Meet the ABLE BC Board of Directors: Yvan Charette, President

We’re excited to bring you a new series introducing the ABLE BC Board of Directors!

First up we’re getting to know Yvan Charette, managing partner of the Haney Hotel Group and the newly elected President of ABLE BC’s Board of Directors.

Yvan is a long-standing figure in BC’s private liquor industry, having got his start in 2005 at The Haney Pub as General Manager. With no liquor serving experience at all, save for maybe a bush party beer or two in his younger days, Yvan was eager to learn all that he could about the industry. He took on several roles, from serving to managing in both on-premise and retail. What he liked most and what is still his favourite thing about the industry is the great relationships he made with both staff and patrons.

When he took on the role of General Manager, overseeing several businesses and over 100 staff, Yvan was effectively enrolled in ‘hospitality university.’ Being eager to succeed and a quick study, Yvan excelled in the role. He helped steward the Haney Hotel Group into what it is today: a group of busy and successful pubs, nightclubs, and liquor and cannabis retail stores. Yvan is dedicated to BC's private liquor industry saying there’s “nothing more I would want to do than be in this industry.”

Yvan was introduced to ABLE BC early on – Haney Hotel had already been a member right from their start in 1993. He began attending our conferences and taking on a more active role in the Alliance starting in 2013. As he worked with our Executive Director, Jeff Guignard, on municipal issues like the 1KM rule, he realized just how important the Alliance is to the private liquor industry. In 2018 Yvan was elected to the Board of Directors and now he has been appointed President.

From supply chain issues to rising inflation and minimum wage, Yvan is well versed in the complicated and multifaceted issues that both retail and on-premise businesses face. He is committed to representing our industry as a whole and is looking forward to helping our members navigate any and all challenges coming in the next two years.

Some fun facts about Yvan that you might know: his go-to post-shift drink is a classic Bellini cocktail, and he was once destined for professional NHL hockey before an injury changed his plans.