Detailed biographies: Nanaimo Mayor and Council candidates

Candidates for Nanaimo Mayor

Anne Marie Dryden: Certified Financial Planner (retired) and small business owner for 35+ years in Nanaimo, lots of community service including Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, Crimestoppers etc.

Leonard Krog: Island born. Lawyer. MLA for 18 years. Two terms as Mayor and chaired numerous Boards.

Sarah Lovegrove: I bring to this campaign a unique skillset and life experiences that are not often represented within the political realm, but have provided me with knowledge and insights that are extraordinarily valuable and will continue to serve our community’s most pressing needs. I have been a Registered Nurse for ten years, with experience in emergency departments, acute care, and as a sexual assault nurse examiner.

I am currently Professor of Nursing at Vancouver Island University with the privilege of being able to teach our next generation of nurses, most of whom will be working within our local hospital. My nursing career has informed how I see and understand the world, guiding my practice through a code of ethics that prioritizes humanity, justice, and evidence-informed practice.

I have been an advocate in our community since 2018 in support of people most impacted by the ongoing Toxic Drug Crisis. I have done numerous delegations to Nanaimo City Council, presented to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, and was a part of a team of advocates who brought the BCNDP to the BC Supreme Court to successfully stop a dangerous bill from becoming law.

I have served as the Chair of the Nanaimo Community Action Team on the Toxic Drug Crisis (CAT) and Vice-President of the Harm Reduction Nurses Association which has provided me with extensive experience in collaboration, leadership, and helped me build strong partnerships and networks in our community.

Editor’s Note: Brunie Brunie did not submit a response prior to deadline.

Candidates for Nanaimo City Councillor

Jeff Annesley: I have attended almost every single Nanaimo city council meeting since June 2022. Apart from the current members of council, running in this election, I am the most prepared candidate to step into the role.

Sheryl Armstrong: I spent 36 years as an RCMP officer, 14 of those years in Nanaimo. I have had many leadership roles and understand the importance of teamwork and respect. If I am unsure of an issue, I research it, ask questions of staff and other experts in the field, and listen to members of the community. I’ve managed budgets and completed the Federal government finance course. I understand how the city budget works, what sources of funds are available, and how we spend them. I am used to setting priorities and the importance of adhering to them. This needs to be done as a group, not as an individual. I believe my nine years in council is a definite asset. Respect for the community and other people has always been important to me. I believe in staying engaged with the community by attending community events, being available to discuss issues, whether by social media, email or in person.

Sandy Bartlett: I have been a commercial fisherman an Old Dutch franchise owner an immigration officer and have been a lawyer with my own firm for close to 40 years.i have gone to school and have raised a family in Nanaimo for the last 50 years. . During those years I have been an employer a board member a negotiator a past president of habitat for humanity and provided pro bono legal services in our community.

Ken Bennett: While working as care aide for my local HEU union I was elected chair, through that position I was invited to HEU’s Convention and elected on the the Provincial Executive board in a Trustee position overseeing the Unions’ finances. I that role I was also called upon to lobby the BC Government for Healthcare improvements.

Marnie Boers: I bring nearly 20 years of experience as a Registered Nurse with deep roots in Nanaimo, and years of dedicated community building and volunteer work. As an RN in the emergency department at NRGH, I understand the pressures our healthcare system faces. I am on the front line of the intersecting crises involving poverty, mental health, substance misuse, trauma, intimate partner violence and homelessness.

I bring strong skills in triage, critical thinking, advocacy, and evidence-based decision-making, developed through years of nursing, prioritizing competing needs, and making informed decisions under pressure with limited resources.

I grew up in Nanaimo and now am raising my two children in the city; both are involved in many activities. I know this community not just through professional experience, but through everyday life. I understand what makes a community feel like home, including safe neighbourhoods, accessible services, affordable housing and strong community connections. I bring frontline experience, community knowledge, compassion, and a commitment to ensure Nanaimo grows intentionally.

Jackie Bolen: I’ve lived in Nanaimo for a few years now, having moved from the Lower Mainland. I’m a former teacher, and now make my living as an author, digital creator and consultant.

I’ve been involved with and held various leadership positions in environmental organizations, community gardens, stratas, and sports organizations in Nanaimo and other places I’ve lived for many years.

I care most about the environment and food security, and I want to leave our world in good shape for future generations. Attending the Cable Bay hearings is what motivated me to run for council. There was so much opposition, and yet the proposal seems to still be on the table.

Consider me your choice for the environment, not just on things related to Cable Bay, but on all environmental and food security issues. I’m also a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Mark Chandler: City of Parksville councillor 2018-2022. Planned to Move to Nanaimo and did not seek office for a second term.

26 years 2000 – 2026 owning six businesses in Delta, Nanaimo and the greater parksville area. Food and beverage distribution, food truck and restaurant operations and a wholesale food warehouse. Most recently I operate a restaurant equipment liquidation business in Nanaimo region.

20 years 1980-2000 sales, marketing and management positions within two national food companies. Managing staff, production and logistics and vehicle fleets for both these companies

Paul Chapman: For almost two decades I have worked at various positions with the Nanaimo & Area Land Trust (NALT), serving as Executive Director since 2017. In that position I have worked with staff and elected officials at all levels of government and with stewardship and community organizations to achieve positive outcomes for our community. I have also worked with a committee to adhere to budgets, secure funding, and allocate resources for staff and volunteers.

I live in the Old City Neighbourhood with my spouse, between us we have 3 children and 4 grandchildren, all but one of whom live locally.

Malcolm Cooke: My journalism training at the University of Regina taught me to listen, ask hard questions, and explain issues in plain language. In 2022 I was selected for The Democracy Fund Student Journalism Fellowship for independent public-interest reporting. A piece I wrote on HMCS Nanaimo was featured in the Hockey Hall of Fame, connecting sport, history, and community. I led the western region in what was at the time Canada’s second-largest political youth organization. That work taught me how to organize, recruit, and give younger people a real voice.

Those experiences would make me an effective councillor because Nanaimo needs practical ideas and a stronger youth presence at City Hall. I would work to reinstate the Nanaimo Youth Council so emerging leaders have a direct channel into decisions. I support an open public question period at the start of council meetings and plain-language progress reports so residents can see results.

Four years in Nanaimo have made this city home. I want to represent families and young residents with accountability, teamwork, and fresh thinking.

Andréa Coutu: I grew up here, rooted in community service, in a family that’s been here 150 years. I built a career around solving complex problems for communities and businesses. I see a gap on council between social equity and economic development, service standards and governance. I can bridge that.

I bring 30 years in business, governance and community work — from the Downtown Eastside to the Fortune 500. I’m a parent with an MBA, who knows personal and multi-million dollar budgets. I’ve also served on boards, taskforces, the Chamber of Commerce’s Community Impact Committee and helped make big changes to government and systems.

I’ll bring that experience to City Hall, where our key challenges lie in collaborating with senior governments, getting Nanaimo’s needs heard, and guiding our community through crisis and emergencies in health care, the economy, housing and sustainability. I’ve also been out in community, doing deep listening, volunteering and meeting organizations, business and community leaders, and the people.

I stand for thoughtful, accountable leadership; affordable housing; safer, connected communities; strong infrastructure and accessible services with standards; a modern local economy; fiscal responsibility; environmental stewardship; a cath lab in 3 years, a new patient tower, tertiary care, a health care innovation hub; and a vibrant city with heart.

Shane Crawley: Lived in Nanaimo BC for my whole life, volunteered for many community events and groups, work in healthcare in Nanaimo. Strong community involvement. Supervisory experience at non-profit organization for 4 years.

Ryan Djakovic: As a father of four, soccer coach, and professional ski instructor, I am deeply connected to the Nanaimo community and its families. My experience as a licensed Realtor in Nanaimo has given me valuable insights into local housing and economic challenges. With a background in executive leadership, entrepreneurship, and managing high-budget projects, including civil works like road construction and recreational facility development, I bring practical skills in budgeting, problem-solving, and collaborative governance.

I have served on boards, fostering teamwork and strategic planning essential for effective city council work. My personal journey through a nearly fatal surgery in 2016 has given me a profound understanding of the mental health and addictions crisis and shaped my commitment to develop real therapeutic community solutions.

As a musician, artist, and athlete, I bring creativity, discipline, and passion to every endeavor. Above all, I am dedicated to addressing the struggles people face in today’s economy and working tirelessly to build a brighter, inclusive future for Nanaimo and all its residents.

Hilary Eastmure: As a former broadcast journalist and reporter, I am skilled at researching diverse topics, asking tough questions, seeking out experts to help me understand complex issues, considering all sides of a story, thinking critically about what information may be missing, and then communicating that information in a way that is factual, non-biased and meant to help the public better understand an issue so they can be more informed about and involved in their own community.

I think this overlaps very well with the role of a Councillor and since I was elected in 2022, I have been using my social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) to regularly share information about Council’s work and the committees I served on, including the Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness and the Design Advisory Panel.

As a former Caseworker for the Member of Parliament’s office, I also have experience helping residents navigate federal bureaucracy (CRA, Service Canada, Veterans Affairs, Immigration, etc) and advocating on their behalf to get positive results. This has given me a clear understanding of the systemic challenges residents are up against, particularly around affordability and access to basic services.

This comprehension of government structures, roles, and responsibilities helps me know what is within the City’s control and what’s not, and where we need to focus our efforts when upper levels of government are downloading responsibilities to the City.

Meg Fyfe Watkins: I’ve built a community-serving non-profit (Kind Society Yoga Collective) from the ground up, and I’ve had the opportunity to develop many skills that will serve me well as a City Councillor. I’ve had to ensure that all of my decisions, whether financial, social, or practical, are transparent and justifiable. I have partnered with other non-profit organizations and local businesses, and I’ve advocated for safety and support for Queer & Trans folks and people with mobility challenges and disabilities.

I’ve learned to make every dollar count in a very limited budget, and to be very intentional about what priorities to focus on that will best serve our community. I’m comfortable creating best practices that will save time and money, and re-examining those practices periodically to ensure they are still serving us well. As our organization has grown, it’s been my job to ensure that growth is balanced with responsible governance and reflects true community need.

I have over 6 years of experience building this inclusive organization, and 20 years of experience building community. I’m also raising two kids to be compassionate, environmentally responsible critical thinkers, and I’m 100% dedicated to building a better Nanaimo for them, our community, and future generations.

Ben Geselbracht: I grew up in Nanaimo and I am raising my two kids here, so the decisions council makes are personal to me. I built a tree service business and later converted it into a worker-owned cooperative, so I know first-hand what workers and small businesses need from City Hall. Before that, I spent ten years working with youth at risk, including as a Registered Clinical Counsellor at Brannen Lake Correctional Centre. That work showed me how housing, health care and safety connect in real people’s lives. Along the way I earned a B.Sc. in Biology and an M.A., training I still draw on when council weighs environmental and social decisions.

Those experiences shape how I serve. Over two terms, we’ve upgraded recreation facilities and downtown spaces, changed zoning to support more affordable housing, brought in free transit for youth under 18, and helped secure funding and provincial commitment for the much-needed heart care lab and patient tower at NRGH.

As President of the Association of Vancouver Island Communities, I pressed the Province to improve health care access, protect our water and prepare our region for disasters, because many of Nanaimo’s biggest issues cannot be solved by one city alone.

There is more to do. We must keep reducing homelessness, speeding up building permits, building more affordable housing and supporting local business, while protecting the places we love and the natural beauty that makes Nanaimo special.

Patrick Gunville: My career has given me firsthand experience with many of the issues City Council deals with every day: housing and development, infrastructure, zoning, business investment, job creation and the municipal approval process.

As a commercial real estate advisor, I work directly with business owners, developers, investors and entrepreneurs across the Mid-Island. I’ve seen what attracts investment and creates jobs, but also how unnecessary delays, uncertainty and infrastructure constraints can prevent good projects from moving forward. That experience would allow me to bring a practical, solutions-focused perspective to Council.

My education in criminology and legal studies also gave me a strong foundation in public institutions, law and evidence-based decision-making.

Beyond my career, I’ve served as President of the Nanaimo Executives Association and currently serve on Regional District of Nanaimo committees dealing with land-use decisions, liquid waste and solid waste planning. I’m also involved with the Chamber of Commerce and Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation’s business engagement initiative.

Most importantly, these experiences have taught me to listen, work with people who don’t always agree, understand complex issues, and make responsible decisions. I would bring that same approach to representing Nanaimo residents at City Hall.

Richard Harlow: Born and raised in Nanaimo, I’ve watched this city become what it is.

Six years on the City’s Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness. I already know city hall: the agendas, the budget cycle and the people who do the work. I read a staff report at 250 words per minute with a screen reader. City engineering, transportation and parks staff bring me in at the drawing stage.

Over ten years of being elected to boards. The CNIB BC-Yukon divisional board. The Nanaimo Disability Resource Centre, where I advised the Regional District on transit, and every bus now announces its stops. At VIU, students elected me to the Senate, the Board of Governors and the students’ union executive.

I was Shopify’s first blind hire in technical support. Through its Accessibility Guild I helped make the platform work for merchants and shoppers with a range of disabilities: the SHOP app working with a screen reader, a point of sale a blind cashier could run, and the hiring process itself. As a job developer I placed workers that employers had written off. Today I run Blind Eye Works. As an accessibility consultant I find the barriers in buildings, websites and hiring. As a professional artist I make paintings meant to be touched.

I volunteer where it counts: every week at Nanaimo Foodshare on food security, with the Lions Club of Nanaimo and the Nanaimo Pride Society, and at community events across this city. I know where we have been, and we must adapt for the future.

Erin Colleen Hemmens: I’ve been proud to serve the city as a councillor for eight years now. During my first term, I was Co-Chair of the City’s Health and Housing Task Force, and in my second term, I’ve served as Council’s representative on the Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation Board.

I also served eight years as Nanaimo’s representative on the Vancouver Island Regional Library Board, including three as Chair, leading a regional system representing 38 local governments, with more than 400 employees and an annual budget of about $38 million.

I hold a Master of Arts in Anthropology from Dalhousie University. Before elected office, my work and volunteer experience focused on health, families and community. I worked in women’s health research and policy at Dalhousie University and IWK Health in Halifax, served on the Board of the Midwifery Coalition of Nova Scotia and volunteered as a doula for single mothers.

After moving to Nanaimo, I worked with local physicians on health-system initiatives. I’ve owned my home in Nanaimo’s South End for 15 years, where I’m raising two teenage sons. I’ve stayed involved in my community, from the Bayview Parent Advisory Committee to serving as a volunteer director with Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank.

Today, alongside Council, I work with the BC Coroners Service. From supporting women and families through vulnerable moments to my work as a coroner, these experiences have kept the human consequences of public policy very real for me.

Steven Mark Johns: I have lived in Nanaimo for 13 years. For the past seven years, I’ve run a brick-and-mortar retail store downtown called Red Shelf Decor. Before that, I spent six years running a financial planning practice here in Nanaimo and won numerous awards. During those years I always had to put the clients’ needs first and be able to show justification for my decisions. I want to bring these skills and values to City Council.

As Nanaimo grows rapidly, we have to make sure that businesses can thrive and employ local employees as well as those who want to live here and help build our local economy. I have worked with and on many committees including the Downtown, Nanaimo and Old City Business Associations.

I also have extensive volunteer and Board member experience with multiple organizations that promote social equity and community life including serving on the Boards of Nanaimo Crime Stoppers, the Nanaimo Hornets Rugby Club, and Nanaimo Arts Council.

I earned a B.A. from the University of New Brunswick in English and political science and a Master’s degree in international communications from Royal Roads University.

Cameron J. Leckenby: Growing up in Nanaimo, my father was a working-class immigrant to Canada, and I worked at BC Ferries in unionized positions since age 18 to pay for my post-secondary education. I know the challenges of living paycheque-to-paycheque, and the affordability crisis that our community is facing, and how it impacts seniors, workers, newcomers and young people. As your Nanaimo City Councillor, I will work to make Nanaimo a more affordable place to live for people and families.

I care deeply about our community and its environment. I worked at the Regional District of Nanaimo’s (RDN) Regional Landfill, where I re-affirmed my commitment to managing our community’s waste effectively. I currently work at Vancouver Island University (VIU), where I organize community events, such as the Convocation graduate ceremonies. My work is rooted in my desire to give back to our community.

I have years of experience working for two federal Members of Parliament (MPs) and a BC Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in our Nanaimo region. I am a Board Director for the Nanaimo Art Gallery, and I have previous governance experience serving on the University of Victoria’s Senate. I understand how to navigate bureaucracies across all levels of government to produce results for community members, and I am ready to get to work as your Nanaimo City Councillor to enact positive change for our community and its future.

Max Douglas MacKay: Being born and raised in Nanaimo has given me a strong connection to this community and an understanding of how our city has changed over the years. Working in hospitality has allowed me to meet thousands of residents, hear their stories, and understand the everyday challenges facing people in our community. I’ve learned to listen, solve problems under pressure, and be accountable for the decisions I make. I’d bring that same approach to City Council by being accessible, listening to residents, and working hard to find practical solutions to the issues that matter to them.

Bryant Marshall: My work in the film industry, combined with my background in systems management, crisis mitigation, and community mediation, has prepared me to help govern a municipality.

In film production, I was the practical and operational engine that translated a high-level vision into daily reality. I managed conflict resolution, logistics, budgets, schedules, and problem-solving while delivering the Director’s vision on time and under budget. I see a direct connection between that experience and helping deliver Nanaimo’s vision through practical, sustainable public policy.

I have managed complex logistics, coordinated people and equipment, and made critical decisions under pressure. I have worked through weather delays, equipment failures, union hour limits, changing priorities, and unexpected challenges while keeping productions moving safely and efficiently.

These experiences taught me to anticipate problems, manage limited resources, communicate clearly, and remain calm during crises. I would bring those skills to Council as Nanaimo addresses infrastructure needs, budget pressures, public emergencies, and the challenges of a growing city.

On set, communication was critical. Whether coordinating hundreds of people by radio or megaphone, I ensured everyone knew what was happening, what came next, and what safety protocols were in place.

I want to bring that same practical, organized, and accountable team approach to Nanaimo—turning community priorities into results.

Bill McKay: I bring strong business, municipal government, and leadership experience, along with more than 20 years as a committed member of the Nanaimo community.

I previously had the privilege of serving as a City Councillor from 2011 to 2014 and as Mayor from 2014 to 2018. I stepped down at the end of my term. Since leaving public office, I have remained actively involved in our community. Through Royal Canadian Legion Branch 256, I have held several leadership positions, including 2nd Vice President, Secretary, and Facility Rentals Manager.

I also joined the Board of Nanaimo Disability Resource Centre and am currently serving my second term as Board Vice President.

Andrew Merilees: Growing up in Nanaimo I have a knowledge of Nanaimo’s history and development. I served 4 terms on municipal council for the Village of Masset including 7 years as mayor. My professional experience includes being a small business owner and as a manager of parks and protected areas. I bring the experience of working collaboratively having served on many regional boards including the Northern BC Tourism Association, QCI Chamber of Commerce, Misty Isles Economic Development Society as a Director on the Vancouver Island Regional Library Board.

Zaki Mohammed: My career has given me a practical mix of financial discipline and community-building experience that translates directly to council work.

My background as a Financial Controller has given me years of budgeting, financial reporting, and due diligence experience, the same skills needed to scrutinize municipal budgets and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. Building on that, as Director of Logistics and Administration at the Tom Harris Community Foundation, I manage operations, logistics, and administration for an organization built around giving back to this region, work that requires coordinating people, budgets, and priorities to actually deliver results.

I have also built real community infrastructure here in Nanaimo, working on strategic planning and governance modernization for a local nonprofit serving newcomers, understanding how organizations function, and how to turn good intentions into workable plans and bylaws.

I have organized community events from the ground up too, including a free public fundraiser supporting our hospital foundation, coordinating logistics, partners, volunteers, and outreach to bring people together around a shared cause.

And as someone who came to Canada, built a career here, and became a citizen, I bring a personal understanding of what newcomers and working families need to thrive.

Rod Moreno: I have worked in logistics and deliveries for the last 15 years. Before that I was in the private sector in software and before that a social worker for many years in Oregon during the meth epidemic of the 2000s in the Child Welfare Services for the state as well as a student legislator managing a 12 million dollar budget in student incidental fees (a “special requisition” beyond tuition) at the University of Oregon.

I know every bump and every curve of every road in the midisland by now. I am also a father, a concerned citizen and a tireless worker for the things I believe in.

Janice Perrino: Currently I’m a Nanaimo City Councillor, 2022, I’m also a Director on the RDN and I’m the Chair of the Regional Hospital District (RHD).

I was on Council for two terms in Summerland, then I was the Mayor for two terms, I was a Director on the Regional District of the RDOS and I was the Chair of the Regional Hospital District of the RDOS in Penticton.

I was a professional fundraiser for the BC Cancer Foundation at the new BC Cancer Agency at the Centre for the Southern Interior in Kelowna as the Director of Development for more than 7 years. After that I was invited to the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation at the Penticton Regional Hospital to become the Executive Director for 12 years. We set up the largest fundraising campaign ever done in the Okanagan for $20 million and after 18 months we had $15 million pledged for the new hospital expansion.

In 2016 I was invited to be the new Chief Executive Officer/President of the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation and I stayed there for 6 years and retired in 2022.

I’ve started a Cafe at the Hospital in Penticton and renovated the Code Brew here in Nanaimo at NRGH. In my career working in healthcare I’ve been involved with teams that raised close to $100 million dollars and been involved in projects worth close to a billion dollars. In my past careers, I’ve done marketing, sales, banking and administration for many years so this gives me a varied background for my political work.

Austin Seng: I’m Austin Seng, a lifelong Harewood kid who has proudly called Nanaimo home for 35 years. I’ve seen the ups, the downs, and everything in between, and I have personal connections to many of the issues our community faces today.

I’m the son of immigrant parents who arrived with little more than a strong work ethic and a dream of a secure future. We grew up in subsidized housing and understood the value of the incredible organizations that supported us, helped our family, and made us feel like part of the community.

I’ve watched many of my close friends and colleagues struggle with addiction, homelessness, and mental health challenges, and I’ve lost many loved ones along the way.

With over a decade of experience in business development and management, and now as a small business owner in the heart of downtown Nanaimo, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges our community is facing. I believe I bring a unique perspective and a strong focus on working collaboratively with Council and the people of Nanaimo to build a safe, prosperous, and connected community.

Holden Southward: Hello! I have been a self-employed carpenter for 25 years and have much experience with costomers and planning their projects. I am an author of my book “The Church of the Natural Order’ Which is a non fear based belief system. My book explains the quantum physics of psychic experiences and exlains destiny and the importance of traitional values.

I am a singer songwriter and have played live many times in nanaimo with my guitar and piano. I apprciate the outdoors and grow a big garden. I belief in becoming much more self-reliant, self-determined and self-owned in our own regions and totally reject globalism and see the WEF, EU and the UN as evil in their ettempt to influence our governments to hand away our nationhood to their total control and mind control.

I believe in greatly expanding our agriculture and heavy and small industry. I don’t want foriegn ownwership nor real-estate corporations buying our real-estate. I don’t think AI is good for nanaimo as we don’t have enough locally produced power.

Ian Thorpe: I am a retired educator who had a 35-year teaching career here in Nanaimo, with an extensive history of community involvement. It has been an honour for me to serve on Council for the past 12 years, making me the longest-serving current Councillor.

I believe in good governance, and was recently presented with a Level III Award of Excellence in Local Government Leadership. I have chaired the Parks, Recreation, and Culture Committee, and was Chair of the Regional District of Nanaimo for two years. I am on the Tourism Board, the Port of Nanamo liaison committee, and am currently Vice Chair of the Nanaimo Regional District Hospital Board and a leading advocate for improvements to our local hospital.

Author of “Thorpe Report” newspaper column. Member of Rotary, Volunteer Nanaimo, and Board member of Crimestoppers. My experiences with community organizations and on Council have given me valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing our city. I am an independent thinker. I strive always to bring a professional presence, to listen carefully, and to make informed and thoughtful decisions that reflect the wishes of the citizens of Nanaimo.

Paul Van Ryssel: For 37 years, I worked in public education in Nanaimo as a teacher, coach, mentor and district leader, including eight years coordinating International Student Education. That work taught me how to listen carefully, work with people who see problems differently, manage complex situations, make difficult decisions and take responsibility for the outcome.

I’ve worked with students, families, staff, community organizations and partners from around the world. Those experiences reinforced something I believe strongly… before trying to solve a problem, you need to understand it clearly, bring the right people into the conversation, examine the evidence and consider the consequences of the decision.

I also completed a Master of Educational Leadership later in my career, which strengthened my understanding of governance, organizational leadership and accountability.

I don’t believe an effective councillor needs to have all the answers. An effective councillor needs to ask good questions, listen before deciding, understand costs and trade-offs, make responsible decisions and then explain those decisions to the people they represent.

That is the experience and approach I would bring to Nanaimo City Council.

Angela Hope Waldick: I’ve spent my life solving real world problems. I’ve raised two children, built two businesses, written a book, hosted a podcast, volunteered in our community, and spent over 20 years in physically demanding work. I’m also legally blind, so I experience firsthand how accessibility shapes everyday life and why a city should work for everyone.

I studied sustainable city planning and eco-design through UBC, and my experience in budgeting, community engagement, branding, and project management has taught me that good decisions come from listening first, looking at the evidence, and being honest about what local government can and cannot do.

I’m running to bring practical solutions, transparency, and long term thinking to Council, while respecting taxpayers and helping build a Nanaimo that’s stronger, more connected, and ready for the future.

Editor’s Note: Anita Greer, Bryan Gordon, Derek Hanna, Frank Pluta, Joe Figel, Matthew Miller and Rob Phelan did not submit a response prior to deadline.

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by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Detailed biographies: Nanaimo Mayor and Council candidates

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