MLA: Hon. Ben Stewart - Westside-Kelowna - Minister of Citizens' Services and Open Government

Father, we thank You for MLA: Hon. Ben Stewart and his vast experience in the area of community service. We are grateful also for his expertise in the area of business and commerce in our province and also Canada at large. Lord, we pray that You will open up many opportunities for Minister Stewart to be able to employ these skills in unique and effective ways in the fulfillment of his portfolio as Minister of Citizens' Services and Open Government. May this Christmas Season be a time of relaxation, rejuvenation and reconnection with family and those who he is closest to. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Ben Stewart was appointed Minister of Citizens’ Services and Open Government on September 5, 2012.

Elected as the MLA for Westside-Kelowna in 2009, Ben previously served as the Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Community and Rural Development, Minister of Citizens' Services, and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism and the Public Affairs Bureau.

An entrepreneur, Ben founded and built Quails’ Gate into one of Canada’s leading estate wineries.

Ben has 30 years of extensive experience serving the community and is a founding director of a Venture Capital Fund for local business development. He was on the board of the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation and has been active in the fundraising and establishment of the Brookhaven Extended Care Facility Campaign, Southern Interior Cancer Centre Campaign, and the Rotary Centre for the Arts.

Ben was chair of the BC Grape Marketing Board where they successfully negotiated with provincial and federal governments on agricultural stabilization. Additionally, he was chairman of the Regional Transportation Advisory Committee for the Thompson Okanagan, as well as a member of the Presidents Community Advisory Council at UBC Okanagan.

His other experience includes having served as the past chair of VQA Canada, where they successfully resolved a number of significant international issues such as trademark protection, international mutual recognition agreements including national wine and health standards. As vice-chair of the Canadian Vintners Association, he oversaw the establishment of new national wine association offices in Ottawa and the hiring of their first CEO.

Ben has been recognized as Business Leader of the Year in Kelowna in 1998, received the Westbank Chamber of Commerce President’s Award in 2006, and recognized as Family Business of the Year by Grant Thornton in 2007. He also received the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for Community Service. He was a Kinsman, a scout leader, and a member of the Canadian Ski Patrol.

Ben lives in Westside with his wife of 30 years Ruth and has three grown children.