Candidate for the Office of Councillor
After 17 years on Bowen, I am running for Council because I want Bowen to remain a place where young families flourish and older people cherish their sense of connection and continue to thrive. That means protecting our natural surroundings and the character of our neighbourhoods by making thoughtful decisions about housing and the services our community needs.
If elected, I welcome the opportunity to work with fellow Council members to update the Official Community Plan and maintain and improve our infrastructure, while managing municipal finances responsibly.
Community Involvement
When my teenage daughters were younger, I served on Bowen Children’s Center / Family Place’s Board and came to appreciate the essential support that early childhood programs provide to Bowen families.
I also served as a Board member of BIRD (now part of Bowen Waste) and the Bowen Island Heritage Preservation Association. In those roles, I worked alongside longtime residents whose dedication has contributed to the well-being of the island.
Education remains a passion of mine. I was Co-Chair of BICS’s Parent Advisory Council, then worked as a BICS Educational Assistant (2020-2025). I continue to volunteer at BICS and the Island Pacific School.
As a longtime member of the Bowen Nature Club and Bowen Conservancy, and as a past volunteer for Bowen Fish & Wildlife Club’s Streamkeepers program, I appreciate island opportunities to learn about nature up close from experts.
Sports and the arts have enriched my family’s life on Bowen. As a past coach/manager for the Bowen Island Football Club, a former volunteer for the BI Gymnastics Club, an alum of the beloved Basecombers, and as a parent and friend of Kelly Konno Studio dancers, I have made lasting friendships. I am also a member of the Hearth and appreciate Bowen’s lively theatre and arts community.
As a current Board Member and the Food Bank Liaison for the Little Red Church (Bowen Island United Church), I have seen the compassion of our community in action.
Professional Experience
Working as a mergers & acquisitions lawyer, I learned to understand competing interests, assess risk, and reach workable agreements. If elected, I would draw on that experience to examine costs and risks before making commitments.
As a policy advisor to a commissioner at a bipartisan federal commission, I witnessed the importance of procedures that give all sides fair consideration.
My work as a campaign finance lawyer showed me how important it is for candidates and officeholders to resist undue influence and exercise independent judgment.
What I would bring to Council
My years of working and volunteering on Bowen have given me a deep appreciation of the people and organisations that support island life. I would bring that experience to Council, as well as professional experience in working carefully through difficult decisions.
I have the experience, ability, time, and commitment to serve on Council. Thank you for your consideration.
If you’d like to chat, please call/text me at 604-318-9506 or cgoodsonparker@gmail.com
Candidate interview with Don Shafer