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Mark Stephens runs for Parksville city councillor spot

Campaign theme is to ‘Make Where We Live Better’
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Mark Stephens. - Submitted photo

Parksville has been home to Mark Stephens for more than 20 years.

Stephens’ campaign theme is to “Make Where We Live Better.” He believes this can be achieved best with a balanced approach to preserving Parksville’s special places and community character when handling economic and social development.

“I believe in the importance of building and maintaining strong relationships with a diversity of stakeholders, whether it’s supportive and affordable housing challenges, downtown business revitalization, seniors and youth concerns, waterfront development or the overall implementation of Parksville’s Official Community Plan,” Stephens said.

Local volunteer work has included backing his son, Christopher Stephens, throughout Christopher’s Parksville Wetlands Initiative, which was a nine-year journey that ultimately was the catalyst for the current city council acquiring the Parksville Wetlands in 2017.

This will be a legacy for the security of Parksville’s water supply and a bird sanctuary with international scope for local ecotourism.

Stephens’ career has included senior management positions for public and private businesses, local First Nation governments and non-profit societies, with his formal education including a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia.

Stephens has been a past participant in the Parksville Mayor’s Economic Development Working Group and the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region’s Roundtables.

Stephens is on the Board of Directors and is Corporate Secretary of Synex International, a renewable energy company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Recently, Stephens was appointed as the chief administrative officer for the Maa nulth Treaty Society, a collective of five First Nations on Vancouver Island.

Sue Powell, a respected member of the community and a current Parksville city councillor, has endorsed Stephens, saying, “I have known Mark Stephens in different capacities since I have been on council. I have found Mark to be thoughtful, honest and compassionate. He gets things done when he says he will, and he does a good job of it. I fully support Mark in his bid to become a Parksville city councillor.”

Stephens encourages all to work together to “Make Where We Live Better.”

– Submitted/Mark Stephens campaign