To contact the BCLTA Board please email Laura Vilness, the BCLTA President of the Board, at laura.vilness@bclta.ca. For operational matters, contact Chris Middlemass at execdir@bclta.ca
Board of Directors
Laura Vilness
President 2023-2025
Pender Island Public Library Board
On the BCLTA board since 2021
Laura is a retired educator with 37 years of experience as a teacher, consultant and administrator in Saskatchewan school divisions. Her personal and professional education includes: B.A., B.Ed,. M.Ed., and Ed.D. Laura has extensive experience with local, regional and provincial boards in public and post-secondary education.
Laura moved to Pender Island in 2018 and has dived into community activities such as the Pender Island Arts Society, the Ptarmigan Gallery, quilting, knitting, photography and whatever else engages her interest. She loves living on the coast of the Salish Sea and the traditional lands of the W’sáneć peoples.
Laura has been on the Pender Island Public Library Board since 2019 and is in her second year as board chair. When she moved to Pender Island one of the first things she did was go into the local library and get a library card. Then she applied to be a volunteer and, finally, a board member. Libraries have always been her happy place, a place of calm, reflection and engagement and she is honoured to be on the Pender Island Public Library Board and the Board of the BCLTA.
Rob Bennie
Director 2023-2025
Gibsons and District Public Library Board
On the BCLTA board since 2023
Rob joined the Gibsons and District Public Library Board in 2018 and became Vice-Chair in 2019. His focus was in updating the governance manual and policies and revising the election procedures. He was involved in creating the latest strategic plan and in chairing the Facility Committee which developed a blueprint for future library expansion. He was the library’s representative on a Town of Gibsons initiative to created an integrated land use plan for the area encompassing the library, museum and town offices. He became GDPL chair in 2023 and plans on working toward restoring proper funding for libraries instead of them having to over rely on grants in aid. His outside interests include long distance cycle touring, sailing, home renovations and building wooden toys for his grandchildren.
Mike Gagel
Director 2023-2025
Prince George Public Library Board
On the BCLTA board since 2016
Mike earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nursing at the University of British Columbia and worked as a nurse for almost 20 years at the BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver Coastal Health, and as a sole proprietor consultant. In the second half of his nursing career Mike progressively focused on staff education through the use of technology. Next, he worked at the BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA) where he was responsible for all of the Association’s technology needs and also supported various trustee committees. Mike currently works for Northern Health as their Regional Manager, Communicable Disease.
As a volunteer, Mike has been on the BCLTA board since 2016, and serves as Chair of the Prince George Public Library Board and its Policy and Governance Committee, and sits on its Local History Committee. Mike is active in other areas of his community as well. He volunteered with Parent Advisory Councils at the school and district levels, and has been a Scouter with Scouts Canada since 2011. As a Scouter, Mike has been successful with grant applications totaling over $12,000 to support Scouting initiatives in and around Prince George.
As an avid reader, Mike’s interests include medieval European history, and science fiction and murder-mystery novels. He takes full advantage of his Hoopla and OverDrive accounts, and has downloaded many, many audio and ebooks. Some of his other interests include Maker initiatives, birding, backyard astronomy, and travel.
Darius Maze
Director 2023-2025, Treasurer 2023-2024
On the BCLTA board since 2022
Staff
Christine Middlemass
Interim Executive Director
execdir@bclta.ca
I am honoured to have dedicated my career to the world of libraries, serving in various capacities as a librarian, manager, educator, and advocate. Throughout my journey, I have been driven by a deep passion for learning and a commitment to public service.
My 38-year tenure at the Vancouver Public Library, from 1979 to 2017, provided me with a comprehensive understanding of library operations, from information services to the complexities of collections and technical services management. As an adjunct professor at the UBC School of Information, I have shared my management knowledge and experience with future library leaders.
My involvement in professional organizations has enriched my career and allowed me to contribute to the broader library community. I served on the Board of the British Columbia Library Association for over a decade, including a term as President in 2020-2021. Currently, I am the Recording Secretary and Board member of Urban Bounty, the Richmond Food Security Society.
I possess a strong foundation in strategic planning, budget management, human resource management, and labour relations. I am excited to leverage my skills and experience to serve as the Executive Director of the BC Library Trustees Association and to advocate for public library trustees and for public libraries.
Jan Thomas
Bookkeeper
jan.thomas@bclta.ca