Peninsula News review Coverage of Sidney Candidates

Angling for Sidney council

Published: October 16, 2008 1:00 PM
Updated: October 16, 2008 1:12 PM

Long time Sidney resident and active community member Steve Price has filed his papers for the upcoming civic elections in Sidney.

Price’s platform includes a strong desire to keep Sidney’s small town charm and character intact. He says he will achieve this through careful consideration of the size and height of future developments, as well emphasis on designs in keeping with a west coast seaside village. Price is also concerned with the current trend to build massive developments on small church properties in residential neighborhoods. “I believe the church’s traditional role in the community would be more acceptable to the people of Sidney,” said Price.

Homelessness is a concern for Price. “Sidney is starting to develop a homeless problem. We should provide some form of shelter and washroom facilities for temporary use as well as find more permanent homes and treatment. We just have to look towards Victoria to see how this can spin out of control.”

Price is married and has raised three sons in Sidney seeing them through Sidney school, North Saanich middle school and Parkland secondary.

Price has considerable community involvement in many areas. As director and president of the Peninsula Soccer Association, Price worked closely with council and town staff in the negotiations to provide space for the Sidney Lawn Bowlers club to establish themselves at Iroquois Park, while at the same time preserving the adjoining soccer field that was slated for removal. The outcome was a win-win situation for both Sidney’s seniors and youth and demonstrates Price’s common sense leadership, he says.

 As member, director and president of the Sidney anglers association for over five years Price was hands-on in the ongoing restoration of salmon habitat with the clubs stream project at Reay Creek. During his time as president the Sidney Anglers were acknowledged and awarded by the federal government for 25 years of the most successful work they had seen. Reay Creek is now used as a model for other restoration projects in Canada. Price also designed and built Sidney’s first wild salmon release pen from which tens of thousands of salmon have been released into the wild. The survival of the local fish population is important to Price.

 Price is also a proud member of the Royal Canadian Legion, and would like to remind everyone that it is Remembrance Day poppy time once again and all donations down to the penny are returned to the community and to our vets in need. His campaign will be without the usual outdoor posters and signs as he feels electors should vote based on values and not advertising. Price encourages all who would donate to his run to instead give to the Legion’s poppy drive.

Former planner runs in Sidney

Published: October 21, 2008 1:00 PM
Updated: October 21, 2008 2:22 PM

An extensive career in planning, including years as planner for the Capital Regional District, Victoria, Saanich and Vancouver gives Graham Stallard an interest in municipal growth. Stallard now wants to bring his experience to Sidney council.

“My [recent] trip to Seaside and Astoria underline my attraction to coastal communities with character,” said Stallard. “I was born and raised in one on the Isle of Wight, and skippered my Dad’s tourist boats before I could drive. I have never been far from the water since. All of the smaller coastal communities seem to have suffered from economic change over the years, with tourism being the current favourite. I have mixed feelings on that issue, but then it is all part of the ominous inevitability of growth and change, but it can be done gracefully.”

The retiree currently serves as a director of the BC Aviation Museum, a member of UVIC’s Facilities Development and Sustainability sub-committee, assisting the Tsawout First Nation, and as a correspondent for an international passenger shipping magazine

Stallard’s career as a planner spanned 40 years and includes experience with a variety of government agencies in south western British Columbia, including municipalities, regional districts and provincial ministries.

“While nominally a policy specialist, I am familiar with, and have worked on, many government responsibilities and issues. Particular favourites included economic development, waterfront uses and activities, and emergency services,” he said.

Stallard says he is thoroughly familiar with the Local Government system, including relating to politicians, staff, advisory bodies and the public.

Since 1968, Stallard has served the Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC) and the Canadian Institute of Planners in a variety of roles. “My major contribution was as editor of PIBC News for many years (and now as “Curmudgeon” the columnist),” he said.

Stallard has also worked as a tourism counsellor at the Pat Bay Highway Visitor Information office, and served on Sidney’s Advisory Planning Commission.

Peninsula News Review

Going from gallery chair to council seat

Published: October 21, 2008 1:00 PM
Updated: October 21, 2008 2:24 PM

Mervyn Lougher-Goodey is running for Sidney Council after serving the community in various commissions and committees over the past decade.

Prior to his retirement from the Canadian Forces, Lougher-Goodey held senior appointments including Chief Engineer for the Canadian Forces in Europe and Chief Engineer for the Army. On retirement in Ottawa he immediately got involved in the local community and volunteered with the Heritage Commission, OXFAM and the Humane Society.

Moving to Sidney a year later to care for his elderly parents in Victoria in 1998, Lougher-Goodey committed himself to serve his new community in Sidney. Presently his activities include chairing the Saanich Peninsula Water Commission and Wastewater Management Committee as the Sidney-appointed citizen. He is a Governor and Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for the Vancouver Island and Yukon branch of the Corps of Commissionaires. He is just wrapping up eight years of service as a Sidney nominee on the Victoria Airport Authority Board of Directors. He previously served as a Sidney nominee on the CRD Water Advisory Committee, which he chaired for five years.

“Probably my most exciting challenge as a Sidney volunteer was when I was asked to be a founding Director of the Saanich Peninsula Health Association,” he said. “I was elected as one of Sidney’s representatives and we fought as a community the potential closing of our Saanich Peninsula Hospital.” He has been the vice chair of the Sidney Advisory Planning Commission and chair of the Sidney Heritage Commission. He has been pleased to be able to volunteer for Beacon Community Services, Habitat for Humanity and Mount St. Mary’s Hospital.

Lougher-Goodey has taken a great interest in the governance of the Town of Sidney and during the last eight years has attended weekly council and committee meetings as a member of the public gallery.

He says watching council in their deliberations and being involved in the community has enabled him to follow and understand the challenges that face Sidney.

“Perhaps two significant issues that may impact Sidney in the long run and require the most thought will be the continued demographic imbalance and the future development within Sidney following the guidance of our recently updated Official Community Plan,” he said.