Lawrence Johnson, President

I moved to British Columbia from Alberta in 1960 and completed high school in Dawson Creek. I worked for a short period of time for the Alberta Wheat Pool before joining the British Columbia Forest Service on June 28th, 1965. I started as a junior compass-man cruising timber in Prince George. I was also stationed in Dawson Creek, Stony Lake, and Quesnel, and completed my career 36 years later in Prince George on August 31st, 2001. I joined the B.C.G.R.E.A. Branch #1600 as soon as I retired. During my working life, I was active in the B.C.G.E.U. and held many positions, including Component Chairperson and member of the Master Bargaining Committee. My community involvement included serving on the Board of Directors of the Prince George and District United Way for almost 15 years and also a member of the Executive Board of the Prince George Alcohol and Drug Services Society for 5 years. I now serve as a Trustee of the Public Service Pension Board.

My wife Gloria and I moved to Nanaimo in 2002 to be closer to our grandchildren and warmer winters. We enjoy travelling (especially cruising) walking, hiking, and gardening. I enjoy playing bridge and belong to two bridge clubs. We joined the B.C.G.R.E.A., Nanaimo/Mid-Island Branch upon moving to Nanaimo, and I was elected Chairperson in September, 2003. Besides being members of the B.C.G.R.E.A., we are members of the Probus Club of Lantzville. I volunteer at Income Tax time for Bowen Park Seniors and for Loaves and Fishes organizations. Gloria and I have been married for 35 years and have two grown children, and two grandchildren, our married daughter lives in Lantzville, and our son lives in Calgary.

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Ed Bodner, Past President

Prior to retirement, Ed was employed as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse, Staff Representative, BC Government Employees' Union, Personnel and Industrial Officer and Regional District Sales Manager for Old Fort Brewery.

While still in Prince George, Ed found time to serve as Alderman for 10 years, Director for the Regional District of Prince George, President of the United Appeal, Chairman of River & Parks Committee, Vice-President of Minor Football and Hockey leagues, Director - Royal Canadian Legion, President - Prince George and District Labour Council and Member of Provincial Council of BC Federation of Labour.

In 1987 Ed retired and moved from Prince George to the Comox Valley and became active in his new community. His volunteer work included the following organizations: Crossroads Crisis Centre, United Way for Comox Valley, Strathcona Regional District, Kiwanis, Community Activities, BCGREA Chair - Comox Valley Branch.

Ed previously served as a Trustee of the Public Service Pension Board, Member of the Interplan Group Benefits Committee, and until recent cutbacks, also held a seat on the seniors Advisory Board and the Representation Agreement Resource Centre (RARC). For the last ten years Ed has served as President, BC Government Retired Employees Association.

Ed and his wife, Shirley, live near Courtenay on Vancouver Island, where they enjoy being close to their children and grandchildren.

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Fred Bennett, 1st Vice-President

Fred moved to British Columbia from Alberta in 1958 to seek fortune and fame - and came to realize there was none to be had. He entered nursing school at Essondale, B.C. and graduated as a Psychiatric Nurse in 1961. He was subsequently employed as Staff Nurse and Assistant Head Nurse for 12 years at Riverview Hospital. Fred returned to school at BCIT to complete the General Nursing Program, returning to his employment at Riverview Hospital in 1975 as Head Nurse. He retired from this position in 1996.

Fred has resided in Coquitlam since 1959. He has over the years enjoyed coastal boating and has taught many boating programs for the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons. He has also engaged in competitive hand gunning as a hobby. His current interests are not quite as physically demanding. He enjoys the restoration of British cars and motorcycles and is a member of several related clubs.

In 1996 Fred joined the BCGREA as a member but soon found himself elected to the position of Vice-Chair and now holds the position of Chair of the New Westminster and District Branch. To add to his busy schedule, he accepted the position of First Vice-President of the Provincial body of BCGREA in 2001. His actions speak for what he believes in..'Everyone must do their part.'

Fred is divorced and has three adult children.

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Sarjit Manhas, 2nd Vice-President

Sarjit was born in Leechtown, near Sooke. She was raised and educated in Esquimalt and Victoria. Prior to joining the British Columbia Government in 1969, she traveled extensively through India and the Middle East (lived in the Sudan). Her service career for the first 23 years was with Ministers of Economic Development, Tourism, Agriculture & Food, Mining, Post Secondary Education and the Attorney General. Before retiring in 1996, she was the Briefing Coordinator for the Ministry of Health. On retirement, she immediately joined BCGREA and served on the Victoria Executive in various positions. She became Chair of the Branch in 2003.

Sarjit's current volunteer service includes the Canadian Scottish Regimental Association due to her early Reserve military service with the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's). She is a member of Pioneer Co-operative Housing Association and is generous with her time on cooperative housing issues. She has also given service to the Royal British Columbia Museum (Gift Shop), the READ Society and the Greater Victoria Art Gallery. Sarjit strongly believes in public service and "giving back" to the community.

Her leisure time is spent reading spy thrillers, gardening, entertaining, working out, decorating and creating pieces of stained glass art. In between she enjoys the company of her teacup Chihuahua, Santiago.

She is divorced and has one son.

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Kathy Torhjelm, Secretary

I completed a BA in Psychology and Sociology in 1962 at Victoria College (affiliated to UBC). I married my husband Charles that year and was fortunate to be able to stay at home for 25 years while we raised our four children. True Vancouver Islanders, I was born and brought up in Port Alberni and Charles was born in Ladysmith. During our 43 years of marriage we have lived in Victoria, Duncan and now Nanaimo.

While I was at home I operated a licensed family child care and advocated for quality child care and quality child care providers for many years.

In 1989 I became a member of the BCGEU when I was hired by the Central Vancouver Island Health Unit to be a licensing officer, monitoring both child and adult care facilities in this region. Over the course of my employment I became a chief licensing officer for the Central Vancouver Health Region and a Supervisor of Licensing for the Vancouver Island Health Authority with responsibility for both Central and North Vancouver Island. It was truly a privilege to be able to contribute to this rewarding work.

I retired in February 2005 (on my 65th birthday) and joined the BCGREA and serve as the secretary of the Nanaimo/Mid-Island Branch - No. 0600. I am active in my community as a member of the City of Nanaimo Social Planning Advisory Committee, the Canadian Federation of University Women, Community Kitchens, Toastmasters and Brechin United Church. In my spare time I enjoy knitting, reading and visiting with our four amazing grandchildren.

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John H. Cone, Treasurer

John retired in 1987 after serving 31 years with the Ministry of Finance - Consumer Taxation Branch. John transferred with this Ministry from Nelson, BC to Nanaimo in 1965 and has made Vancouver Island his place of retirement.

His community involvement consisted of volunteering as Treasurer for the Nanaimo Golf Club and helped with a local hockey league.

John still plays golf whenever he can and although he minimizes the importance of it, also played baseball for 12 years and served as a volunteer official with the Western International Hockey League. He tells a very funny story of how he knew when it was time to quit playing baseball. You should ask him to relate it sometime. He has submitted some adjectives to describe himself, however, the inclusion of these would be deemed inappropriate, but funny, by all.

In 1997, John was elected Treasurer of the BCGREA, Nanaimo Branch, and was subsequently appointed Provincial Treasurer of this 10,000 member, 23 Branch Association in 1999, admirably fulfilling the demanding duties that this position dictates.

John and his wife Betty have been married 48 years this September. They have two daughters and two grandchildren. We have yet to determine who deserves the medal for perseverance, but we congratulate them and are happy to have John as our Treasurer.

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Mary Foster, Provincial Membership Chair

I’m a native of Portland, Oregon, married a Canadian after the death of my first husband and immigrated to Nanaimo January 1, 1973 with two of my four children. 

My career was mainly in the secretarial field, though I managed the computer department when working for Chrysler Motors in Portland. I was involved in mortgage lending for a number of years in Nanaimo. My last position, before retiring in 1994, was trust clerk at Nanaimo Correctional Centre. I joined BCGREA shortly after retirement and volunteered to be a phoner. And that was the beginning of BCGREA involvement.

I presently am employed part time as administration assistant at the Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank in Nanaimo and find it a very rewarding experience, not necessarily monetarily but in gaining knowledge and compassion for the less fortunate individuals among us. Hobbies, among others, are gardening, creating greeting cards,
reading mystery novels, delivering food to Meals on Wheels clients, involvement in the Nanaimo Unitarian fellowship, wining, dining and socializing with friends.

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