Bill Vander Zalm

BILL VANDER ZALM Has often been called the "Gardener Politician." A family man with his wife Lillian of 53 years, 4 children, all married and in the nursery garden center business operating Art Knapp Plantland Stores, and 9 wonderful grandchildren.

Bill Vander Zalm started the Art Knapp stores in 1953 after running a wholesale bulb and plant business for several years since age 18 when his father had suffered a heart attack.

Bill Vander Zalm entered politics, as a Surrey Councilor in 1965 and in 1969 became the youngest Mayor in Canada's history of the largest Municipality in the British Commonwealth.

In 1975 he entered Provincial politics and became Minister of Human Resources. After eliminating the debt and re-directing that ministry, he became the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Transit and brought to our Province the rapid transit Skytrain system.

In 1981, the Government was forced to introduce a program of restraint and Mr. Vander Zalm was given the most difficult portfolio of Education and effectively brought spending in line with available revenues.

In 1983 Mr. Vander Zalm took a sabbatical from politics when he and Lillian started the Fantasy Garden World, a combination "show Garden", "Children's Play Park" and "Biblical Garden" complete with catering facilities for weddings and other functions.

In 1986 Bill Vander Zalm was chosen the leader of Social Credit, became Premier on July 31st. and was confirmed with a majority government in a general election during October of that year.

There was considerable progress during the years of 1986 - 1991 and the Province went from successive deficits to successive balanced budgets, all income tax surcharges were removed and the sales tax was reduced. But most remarkably, his Government was the first in the history of the Province to actually reduce the Provincial debt, and the British Columbia economy was rated #1 in North America.

In late 1990, after suffering from a number of internal political maneuverings and with great and well organized fanfare, was falsely charged with Conflict of Interest and Breach of Trust for participating with Lillian in the sale of the Fantasy Gardens. He resigned, but was later acquitted of all charges in the BC Supreme Court and found not guilty.

Bill still keeps very busy doing auctions at numerous charity fund-raisers. He is also involved in numerous challenging business enterprises, but after Lillian and family, his big love is tending to his big crop of fragrant Lilac bushes.