Peter Bentley has been an industrial leader in British Columbia and a Canadian spokesperson for our world renowned forest industry. He always understood the importance of community in the forest industry. The safety of his employees was always his number one priority.

Mr. Bentley led Canfor as CEO from 1975 – 1995 and continues to serve as a director. Canfor is not only one of BC’s largest home-grown enterprises. It is arguably one of its most formative because the forest industry built many of the communities and much of the infrastructure across this vast province. His long tenure at the helm of one of the most significant contributors to the BC economy has made an indelible impact on the prosperity of the province and has touched the lives of tens of thousands of people who build their lives around a career at Canfor.

Mr. Bentley served as Chancellor at the University of Northern British Columbia from 2004 to 2007. He received honourary Doctor of Law degrees from the University of British Columbia and the University of Northern British Columbia. Simon Fraser University recognized Mr. Bentley with a Distinguished Community Leadership Award in 2007. He served on a number of major company boards including Shell, Bank of Montreal and the International Advisory Board of JP Morgan Chase. His involvement in community organizations reflects his personal commitment to building a better society. Mr. Bentley is member of the BC Sports Hall of Fame, having won the WAC Bennett Award, and a past Chair. He founded the VGH Hospital Foundation in 1980 which later merged to become the VGH/UBC Hospital Foundation – this year they passed the half billion mark in contributions. He is a past Chair of the BC Business Council and served for 14 years on the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.

Those who have had the pleasure of working with Mr. Bentley will attest that his influence is both powerful and personal. He was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1983.