WRITTEN BY ASHLEY CHAPMAN
Food for the Hungry Canada welcomes Bernie Willock as new President & CEO
Born and raised in Victoria, B.C. Bernie brings a wealth of both international and Canadian leadership experience to the role. Since 2009, Bernie and his wife Marlene have owned and operated Pine Lodge Farm on the east coast of Vancouver Island, along with Pine Lodge Contracting with their son, Ben. Bernie will be seeing a lot of his daughter, Jen, in the upcoming days as she has preceded him at FH Canada as a Donor Service Representative.
Bernie’s career has spanned a wide range of management, including forestry, pastoring, land development, and business ownership. He even co-opened the first La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries in B.C. (thanks, Bernie!), and enjoyed growing his business to 40+ employees who shared in the profits. His proudest achievement from this season was developing transformational partnerships with two Christian NGO’s focused on alleviating poverty in Haiti and Colombia.
After spending time with family and engaging in almost any outdoor activity (especially biking), Bernie most enjoys mentoring young entrepreneurs looking to build businesses that bear witness to the kingdom of God through creative economic and organizational models. His most recent opportunity, of course, is the call to serve as President and CEO of FH Canada.
“My hope and vision is to invite people from all walks of life to partner with us [FH] in this incredible work that seeks to establish fully sustainable, transformed communities through friendships that transcend cultural, national and economic barriers,” he says.
“FH bears witness to the hope of the gospel...a fully transformed humanity.”
We are excited to see how God will continue to impact the world through FH Canada as Bernie takes the helm and moves our mission forward - ending poverty one community at a time.
Welcome, Bernie!
Fun Fact about the new Pres:
He loves to bike! Bernie made the Canadian National Team for cycling and represented Canada from 1979 – 1982. He participated in the World Championships, Pan Am Games, Commonwealth Games, and was selected to the 1980 Olympic team (Moscow boycott).
He still loves to ride for fun and fitness!
He still loves to ride for fun and fitness!
(Bernie enjoys a bike ride while taking in the Graduation celebrations in Bufukhula last November 2013.)
Introducing the Willock Family: Jen (daughter), Bernie, Marlene (wife), and Ben (son).
