My wife Claire and I moved to Oliver 23 years ago from Calgary. After 40 years of marriage, we have 3 grown children who all graduated from SOSS and 6 wonderful grandchildren. I work for Growers Supply here in Oliver as their Packaging Manager.
In September of 2013, I was honoured to be elected to Town Council in a by-election.  Prior to my election to Council, I volunteered my time as the PAC Chair at SOSS for 7 years while my children attended school there, as a member of the Economic Development Society (ODCEDS), and as a member of the Airport Advisory Committee.
In addition to my Council duties, I am a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, a member of the Heritage Society, on the Executive of the Knights of Columbus and a volunteer for the Christmas Food Hamper Drive.
I have enjoyed the opportunity of working with Mayor Hovanes and Councillors Doerr, Mattes & Bennest to make Oliver an even better place to live, work, raise a family and retire.

Four questions asked to all candidates for the position of councillor: Is homelessness, poverty, low income an issue and what could a Town Council do about it?

a. Homeless and poverty are an issue in any community and there are no easy answers for a quick fix. I was pleased to see an announcement from the BC Government with a program for specific groups of individuals providing monetary support to avoid homelessness. The targeted groups are aboriginals, women who have or may encounter violence and youth transitioning from foster care. For Oliver I would like to explore a couple of options to try and address this issue:
1) Discuss with Council ideas for having new development create a fund for lower cost housing.
2) Invite Habitat For Humanity to Council and see if we can get them to consider Oliver for an    upcoming project.

At least one report says employees and management in municipalities are paid more than provincial government employees on average – what would you do about it?

b. Employees in Oliver are unionized and their pay is consistent with the collective agreement    that they have negotiated with the Town of Oliver. Management salaries seem to be in keeping with the Municipal norms. Having just gone through the process of hiring a new CAO for the Town, I feel that Council has always kept the taxpayer in mind when we are negotiating union and management salaries.

Main Street and Centennial Park – do you think the Town could take a leadership role in enhancing “our look” to the outside world travelling by?

c. Oliver would certainly benefit from a hotel and new businesses to fill in some the holes in Main Street. I am confident that new jobs from the Correction Centre and the spin off benefits to the local economy will encourage new business & employment opportunities along Main Street and elsewhere. Council has in place incentives for new business with parking relaxation and reduced property taxes over a limited time in targeted areas.

What unique subject is on your mind? – suggestions for Oliver’s future.

d. I would like to see more Wine Capital business promotion in our downtown core. If we are the Wine Capital of Canada, we need to show it more than just on the 2 entrance signs into Town. I would like to see more funds allocated for increased education and by-law enforcement in our Parks and along our Hike & Bike Trails. I would like to see our youth get more involved in Civic Government by creating a Youth Advisory Committee to provide input for Council on issues that are of concern to them.