Civic Elections 2022
Who to Vote for on the North Shore - on October 15th
Disclaimers & Such
Full disclosure; incumbent DNV councilor, and mayoral candidate Mathew Bond is a friend of mine. He has a great balance of empathy and critical thinking, experience, and imagination, and while we aren't at eye level on all things, we do ride the same frame size. I can't even vote in the District of North Vancouver (DNV) as I live in the City of North Vancouver (CNV) and I've still burned time and treasure helping out with his campaign where I could. If you tagged or drew a bad mustache on a 4'x4' or 4'x8' 'Vote Bond' sign in the last couple of weeks there's a chance that's my workmanship you're defacing.
Bond, Mayor Bond, is a past president of the North Shore Mountain Bike Association (NSMBA), a trail builder with countless hours on his hands, and a passionate mountain biker in a sea of candidates who are quick to note they own one. But none of that matters half as much as the fact he's not a micro-managing NIMBY and the parks staff at the DNV are experienced professionals, and rational partners to the riding community when the politicos let them do their jobs.
NSMB.com, that's us, has a history of supporting Mathew over his multiple successful runs for council but since it's the big chair he's running for, and since it's me writing this, it's important to note that I have a strong bias towards Mathew.
Oh, the other guy running also e-mailed me that they wouldn't reconsider reviewing certain 'resident parking only' (RPO) designations, which are essentially privatizing public roads and trail access for local residents and the ablest recreationists because mountain bikers will "cuss you out for suggesting they not block your driveway, and proceed to defecate on your lawn." He's very mayoral. So, yes, I’ll acknowledge my bias against him too.
I know you were already going to take whatever I have to say about how you vote on October 15th with salt, I'm just making sure you've pulled out a big enough spoon because I'm recommending a pile, not a pinch.
The One Question
There are more important reasons to vote for someone than their stance on riding bicycles in the forest, but as a deciding factor between two close candidates I can see it coming up and I have a sure-fire suggestion for the perfect question to really gauge where they stand on our activity. I like it because it's a yes/no question.
Do you support building new mountain bike trails?
- Jordan Back: "Build new trails."
- Mathew Bond: "Build new trails... I support accelerated expansion of the trail network."
- Ellison Mallin: "Build new trails"
- Herman Mah: " Build new trails and increase the maintenance on existing trails."
- Catherine Pope: "Build new trails"
- Greg Robbins: "Build new trails. We can’t stop people from creating their own trails, so let’s just create some new sanctioned trails to keep everyone happy."
A bit of background. Squamish, Cumberland, and Whistler are the most popular examples, but from Burns Lake to Terrace to Mission to Nanaimo and Victoria and all places north, south, east, and west, mountain biking is booming and new trails are being built. Much of the pressure on existing trails on the North Shore comes down to endless arguments within the ridership on how they should be recycled when in fact there is boundless energy prepared to both maintain the current inventory and build new sanctioned trails.
When the NSMBA recently posed this question to all the eligible candidates, everyone thought that existing trails should be maintained, and there were piles of political dissembling, but it's not a hard question to answer. Keeping in mind that the NSMBA can't legally recommend candidates and didn't fact-check any of their claims of support, I'd recommend checking out the link for yourself in light of my above disclaimer.
Now, I purposely left two candidates off my list who did reply "build new trails." With Jim Hanson, anything Mr. "Secret Oasis" says about anything requires some context. Don't vote for Jim unless you live in Blueridge or plan to live in Blueridge and would like to see the rest of us dirtbags kept out of your neighbourhood. Actually, bonus points if you finish your Saturday, October 15th, ride by voting at Blueridge Elementary, one of many convenient polling places. It's located on a public road a couple of minutes' ride from the public trailhead that Jim would like to privatize for himself.
Councilor Muri says "the network needs to be planned in its entirety" and also "a North Shore Trail Master Plan needs to be prioritized and funded" in the same questionnaire, which is the Muri-standard - if she can't kill the new trails she ‘supports’ in the reporting stage, she’ll drag it out as long as she can and then claim she can't vote for them because of 'the environment.'
The only rule Cam gave me with this assignment is that I'm not allowed to call anyone an idiot so I have to move on now.
DNV Only?
West Vancouver is home to some amazing mountain biking but its city council is perpetually in the running for least functional in BC. Their approach to any project with a social good attached is 'NO' and it appears a majority of residents like it that way. How bad is it? Craig Cameron is a great fellow, and mountain bike supporter, who could have cruised to a fourth-term victory but would prefer to just stay home and punch himself in the junk because it's less painful. Or, to quote Craig in the NSNews:
“They're just really miserable and they're nasty and I don’t want to marinate in that kind of toxic soup anymore. I felt like I needed a break from it.”
I could split a six-pack on my porch chatting City Of North Vancouver (CNV) elections with you. The cycling infrastructure we're building helps many in the CNV and DNV ride to their ride. But when it comes to the trails, the best thing a mountain biker in the CNV can do is encourage their DNV-based friends to vote. Heck, organize a group ride and have it end at a polling place.
Where To Ride & Vote
On that subject, there are plenty of DNV polling places that are located handily relative to mountain bike trailheads so you can ride to vote or vote to ride.
Fancy a Seymour ride? If you're accessing the trails from Old Buck you can grab a coffee and eats and cast a ballot at Parkgate Community Center. Folks heading in at Hyannis can hit Blueridge Elementary, as noted.
Headed up to Fromme? If you're using the parking lot or riding up from below the RPO then Upper Lynn Elementary could be a great bet. It's also a great place to start your ride if you're headed up through Mountainview Park. Folks accessing off Braemar may prefer to visit Carisbrooke Elementary and either ride group may find Eastview Elementary or Argyle Highschool equally convenient.
If you live elsewhere in British Columbia, don't forget to get out and vote this Saturday, and do feel encouraged to stump for your favourite mountain biker who's a candidate or candidate who's with mountain bikers in the comments below.
For those reading from elsewhere, I hope beyond hope that you too have a regular and real opportunity to choose your community representatives, that great people in your community stand up to offer themselves for public service, and that you make every effort to exercise that privilege and duty.
Comments
Ride.DMC
1 year, 5 months ago
This was way more balanced than I was expecting. Good on you for not getting too preachy and staying out of the muck.
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Andrew Major
1 year, 5 months ago
It certainly could have been worse, and thank you.
The big message should always be for folks to put a bit of effort in to researching candidates and then make the time (I was in and out of the early polls in under five minutes) to actually go vote. Municipal politics can make a huge difference in our daily lives but more than that it’s a privilege and duty to exercise that right (now I am getting preachy, sorry).
If a few more people show up at the polls Saturday - anywhere in BC - or at their next local election anywhere folks read NSMB that’s a win in my book.
If the mayor who thinks that a good substitute for safe and efficient cycling infrastructure is dressing my kid up in motorcycle leathers doesn’t win that’ll be doubly a victory.
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Velocipedestrian
1 year, 5 months ago
That is some victim blaming bullshit.
I'm many miles from being able to vote in your elections, but have just done the reading and ticked some boxes in our own local body popularity contest.
Don't know how the next three years will shake out, but it's good to see a greener lineup than last time.
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Shoreboy
1 year, 5 months ago
While Im all in agreement about the privilege and duty to vote, Vancouver needs to change things. I went to vote today after attempting to do some research. Turns out there are up to 27 people we are supposed to vote for out of 137 candidates. Sorry, but there is no amount of research that is going to be able to put me in the position to use all those votes. The ballot was so long that it didn't even fit on the voting booth table. Time to switch to a ward system as soon as possible in my opinion. At least that way I can make an informed decision and use all of my votes.
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Andrew Major
1 year, 5 months ago
That’s Insane but the problem with a ward system is you end up with a whole collection of Jim “Secret Oasis” Hansons.
There are some mixed mode systems I’ve seen discussed in the past that would have the dual effect of more local representation and less candidates to research while also having some broader Vancouver-wide candidates. We’re big on our this-or-that in Canada but I’d prefer my political system like my red wine, blended.
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Shoreboy
1 year, 5 months ago
Im not sure what the best system is, but the current one in Vancouver certainly isn't it. Overwhelming the voter with too many choices leads people to decide to just not vote at all.
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Andrew Major
1 year, 5 months ago
Agreed. At some point it’s impossible to make educated decisions.
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Velocipedestrian
1 year, 5 months ago
Down in South New Zanada our local body elections use Single Transferable Vote. It's a lot of reading, but feels like a sensible way to run it. Finding streams of candidates debates helped our house weed out some people who looked good on paper.
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albert03
1 year, 5 months ago
I agree about our duty to vote, and you have my sympathy wrt filling out a long ballot. I sat at home with my absentee ballot and it still took several hours of looking up additional information about candidates and issues. When I must vote in person, I always try to get a copy of the ballot and nonpartisan voter guides in advance and use these (along with Google) to create a crib sheet to take into the voting booth with me. Otherwise it would take forever (leading to long lines and potentially disenfranchising others) and lead to not voting on several offices or issues.
Crib sheet suggestion aside, I’m not sure about solutions to the problem, but agree it is a problem.
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Velocipedestrian
1 year, 5 months ago
Some clever folks down here built a useful site for comparisons. Maybe it could be ported / licenced / etc?
Policy
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fartymarty
1 year, 5 months ago
Whilst this has no effect on me in th UK it is good to see local (NS) politics on NSMB. Unfortunately everything is linked these days and you can't just bury your head in the sand - although I do wish it wasn't.
Good Work NSMB - keep it up.
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Andrew Major
1 year, 5 months ago
Thanks Marty. It’s a particular passion for me because because I dream of better transit, smart densification, walkable communities, and the opportunity for my kid to choose to live here one day when she’s grown.
We choose to live in a small space, that’s ours, so we can enjoy what the North Shore has to offer and I think every hard working person should have the opportunity to do the same. Interestingly the same folks who are interested in adding trails - recreation opportunities - seemed inclined towards creating those other opportunities for the next generation.
Now to my next pet project. Convincing said politicians that we need mixed zoning that allows residential above light industrial. Let’s get welders (etc) living above their work places on the North Shore.
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Cooper Quinn
1 year, 5 months ago
The "keep the politics out of mountain biking" people have never actually done any advocacy work, or thought about who controls trails, trail access, and anything nearby trails.
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JVP
1 year, 5 months ago
So true, Cooper. Anywhere in the world, trail access is about politics and money. That may be disturbing to some, but if you're willing to "go there", stay there and grind it out for a long time (years), you can develop an amazing trail system. It isn't easy or fast, but it works.
I know Bond from our advocacy days. I'm really happy for N Van that he's involved, and I sure hope he wins!
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Andrew Major
1 year, 5 months ago
I hope Mathew wouldn't mind me saying this, but before he launched his candidacy he told me he couldn't do another term the way things are. Whether you're trying to open or run a small business in the DNV, or trying to build a house, etc. they barely pretend to follow the rules they've established.
New rules governing the keeping of pigeons garnered all the attention but the "better luck next time" way they've treated necessary housing projects - including social and market-controlled housing - is suspect at best.
If DNV can elect Mathew and a majority of the council who are there to do their jobs in a constructive and rational way I'd love to see what they can accomplish in the first 100-days.
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Todd Hellinga
1 year, 5 months ago
For Squamish readers, I won't tell you who you should vote for, but I will say that the Squamish First 'slate' is sketchy AF, and their candidate for mayor is a notoriously reviled local property manager. They're also preying on peoples generally lack of knowledge about municipal policy and procedure, let alone ongoing projects to try and sway people with promises that don't really pass the smell test. When developer/realtor/property manager candidates start talking about 'pausing' development in a town that has critical housing shortages, and would result in even more scarcity and maintained high prices, that's a hard no.
Get out and vote, and also know that you don't need to vote for every available seat, only vote for those you absolutely support, or else a vote for a last choice could put that candidate in front your preferred choices. Local politics affects you daily, it's important!
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Cooper Quinn
1 year, 5 months ago
I mean, I know nothing about Armand's politics, but I'm generally in favor of having a Mayor who Mountain Bikes, so..... I'd vote for him?
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Todd Hellinga
1 year, 5 months ago
I'll be voting for Armand, he's pretty pragmatic even if I don't agree with 100% of his positions. I think we have number of choices in a similar vein in Squamish, whom are able to see the big picture and make well reasoned decisions without emotional hyperbole.
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Cooper Quinn
1 year, 5 months ago
That's politics - rarely is there someone you're going to agree with on every issue.
I like the bus analogy - the bus isn't ever going *exactly* where you want, but pick the one that goes closest.
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Todd Hellinga
1 year, 5 months ago
yup, we had a facilitator for WORCA's strategic planning a few years ago who said "it may not be exactly what you want or how you'd do it, but can you live with it?" That really resonated with me and I continue to use that thought process in my day to day life.
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Andrew Major
1 year, 5 months ago
I tried to say it with a mountain biking bent, "we aren't at eye level on all things, we do ride the same frame size" but hold the same sentiment. There are plenty of things Mathew and I do differently and certainly share different politics than many of his other supporters but the key thing for me is electing people who are willing to listen to a good argument and change their opinions in light of new or better information. Mayor Bond has both those traits.
I'm wary of anyone who has all the answers and doubly wary of anyone who agrees with their politicians on everything.
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DanL
1 year, 5 months ago
Squamish First, Squamish Voices and Squamish Now have got interesting funding and anonymous facebook groups backing. It's a trend being seen across BC now, especially in school board/trustee elections.
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Andrew Major
1 year, 5 months ago
Yes, there are some sketchy happenings in local politics, especially in the little-noticed school board elections. We need laws around enhanced funding clarity ASAP.
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DanL
1 year, 5 months ago
to paraphrase a political researcher "I'm surprised it hasn't happened earlier".
Much better to start in at the low levels that no one pays attention to and blammo, an entire school board or trustees now completely tilted from outside money and misinformation.
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chrisc1423
1 year, 5 months ago
I agree. Regarding development, I feel Squamish First's statement is a little nuanced. They say they'll pause development in Downtown and Garibaldi Estates but they don't outright say no development. I suspect they would be more willing to develop forested areas. I'm almost certain Cheema lands would be developed quite quickly (which TBF is a entirely different discussion and when the time comes, I just hope it is developed reasonably to appease both Cheema and the residents of Squamish who recreate on the trails) Sprawl vs. infill.
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Cy Whitling
1 year, 5 months ago
Love it!
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SixZeroSixOne
1 year, 5 months ago
@andrew: I, too, live in CNV. I'll be the first to admit I have just about zero interest in "local politics", so tell me who I should vote for as I can't be arsed to do my own research and I trust your judgement 😃
(yes, I want better cycling infrastructure but I think CNV does a pretty good job anyway and I'd support rapid transit east-west as well as across the Burrard but do all/any candidates support those policies??)
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Cooper Quinn
1 year, 5 months ago
Buchanan, Valente, McIilroy... not positive beyond that.
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Andrew Major
1 year, 5 months ago
That's supposed to cost you half a six pack! HAHAHA.
I don't mind sharing at all. My candidate choices are all supporters of LRT across the North Shore, and Mayor Linda has been instrumental in those discussions happening with local first nations, the other city governments, Translink, and the province.
My first run included:
Linda Buchanan - Mayor
Tony Valente - Council
Jessica McIlroy - Council
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I had a harder time narrowing it down to just four more choices for the council (a great problem to have). I went with:
Angela Girard - Council
Don Bell - Council
Shervin Shahriari - Council
Kathy McGrenera - Council
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I have a kid in elementary school and honestly, none of the candidates for school board are talking about what I think is the most important job they could be doing which is beating down the doors of the province to properly fund our schools so we have teachers who can teach (starting teacher in BC is the second lowest salary in Canada).
I did choose a couple of candidates but I don't really feel like I can be helpful to other people trying to make a decision for themselves.
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SixZeroSixOne
1 year, 5 months ago
Thanks for the tips! I don't have kids so I'll skip the school board nominations.
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Sethsg
1 year, 5 months ago
Doctors also need more funding, I read somewhere that BC is the lowest-paying province. Yes, doctors can make six figures/per year (if they work themselves to death). Around 40% of the salary though goes to paying for mandatory insurance (my dad is a family doctor).
Also, the cost of living is not going down, the minimum wage really should go up. Though I do find it funny that MPs had a substantial pay raise recently.
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Andrew Major
1 year, 5 months ago
I've long said that the thing to remember about the minimum wage is that it's your employer telling you they'd pay you less if they were allowed to.
As part of hustling part-time around being a full-time dad I worked for ~ minimum wage twice and it's remarkable, in my limited experiences, the expectations employers bring to a relationship where they're paying you the least they're legally allowed to in exchange for your time.
Interesting about doctors - I had no idea, as nurses in BC are compensated well compared to nurses in most other provinces (which I'll strongly note is not me claiming that they're paid or treated fairly, a subject I'm not qualified to comment on, just that relative to other provinces they look to do okay).
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I firmly believe that the wages and benefits (total compensation) of elected officials - Municipal / Provincial / Federal - should be legally tied to the median earnings in that territory. No cost of living raises, etc. whether they're voted on themselves or decided by an arms-length committee. If you want more money, make sure all people in North Vancouver / British Columbia / Canada are earning more money.
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SomeBikeGuy
1 year, 5 months ago
I'm not looking forward to figuring out how to vote for 27 out of 137 candidates in Vancouver's municipal election. Seems... like not a good way to set up a city council. Wards, a mixed system of wards and at-large, literally anything other than this would probably be better. Still, research will be done and I'll vote for what I think is the best possible compromise. Democracy was never meant to be cheap, easy, or great, but it beats all the other options we've got.
Unless you think I should become the benevolent dictator of the world. That's obviously the perfect solution. Better transit, bike infrastructure, and living conditions for all worldwide!
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Andrew Major
1 year, 5 months ago
Thank you for putting in the effort.
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Dave Tolnai
1 year, 5 months ago
I think the largest problem in Vancouver is the left splitting into The People's Judean Front vs. the Front of People's Judea. Just too many factions trying to fix the same problems from a slightly different angle and splitting the vote. I would also say that the majority of platforms just aren't feasible for a city council to tackle, but that's another issue. The right seems more pragmatic about holding their noses and voting for the person that will get them lower taxes.
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Cooper Quinn
1 year, 5 months ago
The only people we hate more than the Romans are the f***ing Judean People's Front
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mnihiser
1 year, 5 months ago
To anyone in Canada: could you please write in DT for something? Perhaps Minister of Divisiveness ? The US no longer needs him and another 4 years will leave us in a very bad place.
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Cam McRae
1 year, 5 months ago
We're too close to Russia. He'd probably just surrender us to Putin, and pocket a few trillion for himself.
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Sethsg
1 year, 5 months ago
“cuss you out for suggesting they not block your driveway, and proceed to defecate on your lawn." Sounds like somebody got traumatized.
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Andrew Major
1 year, 5 months ago
Someone is trying very hard to justify making taking the easiest course of action. I live in the 100-block of one of the busiest areas of North Vancouver and have come home from a night ride to someone pissing the tree outside my apartment multiple times - not to mention disposing of some clearly-not-dog shit more than once. So I wasn't having any of it.
I choose to live within walking distance from groceries, restaurants, a liquor store, etc., and there are some negatives that come with that. Including never being able to find street parking around my place. If you choose to live near a school or trailhead that also comes with some negatives.
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Jerry Willows
1 year, 5 months ago
with multiple land managers on Seymour, there will be nothing new no matter who's in power unfortunately. Maintenance is already lacking on the sanctioned stuff. When the unsanctioned trails are better to ride, there's going to be issues.
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Cooper Quinn
1 year, 5 months ago
"with multiple land managers on Seymour, there will be nothing new no matter who's in power unfortunately. "
I would strongly, absolutely, 100% disagree with that statement.
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Jerry Willows
1 year, 5 months ago
Maybe in years but will it be any good?
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Cooper Quinn
1 year, 5 months ago
Will what be any good?
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Jerry Willows
1 year, 5 months ago
The new trails… Any details?
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Sven Luebke
1 year, 5 months ago
DM in Insta. Just one concept from Mathew
Cooper Quinn
1 year, 5 months ago
I'm not sure what new trails you're speaking to here?
My point is... if only there was a way to speed these processes along. I wonder if the municipal Parks staff had more budget allocated, and a mandate to prioritize trails planning and management on Seymour DNV lands... nah. That couldn't possibly be it. Council's attitudes towards trails development is irrelevant, and has no impact on the funds put towards building and maintaining recreational assets in DNV Parks.
Andrew Major
1 year, 5 months ago
Yep, the DNV carries significantly more weight with Metro Vancouver and to a lesser extent, BC Parks than the NSMBA does. Having a local government that actually wants to build new trails a la Squamish etc. is a huge advantage with those other less accountable government organizations.
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Sven Luebke
1 year, 5 months ago
Jerry, do you see a difference in maintenance between Fromme and Seymour sanctioned trails?
Because Fromme has an agreement between NSMBA and DNV for paid trail work, where Seymour does not (yet).
Your vote matters.
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Andrew Major
1 year, 5 months ago
That’s that - an impressively tight finish and a totally depressing turnout.
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