Q & A Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce

Gord Fuller

1. Leadership

A third generation Nanaimoite, 33 year resident of Nanaimo, I am a long time Community and Social Advocate.

Many see sitting on council as a position of power; I see it as a position of trust, trust that I would work towards the betterment of the ENTIRE community. I have proven through community involvement that I do not just ‘talk the talk’ but ‘walk the walk’ as well.

Employed in the Social Service Sector with adults and youth for almost 20 years I also have considerable experience working with boards and committees on issues ranging from Homelessness & Affordable Housing, Food Security & Poverty, to Neighbourhood & Community Planning and Downtown Revitalization.
Current Community Involvement:  Nanaimo 7-10 Club Society – Chair (Member Chamber of Commerce, Member Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association, Member Volunteer Nanaimo); Nanaimo Neighbourhood Network – Chair; Nanaimo Citizens Advocacy – Director; South End Community Association – Director; Friends of Nanaimo Harbour – Director; SAFER Nanaimo Working Group; Sex Trade Cohort (formed as a result of the Pickton Inquiry - Group of agencies that work with Sex Trade Workers); Nanaimo Social Health Network; Neighbours of Nob Hill – Member; Nanaimo Working Group on Homelessness; Nanaimo Community Advisory Board on Homelessness; Mid Island Coalition for Strong Communities; Vancouver Island Water Watch.
Past Community Involvement:  Nanaimo Old City Association - Treasurer, SECA Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee (2009), Downtown Design Guidelines, Friends of Plan Nanaimo, Official Community Plan Review, Crystal Meth Task Force, Nanaimo Alcohol and Drug Action Coalition, Working Group on Downtown Social Issues, Mental Health Advisory Council, City of Nanaimo Nuisance Property Committee, Nanaimo Social Development Strategy, S.A.F.E.R Downtown Nanaimo Project, Community Food Connection, Food Link Nanaimo, Action for Diversity Team, Nanaimo Food Share Society, 2002 – 2009 DNP - Housing Design Development Subcommittee, Busking Bylaw Committee.

I have also been involved at workshops and giving feedback on numerous of Nanaimo’s City plans ie. Transportation Master Plan, South Nanaimo Waterfront Plan, Zoning Bylaw, Official Community Plan, Strategic Plan etc. etc.

A regular attendee at Council meetings, for over a decade, I have appeared as a delegation to advocate on a wide range of issues. Asked if I think I can accomplish as much as a City Councillor as in my current advocacy role; I see this as a higher level to work towards building a better community for ALL.

When elected I will bring a new level of Trust, Openness, Inclusiveness and Common Sense to the position.

2. Campaign Funding – Are your campaign funds a) personal, b) diverse, or c) mainly from a single source like a union(s) or corporation(s)?

b) diverse - Individual and Business

3. Can you describe your vision of Nanaimo’s future in 100 words or less?

VISION:

A Community valuing & Encouraging Participatory Democracy.

Focus on the preservation of Nanaimo’s heritage and Parks; development Working in harmony with the Environment, maintaining the unique character of neighbourhoods, Citizen Driven Not Developer Driven; recognizing the importance of a healthy diverse economy; providing meaningful employment and the necessary tax base; Smart growth not rapid growth.

Recognizing social, environmental, cultural and economic aspects are intertwined; linking community together. A focus on one without the others detracts from the whole.

A Community recognizing and valuing diversity; the potential of ALL citizens contributing to make Nanaimo a vibrant and INCLUSSIVE community.

4. Do you subscribe to the 12 Guiding Principles of Successful Cities as incorporated in the City’s Corporate Strategic Plan?

Absolutely.

5. Do you support the Chamber of Commerce Election Platform:   Leadership & Teamwork – Set a clear direction for the city and the community then seek consensus through collaboration to get there.

 Seek Efficiencies & Core Services – Don’t spend what we don’t have to! An external core services review can point out ways to achieve the greatest value for goods and services delivered to the taxpayer.

 Transparency & Community Input – Elected leaders need to dedicate themselves to seeking meaningful, ongoing input from residents and adopting strategies to reflect this input in policy-making.

 Be Informed, Engaged, Responsible – Refuse to express an uninformed opinion permitting you to vote on the value of a proposition, not the politics of it in the heat of the moment.

 Strive for Community Prosperity – Initiate policies that promote healthy private, public and not-for-profit business activity. Our community’s economic security is premised on these sectors’ health and growth.

Absolutely.