President

After completing a B.A. in Economics at the University of British Columbia, Gary took a position as a sales executive with MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. in 1965.  A desire for a career change led to him achieving a Professional Teaching Certificate 1970.  He took on teaching positions in the Vancouver and Delta School Districts, where his teaching concentration was with senior students teaching Law, Economics, Canadian History and Geography.  He also served as a department head for many years and completed his Master of Arts Degree at the University of British Columbia. 

It was during this time that he became a project contributor for the Canadian Studies Foundation.  It was also during this time that he became involved with the Encounters With Canada.  In 1990, he was asked to become a program monitor, and in 1991, he became the EWC Regional Coordinator for the B.C. Lower Mainland.  Two years later, he became the EWC B.C. President, a position that he still holds today.  It was also at this time that he founded G. M. Homes Ltd. – a property management and development company.  It was also during this time that he became the volunteer Treasurer St. David’s Abbeyfield Society which built and currently operates two seniors’ home in the South Delta area of B.C.  Gary retired from teaching in 1997, and shortly afterward completed his Chartered Financial Planning Diploma at The Canadian Institute of Financial Planners, and founded Bennett Financial Services Corp., a financial and business consulting firm.  During this time, he was asked to become a Governor of the Canadian Unity Council and later to serve on the CUC Board of Directors, followed by becoming the National Chair of the Canadian Unity Council’s Exchange and Youth Programs Committee. 

In 2001, Gary joined the Rotary Club of Kelowna, where he served on the board for a number of years before becoming President in 2006 – 2007.  As President, he was instrumental in founding The Rotary Club of Kelowna Foundation where he is the founding and current President. 

In 2006, after the Federal Government announced the funding cancellation for the Canadian Unity Council, he and Linda Brunet, the EWC Director-General launched a national letter campaign that convinced the Federal Government to save the Encounters With Canada Program.  He played an active role in finding EWC a new ‘home’ with the Historica Foundation and is a member of the Historica Dominion Institute’s Advisory Board.  He was a co-founder of The Encounters With Canada Support Foundation. 

Gary and his wife of thirty-six years have one daughter Candace and currently reside in Kelowna, B. C.