BCSTRA Board of Directors
Orion Rodgers, Director, Victoria
Orion is a husband, father, and entrepreneur with a deep-rooted passion for hosting and creating meaningful guest experiences. In his twenties, he purchased a condo in Victoria zoned for short-term rentals, using it to support travel while welcoming visitors from around the world. That experience sparked a lasting commitment to hospitality and led to the creation of a business specializing in short- and mid-term rental management, now supporting his young family.
Raised on the Gulf Islands, Orion developed a strong appreciation for British Columbia’s natural beauty and communities. Having traveled to over 20 countries, he remains convinced that BC offers something truly exceptional and that others should have the opportunity to experience it.
Orion advocates for responsible, well-regulated short-term rentals. He believes these accommodations play an important role in the province’s tourism ecosystem and that effective regulation should include input from all stakeholders, including owner-operators and professional managers. His approach emphasizes balance: protecting housing needs while preserving opportunities for small business owners and maintaining high standards for guests and communities alike.
Suzanne Little, Director, Salt Spring Island
Suzanne is a communications professional with a background in journalism, public relations, and digital marketing. She brings experience from previous non-profit board roles, helping shape the group’s strategy.
She operated a short-term rental in Victoria, BC that was shut down by the 2023 legislation, which forced the closure of legally zoned and licensed units across the province.
“It wasn’t right. We all wanted to address bad actors, but there was a better approach than shutting down compliant units. In Victoria alone, 634 downtown condo units were impacted. I joined other owners across the province and helped raise over $350,000 to challenge the legislation in the BC Supreme Court to no avail.
This has left many law-abiding people in a difficult financial position, holding an expensive-to -own unit that no longer covers the costs. As a self-employed person, it was part of my retirement plan.
I realize now that we needed our voices at the table before this legislation was passed. I look forward to helping set this in motion with the BCSTRA.”
Dale Holmes, Director, Kelowna
Dale moved from Regina, Saskatchewan to Kelowna BC in 2017. He is a proud father of two daughters. He is an entrepreneur and founder of HBE Vacations, a Kelowna based-property management company. With his background in public speaking, he is an articulate and passionate advocate for a properly regulated short term rental industry.
“In any city that is a tourist city you need to have a good strategy for location of short term rentals. What we learned in Kelowna after the legal vacation rentals in the downtown core were shut down, is that banning them didn’t help affordable housing. In fact it led to a loss in housing as people in neighbourhoods began switching their coach houses to offer tourism accommodations instead of long term rental units.
I look forward to working with local and provincial decision-makers to share insights from my perspective representing dozens of independently owned vacation rentals, and to helping shape collaborative solutions that support effective regulation, a strong tourism industry, and thriving local businesses.”
Sarah Rea, Director, Kelowna
Originally from Fort McMurray, Alberta, Sarah has called Kelowna home for 18 years. She is a proud mother of three. She helped establish HB Property Management in Kelowna and takes pride in creating comfortable, home-away-from-home environments for people in need of temporary accommodations.
“We want to offer stability for those who need to be here temporarily. Short-term rentals give traveling nurses, sports families, and cancer patients—along with their families who need to be close to hospital care or outpatient appointments—a place to truly feel at home.
Having a comfortable space with a kitchen, washer, and dryer helps them rest, eat well, and take care of themselves while focusing on healing, work, or supporting loved ones.
Short-term rentals also support local shops and small business owners, giving them the opportunity to build a livelihood and provide for their families. While tourism is a benefit, for me it’s really about caring for the people who make our town stronger and keeping our community thriving.”
Thomas Cowan, Director, Victoria
Based in Victoria, BC, Thomas lives on land and sea.
“I live away from my apartment 182.5 days a year at sea (for work as a deck hand), the ability to rent my home while I’m away gives me financial security and the ability to further my education in a field with a huge shortage, professional mariners. Removing the ability to rent whenever I’m at sea would jeopardize my ability to service my mortgage as interest rates climb.
The legally non conforming title of my property is what brought me to purchase in Victoria. I want everyone who works away from home, especially seafarers, to have the rights to utilize their otherwise empty space.”