Mel Cooper - Victoria

Mel Cooper, an outstanding business and community leader, was born in St. John's, Newfoundland. After moving west he attended the University of British Columbia.

His British Columbia broadcasting career started with an announcer's job in Port Alberni 40 years ago. Mel Cooper is now President and General Manager of three radio stations: C-FAX Victoria and CKOV-AM and CKLZ-FM in Kelowna, and has served four years as President of the British Columbia Association of Broadcasters.

Airwaves are not Mel Cooper's only line of business, he is also chairman of AirBC and a director of a number of other corporations.

For many British Columbians, Mel Cooper will be remembered as the vice president of Expo 86, the person who developed its hugely successful corporate sales plan.

In addition to his considerable business flair, Mel Cooper has contributed his time, his expertise and his inspirational enthusiasm to local, regional and national charities, non-profit boards, foundations and community groups. Canada 125 and the Victoria Commonwealth Games are but two examples.

He has been given awards too numerous to mention from business and industry and as a community leader and humanitarian, awards which include the Order of Canada.

Mel Cooper is a much sought-after speaker. A title of one of his presentations is, "I've never met an enthusiastic failure". It's a title which speaks volumes about the man himself.