Steve was born and raised on the Thomson family farm in Okanagan Mission and has a long record of service to the community. He represented Kelowna Mission as the MLA from 2009 to 2017 and served as Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources and Rural Development.
Steve is the former executive director of the BC Agriculture Council and has spent much of his career working on behalf of British Columbian farmers and ranchers. He has served as general manager of the BC Fruit Growers Association and the BC Milk Producers Association. He has also served as the President of the Kelowna Chamber or Commerce and as a director of the Kelowna Museum, the Okanagan Innovation Fund.
He has a great love of sports and had a long career in rugby including the opportunity to play for the Canadian National Rugby Team.
Steve is a husband, father, and grandfather. He and his wife Brenda have three children and five grandchildren.