Candidate for the Office of Councillor
It’s said that if you love where you live, get involved. That idea has stuck with me since I moved here twenty-four years ago, and it’s why I’m putting my name forward to run for council.
When I was transferred here by Shaw/Rogers Communications, it was supposed to be for less than two years. But Bowen quickly became home, and I wasn’t leaving! That work also gave me the opportunity to meet a good portion of the island. In the years since, I’ve tried to show my love for this community through hands-on involvement — serving on the board of the Bowen Island Legion for many years, including six as president, as well as serving on the Bowfest board.
Giving back to causes beyond our island has mattered to me too. I’ve been involved with organizations that raise funds for cancer and Alzheimer’s research. However, if I had to pick one “cause” highlight from my time on Bowen, it would be something a little less formal: helping out the real Santa during the Light-Up Parade and Tumbling with Santa. Moments like these remind me why this community is worth investing in — it’s the people, including the next generation, that make Bowen what it is.
So why run for council now? Simply put, I love this island. But I also believe there are opportunities for improvement, particularly when it comes to municipal spending, tourism, ferry marshalling and transportation.
For example: Tourism is part of Bowen’s lifeblood — it supports many of our local workers, businesses, and rentals help a lot of homeowners make their mortgages. We can’t turn our backs on that. At the same time however, I’ve seen how excessive visitor traffic can strain the very things that make our community special: our roads, trails, services and the everyday experiences of the people who call this island home. We are all feeling the impact and the sense that our island is being stretched beyond what it can comfortably handle. We need to find a better balance.
There are many ways to work toward that balance, and most, if not all, require leadership. This is where a council that works well can step up — one that listens, respects, collaborates, makes decisions and follows through. I believe that kind of council can help us get a better handle on the issues and protect the character of our community while still allowing it to thrive.
I’m running because I care about this island’s future as much as I care about its present. Whether it’s helping with our community’s communications or making a child laugh during the holidays, I’ve always tried to show up. I’d be honoured to bring that same commitment to council by working alongside my neighbours to improve our community — one that’s not just busy, but genuinely healthy for the people who live here and the businesses we depend on.
Thank you for considering me. I’d appreciate your support and your vote.
Tim Hausch