Photo Credit: Jessica Rodriguez

Directors & Regional Presidents

Board of Directors

Executive

David Lewis, President

As a longtime hunter and angler, David Lewis wanted to ensure that future generations have the same access to fish and wildlife that we have today. David joined the BCWF 15 years ago through his gun club when he moved to B.C. He moved up through the organization as he felt compelled to give back to his community. David is heavily involved in the conservation community and is a part of the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, the Provincial Angling Advisory Team, the Skeena Angling Advisory Team, the Northwest Fish & Wildlife Conservation Association, and more.   

Mark McDonald, Vice President

Mark McDonald has been a hunter and fisherman all his life and grew up hunting waterfowl and fishing on the Lower Fraser River. As the immediate past president of the Lower Mainland Region of the BCWF, Mark is a Life Member and has been involved with the board for over 25 years. With the values of conservation and generosity passed down by his parents, Mark now sits on the Lower Mainland Regional board along with his son. Mark also takes part in beach and wetland cleanups and has been mentoring youth through the Delta Ladner Rod & Gun Club’s youth program for over 25 years, alongside many other conservation initiatives. Mark is proud to be a part of the largest voice in B.C. for resident hunters and anglers and is an advocate for future generations at the BCWF.

Darlene Clark, Vice President

Darlene Clark was a city girl introduced to what the outdoors has to offer by her husband who was an avid outdoorsman, she is now an experienced hunter and trapper, who enjoys fishing and all aspects of the outdoors.

She has several decades of experience with the BCWF and values the opportunity to be a voice for the hunters and anglers to ensure that future generations can enjoy the opportunity to hunt and fish.

Presently, Darlene gives back to fish and wildlife by her involvement in organizations supporting hunting, fishing, and trapping.  She is the Past President of the Alberni Fish and Game Club, President of the Vancouver Island Trappers Association, a Regional Director with the BC Trappers Association, as well sits on the Vancouver Island Regional Wildlife Advisory Committee as a region representative and is the Wildlife Chair and Access Chair for the region. Darlene also supports future generations of hunters as a CORE examiner and as the BCWF CORE Manual Review Committee Chair.

Jeff Ayre, Treasurer

Email: treasurer@bcwf.bc.ca

Jeff Ayre’s passion for wildlife, hunting, and the great outdoors compelled him to volunteer for the BCWF through his gun club in 2012. Realizing that the steady erosion of the health of our natural wildlife resources needs to be stopped through human intervention, he began working for land and ocean conservation. Jeff works for the BCWF to improve how we manage our natural wildlife resources so that these resources are available to future generations. Some of Jeff’s most memorable experiences with wildlife are when he came upon a herd of wild horses in the Chilcotin and when he encountered a grizzly and her cubs on a trail. Outside of the BCWF, Jeff is involved with the Squamish Valley Rod & Gun Club, and other sports clubs. 

Directors

Rob Chipman

Rop Chipman has hunted, fished, camped, and generally enjoyed the outdoors from his early childhood, and has been a member of the BCWF on and off throughout that period.  Today, he enjoys hunting and fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and boating throughout B.C. He has a special love for October and November moose hunting – something he was exposed to with his dad more than half a century ago. After more than three decades in the real estate industry, Rob wanted to give back to his community by working to conserve fish, wildlife and habitat for future generations so he began volunteering with the BCWF.  He volunteers because he believes BCWF is the last best hope to preserve our hunting, angling and outdoor heritage. 

Charla Gaudet

Charla Gaudet values the conservation of our environment and enjoys being surrounded by a team of likeminded people who work towards a sustainable future for the fish, wildlife and habitat in B.C. She says witnessing changing climate patterns and wildlife numbers through extensive time spent exploring the outdoors is her reason for volunteering for conservation. Charla describes watching caribou roam across the tundra in Nunavut and encountering 12 grizzlies in Alaska on a hiking trip as some of her most notable experiences with wildlife. As an active member of her community, Charla volunteers with the BHA (Backcountry Hunters and Anglers) and Wildsight.

Mike Langegger

Mike Langegger has been an active member of the BCWF for over two decades. He joined to give back and conserve B.C.’s fish, wildlife, and habitat that has provided so much for his family over the generations. Mike believes our access to sustainable fish and wildlife allows us to connect with nature, gives us sustenance, and provides a cornerstone that fosters and nurtures familial bonds and friendships. Outside of the BCWF, Mike is an active member of the Kitimat Rod and Gun Association, sits on several fish and wildlife consultation groups with the Province, and was President of Skeena Region. Additionally, he is an active member of the BCWF’s Wildlife Allocation Committee and a supporter of numerous conservation projects. 

Jenny Ly

Jenny Ly heeded the call of her inner wild and ventured into hunting and gathering. However, she soon realized that many of B.C.’s wild places weren’t so wild and required immediate attention. Jenny joined the BCWF five years ago when she got her PAL and is hopeful that the work the BCWF does will keep B.C.’s wild places wild for future generations to enjoy. To Jenny, conservation starts with a community. She is passionate about connecting people and encouraging collaboration through events, partnerships and other creative mediums. Jenny has been an active volunteer for BC Hunters and Anglers for five years, organizing educational events, meet-ups and social media management. 

David Oliver

David Oliver first joined the BCWF in 1983 through the Ridgedale Rod & Gun Club. After becoming a Life Member in 1985, David became a Director and worked to keep duck hunting open on farmland. Attending a Ducks Unlimited committee fundraiser was what initially sparked his interest in conservation, and he is now a committee member and works to raise money for Ducks Unlimited projects. In addition to hunting and fishing in his spare time, David works as the committee chairperson for the BCWF Fishing Forever program and greatly enjoys seeing the smiles on the faces of all the participants at the events. David is also a Life Member at the Ridgedale Rod & Gun Club, and a part of the Canal Flats Wilderness Club and Quad Riders Association of British Columbia.

Bill Swain
Pat Whittingham

Pat Whittingham believes in giving back to conservation, as fish, wildlife, and habitats have done so much to enrich his life. He has been a member of the BCWF for 40 years. Pat’s family is also involved in conservation, with his father being a club board member in the 1950s and 1960s and his wife Barb served four years on the BCWF board. He volunteers with the SIMDeer Camera Project and has raised funds for the SIMDeer and Southern B.C. Cougar Project. As an avid hunter and angler, Pat has had many memorable encounters with wildlife including close encounters with grizzly bears. Pat is a member of the Oceola Fish & Game Club and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

 

Regional Presidents

Region 1 - Vancouver Island: Doug Bancroft
Region 2 - Lower Mainland: Ed George

Ed George has a number of years of experience with BCWF’s groups and committees such as the Wildlife Allocation Policy, Tidal Fisheries committee, and was a founding member of the BCWF Sports Shooting Committee. He received the Bill Ottway award for the most effective Regional President in 2009. Ed has also been involved with the Southern Inland Fisheries and the Nicomekl Enhancement Society (N.E.S.), a BCWF-affiliated club. He then became chair of the Lower Fraser Valley Sport Fishing Advisory Committee (SFAC). As chair of the SFAC, Ed sat on the South Coast Sports Fishing Advisory Board, as well as the Chinook Coho, Sockeye, Pink and Chum working group.

Region 3 - Thompson-Nicola: Jason Bellows
Region 4E - Kootenay East: Kevin Podrasky

 

Region 4W - Kootenay West: Terry Hanik

Terry Hanik loves the outdoors and holds a great appreciation for wildlife, leading to his decision to join the BCWF as a board member. Alongside his family, Terry enjoys hunting and fishing. Terry has been President of the Trail Wildlife Association for 21 years and he is also the President of the West Kootenay Outdoorsmen. 

Region 5 - Cariboo-Chilcotin: Cassy Premack
Region 6 - Skeena: Ken Franzen
Region 7A - Omineca: Tim Reimer
Region 7B - Peace: Gerry Paille

Gerry Paille is a retired educator and a long-time resident of Fort St. John, BC. He has been a volunteer for the B.C. Wildlife Federation for more than three decades serving on regional and provincial wildlife and allocation committees as well as on the board of directors for the Peace-Liard Region of the BCWF and the North Peace Rod and Gun Club. Gerry is currently the chair of the BCWF’s Wildlife and Allocation Committee and president of BCWF Region 7B, Peace-Liard. The BCWF twice recognized Gerry as the most effective regional president and also for his work with then BCWF President John Holdstock in establishing the first BCWF website in the late 1990s.

Region 8 - Okanagan: Nick Kozub

Nick Kozub grew up under his grandfather’s wing with hunting, foraging for mushrooms, and angling. He taught him the importance of being involved, especially with the Oceola Fish and Game Club. Nick has followed in his grandfather’s shoes with even being director and president of Oceola till which Nick still sits in that position.  Nick has gone farther with sitting as director, vice president and now president of Region 8 BCWF. Nick is a firm believer and supporter of science based decision making. He is concerned about conservation, and for what his daughter will have in the future.

Our Regions across the Province

Representing our policies and positions

Regional presidents are a valuable resource for members and clubs to better understand the initiatives that are led by the B.C. Wildlife Federation. The regional presidents represent Federation policies and positions on various standing or special government advisory committees and they address key issues that directly impact their region.