B.C. Infrastructure Benefits board of directors confirmed

Jan. 2, 2019

VICTORIA – Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, has announced the board of directors of B.C. Infrastructure Benefits Inc. (BCIB), the Crown corporation responsible for executing the Province’s Community Benefit Agreement (CBA).

Effective Jan. 30, 2019, the following chair and six members have been appointed to BCIB’s board of directors for a three-year term:

• Allan Donald Bruce (chair)
• Roberta Ellis
• Kirsten Ragnhild Wilson
• Michael Alan Bonshor
• Gary Wayne Kroeker
• Anita Kaur Atwal
• Clyde Hill Scollan

BCIB was established in July 2018, with its first priority being to support the delivery of the new Pattullo Bridge and projects within the Trans-Canada Four-Laning program under the CBA. BCIB will lead the recruitment, hiring and co-ordination of skilled labour for these projects, in addition to human resources, employee relations, identifying training needs and reporting and performance measurement.

The board will provide corporate leadership and governance for BCIB as it implements its overarching objective of providing skilled labour in support of the delivery of public infrastructure projects under CBA on time and on budget, while delivering good-paying jobs, more training and apprenticeships, and better local opportunities for Indigenous peoples, women and youth.

The Crown agencies and Board Resourcing Office at the Ministry of Finance worked closely with the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure to source and appoint board members, and will continue to work with BCIB on governance matters such as board orientation and training, and meeting public sector reporting requirements under the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act.

Learn More:

BCIB mandate letter: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/government/organizational-structure/ministries-organizations/2019_2020_bcib_mandate_letter.pdf

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241

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BACKGROUNDER

Board biographies

Allan Donald Bruce

Bruce has over 40 years experience in the construction industry, including an extensive background in trades training and occupational standards development. He is retired from his position as an international representative for the International Union of Operating Engineers (Canadian office). He has also worked as a mobile crane operator, a trade’s instructor and a union representative, and most recently as a workforce development consultant. He has participated as a member of the national Operating Engineers Joint Apprenticeship and Training Council. Bruce is the past chair of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, a national multi-stakeholder organization dedicated to apprenticeship issues. He has also participated as a director and vice-chair of the Asia Pacific Gateway Skills Table. He is a director of Skills Canada BC. Bruce is a past director of the BC Industry Training Authority, where he participated on the human resources committee and chaired the governance committee.

Roberta Ellis

Ellis was the senior vice-president of corporate services and human resources at WorkSafeBC. She was also the associate deputy minister of health (Manitoba) between 1996 and 1999, and the deputy minister of labour (Manitoba) between 1989 and 1993. In addition, Ellis has worked as the president and CEO of Aerospace Training Canada International and the president of Economic Innovation and Technology Council. She has acted as director for the Crown Corporation Employers Association, as well as the Canadian Institute for Health Information. Ellis holds a diploma in religious education, a certificate in secondary education and a master of arts from the University of Edinburgh.

Kirsten Ragnhild Wilson

Wilson is the president of Jack Cewe Ltd., one of British Columbia’s largest privately owned civil construction and aggregate mining businesses. Jack Cewe Ltd. is a family-owned company that has been in business for over 60 years, primarily operating in the Lower Mainland and the Sunshine Coast. Wilson has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Simon Fraser University and is a director of the British Columbia Stone, Sand and Aggregate Association.

Gary Wayne Kroeker

Kroeker is a welder fabricator by trade and has been a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), Local 115 for many years. The IUOE is a diverse trade union representing workers in various sectors of the economy, including construction, road building, pipeline, mining, dredging, heavy equipment mechanics, waste management services and airline pilots. Previously, he was appointed business manager IUOE Local 115. Other positions he has held with the local union are assistant business manager, treasurer and guard. Kroeker is an advisory board member of resource works. He is a former board member of BC Jobs and Investment, and former president of the BC Highway and Related Construction Council. He was president of the Canadian Conference of IUOE, president of the B.C. and Yukon Territory Council and president of British Columbia and Yukon Territory Building and Construction Trades Council. Kroeker served as secretary and treasurer at Community Savings Credit Union and as director of Community Savings Credit Union. He was also on the executive board for the BC Federation of Labour.

Michael Alan Bonshor

Bonshor is a member of the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation of Kingcome Inlet. Bonshor has over 20 years experience working with First Nations across Canada in areas of economic development, finance, business governance and First Nations investment. He is president/CEO of Ki’mola Indigenous Capital, a newly formed First Nations project finance and investment firm. Bonshor also provides First Nations advisory services through Visions First Nations Financial Services. A chartered professional accountant (CPA), Bonshor was a member of the CPA’s sustainability advisory board. He has also held positions as board member and vice-chair of the New Relationship Trust, as well as a board member and treasurer of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association.

Anita Kaur Atwal

Atwal works as a lawyer at HHBG Lawyers. She advises on a wide array of workplace issues, including contract review, termination, severance packages and non-solicitation or non-competition agreements. Prior to joining HHBG, she practised at Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang. She is a member in good standing with the Law Society of British Columbia and is a member of the Canadian Bar Association Employment Law and Human Rights Subsection. She serves as director and former president of the South Asian Bar Association and serves on the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Foundation board. Atwal holds a bachelor of arts from Simon Fraser University and a bachelor of laws from the University of British Columbia.

Clyde Hill Scollan

Scollan is president of the Construction Labour Relations Association of British Columbia. Previously within the association, Scollan held the positions of director of labour relations and labour relations officer. Scollan serves as a board member of the BC Centre for Women in the Trades. He is a past board member and past president of Skills Canada BC. Scollan received a bachelor of commerce from the University of British Columbia.

Contact:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241

 

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