About Me
I am a proud graduate of School District #46, having received the Governor General’s medal for academic achievement in 1995. After receiving a BA at UBC, I built up a publishing company and pursued music in Toronto before settling in Gibsons to raise a family. My wife Amanda is a social worker. My two daughters represent the fourth generation of my family on the Coast.
I’ve served as a Sunshine Coast trustee for six years, the past four as board chair. During this election I will officially receive my Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Victoria. Other boards I’ve served on include the BC public schools employer association, Royal BC Museum, Sunshine Coast Arts Council and Association of Canadian Publishers. Over the past year I’ve worked with local organizations such as the Community Foundation, Community Futures, Capilano University and the Coast Community Builders Alliance to start VOICE on the Coast, an advocacy group for employment, attraction, retention and engagement of young people and families on the Coast. My eldest daughter Simone goes to Jack and Jill Preschool and will begin kindergarten next year.
What I Support
- A beautiful rebuilt school for the students at Gibsons Elementary, with valued input from parents and community.
- A board that works together positively and effectively.
- Continuing advocacy for provincial funding, manageable classes, and special needs support.
- Continuing engagement of staff and parents in major hirings and decisions.
- Enhanced music/fine arts, environmental programs and trades apprenticeships.
- Effective relationships with local governments and community organizations
- Advocacy for appropriate affordable housing, post-secondary opportunities and employment for the Sunshine Coast’s young adults and families.
- The inclusion of knowledgeable and engaged elected trustees to represent our communities in both local and provincial bargaining.
What I've Helped Accomplish
- Our district’s first strategic plan in ten years, emphasizing student achievement, community leadership and fiscal sustainability
- A new policy governance model that clarifies roles of the board and senior management
- A district facilities plan, other necessary steps and neighbourhood learning centre consultation in support of the Gibsons Elementary rebuild
- Successful hirings of new senior administrators with the inclusion and input of our employee groups and parents
- Expansion of special education programs (FastForWord, autism, life skills...)
- A new budgeting cycle that will encourage more community and employee input
- A stronger community presence including involvement in initiatives such VOICE, One Coast, Vital Signs, neighbourhood learning centres, coordinated early learning support and community and neighbourhood planning
Posts
Wall Photos
Heading down to Lower Gibsons this Saturday, May 19th for some Water Week Festivities? From 1-3 pm there is a Walk for Families in Lower Gibsons with crafts/activities and learning opportunities about our water! The merchants in the Landing are joining the festivities from 3-5 pm! Come on down & join the fun this Saturday! CSJ
Powell River: Where history comes to life
www.theprovince.com
Powell River has been on my list of places to visit ever since I moved to Vancouver more than 10 years ago, but its remoteness up near the top of the Sunshine Coast kept it from happening until I finally made the trek with my family earlier this spring.
Teachers’ work: What’s extracurricular and what’s not? | Vancouver Sun
blogs.vancouversun.com
The Langley Teachers' Association (LTA) is warning members that they may face a heavier workload next year, if employers are successful with their latest application to the B.C. Labour Relations Board.
B.C.'s two-tiered teaching tiff | Education and Research | Business in Vancouver
www.biv.com
Increased enrolment in private schools has been at public system's expense: B.C. trustees
Families with children from 0-6: please fill out this survey! The data will be used to advocate for child care services on the Sunshine Coast.
Sunshine Coast Child Care Survey 2012
www.surveymonkey.com
More money for students | Local News | Coast Reporter, Sunshine Coast, BC
www.coastreporter.net
Sechelt It looks like students in School District No. 46 (SD46) will get a little more funding next year, despite a projected decline in enrollment.SD46 secretary treasurer Nicholas Weswick presented the 2012/2013 draft school district budget to the public on
$15 per kid per year stops hunger | Local News | Coast Reporter, Sunshine Coast, BC
www.coastreporter.net
Sechelt One-third of elementary age children are turning up hungry at school each day on the Sunshine Coast. Translated into hard numbers that means approximately 554 kids are arriving to learn on an empty stomach. But it doesnt have to be that way.For only
A milestone week for SD46 | Editorial | Coast Reporter, Sunshine Coast, BC http://www.coastreporter.net/article/20120427/SECHELT0302/304279966/-1/sechelt/a-milestone-week-for-sd46
A milestone week for SD46 | Editorial | Coast Reporter, Sunshine Coast, BC
www.coastreporter.net
Sechelt Staff, students and parents of Gibsons Elementary School are walking with a bit more spring in their step following the news that they will be getting a new school in 2014.On Tuesday, officials from School District No. 46 (SD46) were in Victoria to
Coast Reporter, "Strategic Plan Starts to Take Shape": www.coastreporter.net/article/20120427/SECHELT0101/304279969/-1/sechelt/strategic-plan-starts-to-take-shape
We're currently on the front page of the BC Ministry of Education website for the signing to go ahead with the rebuild of Gibsons Elementary: http://www.gov.bc.ca/bced/
The direct link to the press release is here: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2012/04/new-school-for-sunshine-coast.html
Sunshine Coast residents: Go to this page to provide input into School District 46's Strategic Plan:
School District 46
www.sd46.bc.ca
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has announced that Chatelech Secondary School students Matt Paddison and Julian Figueroa won first...
Elementary season wraps up | Local Sports | Coast Reporter, Sunshine Coast, BC
www.coastreporter.net
Sechelt School District No. 46 recently wrapped up their basketball season, with two tournaments at Elphinstone and Chatelech secondary schools.Even under the cloud of job action and Bill 22, teachers felt that the kids should have their day on the court.
Vancouver school board to vote on classes with aboriginal focus
www.vancouversun.com
The Vancouver school board is expected to vote Monday to offer classes with an aboriginal focus from kindergarten to Grade 3 next September. The plan would be to add a grade every year throughout the primary school years, at MacDonald elementary school, and consider expanding it into a high school i...
Sechelt Challenger Baseball - Challenger Baseball Home Page
secheltchallengerbaseball.com
At Challenger Baseball The most fundamental goal of the Challenger Division is to give EVERYONE a chance to play BASEBALL regardless of their Physical and Cognitive Challenges
I remember a lot of Aboriginal content in social studies at both elementary and secondary levels in the 80s-90s, but maybe only because it was memorable. It definitely should've been more localized (i.e. we learned a lot about the Haida, here on Coast Salish territory). So I'm not sure I agree with Martin that we're "failing," but we certainly need to do better: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/paul-martin-gives-canadian-schools-a-failing-grade-in-history/article2371305/
Paul Martin gives Canadian schools a failing grade in history
www.theglobeandmail.com
Former PM stresses need to teach all students more about first nations
Sunshine Coast Board of Education letter to Minister George Abbott on Bill 22, March 14, 2012
School District No. 46 (Sunshine Coast) a community engaged in the pursuit of lifelong learning and educational excellence BOARD OF EDUCATION Ma...
Job action update: The Sunshine Coast Teachers Association has voted to stop participating in extracurricular and other volunteer activities in our schools. They will also be working "bell-to-bell" until spring break, but will continue to work full days on the shortened March 14 and 15 to meet with parents about their child's achievement. http://www.sd46.bc.ca/index.php/community-info/217-job-action-update-march-9-2012
School District 46
www.sd46.bc.ca
We have been informed by the Sunshine Coast Teachers' Association that Sunshine Coast teachers feel that they must express opposition to Bill 22 - 2012, the Education Improvement Act, currently before the provincial legislature. Therefore, they have decided on the following actions until further not...
Good column here on one of the major obstacles in BCTF/BCPSEA bargaining: http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/editorials/Opinion+Voodoo+accounting+behind+teachers+strike/6267758/story.html
MCMARTIN: Voodoo accounting behind teachers’ strike
www.vancouversun.com
Contract negotiations are, at heart, accounting. One side wants this number; the other side wants that number. Let the bargaining begin. But what happens when the opposing sides can’t agree on the math?
Roberts Creek Acceptance (Pink Project 2012)
www.youtube.com
'I'm beautiful in my way'... acceptance is celebrating our uniqueness. Thank you to: All the Roberts Creek school dancers Project hosts: Churchill and David ...
Charlene Smith is an inspiration in #SD46. I echo The Coast Reporter: "Thank you Charlene"! http://www.coastreporter.net/article/20120302/SECHELT0302/303029973/-1/sechelt/amazing-student-inspires-change
Amazing student inspires change | Editorial | Coast Reporter, Sunshine Coast, BC
www.coastreporter.net
Sechelt In my job, I get to meet some amazing young people. Ive met kids who build intricate robots, kids who create soul-stirring artwork, kids who write and perform deep, thought-provoking music and kids who start movements of action against wrongs they see
Our board had an awesome tour of most of our schools on the Sunshine Coast the past two days. The schools looked great, and new technology and programs were definitely impressive, but the highlights were definitely hearing directly from passionate and dedicated teachers, principals and support staff about the incredible work they're doing for Sunshine Coast students.
