Name: Alec McPherson
Age:
Occupation/background:
Born and raised in Victoria. Bachelor of Science, University of Victoria – Math and Physics. Met my Cedar-born-and-raised wife, Barbara, while attending UVic. A marine industry career with 17 years as chief operating officer and general manager split between two major international transportation companies. Elected to North Cedar Improvement District April 2010. Elected chairman of NCID April 2011 through December 2011. Elected RDN director November 2011. Past volunteer activities include president, Langley Community Music School, secretary-treasurer, B.C. Judo Association, and sport chair, 1995 Western Canada Games. Actively engaged in community services and issues throughout adult life.
As the incumbent RDN director in Cedar, Yellowpoint, South Wellington and Cassidy, I have tried to use my leadership and experience to progress the interests of our community. I’ve successfully advanced a number of issues including completion of the Cedar Main Street Design Project, acquisition of a $439,610 grant from the provincial government to construct the Cedar Skatepark, took action to correct the foul odours emanating from a composting facility, revealed Metro Vancouver related plans to operate a garbage incinerator at Duke Point, improved bus scheduling to the Cedar Rural Village, resisted a reduction in HandyDART service within rural areas, and the implementation of a secondary suites regulatory framework, to name a few.
Both in concert with other Regional Directors and on a personal level, I have made and will continue to make a concerted effort to improve relations with the First Nations bands within the RDN. It is clear to me that working co-operatively together will result in significant benefits to both our communities.
What three priorities are important to you and how do you plan to tackle these issues if elected?
In 2016, following community consultation, I hope to see a pedestrian/equestrian bridge constructed over the Nanaimo River linking both the North Cedar and South Wellington sections of the regional Morden Colliery Trail. When combined with a regional walking/cycling trail along the E&N tracks, this will provide an exciting experience for both tourists and locals alike. There is a great need to provide basic recreational facilities designed to eliminate the need for children and parents to travel to the City of Nanaimo to remain active. A multi-purpose sport box, for example, where activities such as lacrosse, tennis and basketball can be enjoyed by the community would be a welcome asset. With the closure of the schools, children’s playgrounds and a gymnasium rank high in the needs of our communities. I believe that with careful use of existing resources and with active community participation these facilities can be secured without the burden of additional taxes.
Two other items high on my list include assisting the North Cedar Improvement District in the lifting of the longstanding (four-and-a-half-year) moratorium on the supply of water to new developments, and the completion of a Local Governance Restructure Study.