for Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation (CBBC) has worked at the Trust since 2001. She was raised in Salmo and Trail and received her MBA in Strategic Management from UBC. She has generated, negotiated and managed major funding partnerships with local governments, Crown corporations and non-profit societies for both the Trust and CBBC. With extensive experience in community development, business management and strategic partnerships, she has developed and overseen strategies, programs and initiatives and manages a large team of staff. She resides in Castlegar.

Brandon Haney, Executive Director, Power Operations for Columbia Basin Trust started with Columbia Power in 2014 as an Electrical Engineer working on Asset Reliability and Plant Operations & Maintenance. He previously worked for BC Hydro in Design, Resource Management and Operations & Maintenance and is a practicing Professional Engineer with EGBC since 2009. His passion lies in renewable energy asset management, particularly through the application of predictive technologies to the O&M of hydro equipment to ensure high reliability. Brandon has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering, a Masters in Electrical Power Engineering and is a UBC Sauder MBA Candidate of 2022. He and his family are happy to call the West Kootenay home.

Delphi Hoodicoff, Director, Communications, joined the Trust in 2008. She was raised in the West Kootenay and holds a BBA from Simon Fraser University, with a focus in Marketing, and a Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from BCIT. Prior to the Trust, Delphi worked in communications for the BC Government Caucus and the Premier’s Office from 2001-2006. She and her family live in Crescent Valley.

Christine Lloyd, Executive Director, Finance & Operations, started with the Trust in 2000 as an Accounting Technician. She was born and raised in Castlegar. Prior to the Trust, Christine worked in a legal office, and then a large construction company, and studied accounting and Business Administration. Christine later pursued her CGA designation and completed her Bachelor of Accounting through Thomas Rivers University. In her current role at the Trust, she oversees Human Resources, Accounting, Information Services and Corporate Operations.  Christine lives in Castlegar with her husband Ken, and has two daughters, Emma and Maxie, and two dogs, Cyrus and Ozzy.

Tim O’Doherty, Director, Investments and Economic Development, joined the Trust in 2008. He was raised in Burnaby and spent a number of years in the Kootenays prior to working at the Trust. He worked in financial services for 30 years, primarily focusing on commercial lending and investment management. He now resides in Castlegar with his family and is an active member of the local Rotary Club, and enjoys the Kootenay lifestyle.