Chester Johnson is an inspirational leader who has accepted daunting challenges in both the corporate and the public sectors, and has always delivered results that exceed expectations.

After founding Whonnock Industries in 1961 and acting as President and CEO for 19 years, Mr. Johnson went on to head the West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. and Western Pulp Inc.

Mr. Johnson was the Chair of BC Hydro and Power Authority, and successfully transformed it from a Crown corporation into a private enterprise. In 1987, he became the first Chair of the Vancouver Airport Authority, successfully overseeing the transfer of the airport from the federal government to the Vancouver Airport Authority, and oversaw the construction of a new runway and YVR’s International Terminal Building.

Chester Johnson was Chair of the Board of Directors of the Whistler Land Corporation and in less than a decade, helped reverse Whistler’s fortunes by turning it into a world-class resort and conference destination. Johnson served as Director of Finance for Expo ’86, and as a member of the Economic Council of Canada. He is also a former member of UBC’s Commerce and Business Administration Committee and Forest Advisory Committee. He chaired the Transportation Committee for the 2010 Vancouver-Whistler Olympic bid, and continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the Haida Nation’s Power Authority.

Among his many awards, Mr. Johnson has been honoured with the Order of Canada, the Order of British Columbia, the Canada 125 medal, the Queen’s 50th Anniversary Medal, and a certificate announcing his appointment as an Honorary Colonel with the 78th Fraser Highlanders regiment of the Fort Fraser Garrison. Chester Johnson was honoured by the Institute of Chartered Accountants as a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) in 1997 and with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.