Join us Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at Mizuna Culinary from 9:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m for some wonderful homemade baking for breakfast, fresh fruit and delcious coffee and a one of kind networking experience; including onsite vendor tables showcasing their businesses. Not to mention our amazing speaker for October; Brenda Locke. Brenda is going to talk politics with us. By definition pollitics is the process by which groups of people make collective decisions. Brenda Locke, former MLA is going to give us tips and insights on how to talk on the level to get our point across.Perhaps within your school board, city council or whatever forum it may be.
Brenda Locke is currently the Executive Director of the Massage Therapists Association of British Columbia. Brenda has been a candidate for Federal Liberal Party in the riding of Fleetwood Port Kells in Surrey in 2006 and 2008.
She was appointed Minister of State for Mental Health and Addiction Services and finished her term of government in May of 2005. She was first elected in 2001 to represent the riding of Surrey – Green Timbers. Ms. Locke has served as chair of the Legislative Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services , and a member of the Select Standing Committee on Education and the Government Caucus Committee on Health. She previously was on the Safe School Task Force, Burrard Thermal Task Force and on PNWER (Pacific Northwest Economic Region).
Before becoming an MLA, Ms. Locke was the executive director of the BC Liquor Licensee and Retailers Association, a position she held since 1985. From 1979 to 1983, she was the office manager for the Richmond Association for Children’s Services which managed three group homes for troubled youth and an outreach program for youth under twelve.
Ms. Locke holds three professional affiliations: Association of Tourism Professions member who achieved Distinguished Member status in1997; Hospitality Industry Education Advisory Committee member (1988-2000) and chair (1995-2000); and, Hospitality Industry Liquor Licensing Advisory Committee member (1987-1998).
Ms. Locke’s community activities include: supporter of children’s minor sports (1995-present); Tourism Surrey Task Force (1999-2001); Surrey Chamber of Commerce (1996-present); Member of Green Timbers Heritage Society (2000-2001); Surrey’s “Healthiest Babies Possible” (1990-1995); Burnaby’s FAS/FAE Committee (1991-1994); and, Richmond’s Designated Mother Project (1989-1990).
Born in Vancouver, Brenda and her husband John, who married in 1975, have lived in Surrey since 1980; they have two children and a gorgeous grandbaby boy.