B.C. election candidate profiles: Abbotsford South constituency
The provincial election race on Tuesday, May 9 will be among four candidates in the constituency of Abbotsford South (which includes Aldergrove/Langley Township as far west as 248 Street, between the U.S. border and Hwy. 1).
The four parties and candidates (in alphabetical order) are Christian Heritage Party – Ron Gray, the Green Party – Aird Flavelle, the Liberal Party of BC – Darryl Plecas, and the New Democratic Party of BC – Jasleen Arora.
The four candidates have submitted responses to a Black Press questionnaire, as follows:
Ron Gray
Current occupation: retired
Notable past achievements/titles/jobs:
• public information for two post-secondary education institutions (Fraser Valley College, precursor of UFV; and Trinity Western University)
• Helped establish a new federal government information agency, Information Canada, in 1970
• 13 years as National Leader of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada
Where do you live? Abbotsford, close to SevenOaks
If you have run for office before, what have you learned? If you have not, why are you running now?
I have run 13 times before, and learned the importance of gaining the understanding of the media.
Tell us about yourself. I.E.: Where were you born, where did you go to school/college etc., what jobs did you have over the years?
Born in Vancouver; attended schools there, at Britannia (on Howe Sound), and Queen Elizabeth HS in Surrey; successfully challenged the Sophomore year at Cleveland State University(all scores in the 90th percentile except American History, 75%); took several courses at FVC and TWU
Why would you make a good representative for your constituents in the legislature?
I began my career as a newspaperman (Vancouver Sun, Chilliwack Progress, Fiji Times, Richmond Review) which has given me a good understanding of public concerns and communications; I’ve also worked in the federal government, attached to the diplomatic corps in the Trade Commissioner Service; and I’ve had extensive experience developing policies as National Leader of the federal CHP. As a practicing Christian for the past 39 years, I’ve also learned the importance of compassion, and of a sense of responsibility to God for how I treat people.
What are the three most important issues facing Abbotsford and how would you address them?:
1. The drug crisis and homelessness (which are all intertwined).
We need to reverse the NDP’s policy of “deinstitutionalization” and once again enable the provincial government to take responsibility for caring for those who cannot care for themselves.
2. Public education must be freed from the partisan grip of the BCTF; under their control, education has given way to indoctrination.
CHP-BC advocates a voucher system to allow parents to choose where their children are educated, thus bringing competition into the education market, as schools compete for voucher support by their record of excellence.
3. The provincial budget’s so-called “balance” was achieved by kicking part of the tax burden down the road—to be paid by our children and grandchildren—and by off-loading onto municipalities. The tax burden has become excessive, because governments take on responsibilities beyond their constitutional mandate.
Aird Flavelle
Current occupation: Mostly retired from the IT industry (Over 25 years I built Abbotsford’s MSA Computer Ltd.)
Notable past achievements/titles/jobs:
1. I almost haven’t missed an Abbotsford City Council meeting in 10 years. I also attend the Police Board meetings and almost all of the city’s Citizen Advisory Committee meetings.
2. Last year I recruited all of the sponsors for the Abbotsford Arts Council’s Arty Awards
3. As a long time Abbotsford Airshow director I am currently serving as Secretary, I am past president of the Rotary Club, a current committee member and past Director of the Chamber of Commerce, current treasurer of the BC Green Party, past director of the Fraser Valley Indo Canadian Business Assn; 10 year I.T. volunteer at Abbotsford Hospice; 5 year I.T volunteer at Restorative Justice, I’m a veteran of two different armies, I have a 30 year career in the Martial Arts, I could fly an airplane before I could drive a car and still retain a Commercial Pilots licence.
Where do you live?
Abbotsford planners call the neighbourhood “Babich”. It’s almost in the City Centre, between Maclure and George Ferguson Way.
If you have run for office before, what have you learned? If you have not, why are you running now?
As an avid community volunteer I run for political office in order to expand my areas of impact. Over numerous elections I have learned that politicians are typically just citizens, trying to help their community.
Tell us about yourself. I.E.: Where were you born, where did you go to school/college etc., what jobs did you have over the years?
Born in New Westminster, grew up in Coquitlam, thereafter the Australian Army, Douglas Collage, advanced flying training in Victoria and a bush pilot in Ontario. Thereafter extensive work in the middle east and Europe. Learned to read and write Arabic, Chinese, Japanese. Spent 25 years building MSA Computer in Abbotsford. I have been a board member or volunteer on many, many, Abbotsford community organizations.
Why would you make a good representative for your constituents in the legislature?
I don’t have a personal agenda….. I am in politics solely to try to make our community a better place to live.
What are the three most important issues facing Abbotsford and how would you address them?
1. Drugs; Homelessness and Gang Violence. Legalize all drugs; Identify the true causes of Homelessness and address them; educate our youth away from gang involvement.
2. Protecting the ALR. We need food security. 70% of our veggies come from the USA! I’d like to move towards tightening up protecting the ALR, and move existing “country estates” back into food production.
3. Affordable Housing, densification, transit. We need to separate housing from “speculative investment”. If we densify our urban cores then transit will become viable.
Darryl Plecas
Occupation: Professor Emeritus, UFV
Where do you live? Abbotsford, with my wife of 40 years, and son (a 4th year UFV student).
What have you learned? I have learned that most issues we deal with are far more complicated than appear at first sight. I have also learned that complicating matters yet further is the reality that the average citizen rarely has all the facts they need to make the kind of informed decision they would normally make regarding any issue.
Tell us about yourself. I.E.: Where were you born, where did you go to school/college etc., what jobs did you have over the years? Born in New Westminster, I grew up in the Lower Mainland with four great siblings and wonderful parents. I also had a great introduction to the work world, getting experience in 30 very different jobs by the time I was 21 – including jobs as railway lineman, cement finisher, factory worker, farm worker, plywood mill worker, grocery store clerk, construction laborer, warehouse shipper, store detective, and recreation supervisor. Then I decided to go to university, earning a BA and MA from Simon Fraser University, and a Doctorate in Higher Education from the University of British Columbia. Later, I completed the Management Development Program in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. Meanwhile, I got lucky. I started teaching at the University of the Fraser Valley where I stayed for 34 years – including having the opportunity to serve as the RCMP Senior University Research Chair and Director of the Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research. Over my career, I loved doing a lot of research and writing, including being the author or co-author of more than 200 research reports, international journal articles, book chapters, other publications, addressing a broad range of public safety issues. As Professor Emeritus, and because I love it, I still research, write, give guest lectures, and supervise graduate students.
What would make you a good representative for your constituents?
I have spent my entire working life being deliberately non-partisan, examining and supporting issues in a very cautious and unbiased way – that’s a requirement of being a professor, and especially one whose focus is on researching public safety issues. I have tried to carry that mindset with me into my last four years as an MLA. In fact, my last co-authored book was about how government professionals need to look at issues and make decisions in an evidence-based way. The book was well received – it won the 2016 Professional Development Award from the Canadian Association of Municipalities.
I also think I bring a helpful attitude to the job. That is, I always think in terms of “getting to yes”, I am results-oriented, I say what I am really thinking, I push issues to the wall, and I genuinely care about wanting the best for people – especially people in need.
Jasleen Arora
Current occupation: Senior Inclusion Facilitator at STEPS Forward – BC’s Initiative for Inclusive Post-Secondary Education
Where do you live? Burnaby
If you have run for office before, what have you learned? If you have not, why are you running now?
I have not run before. Under Christy Clark, people have been forgotten about and left behind. I felt compelled to run as inclusion and diversity are an important part of my life. I am proud to be part of the BCNDP team that is championing for all British Columbians.
Tell us about yourself. I.E.: Where were you born, where did you go to school/college etc., what jobs did you have over the years:
I was born in Vancouver. I grew up in North Delta with my parents and sister and moved to Burnaby when I was 14. Born into a Sikh family, I was raised on the principles of selfless service and equality. Having these beliefs at the center of my childhood resulted in a passion to get involved in advocating for positive change.
I was a high school student at Sands Secondary when Christy Clark ripped up the teachers’ contracts in 2002. It felt like our public education system was under attack.
In Fall 2006 I began post-secondary education at Simon Fraser University. I completed a double major in Criminology and Psychology. I felt that our healthcare and justice systems were not best serving the people and wanted to understand what was working and most importantly, what wasn’t.
In 2016 I completed a Master’s Degree at the University of Denver where I learned important strategies to ensure non-profit organizations can survive and how as a leader you can make conscious decisions that can lift and impact not only the people that you serve but the internal members of the organization as well.
What are the three most important issues facing Abbotsford and how would you address them?
1. Schools – Every student accesses their education in a different way. Some need more in-class support, and some need more activity. Christy Clark started a war on public education when she ripped up government contracts with teachers, took away classroom support, closed down schools, and increased financial pressure on schools and families. Parents shouldn’t have to hold fundraisers to fund school supplies and playgrounds, but Christy Clark’s choices made this a reality in Abbotsford. A John Horgan BC NDP government will revitalize our public school system to ensure kids have the supplies they need, and create an ongoing capital fund for school playgrounds. All students deserve to feel supported in their schools and a BC NDP will work with districts and teachers to ensure that every student gets the support they need.
2. Seniors Care – Families are struggling to take care of senior family members, and are struggling to find home care support that they can count on. I am proud to stand with John Horgan and the BC NDP’s commitment to increase the length of home support visits and expand the scope of services provided so that seniors can stay in their home, and families can rely on dedicated care.
3. Healthcare – Families are waiting too long in emergency rooms and our healthcare providers aren’t getting the support they need to provide the care they are capable of. The BC NDP will reduce pressure on emergency rooms by establishing Urgent Family Care Centres which ensure that visits to the emergency room are decreased, and everyone gets the care they need, faster.
Social media accounts and email addresses for every candidate
The internet makes it a lot easier to interact with local election candidates than it once was. Many of those running in the local riding have social media accounts. Here’s how to find them.
ABBOTSFORD SOUTH
(includes Aldergrove/Langley Township as far west as 248 Street, between the U.S. border and Hwy. 1)
Ron Gray (BC Christian Heritage Party)
Email: rongray@chpbc.ca
Aird Flavelle (BC Green Party)
Facebook: facebook.com/AirdFlavelle
Twitter: @AirdFlavelle
Email: abs@bcgreens.ca
Darryl Plecas (BC Liberals)
Facebook: facebook.com/DarrylPlecas13
Twitter: @darrylplecas
Instagram: darrylplecas1
Email: darryl.plecas@bcliberals.com
Jasleen Arora (BC NDP)
Email: jasleen.arora@bcndp.ca
ABBOTSFORD WEST
(includes Langley Township north of Hwy. 1, south of Fraser River, as far west as 264 St.)
Preet Rai (BC NDP)
Facebook: facebook.com/preet.s.rai
Twitter: @PreetRaiBC
Email: preet.rai@bcndp.ca
Kevin Eastwood (BC Green Party)
Email: abw@bcgreens.ca
Lynn Simcox (BC Christian Heritage Party)
Email: lynnsimcox@chpbc.ca
Mike de Jong (BC Liberals)
Email: hello@mikedejong.com
Facebook: facebook.com/michaeldejongbc
Twitter: @Mike_de_Jong
