LEADERSHIP FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

Welcome! I hope you can get to know me a little better here as I try to become your representative for Courtenay!

 

As a proud and former Royal Canadian Air Force military pilot, I have dedicated my life to my and community. I have spent 25 years of my life serving Canada at home and abroad. Most notably in my participation in the Libya conflict in 2011 where I flew dozens of combat missions, as well as in Iraq and Syria, helping take down the threat of ISIS. I've been involved locally, flying overwatch during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, and over the Pacific Ocean helping take down driftnet fishing.

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I've travelled the world, interacting with Canada's allies all over the world; acting as an ambassador for our country and our military. I've handled crisis, both internal, political, and adversarial in countries far from home with little clear direction other than my training and my wits. 

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But my life has not just been focused on military engagements. I believe that we all have a role to play in our community in the ways we can. I've been lucky enough to be able to serve as a local firefighter in both Comox, BC, with Comox Fire Rescue, and Kingston, NS, with the Kingston and District Fire Department. I've participated in leading a men's group in Comox - Stopping the Violence, and dedicate a portion of my therapeutic time to those who can't afford psychotherapy on their own; we all deserve help. And I've helped coach minor hockey in Winnipeg and the Comox Valley. Developing kids into good teammates with a love of the sport is fulfilling and so much fun. 

 

I understand the importance of resilience and teamwork. a father, husband, and certified psychotherapist, I am passionate about promoting mental wellness sharing my love for an active lifestyle, including running, hiking, and various sports. As a therapist trained in advanced Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), I work with the most complex cases including chronic pain, addiction, and treatment resistant disorders. I understand the impact of the opioid crisis that many Canadians are suffering from. Unlike others, I have the education and expertise to address it. 

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I consider myself fiscally conservative. I don't believe we should spend money on the things we don't have. I believe we need to leverage the things that make Canada great, our abundant natural resources including renewlable wood resources, clean coal and natural gas, as well as our mineral deposits; all highly sought after on the international markets. I believe that we should keep more of what we labour for, so that we can reinvest it in our community. I think society needs to follow reasonable rules to keep people safe, and happy, and that people who break those rules should suffer reasonable consequences. 

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The job of government is to help the people achieve happiness, safety, success, while managing public funds in a fiscally responsible way. Small government that lets private enterprise do what it does best is how we should be running things. Having lived on Vancouver Island a ton since 2007, I know the area, the people, the difficulties we face, and the things that make us great. I hope to be able to leverage my knowledge, skills, experience and leadership to represent the people of Courtenay as best I can. 

 

Thank you for visiting, and I look forward to your support!