Fred Steele (centre) will continue his role as president of the British Columbia Fruit Growers’ Association after he was acclaimed at this past weekend’s annual general meeting after Jeet Dukhia dropped out of the race. Steele is seen in this photo with BCFGA manager Glen Lucas (right) and South Okanagan fruit grower Pindar Dhaliwal. (Contributed photo)
The annual election of the British Columbia Fruit Growers Association (BCFGA) Executive was held last Friday in Penticton and it was announced Fred Steele would return as president.
The election at the 128th BCFGA convention drew a great deal of interest from growers, as incumbent Steele was being challenged by previous president Jeet Dukhia.
However, members were surprised when Dukhia withdrew his name from the race just hours before members were scheduled to cast their ballots.
After it was announced Steele would return as president, a motion to open the floor to further nominations for BCFGA vice-president failed to be passed.
If it had passed, there would have been competition for previously uncontested opening. After that motion was defeated, Pinder Dhaliwal was then declared vice-president.
The other six executive members of the BCFGA were also returned, including Peter Simonsen, Ravinder Bains and Deep Brar, who were all unopposed for the South Okanagan positions. Sukhdev Goraya, Surjit Nagra and Tony Nijjar were also all returned, while challenger Karm Gill was defeated in an election for North Okanagan positions.
Both Gill and Dukhia are on the Board of BC Tree Fruit Cooperative.
In his acceptance speech, Steele thanked BCFGA members for their confidence.
He noted the importance of pressing for a national Tree Fruit Rejuvenation Proposal and the critical need to work together with BC Tree Fruit Cooperative and the other tree fruit packers in the Okanagan.
“Our future is bright, and a sign of that is the many young people attending our Convention,” he concluded.
The BC Fruit Growers’ Association represents 520 family operated farms.
Meanwhile, numerous awards were also handed out at the BCFGA convention social event held last Thursday evening.
Those awards included:
– Award of Merit Hank Markgraf, Grower Services Manager, BC Tree Fruit Cooperative.
– Dr. Kenna MacKenzie, Associate Director ResearchDevelopment and Technology with the Summerland Research and Development Centre.
– Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Life Member Ranbir Kambo, grower and Summerland Varieties Corporation director.
Press Award Lyonel Doherty, Editor, Oliver Chronicle.
“The horticultural success of the BC tree fruit sector in the interior of B.C. relies on dedication, expert knowledge, and leadership,” said Steele. “We recognize these qualities in Hank Markgraf and Kenna MacKenzie with the Award of Merit.
“Our Life Member award goes to longtime contributor to the industry, Ranbir Kambo. Ranbir sat on the Board of SunFresh Cooperative for many years before the four co-operative packinghouses merged into BC Tree Fruit Cooperative in 2007 and he continues his participation and leadership through his current role as a director at Summerland Varieties Corporation.
Finally, in a time when print media is under pressure, Lyonel Doherty, editor of the Oliver Chronicle, has continued to put together a quality newspaper that provides a vital service to the residents and farms in the Oliver area, and we are proud to award the BCFGA Press Award to Lyonel.”
Doherty couldn’t attend the awards ceremony, but Aberdeen Publishing regional reporter Dan Walton, who is also the editor of the Peachland View, attended on Doherty’s behalf.
The BCFGA represents 520 family operated farms.
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