2026 Board of Directors Election
Because of the new governance structure within BC Dairy and the current terms expiring, there are four board positions open for election in February 2026. Three will be elected by all producers in BC. One board position will be elected by only those producers whose farms are located outside of the Lower Mainland.
BC Dairy’s board of directors for 2026 will be comprised of the following:
- Two directors appointed by Mainland Milk Producers Association*
- Two directors elected by producers with farms located outside of the Lower Mainland
- Four directors at large, elected by all producers
*BC Dairy has two board positions appointed by the Mainland Milk Producers Association (MMPA) to avoid unnecessary duplication in the election process. MMPA conducts third-party elections through the BC Council of Marketing Boards (BC COMB) to select its board of directors. Appointing two of these already-elected directors to the BC Dairy board allows BC Dairy to benefit from a transparent, independent election process without incurring the cost and administrative burden of running a second election.
Why it Matters
Participation matters. Directors make decisions that affect everything from producer programs and industry advocacy to how regional voices are heard at the provincial and national level. BC Dairy’s Board of Directors plays a vital role in shaping the future of our industry.
Election Overview
Board positions up for election: Four board positions are open to all dairy producers in B.C. Three will be elected by all producers in BC. One board position will be elected by only those producers whose farms are located outside of the Lower Mainland.
Term length: Three-year term, March 2026 to February 2029
Nomination & Support: If you’re interested in running, the nomination package includes a short bio, a photo, a brief video, and a letter signed by five BC Dairy members. Staff are available to answer any questions and provide guidance.
Voting: The election is managed by a third-party agent, BC Council of Marketing Boards. Details on how ballots will be distributed and collected will be provided closer to the election period.
Key Dates:
- Call for Nominations: January 2, 2026
- Nomination Period Ends: January 30, 2026, 5:00pm
- Election Period: February 6 – March 6, 2026
For questions, please contact Carolyn Hornell (chornell@bcdairy.ca).
Nominee Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for nomination to the BC Dairy Board of Directors, nominees must meet the qualifications outlined in Section 26 of the Association’s Bylaws. Specifically, nominees:
- Must be a member of BC Dairy
- May reside in any region of the province
- In addition, nominees must not:
- Be under the age of 18
- Be found by any court to be incapable of managing their own affairs
- Be an undischarged bankrupt
- Have been convicted of an offence involving fraud
These qualifications ensure compliance with the legal and governance standards expected of directors.
Nomination Package
- One headshot (a clear photo of your face).
- One short video stating who you are, where you farm, and why you believe you would be a strong candidate for the BC Dairy Board of Directors. Video should not be longer than one and a half minutes. Multiple formats are supported.
- A short biography to be published on the website (approximately 150-200 words).
- A nomination support form with at least five signatures supporting your nomination. Download form here.
Example of a completed package:
Sarah Sache
West River Farm Ltd., Rosedale, BC
Sarah Sache loves Canadian dairy and agriculture. A skilled and professional business person and a clear communicator, Sarah operates West River Farm Ltd. in Rosedale, BC alongside her husband Gene and brother in law Grant. In her 17 years farming she has worked to become well connected in the dairy industry and agriculture community both locally and nationally, presently serving as a member of the BCDA Marketing & Nutrition Education Committee, a Delegate of Agrifoods Cooperative, a Delegate of The Cooperators, and a member of the City of Chilliwack’s Agriculture and Rural Advisory Committee, as well as a member of the development committee for the BC Milk Marketing Board’s recently announced New Entrant Program. Sarah has found her career passion in industry leadership and communicating modern dairy farming to consumers, stakeholders and policy makers. She is personable and accessible to producers and community members alike and seeks election to the BCDA Board to further serve and represent the interests of BC dairy farmers.
How to Apply
Send your completed nomination package to chornell@bcdairy.ca. If you are having difficulty, please call 604-986-7713.
You package should include a headshot, a short bio, a short video, and a completed nomination form with at least five signatures.
What You Can Expect as a Board Member
BC Dairy’s Board brings together directors with a range of skills and experience. Some bring deep industry knowledge, which others bring experience in governance, finance, or strategic planning. You are not expected to have every skill. You are expected to come to meetings prepared to participate in discussions and make decisions in the best interests of BC Dairy and its members. You are accountable for collective board decisions, even when there is disagreement; once decisions are made, directors are expected to support them publicly.
As a BC Dairy board director, you will:
- Act in the best interests of BC Dairy and maintain confidentiality
- Prepare for and participate in board meetings
- Build an understanding of BC Dairy’s role, programs, and priorities
- Participate in board committees or as a representative of BC Dairy on external agencies or boards when requested.
- Participate in orientation, development, and strategic planning sessions.
- As required, be available for ad hoc conference calls or meetings necessary to achieve BC Dairy goals.
- Attend BC Dairy’s annual general meeting.
- Participate in professional development opportunities related to the role
You will also share responsibility for:
- Setting BC Dairy’s strategic direction
- Approving strategic plans including annual budget.
- Reviewing financial performance at least quarterly.
- Appointing, supporting, and evaluating the general manager, including succession planning.
- Overseeing key risks.
- Assessing the effectiveness of the board and its committees
- Approving BC Dairy appointments to other boards and agencies.
Purpose of BC Dairy
Our vision: Better together for Canadian dairy
Our mission: Inspiring, innovating, and collaborating to build a healthy Canadian dairy industry.
Guiding behaviours: Think bigger, Win-win, Fact-based, Care, Accountability
Key Result Areas: Key Result Areas (KRAs) represent the core priorities where BC Dairy has focused its efforts to achieve its strategic outcome. Each KRA defines a critical domain of work that directly contributes to the organization’s long-term goals and impact.
- Collaboration
- Market development
- Government and stakeholder relations
- Governance and member relations
- Producer support and engagement
- National stakeholder relations
Time commitment & meetings
BC Dairy board members are expected to participate in at least 80% of the scheduled full-day board meetings. There are approximately 8-10 per year in person in Langley. Meeting materials are distributed to you one week in advance of all meetings and take between two to four hours to review. There is also expected attendance at the DFC policy conference in Ottawa in February, the Western Milk Pool All Boards meeting in February, and the DFC AGM in varying locations in July.
There are two board committees, and board members typically are on either the governance committee or the finance and audit committee. These committees usually meet virtually every six to eight weeks.
Remuneration
Remuneration includes the monthly stipend, per diem, and reimbursement of authorized expenses. The sole employment benefit for Board members is payment of Canada Pension Plan as required by Canada Revenue Agency.
- Chair = $3,300 per month
- Vice Chair = $2,200 per month
- Committee Chair = $2,200 per month
- Director = $1,925 per month
There are additional per diems for approved meetings. For the full remuneration policy, please see here.