Minko Bach says his Lynn Valley patients are wonderful people who always give him lots of reasons to smile.
Minko Bach says his Lynn Valley patients are wonderful people who always give him lots of reasons to smile.
Every year is a good year to get involved in municipal politics – after all, it’s often local-level decisions that have the most immediate impact on our day-to-day lives.
But this year is an especially good year to take notice, thanks to the number of Lynn Valley candidates who have stepped up to run for councillor in the District of North Vancouver. Having attended a number of public hearings and other council events, we can attest that this is often a challenging and thankless job – so hats off to you all!
In order to get to know our Lynn Valley-residing candidates better, LynnValleyLife contacted Roger Bassam, Mathew Bond, Hazen Colbert, Linda Findlay, Robin Hicks and Glenn MacKenzie, inviting them to answer some questions about their decision to run (or re-run) for council, and their goals should they be elected.
Hazen Colbert and Glenn MacKenzie declined to participate, citing their decision not to accept what they would consider to be a campaign donation from a real estate-affiliated business. The other candidates’ responses are linked below, so please have a read of these Q&As and, above, all, be sure to vote on November 15!
For lots of good election information, including the full candidate list and their contact/website information, polling stations, voting eligibility and more, please visit the District of North Vancouver’s municipal election pages.
The dream my parents’ generation had on how the world ought to be is becoming more and more difficult for my generation to fulfill.
We need a new dream for North Vancouver. A dream that both honours and respects the legacy of family, community and the high quality of life that North Vancouver’s citizens have worked hard to establish. A dream that adapts that legacy to today’s reality and provides us all the option to embrace our role in the community. A dream that enhances that legacy and allows us all to provide that same opportunity to our children. I want to work with you, the citizens of North Vancouver, to make that dream a reality.
What experience do you bring to the job that you believe would be valuable?I’ve worked in the family business, the private sector and the public sector. For the past six years I’ve travelled all across British Columbia, analyzing complex, multi-faceted transportation problems and implementing practical solutions.
As a Professional Engineer, it is my duty to hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and our natural world. This duty defines my character, which I have proven through consistent action in my personal life, my professional career and my dedication to community service.
From 2008 to 2013, I was President of the North Shore Mountain Bike Association (NSMBA). During my leadership, the organization blossomed. What started as a group of struggling volunteers with too much to do, too little time and no money became an organization with full time paid staff, over thirty funding partnerships with the business community and local government, and an engaged and active membership. The NSMBA is now regarded around the mountain bike world as a phenomenal success story. My leadership in setting a vision (and sticking to it), building the right team and nurturing the relationships and partnerships necessary to get things done was a key component in bringing the NSMBA to where it is today.
I offer you my well-rounded perspective, whole-systems way of thinking and passionate commitment to guide our community through the changes ahead.
I find that even though current members of council have their own views on the issues, they work together to make the tough decisions needed in our community.
On November 15th, you have the opportunity to choose your “dream team” of candidates that you think will provide not only a voice for your issues, but the best perspective on the future of our community.
I hope to offer you a fresh perspective on council on three specific issues. I am an Intelligent Transportation Systems Engineer, implementing new technology to improve both the safety and efficiency of our transportation system, and I offer you a professional perspective on council to address our transportation challenges.
I am one of only two candidates under the age of 40. I understand firsthand the challenges that youth, young adults and families face and offer that perspective for the next generation of Lynn Valley citizens. No one person is going to solve our community’s concerns single-handedly. I offer a perspective for community engagement because it will take an effort from each one of you, contributing your own unique voice, passion and strengths to build the best community for us all to live in
My wife and I are starting our family in Lynn Valley and I was intensely interested in what options we may have in the future for housing that will be appropriate for our needs as our family grows and changes over time.
I participated in the public process and what I found most valuable was having frank discussions with my neighbours and sharing not only our concerns, but our hopes for the future. I learned that we need more engagement, more opportunities for people of all ages, incomes and background to sit down and discuss the issues together with compassion. Each person brings a unique perspective, and only by promoting dialogue and understanding across all generations will we be able to develop the best solutions to make our community a better place.
Balancing the diverse needs of the community and making tough decisions when there is no clear best course of action is one of the more difficult challenges for council.
When emotions run high, citizens are passionately expressing their personal stories on both sides of an issue and none of the options available to the community are ideal, a decision still needs to be made.
I’ve volunteered in our community for 15 years (since I was 15 years old) and appreciate the strong feeling of pride, ownership and sense of community that the citizens of Lynn Valley share.
I moved here specifically to enjoy all the amazing outdoor recreation opportunities Lynn Valley has to offer. Within minutes I can be on a trail and enjoy the splendor of nature that sits just outside our doorstep. I appreciate always bumping into someone I know on a walk to the mall, but also the convenience of having the amenities of a big city close by.
Transportation, cities and sustainability are my professional passions and I spend a significant amount of my personal time attending courses, lectures and researching what the best cities around the world are doing to tackle the challenges we all face.
I am an outdoor enthusiast and an active and responsible advocate for outdoor recreation. Mountain biking is one of my passions and I strongly believe in giving back. I’m currently leading a group of Capilano University students to maintain and upgrade the Circuit 8 trail just 1km up the road in the LSCR.
I am committed to openness, transparency and accountability. I am proactively disclosing all contributions to my campaign on my website. You can go there right now to see who has contributed to my campaign, how much they have contributed, and how I am spending that money.
Community issues have always been a focus in my life and running for Council has always been on my “to do” list.
My husband, Doug, and I have been lifelong residents of the North Shore, raising our two sons here and for me in particular, establishing my career here. My motivation for running for Council of the District of North Vancouver is my passion for the vitality and sustainability of our community. I support a collaborative and multi-dimensional approach to solving problems and overcoming issues so that all stakeholders are acknowledged, recognized and included.
Lynn Valley has been our home for the past 26 years…having volunteered endless hours to the Lynn Valley Soccer Association and the Lynn Valley Little League, which I’m sure many of your readers can relate to!
I have always had a sense of community service and over the years have been involved with many local organizations. I was passionately involved with the Upper Lynn Parent Advisory Council for 12 years, serving the last two years as President. I served the youth of the community during my 6 years with Scouts Canada as a leader, a trainer, and on executive. I continued my commitment to young minds when I volunteered with Junior Achievement during my long career in the financial services industry.
For the past 10 years, I have committed myself to the Royal Canadian Legion and the veterans who so proudly served and those who continue to serve our great country and the community at large. From these experiences I have gained much and feel that I can bring leadership skills to the roll of Councillor. I will also bring honesty and integrity to the table and the tenacity to get things done.
There are many challenges to being on Council. There is never a “one size fits all” in any situation, no matter if the issue is transportation, housing, development, infrastructure, rezoning or contract negotiation.
The current DNV Council takes much into consideration when rendering decisions based on factual information supplied by District staff, input from the public at large, consideration of effects on budgetary alottments and overall practicality of the offering/issue. From observations made from attending council meetings or watching online recordings of the same, this Council does its best to weigh all factors and listen to all participants that are engaged to provide the best outcome possible.
More active community involvement in issues, council meetings, public hearings, etc. is required.
To actively engage in community issues is not easy and takes commitment. It would be good to see more communication from the DNV to the community at large informing them of upcoming/ongoing issues and the meetings/hearings that would be available for the public to attend.
Engaging the public at large, not only through print media and DNV webpage, but incorporating twitter, Facebook, and other forms of social media to inform a wider audience and generate involvement, is critical. Community associations, community websites, like LynnValleyLife, and local service clubs also contribute to spreading the word and we need to encourage more of this in other communities throughout the District.
Yes, the Lynn Valley town planning process was long. I was involved from the beginning when it started in the 1990s.
It went through many transformations. This was a direct result of the community becoming involved and letting the municipal government know that we were engaged. We let the previous and existing Councils know that we were concerned about the liveability of our community.
Although it took nearly 20 years, the overall OCP for the Lynn Valley area addresses most of the concerns of the citizenry and those who wish to develop within our boundaries. The overall community voice was heard by the DNV. Concessions were made by all to contribute to the greater good.
The Bosa development of the Lynn Valley Centre Mall is the right fit for that particular property. The developer listened to the community and presented a project that, although outside the guidelines of the OCP, reduced height from what was allowable for that piece of property, addressed community amenities, park space, traffic issues and aesthetic values.
We have seen many new developments over the past ten years within Lynn Valley. River Rock, Dakota, Laurels, Highgate, Craftsmen Estates, The Evergreens, Branches, Lynn Valley Private Hospital, Balmoral and Sunrise have all been built and absorbed into the fabric of Lynn Valley life…and our Library and Town Square, a hub of family and community activity. That equals one development per year.
In-fill housing, townhouses, multiplex (duplex/triplex) units are also a concern in Lynn Valley. Aging homes on larger parcels of land have been rezoned over the years to allow for more density. This has been primarily market-driven as Lynn Valley has become an extremely popular place to live and raise a family. We are not alone; this has been a trend in most communities in the DNV.
A slowing in the pace of development, of not only multi-storey development but also the rezoning of residential lands, to ensure that new builds blend in with the overall aesthetic of the affected neighbourhoods and to ensure that infrastructure and transportation issues are addressed as part of the overall solution.
Through this entire process the people of Lynn Valley have demonstrated that they are a passionate bunch. And I am proud to count myself as one of them.
The most difficult challenge Councillors face is balance. Balancing growth with infrastructure. Balancing infrastructure with funding. Balancing funding from all sources, such as Provincial and Federal Ministries, Metro/Translink, developers and taxation. Balancing the needs of the few (special interest groups of all kinds) with the needs of the many (the population at large). Not an easy task. A collaborative and multi-dimensional approach to solving problems and overcoming issues so that all stakeholders are acknowledged, recognized and included can achieve much.
The thing I appreciate most about the Lynn Valley community, is just that, the overall sense of community. From the very young to our most compromised seniors, Lynn Valley is a family. Lynn Valley citizens are supportive, understanding, inclusive, vibrant and caring. We celebrate and laugh together, and we mourn and grieve together. We care about each other. There really is no other place that I would rather live.
Learn more on Linda’s campaign website.
I have enjoyed my last three terms during which many achievements were completed by Council. These included the completion of an Official Community Plan and the establishment of a Finance and Audit Committee, which I chair. Apart from the Mayor, I am the only Councillor with a financial background (CPA) and I believe we need leadership through a transition period with new Councillors.
What experience do you bring to the job that you believe would be valuable?I have over 40 years of financial experience in business and local government. I have lectured and written manuals on municipal finance, including the provincial best practises guide on development cost charges and development finance. I also have a multi-generational family here on the North Shore.
I have represented the North Shore over four years as a member of Metro Vancouver’s Finance Committee and the last three years on the Utility Committee. This has enabled me to participate in the design and financing of the $1 billion dollar Water Treatment Plant near Rice Lake and the proposed Sewer Treatment Plant which will replace the current primary treatment at Lions Gate and cost an estimated $800 million.
The financial impacts of both projects are immense and in particular the major cost of the new Sewer Treatment Plant will be borne by the North Shore.
I have been involved in researching and presenting on asset management and I can assure you that our staff at DNV is leading the Province in sustainable repair and replacement of all our underground structures, roads and buildings.
I also have a multi-generational family involved in all aspects of the community so I have considerable experience in where we are and where we should be headed.
We have no political party affiliations, are collegial and whilst often arguing from different perspectives, respect the varying opinions and move on after making a decision. We have often been described by external professionals as one of the most effective Councils in the region.
I would like to research a more practical way of engaging with residents on important policy, development and capital programs. Many of these have enormous financial impact and unfortunately many residents only get involved when decisions have been made and then express their concerns.
I was a Councillor rep on the OCP steering committee and over an exhaustive three-year period went to most of the committee meetings and the public dialogues and round tables. We had significant input and participation from interested residents. The main challenges occurred when implementation started and many residents began to realise the wide ranging implications of the OCP and in many cases only then started to raise their concerns.
I see two significant challenges that both incumbent and prospective councillors face. One is the time demand – upwards of 35 hours per week and most of it evening work. The other is becoming knowledgeable of the many aspects of local government, from the unique finance and accounting methodology to transportation, infrastructure maintenance and planning and zoning bylaws. Without prior experience, in my opinion, it takes at least three years to get up to speed.
I have lived in Lynn Valley for 35 years and have three daughters, who all went to Upper Lynn, Argyle and UBC. They were all involved in community and school sports, soccer (which I coached), swimming, water polo, basketball, volleyball skiing etc. and also through the band program and jazz choirs.
They all live on the North Shore with my seven grandchildren and that is the main reason for my political involvement: to ensure a viable and healthy environment for all families who aspire to live in this beautiful community.
Learn more about Robin on his campaign website.
Our community faces many challenges and I believe I will be able to contribute greatly to creating the solutions that will help keep the District a great place in which to live, work and play. Key issues I want to address include:
Transportation – The recurring traffic problems at the Second Narrows bridgehead are impacting the entire community and must be addressed. This requires a major investment in new infrastructure and we have committed to this and begun building elements of phase 1 of the solution.
Housing – The District faces a very real challenge in providing the assortment of housing we will need to meet the needs of our changing and aging population. The issue is not simply the cost of housing but also includes the lack of specialized housing such as housing appropriate for people with disabilities. We also must increase the stock of rental housing as this greatly assists in moderating the price of local housing. I was pleased to champion a new District policy that sees new Multi-family housing assigned a covenant that prevents the Strata from restricting rentals. This will, over time, add significantly to the rental inventory but it is only one of many tools we can use to help address this issue.
Economic Development – Within the OCP economic development and sustainability are identified as key considerations. However, we have not focused on this goal and we must re-visit this concept immediately else we will be losing an opportunity to include this component in the emerging Town Centres. And as part of the financial sustainability of the community and protection of the ratepayers we re-negotiate many of our current shared service agreements. The potential savings are in the millions of dollars and must be realized before we begin service reductions and cuts that may impact the quality of life for our residents.
For the past six years I have been a Councillor in the District of North Vancouver. I have served three years on the Metro Vancouver Zero Waste Committee and the Board of Directors- NV Chamber of Commerce.
I have management experience in both the retail and IT industries. For the past 16 years I have been involved in various community groups and served on numerous committees including: Parks and Natural Environment committee, Metro Labour Relations (alternate), President of Millar’s Soccer League, Sports Council, Chair – Field User Capital Fund, JBAC, Joint Use Committee, and the District Advisory Oversight Committee.
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and am currently completing my MBA.
I believe Council has been very productive because while we have routinely disagreed with each other we have done so respectfully. We rely on the collective wisdom of Council to make good decisions for our community. Individual Council members will sometimes find themselves in the minority on a vote, and that’s how a good democracy works.
We also have an excellent senior management team that provides great leadership for the organization. The District is a routinely cited as a well-run municipality and we are proud of that reputation.
I would like to see more participation from the citizens in all areas of the District. We need to find new ways to engage our busy population and get their feedback on how they want to see their community evolve and improve.
The learning lesson here was that by taking our time and thoroughly engaging with the community we can come to a consensus. People are willing to engage but want to have a comprehensive understanding of the issue before they make a major decision. In the end it takes longer and may cost some more money but the fulsome engagement allowed for an excellent process and result.
The learning curve is immense. Councillors deal with an amazingly wide array of subjects and need to be able to quickly understand the issue, discern the options available to us and make sound decisions. We cover everything from Police and Fire Services right through dogs of leash and trees. One truly must be a Jack of all trades to excel in this role.
That Lynn Valley is a COMMUNITY. I love when we come together for Lynn Valley Days, the concert series or the Olympic festival. There is a strong sense of belonging and fierce desire to protect our natural areas. It is truly a great place to live and, for me, to raise my children.
I have strong ties to the Lynn Valley community. My children attend Ross Road Elementary and will soon be in Argyle. I enjoy meeting my neighbours regularly, often on the soccer field as both a coach and player, and I understand what our community wants.
I share in the frustrations we have felt recently over the traffic problems and delays. I am committed to keeping our community a great place to live and I specifically am focused on addressing the traffic issue. I invite you to my website to see some specifics on how we can solve this problem.
In the wake of Monday night/Tuesday morning’s flash flooding that closed Argyle Secondary, required the evacuation of at least 17 Lynn Valley homes, and has left some in our neighbourhood temporarily homeless, school principal Liz Bell sent out this Tuesday late afternoon update. It is reprinted here with her permission:
Hello Argyle Community,
I thought I would take a moment to bring you all up to date on the current condition of our school. As you know, the banks of Hastings and Fromme Creek could not withstand the tremendous amount of rain last night and resulted in flooding. I am certainly aware of the damage and devastation for some families in the area and I wish them all the best as they dry out.
If you’re looking for some community get-togetherness, Friday Night Live is hosting a Neighbourhood Halloween Party for all comers. Doors open at 6:30 for games (think pin the hat on the witch, eat a donut off the string, etc.!), a children’s art project, close-up magician, treats and a “s’mores-gasbord” (chocolate fountain with mini marshmallows and Graham crackers!) Admission is by donation.
At 7:30 p.m., a Halloween-themed Friday Night Live improv comedy show will kick off – tix are $10, $5 for those in costume, and kids under 12 are free! And as a special Halloween treat, the show will be followed by a DJ and dancing for all!
Heard of any other community happenings in the works? Send them our way for publication!
Need a reminder on some of the Halloween bylaws and safety tips? Here’s some recent information sent our way by the North Van RCMP:
Firecrackers:
All firecrackers are prohibited in both the City and District of North Vancouver. Fines for setting off firecrackers in the City range from $500 in the City and $200 in the District.
Fireworks:
The North Vancouver RCMP will have extra patrol officers on the streets throughout the Halloween evening. The following safety tips will help keep youngsters safe this Halloween.
Children:
Motorists:
North Vancouver has undergone many changes in recent years. We see this in changing skylines, advertisements about new businesses and festivals, and in the diversity of people now residing within our community.
It is important to recognise and document the multicultural history of our dynamic community. This is being done through the Diversifying History Project, a North Vancouver Museum & Archives’ oral history initiative which documents the arrival stories of new Canadians.
The mist will soon descend and the magic will happen… and Lynn Valley families will wake up to find that two pumpkin patches have taken root right in the heart of this mountain village!
Whether your kids are young or old, they will have a great time at these two side-by-side patches. Lynn Valley Parent Participation Preschool is hosting the Great Pumpkin Patch, aimed at younger children, while neighbouring Lynn Valley Elementary will be entertaining older kids and their families.
Both events take place on Saturday, October 18. See times and other details on the posters below, and please come out to take part in some down-home Halloween fun! We’re proud to be sponsoring the pumpkins at the preschool and the bouncy castle at the elementary school, so between the two events we hope to have the chance to say ‘hi’ to lots of our friends and neighbours!
