Anju Gill, executive director of the BC Blueberry Council since 2017, has moved to the BC Greenhouse Growers Association (BCGGA) effective September 2024. The announcement comes at an important juncture as the association is exploring a new marketing commission for the sector, separate from the BC Vegetable Marketing Commission. Greenhouse growers are seeking autonomy for their business needs, including labour, international trade and energy. The greenhouse sector has a farmgate value of $342 million (Stats Canada 2022) for its perishable produce, about four times the value of potato and other storage crops regulated by the commission.  

A proposal for a new regulatory body for BC greenhouse growers must be reviewed in a vote by the members and must receive the go-ahead from the BC Farm Industry Review Board. This entity oversees the province’s Natural Products Marketing Act.  

Meanwhile, Paul Pryce, a policy director with the BC Agriculture Council since 2022, is taking over the executive director role at BC Blueberry Council which is based in Abbotsford. He brings more than 15 years of experience in government relations, advocacy, market development, and international diplomacy to this role.

Previous positions have included serving as BC Agriculture Council's first director of policy (2022-2024), establishing Saskatchewan's first overseas trade office as counsellor at the Embassy of Canada to Japan (2020-2022), and working as principal advisor to the Consul General of Japan in Calgary (2014-2020).

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Calgary and a Master of Arts in International Relations from Tallinn University.

Source: Staff