Dale Wheeldon, President & CEO of BCEDA Retires in 2026

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Dale Wheeldon, President & CEO of BCEDA Retires in 2026

After 18 years of dedicated service, Dale Wheeldon, President and CEO of the BC Economic Development Association (BCEDA), has announced his intention to retire at the conclusion of the 2026 BC Economic Summit.  According to Outgoing Chair, Brian Coombes, “Dale has led the organization through an incredible period of growth, transformation, and impact. Under his leadership, BCEDA has become a stronger, more influential voice for economic development across British Columbia—supporting local and Indigenous governments, launching innovative programs, and championing community resilience, investment, and recovery.”

“Dale’s passion for economic development and his commitment to collaboration have helped shape BCEDA into the trusted organization it is today. His efforts have strengthened our connections not only with each other, but also with the Province, and partners across Canada.”

BCEDA and TPBC signed a MoA and BCEDA provided TPBC with their endorsement of the TPBC Statement on Accreditation.  “I have had the great pleasure working with Dale, first in my role as CEO of ASTTBC and now as CEO of TPBC. He is a strong leader, builder and friend.  I applaud all he achieved for the BCEDA members and for the people of BC and beyond”, said TPBC CEO John Leech.  “Dale will continue to work with BCEDA for one more year and retie at about this time in 2026.  I wish the very best for Dale in all that lies ahead.” 

BCEDA Outgoing Chair Brian Coombes concluded, “On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire membership, I want to express our deepest gratitude to Dale for his outstanding service and visionary leadership.  While we will have many opportunities over the coming year to celebrate his legacy, please join me now in thanking Dale for everything he has done—and continues to do—for our communities and for BCEDA.”

Posted 2025/May/21

Strategic Natural Resource Consultants Offer Endorsement for TPBC's Statement of Accreditation

"The TPBC Statement on Accreditation has a direct tie with the mission of Strategic Natural Resource Consultants (SNRC), especially our focus on high standards of professional competency and service. SNRC applauds every effort to ensure that the graduates from post-secondary institutions receive an education that is recognized through an appropriate third party accreditation body.  For engineering and applied science technology programs the recognized body is Technology Accreditation Canada, TPBC's Statement on Accreditation calls on all technology education programs to seek and maintain accreditation.  We at SNRC endorse TPBC's Statement and applaud every effort that leads to excellence in post-secondary programming." 


Domenico Iannidinardo, MBA, RPF, RPBio, PEng
Chief Executive Officer
Strategic Natural Resource Consultants  

Posted 2025/May/11

Black Wolf Consulting Inc., is pleased to support TPBC’s Statement on Accreditation. 

Grant Lachmuth, AScT, RTMgr, President  stated, "We fully support the TPBC Statement on Accreditation of Technology Programs. Accreditation of these programs is essential in ensuring a high level of consistency and quality, for students taking technology programs leading to registration with ASTTBC as a technologist, technician or technical specialist.  Additionally, Black Wolf Consulting also acknowledges Technology Accreditation Canada as the primary authority for the accreditation of engineering and applied science technology programs in BC."

Posted 2025/May/09

BCEDA Launches DisasterSmartBC: Leading Canada in Economic Resiliency and Recovery

Penticton, BC – April 16, 2025 – The British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) isproud to announce the launch of DisasterSmartBC, a cutting-edge platform designed to equip communities and businesses with the tools and resources they need to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.  The DisasterSmartBC website is expected to launch later this year and serve as a centralized hub for:

• Comprehensive Disaster Resources: Offering guidance, tools, and best practices to help communities prepare for and recover from natural and man-made disasters.
  Economic Recovery Strategies: Providing templates, case studies, and actionable plans to accelerate recovery efforts.
  Collaboration Opportunities: Creating a space for stakeholders to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and build long-term resilience.

Learn more.

TPBC has a Memorandum of Understanding with  BCEDA;  click here

Posted 2025/Apr/17

University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) has appointed Dr. James Mandigo as its next President and Vice-Chancellor. He succeeds Dr. Joanne MacLean, who will retire in June.  

Mandigo, currently UFV’s Provost and VP Academic, served as acting president in 2023, and steered the university through a challenging time of transition post-COVID with his calm and level-headed leadership. 

“James is a passionate educator and the UFV Board of Governors views him as the ideal person to lead UFV into the future,” Board Chair John Pankratz said. “Building on the steady foundation that Dr. MacLean has created, we believe Dr. Mandigo will provide strong, strategic direction as the university continues to realize its vast potential.”  

Learn more

Posted 2025/Apr/05

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Thompson Rivers University has named Dr. Airini, an internationally recognized researcher, teacher, and leader in higher education, as its next President and Vice-Chancellor. Her five-year term begins July 1.

Currently holding the role of Provost and Vice-President Academic at the University of Saskatchewan, Airini is known for her work on student success, equity, and education systems reform. She served as Dean of TRU’s Faculty of Education and Social Work from 2014 to 2021.

“Returning to TRU is both an honour and a responsibility,” said Airini. “It’s an enormous privilege to take on this role. We know that TRU became a full university 20 years ago because of this community’s strong vision and advocacy,” she said. “It is from these roots that this dynamic university is serving the region, and quietly yet boldly changing the province and the world.”

Learn more

Posted 2025/Apr/03

Herold Engineering Endorses TPBC's Statement on Accreditation 

We are pleased to report that Herold Engineering has indicated support for our Statement on Accreditation. Managing Principal, Lee Rowley, FEC, P.Eng., M.I.Struct.E., M.I.C.E., LEED AP, stated, "I certainly support the TPBC Statement on Accreditation of Technology Programs. It is a major step in ensuring consistency and quality, for those taking programs leading to registration with ASTTBC as technologist, technician or technical specialist."

Herold Engineering is a well-diversified Vancouver Island based consulting engineering company with their corporate office in Nanaimo and offices in Victoria and Ucluelet, BC. Herold Engineering is involved in a wide variety of building, municipal, transportation and marine projects throughout British Columbia with the majority of their work on Vancouver Island.

Posted 2025/Feb/27

A new program is being developed as a means to support and assist people with various abilities to build their careers in the technology professions. Our immediate attention will be people with disabilities. Likewise we will work with employers and NGOs as they strive for inclusivity in the workplace. We expect to liaise with governments and various quasi-governmental organizations as they develop and roll out policy and programs that affect people of all forms of ability Our expectation is that by providing information and services to members and employers / NGOs we will see a positive outcome for all.     

Stay tuned for a full announcement in the first half of 2025. 

Posted 2025/Feb/06

BUILD IT... they will come!

TPBC continues its work to building-out the key elements of this new advocacy and services organization. In 2024 the Board and CEO framed the Build it... they will come! strategic approach to moving forward with the early growth and development of TPBCA.  Behind these words is the thought that we will develop and implement major bits and pieces of what the association will offer in our advocacy and services role.  All before we initiate a full on member recruitment program. Briefly on membership, we ARE accepting members as 'early adopters' and invite and encourage engineering and applied science technologists, technicians and technical specialists to come on board in the early days of this new organization. 

Check out the web site for the soft launch of programs for people with disabilities, mentoring and a blue chip advisory group, TEChub.  Soon to be announced will be an Indigenous Relations initiative, a speakers bureau and more.  Stay tuned to BYTES for updates... and visit our web site  >  https://techprobc.org/

Posted 2925/Jan/11

KPU Endorses TPBCA Accreditation Statement

The Technology Professionals BC Association (TPBCA) is proud to announce that Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) has endorsed the TPBCA Statement on Accreditation. This endorsement highlights KPU’s dedication to ensuring high-quality technology education through third-party accreditation, benefiting students, employers, and the broader community.
Dr. Diane Purvey, Provost and Vice President, Academic at KPU, stated, “The TPBC Statement of Accreditation underscores the importance of third-party accreditation in ensuring high quality technology education in BC. Kwantlen Polytechnic University is proud to have our Environmental Technology Program accredited by Technology Accreditation Canada, ensuring that curriculum outcomes align with current industry standards and that our students’ career opportunities are enhanced.”
TPBCA commends KPU’s commitment to aligning educational programs with current industry standards and to fostering career success for its students. The endorsement reflects a shared vision for advancing technology education in British Columbia. TPBCA looks forward to ongoing collaboration with KPU to promote excellence and innovation in applied science and engineering technology programs.

Posted 2025/January/11

BCEDA Supports Accreditation Statement

The BC Economic Development Association (BCEDA) endorses the Accreditation Statement. Dale Wheeldon, President and CEO, said, "This statement strongly supports national recognition of technology education programs, an important building block for professionals registration. Students, parents and employers will be assured that the accredited program meets current standards here in BC, nationally and internationally."  BCEDA develops programs and initiatives to support communities and economic development organizations.

Posted 2025/January/11

The Association of Professional Biology is in full support of the TPBCA statement of Accreditation of Technology Programs.  Accredited post-secondary programs benefit all communities of professional practice, and the APB fully supports regulators in pursuit of this goal.   

Posted 2025/January/10