Brad Whittaker ( 2019-20 )
Brad Whittaker and his wife, Kim Isaac, live with their dog Rosie and three rescued cats in Chilliwack. He has two sets of stepsons who live in B.C. and Mexico.
He recently retired after 16 years as Director of Research Services and Industry Liaison at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford. This is the longest he has held a position as he has had a variety of jobs: a high school teacher, college lab instructor, liquor store clerk, house builder, director of a provincial environ- mental health project, consultant to Health Canada, coordinator for the Fraser Basin Council, manager of a college campus, and partner in a public relations and communications firm.
Brad has a BSc in biochemistry, a professional teaching certificate, and a masters’ in public administration.
Brad was born and grew up in rural Vancouver Island, an idyllic place for a young lad. He played many different sports and started his volunteer public service as president of the student council in grade 10. He has continued this service in various forms and has been involved as a volunteer in several organizations including president or chair of ElderCollege Chilliwack, Fraser Valley Watersheds Coalition, Chilliwack Social Research and Planning Council, and Chilliwack Community Arts Council.
In 2002, his colleague, Ian Fenwick, invited him to join the Rotary Club of Chilliwack where off key singers were allowed to sing in public. The reason Brad joined Rotary was to network with others, do more locally and become involved in international projects. He has stayed for those reasons but along the way has also discovered many new friendships, both at the club and district levels. He enjoyed being President of the club in 2012-2013.
From 2014-2017, Brad served at the District level as Assistant Governor for Area B (Abbotsford-Mission). He is also a member of the faculty of the Rotary Learning Institute, and a member of the Visioning Team.
Brad and Kim are Major Donors and members of the Bequest Society, and Brad is a member of the Paul Harris Society.
Brad is humbled and honoured to District Governor. He sees this as a great opportunity to do more, give back, make a difference, and connect with Rotarians district and world-wide . He looks forward to serving each member and each club in the District and helping them have a great Rotary experience. He believes the second part of his DG term (year 2020) will provide great hindsight.
Brad’s hobbies include travel, theatre, gardening (sometimes with a chainsaw), sports (formerly as a jock, now a spectator), and photography. He has survived chasing grizzly bears unarmed, travelling with livestock on the decks of cargo boats, and living in – 40 degrees (C and F) northern Saskatchewan.
Brad’s hobbies include travel, theatre, gardening (sometimes with a chainsaw), sports (formerly as a jock, now a spectator), and photography. He has survived chasing grizzly bears unarmed, travelling with livestock on the decks of cargo boats, and living in – 40 degrees (C and F) northern Saskatchewan.