Bert Hick

As the President and Founder, Bert started Rising Tide Consultants in 1988 because of a need to provide liquor consulting services to the industry. 2023 marks 35 years of providing strategic, operational and licensing guidance in both the liquor and now cannabis sectors. He is a results-oriented leader with a wide range of contacts in the hospitality industry and extensive Government relations experience at both the Provincial and Municipal levels. Bert is also a highly regarded keynote speaker for a wide range of topics, including licensing and compliance with liquor and cannabis for both hospitality and retail. In conjunction with his consulting practice, he offers advice and guidance to the hospitality industry and its industry leaders.

During his undergraduate year at Carleton University in Ottawa, he served as an assistant to a member of Parliament. While doing his Graduate Studies at the University of Victoria, he served for 11 years in the BC Government, holding several key positions, including Executive Director of the Cabinet Secretariat and Secretary to Cabinet under Premier William (Bill) Bennett. He is also a former General Manager of the BC Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (now the BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch). Bert is respected throughout British Columbia’s hospitality industry.

He believes in giving back to his community by supporting many non-profit societies, including the Red Cross, Covenant House and the Gospel Union Mission. He has worked closely with the BCRFA for many years and is proud to support its members and initiatives. Bert is an associate member of many organizations including, the BC Craft Brewers Guild, ABLE BC, the Retail Cannabis Council of British Columbia, the BC Hotel Association, the BC Chamber of Commerce, IVSA and the NGCOA. He is a former Chair of Aids Vancouver Island and a former Board Member of Tourism Vancouver and the BC Hospitality Foundation.