Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. Our People Profiles are short interviews, with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island and as they run their respective election campaigns.

This weeks featured local election people profile is: John Wakefield

Here's a bit about John:

Here’s a bit about John:
I was born and raised in the Lower Mainland. I have lived in five southwest BC municipalities and travelled extensively. I obtained my BA from Simon Fraser University and am a lifelong learner. I am a husband, father, brother, son and uncle. Professionally I am a small business owner, and volunteer as vice-chair of the Salt Spring Island Public Library. I have also served other island organizations such as ArtSpring, and the CRD Transportation Commission. You can sometimes see me riding around the village in a velomobile.

What brought you to Salt Spring Island?

I fell in love with the island on first landing in 1991 when camping with friends at Ruckle Park for a weekend to test for my open water scuba certification. My parents retired to the island from their respective careers in education in 1996, and the visits happily continued. Then in April 1999, I met future partner Sheri, and that completed the circle. We married in September 2001, bought a property near Ganges in 2002 and couldn’t imagine a better place to raise our family (3 boys, one in middle school, and two GISS grads, both now in university).

What one thing about Salt Spring would you tell someone who has never visited the island?

We all know that Salt Spring is unique; unique amongst the Gulf Islands, and unique in Canada. Splendid in geography, rural in character, but in other ways urban in its considerable diversity, tolerance and even a few eccentrics. It is a welcoming, safe and supportive community – and there is certainly a place on the island where anyone could find friends, community, and engagement.

If you had a magic Salt Spring wand, what island thing would you change?

I would improve the transportation network on the island to make it more comfortable, safer and more environmentally sustainable for all modes of travel getting to and from school, work and play.

Which well known person, living or dead, do you think would be a good addition to the island?

Well there are so many candidates. To pick one, the late Nairn Howe (1957-2005), godmother to our youngest son, who was a shining example of how one person can make so much positive impact in the community. Her legacy lives on.

Which elected position are you seeking?

School Board Trustee

Why should Salt Springers vote for you?

As School Trustee I will:

1. Visibly and vocally advocate for increased funding of education, and work for careful stewardship of our available financial and human resources.

2. Work toward a community-based SD 64 Strategic Plan, including a mission, a vision, a set of values and goals that are in the best interests of the District’s stakeholders.

3. Be an advocate for regular “arms length” reviews of both existing and proposed programs - reviews that will help keep both teachers and administrators focused and on-track.

4. Draw on my experience as a manager and as a director of other mission-based organizations to improve governance in support of student achievement.

Is there a really good interview question we should have asked you?

What do you think is the most important investment we can make in our future?

Answer:

Education. Our society and planet depend on innovative solutions for a rapidly changing world. Our young people, properly educated, will provide many of these solutions. That is why I am running for school trustee.

Visit cjohnwakefield.com for more information.

Editorial note: We will feature all local candidates running for all elected positions equally who are interested in being featured on the Salt Spring Exchange. We have attempted to contact all candidates. If you are running for election and you would like to be featured in the Salt Spring Exchange people profile for elections, please contact us.