Jack Bates was elected president of the Canadian Horticultural Council for the 2011-2012 term. He succeeds President Andy Vermeulen of Nova Scotia. Jack is a lifelong resident and third generation farmer in Delta, B.C., where he and his brothers operate Tecarte Farms — a mixed farming operation. The 450-acre farm consists of potato, blueberry and dairy operations. Jack and his brothers expanded into blueberries in the early 1990s and now have 80 acres in production.
Jack has been a very active resident in the Delta community and has served several roles within community organizations, including president and director of the B.C. Waterfowl Society, past president and director of the Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust, past president and director of the Delta Farmers’ Institute, past committee member of the Corporation of Delta Agricultural Advisory Committee, and past director of BC Fresh. He has been involved with the CHC for the past three years.
Through his work with the CHC, Jack’s ambition is to keep agriculture viable across Canada.
Jack’s leisure activities include playing hockey, coaching his son’s hockey team, hunting, skiing and bicycle riding. He and his wife Corrine have been married for 27 years and have a 14-year-old son.