GLP — Government Licensed Professionals

Sam Davis

Shawna LaRade

Sheldon Martell

Seeing others succeed is what drives Sheldon Martell in his work as a family man, a member of the PEA, and a Timber Tenures Specialist.

When describing his career, he focuses on the people he spends his days with: “What an amazing professional cast of staff I have the pleasure working with,” he says.

For the last three years, Sheldon, who has a Bachelor of Science in Forestry with a minor in wildlife management, has worked on Vancouver Island’s coast area for the Ministry of Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. Some of his duties include working with the Minister around how to apportion the Allowable Annual Cut; tracking the volume of harvested wood for more than 300 forest tenures; and identifying new timber opportunities.

Sheldon says one of his career highlights involved helping another department on a project. When asked why that project was significant to him, he said it’s because it helped him understand different perspectives. Plus, he added, “I ended up working with staff I would have never have had the pleasure of meeting.” He said the experience “reinforced my understanding that great staff exist in every division within our Ministry.”

His positive view of working with others translates into his desire to create a positive, healthy, professional workplace — and is what prompted him to join the PEA executive.

Sheldon describes his beginnings as humble, but with lots of stories. Perhaps that’s why he’s drawn to contributing to the stories of others and reflecting on how others influence his life story. His memoirs will be coming out the day he retires, he jokes. We’ll stay tuned.

Frank Kohlberger

Quoting renowned Canadian biologist Fred Bunnell, PEA president Frank Kohlberger says his field — forestry — “is not rocket science. It is much more complicated than that.”

With 27 years in the industry, Frank, a Registered Professional Forester, has been with Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development in Kamloops for 11 years. His natural curiosity has been a good fit for his career choice, given the wide range of responsibilities — analyzing forestland to identify and recommend areas for development, addressing concerns about the impacts to wildlife and ecosystems, and working with stakeholders.

He worked on a project that provided opportunities for First Nations to help plan resource development and then help carry out various phases of the implementation.

“The project contributed to positive relationships and facilitated their building of internal capacity and experience,” Frank says. “This to me was like planting one small seed in the effort towards reconciliation.”

Frank describes himself as someone who is drawn to helping people, so it’s no surprise strengthening relationships with First Nations stands out as a key accomplishment in his career. Being on the GLP executive is another way Frank hones his interpersonal skills.

“I hope to help educate members so that they can make intelligent and informed decisions that will ultimately improve their lives and the lives of future members,” he says.

In his free time, Frank practices seeing the world from other perspectives by acting in and directing community theatre productions. To him, the same thread links his work and interests. Says Frank: “They allow me to give to others in my community.”

Elizabeth Hunt

Cariboo, moose, and old growth forests are in good hands in the Peace Natural Resource District in Dawson Creek. The work of Elizabeth Hunt, a Stewardship Officer with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, benefits not only forest licensees who wish to access the timber supply, but also British Columbia’s natural resources, which she protects through her work.

Originally from New Brunswick, Elizabeth has worked in the Dawson Creek area for 16 years; previously, she was the Timber Officer in the Fort St. John Forest District.

Her expansive portfolio means she is involved in projects of great breadth and depth: She assesses timber supply; prepares resource-management plans; recommends plans to restore sensitive ecosystems; and directs programs including the Forest and Range Evaluation Program.

Around 2003, Elizabeth learned that her local representative on the PEA was retiring, and she volunteered for training to replace him. “I have always tried to put people first, in both my personal and professional life, and it was a natural progression to become the local representative,” she explains.

While on the executive, she hopes society at large will start to see everything PEA’s diverse members do to “contribute to the betterment of society.”

Elizabeth describes herself as outgoing and says her passions outside of work reflect that. She’s the president of Branch 141 of the Royal Canadian Legion and a lay reader with her Anglican church. Plus, she shows Loki, her Border Terrier, at dog shows — she says she’s only two points away from making her “little girl” a Canadian champion.

Patricia Wilson

ARTICLE I — Name

The name of the organization shall be the Government Licensed Professionals Chapter (GLPC) of the Professional Employees Association.

ARTICLE II — Objectives

Government Licensed Professionals Chapter Objectives are:

• To represent government licensed professionals in the activities of the Professional Employees Association and in relations with the Association Executive and other recognized chapters.
• To promote and pursue continuous improvement in the terms of employment and working conditions of government licensed professionals.
• To provide a forum for discussion by government licensed professionals of collective bargaining issues, salaries, benefits, employment conditions, and other employment-related matters.
• To assist the Professional Employees Association in negotiating collective agreements covering members of the GLPC. To carry out other functions consistent with this Constitution and the Constitution of the Professional Employees Association as may be desirable for the good and welfare of GLPC members.

ARTICLE III — Membership

Membership shall be open to all employees who are members of the government licensed professional bargaining unit for whom the Professional Employees Association is certified as bargaining agent.

ARTICLE IV — Executive Committee

The Executive of the GLPC shall consist of seven members, elected biennially in odd-numbered years by a secret ballot of the entire chapter membership. The Chapter Executive shall appoint from among its members a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and a Secretary-Treasurer.

The Chapter Executive shall appoint by motion the GLPC members of the Association Executive from among the members of the Chapter Executive. The GLPC entitlement to Association Executive members shall be as set out in the PEA Constitution and By-laws.

The Chairperson shall preside over Chapter Executive meetings and, in his/her absence, the Vice-Chairperson shall preside.

A quorum of the Chapter Executive shall be four members, and shall have the authority to take such measures in carrying out GLPC objectives as are consistent with this Constitution and the Constitution of the Professional Employees Association.

Should a vacancy occur in the Chapter Executive, the remaining members may appoint a replacement from the GLPC membership for the remainder of the instant term of office.

Except as herein provided, Chapter Executive meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.

ARTICLE V — Executive Elections

The Chapter Executive shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of at least three GLPC members not later than 90 days prior to the Chapter Annual General Meeting in odd-numbered years.

The Nominating Committee shall prepare a list of candidates who have signified that they are willing to stand for Chapter Executive office. Nominations may be put forward to the Nominating Committee by any member of the GLPC. Any member who is nominated by three GLPC members may stand for election to the Chapter Executive.

The Nominating Committee shall put the list of candidates who have agreed to stand for election to the general membership for their vote. Ballots shall be delivered to each member or mailed to his/her last known address not later than 60 days prior to the Chapter Annual General Meeting. The date by which the ballot is to be returned shall precede the Chapter Annual General Meeting. The seven candidates with the greatest number of votes shall be elected to the Chapter Executive. Newly elected members of the Executive shall assume office at the close of the Chapter Annual General Meeting in odd-numbered years.

ARTICLE VI — Election of Delegates to Convention

The GLPC entitlement to convention delegates shall be as per Article III of the PEA Constitution and By-laws.

The Chapter Executive shall be entitled to attend Convention as chapter delegates as of right.

The GLPC's remaining delegate entitlement shall be allocated to regions on the basis of proportional representation as defined by chapter policy.

The Chapter Executive shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of at least three GLPC members not later than 120 days prior to the Convention.

The Nominating Committee shall prepare a list of candidates who have signified that they are willing to stand for election as convention delegates. Nominations may be put forward to the Nominating Committee by any member of the GLPC.

Delegates from each region shall be elected by chapter members within each region. The Nominating Committee shall put the list of candidates who have agreed to stand for election in each region to the general membership of that region for their vote. Ballots shall be delivered to each member or mailed to his/her last known address not later than 100 days prior to the Convention. The date by which the ballot is to be returned shall precede the Convention by no fewer than 70 days. If a region fails to elect the number of delegates to which it is entitled, the Chapter Executive Committee shall appoint delegate(s) from a pool of members nominated but not elected as delegates in other regions, taking into account representation by profession.

ARTICLE VII — Meetings

There shall be a Chapter Annual General Meeting in October, November or December.

Other general meetings may be called by the Chapter Executive.

The quorum for chapter meetings shall be five per cent (5%) of the chapter members.

When at least five per cent of GLPC members request in writing that a special general meeting be called, it shall take place within one calendar month of the request being received by the Chapter Executive.

Except as herein provided, GLPC meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.

ARTICLE VIII — Notice of Meetings

Notice of the Chapter Annual General Meeting shall be delivered to each member or mailed to his/her last known address not less than thirty (30) days before the meeting is to be held. A notice of meeting other than the Chapter Annual General Meeting shall be delivered to each member or mailed to his/her last known address not less than seven (7) days before the meeting is to be held.

Notice of meeting shall state the business to be transacted at the meeting.

ARTICLE IX — Adoption and Amendment of the Constitution

This Constitution shall come into effect when approved by a majority of votes cast in a secret ballot of the entire chapter membership. The Constitution shall be amended where a proposed amendment is approved by a two-thirds majority of votes cast in a secret ballot.