What’s your occupation? (Current and/or past)
Retired. Previously: Affordable Housing Consultant, General Manager Whistler Housing Authority, Owner/Operator of Lake O’Hara Lodge, Yoho National Park.
How long have you lived on Bowen?
12 years.
Who inspires you? (Real or fictional)
Great Leaders – Lester Pearson, FDR, George Marshall, Peter Lougheed, Nelson Mandela.
Please list any current and/or past committees or organizations you've been a part of in your career.
Whistler Chamber of Commerce, Whistler Council, Whistler Centre for Sustainability, Bowen Community Housing Association, Bowen National Parks Committee
What are your (non-housing) related priorities for the next four years?
Critical Project Completion – Snug Cove Sewage Treatment, Cove Bay Water Treatment, Healthcare Centre, Infrastructure Replacement.
Long-Term Fiscal Planning and Responsibility – we need to think beyond just four years and act on projects with achievable outcomes using on-island expertise.
How would you tackle the issue of affordable/rental housing on Bowen? And, Bowen will be doing a full review of short-term rental policies next year, do you have any early thoughts on this specifically (ie. Should short-term rentals continue to be allowed in secondary suites)
Relying on the private development sector to produce housing will not provide the homes we desperately need for our local workforce families. We need to better support the current BIRCH project and enable more like it. The municipality must be a full partner in supporting land-use planning and processes to develop affordable housing solutions. We cannot stand back and expect non-profit and volunteer organizations to do this alone. We can do more.
Secondary suites are a small part of the solution and become less so as real estate values increase. We need larger non-profit projects in less car dependent locations.
Property taxes are set for a double digit increase next year. What will your fiscal approach be re: what municipal financial obligations are passed on to property owners?
We are all going to have to do more with less – taxpayers and the municipality. We have let things slide for too long and we are going to have to share the pain of paying for that. Property tax increases are likely to continue.
Assuming the land sale goes through, how will you advocate Bowen gets the best result from the proposed Cape Roger Curtis park?
We need to have a serious and comprehensive collaborative planning negotiation with Metro Parks to create transportation and land-use solutions that meet our needs and theirs.
What will your approach to tourism on Bowen be, and how would you strike a balance between the tourism economy and issues that arise from it (ferry capacity, increased strain on island services such as emergency, etc.)
We have an opportunity to become a leader in green tourism. We need to find way to replace automobile-based visitation with walking, cycling, shuttles and water taxis to several locations with low impact activities.
Let’s have a brainstorming workshop on finding alternatives to cars that promote a more active lifestyle and experience for ourselves and our visitors.
Bowen’s population rose by 600 in the past 5 years, and could pass 5,000 by the next census in four years. What is your opinion on continued population growth on the island, and the best ways to manage it?
I am more concerned about maintaining population diversity than being worried about growth. We need more homes for people who want to live and work here. That in turn will help our businesses and contribute to a thriving and resilient community.
We can have more people here as long as we do not have more traffic.
Water, sewage and roads will need major amounts of work in the upcoming years. What will your approach to our infrastructure be to avoid surprise or rising costs?
As stated above in priorities - Long-Term Fiscal Planning and Responsibility – we need to think beyond just four years and act on projects with achievable outcomes using on-island expertise.
What is your position on the Bowen election Islands Trust referendum, and how do you want to see Bowen’s relationship with Islands Trust change (or not) during the next term, keeping in mind the group has applied to the provincial government for a full review of its operations.
The government review is needed to clarify roles, responsibilities, and governance processes within the Trust. The independent review suggests significant change is needed.
Given that we are the only municipality in the Islands Trust, I would hope we could be given more latitude to make our own decisions, while respecting the Protect and Preserve mandate.
At a minimum, I hope we can simplify our relationship with the Trust and understand the value it brings to Bowen. Many are asking, do we need it?
And for fun, if you could pick a new animal to add to Bowen’s mascot roster, which would it be and why?
Raven – the wise trickster.
