Laurie Charlton has lived in the Kootenays most of his life. He has a PhD in Chemistry and was Quality Assurance Superintendent for Cominco Metals. He is currently serving his seventh term as Councillor for the City of Rossland. Among his many community activities, he is an active volunteer at the Rossland Museum. As a consequence of that involvement, he organized and is President of the Heritage Federation of Southeastern BC which includes 38 museums and other heritage organizations from throughout the Columbia Basin in its membership.