FAMILY

I grew up in a great Prince George neighbourhood - the Sunrise Trailer Park.  It was right next to the cemetery, dog pound and the city’s sewage treatment plant.  Our trailer and porch were home to my mom and dad, my sister, and it seemed like at least one other family member staying with us.

My wife Terresa and I have seven children between us plus our two rescue dogs – Tank and Tigua.  We love Prince George.  Our favorite past time when we aren’t at our placer mine in the Cariboo is kayaking on one of the local lakes. 

SERVICE

I learned about service to our community from watching my dad volunteer for the Knights of Columbus or helping neighbours in our trailer park - fixing everything from plumbing to their cars.  Also, by watching my mom as she helped with Meals on Wheels and St Vincent du Paul.

 I have followed in their footsteps ever since.  Most recently as the Chair for five years of the 396 Air Cadet Sponsoring Committee and the President of Yellowhead Rotary.  I believe that even small contributions of time can have great impacts.  

 BUSINESS

After four years of working for Kmart I was promoted and transferred back home to Prince George November 1st, 1990.  After four months as a side hustle, I took the plunge and opened Great White Toys – Comics – Games as a 350 sqft (32 m2) brick and mortar store.  Thirty-two years later, my store has grown to 8,500 sqft (790 m2) and is now at Spruceland mall. 

 I also co-own with my business partner a commercial and industrial painting company that we started almost four years ago.  I’m very proud of our staff and their focus on delivering quality work safely.  We are the only COR safety certified painting company in Northern BC.  Between the two companies I employ 33 employees.

POLITICS

The very first campaign I volunteered for was when I was 18 years old and working in North Battleford Saskatchewan.  I was hooked.  I had found a way that you could provide a service to your community that had an even more significant impact.  After that I volunteered for Provincial and Federal campaigns or worked for Elections BC and Elections Canada as a central poll supervisor.  In 2005 I volunteered to help on Colin Kinsley’s mayoral campaign.  It turned into a mentoring experience for me.  After he had been re-elected, he talked to me about running for City Council in the next election.  I ran and was elected for the first time in 2008 and then again in 2011.