Meet the ABLE BC Board of Directors: Poma Dhaliwal, Vice President

Poma Dhaliwal is a key member of the ABLE BC Board. He is currently serving a term as Vice President but has previously been President (2013-2017) and first joined the Board as a Director in 2007. Poma joined ABLE in 1989 when he purchased the Jolly Miller Pub & Liquor Store. At that time, we were known as the Neighborhood Pub Owners Association, but later opened membership to LRS owners and eventually merged with other industry associations to form ABLE in 2004. 

Poma was ABLE’s President when Jeff Guignard, our Executive Director, was hired in 2014. Being a long-time ABLE member, Poma has seen a few Executive Directors in his day, but none as passionate as Jeff. Poma and the other Directors at the time knew they had found the right person for the job just from a Skype interview, and eight years later they seem to be right!

As a veteran of BC’s liquor industry, Poma has seen our industry grow and evolve in countless ways. He remembers when banning smoking indoors was the biggest challenge and was involved in early talks about implementing the 1 km rule. Over the years, Poma has become an expert in our industry. He brings savvy leadership to our Board of Directors and always focuses on the needs of the industry first and foremost. 

Poma first joined the ABLE Board because he wanted to be involved in solutions and protect the value of pub and private liquor store businesses. In his current term as Vice President, Poma’s goals are to ensure the continued protection of the 1 km rule and moratorium on new LRS licenses. He will always be committed ABLE’s members, guaranteeing our priorities benefit the greatest number of businesses and never cater to one just owner or operator. 

Poma is a social guy, so it’s no wonder he does so well in our social industry. He’s always been involved in his community, as a volunteer fireman, minor hockey league coach, or community committee member – he enjoys being around people and learning from his fellow Board members and colleagues. In his downtime, you can catch Poma playing some old timers hockey and relaxing with some laughs and a classic Bud Light.