My name is John Van Laerhoven and I'm running to be re-elected as mayor of the District of Kent. My family arrived in Agassiz in 1959, when I was just a young lad. I've lived here since then, except for 5 years when I was away at University after graduating high school. I achieved a BA in English and followed that up with my teaching certification. I taught for 18 years at Kent School and then 16 more in the Chilliwack District. Mid-career I went back to University and earned a Masters degree in Educational Leadership. My wife Cathy and I raised three children in Agassiz. I've been involved as a volunteer throughout my years here. I coached minor baseball , was part of the Sasquatch Players community theatre group when it was active and was with Kent/Harrison Search & Rescue for 21 years.
After retiring from teaching, I ran for council. I did one term as a councillor and am now completing my first term as mayor. While mayor I've been a director on the FVRD Board. I've been our district's Library Board rep. for 6 years now and in January my fellow members elected me as chair of FVRL. Now I'm running for re-election. I feel that over the last number of years, working with other forward looking councillors, quite a number of projects have been achieved. These include our new Community Recreation and Cultural Centre, a great Farmers' Market, the Hammersly Flood Box, a new forward looking OCP and a much improved CPR crossing, to mention just a few.
We have well qualified and experienced staff who work hard to see that council's resolutions are fulfilled. Our works crew and support staff take good care of the day to day work to keep everything functioning smoothly.
I would like to continue to contribute. There is more that needs doing. To sustain our community in the future we need a vibrant business core, good residential choices from townhomes and condos to single family homes, strong farms and more industry. I feel, I have the proven leadership skills to work with council to lead in a way that meets the needs of our citizens in a fair and balanced way.
On Nov. 15th, please consider me for re-election.