I’ve decided to run for the councillor position in Oliver because I love the town and I want to see it grow in the best conceivable way. Recently Oliver has had numerous spurts and promising projects which will result in growth. The explosive growth of wineries, the future Oliver hotel, Area 27, the jail, Mount Baldy and even the nearby Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory all form a human magnate for people wanting to find an attractive promising home.

I decided to run as a councillor in Oliver to do what I can to make this growth a healthy one for the Town of Oliver. I’ve heard opinions that I feel are good and others that I see as not beneficial for Oliver and I’d like to help make sure that decisions and paths chosen by Oliver are promising. There are no shortages of issues and everyone needs to be logically evaluated before votes finalize a choice. I’ve always felt strongly about Oliver and when friends of mine urged me to run for councillor because they felt strongly that I could contribute, I agreed and am running as a result.

I feel I can make a positive difference to help Oliver wade through many issues decided by council because I’ve been in positions where multiple issues were a fact of life. In positions with Lush Cosmetics in Vancouver, with Toronto Transit Commission, pharmaceutical manufacturing organizations and nutraceutical health organizations I’ve used methods I’ve learned in engineering and finance and working with people to make good business and social decisions.

To answer some of the questions posed:

I was born in 1951 on the kitchen table of a quonset hut beside the River Erne in Ballyshannon, Ireland where my father was engineering construction of a dam that would bring electricity to a large part of Donegal for the first time. That river is where Brendan, a monk at the time set sail around 520 AD to where it is rumored they found North America. For that reason, my father chose Brendan as my middle name; my first is Donald my surname Lawlor.

I participate in running, cycling, skiing and snowboarding and I want to see these activities as well as wine tasting, baseball and even golf grow in Oliver. Oliver relies heavily on tourism; these activities are great for both tourists and the people of Oliver, Osoyoos and the area. As a councillor I can help them happen.

Donald Lawlor