Capital Region Municipal Amalgamation Society
Board of Directors 2017 - 2018
James Anderson
James is a graduate of UBC in Regional Planning, a 40 year resident and retired senior manger of the BC Government. He has experience with land use for parks/recreation, agriculture and coastal resources, and is the author of BC’s Magnificent Parks; the first 100 years. James is a former resident of Edmonton and Calgary where even with massive urban growth were governed as unified city states, and particularly with joint use facilities between schools and community recreation. James is concerned with the unequal contribution of many CRD residents to the costs of arts/culture, recreation and social services/housing, the integration of regional emergency services and failure of our municipal leaders to give priority to need for regional transportation plan.
Earle Anthony (Secretary)
Earle, Professional Engineer (Civil), spent 32 years in provincial and federal government environment agencies, 17 of those years at a senior management level. Following retirement, he grew vegetables in Central Saanich for 13 years. He now lives in Oak Bay where he does a little writing and a little gardening. He was elected Secretary of the Board in June 2013.
Pat Clements
Pat was raised in the Cowichan Valley, and was Chairperson of the CVRD in 1976. Now retired, he has worked most of his life sales and owned several small businesses. Pat has lived in Langford for 20+ years.
John Ellis
John had a 30-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces, the last 18 here in Victoria. After retiring in 2017, he completed an Masters of Business Administration at Royal Roads University and started a consulting firm, focused on strategic planning in the arts. As part of his research it became evident that having 13 individual municipalities in this region create significant duplication of services that draw on similar resources. Drawing parallels from the arts community to the larger community of Greater Victoria, John is interested in creating efficiency and reducing barriers to innovation that often seem improbable in the fractured politics in our region.
Lesley Ewing
Lesley is a retired provincial senior public servant with a keen interest in public policy at all levels of government. During her working career she held executive positions with the Province of BC, responsible for finance, administrative and technology services in several ministries. Her consulting activities included international trade issues. Lesley is also devoted to active transportation advocacy (cycling/walking infrastructure) and to an improved system of governance for Greater Victoria. She has lived in the area for 35 years and is a graduate of the University of Victoria.
Marg Gardiner
Marg has lived in the region for 24 years, 10 in Saanich and 14 in Victoria. Her public sector career involved leadership roles in regulatory enforcement and research administration. She has lived in four provincial capital cities in Canada. Marg’s sense of, and respect for community activism stems from her prairie roots. Much of her current community work is through the James Bay Neighbourhood Association, where she serves as President. Marg’s focus has been on quality of life issues, including airshed and noise pollution. Recently, her attention has been drawn to the CRD Wastewater Treatment System as the neighbourhood of James Bay is expected to carry the heaviest load of construction impacts.
Shellie Gudgeon (President)
Shellie is a former City of Victoria Councillor who is passionate about working together for the enhancement of the region. Shellie was born and raised in Victoria. She and her husband have owned several restaurants over the past twenty five years and currently own Il Terrazzo Ristorante in the City of Victoria. Shellie believes that "Simply put - together we are stronger."
James Legh
James is a lawyer, businessman and community volunteer. He currently Chairs the National Scout Foundation and is active with local youth. He has worked with the Victoria Foundation, been a member Saanich Police Board, a director of Children's Museum of Victoria Association, the Learning Disabilities Association of British Columbia, Stages Dance Theatre Society and Kaleidoscope Theatre Productions Society. He is a holder of the Chief Scout's Award and has been recognised by the Saanich Volunteer Adult Award (2001), the Medal of Merit for service to Scouting (2005), the Canadian Bar Association (B.C.) Community Service Award (2008), awarded the VBA Volunteer Award in 2013, and the Bar to the Medal of Merit for continued good service to Scouting (2011). He owns businesses located in Saanich, Victoria, Esquimalt and Sooke.
Paulette Marsollier
Paulette has an accounting background. She worked with the Alberta Children’s Hospital Child Abuse Program, and spent 30+ years as a real estate brokerage owner/realtor. She has served on the Calgary Real Estate Board, the Alberta Real Estate Association, the Victoria Real Estate Board, and the Canadian Condominium Institute. Paulette is currently on the board of the Vancouver Island Strata Owners Association, the Rotary Club of Victoria, and President of the Newcomers of Victoria Alumnae.
Sandie Menzies (Treasurer)
Sandie is a Greater Victorian who grew up in Gordon Head, graduating from Mt. Douglas High School and the University of Victoria. During the years that her children were growing up, she served on the executives of both Gordon Head Soccer and the Saanich Lacrosse Association. Her family has been involved in the plumbing and heating business in Greater Victoria since 1909, and has experienced the difficulties of working across municipal boundaries. For 15 years she operated a bed and breakfast. She believes that the people of Greater Victoria should have an opportunity to tell the local politicians how they feel about amalgamation in the Capital Region.
Colin Nielsen (Vice-President)
Colin is a retired RCMP member and he served as their representative on the CRD Enhanced 9-1-1 project. The unnecessary complexity originally built into the region’s 9-1-1 system to accommodate multiple emergency response agencies convinced him that a regional emergency centre would provide more effective and efficient service. Colin has lived in Greater Victoria since 1967.
John Weaver
John was born and raised in Great Britain, graduating with an honours degree in mathematics from the University of Bristol. He moved to Canada, where he obtained a PH.D in physics at the University of Saskatchewan. John has lived in Victoria since 1961, and joined the University of Victoria faculty in 1966. Since retirement, he has been active in the Rockland Neighbourhood Association. As their representative, and in conjunction with other neighbourhood associations, he petitioned the Province and local government to amalgamate the numerous police forces in the region. He ardently supports municipal amalgamation.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE:
Chris Fleming
Chris is a passionate public servant and has served the federal government, the Alberta government, and currently the British Columbia government mainly in the field of government relations. He is also active in the local community as President of the North Park Neighborhood Association and currently chairs the Victoria Community Association Network, a monthly meeting of Victoria neighborhood associations. He is interested in issues of governance and in making government more responsive to the needs of its citizens, which is why he is supporting Amalgamation Yes’ efforts.
Tony Heemskerk
Tony is retired and involved in various community endeavours, such as health care and political campaigns, and other individual activities. He is a former provincial deputy minister with the British Columbia government with 33 years of public sector experience, including corrections, policing, victim services, emergency services, and liquor, gaming, transportation, firearms, and security industry regulation. He has lived in Saanich since 1985 and believes that amalgamation will have many benefits and that the public should be given the opportunity to decide.
Jim Rae (alternate)
Peter Spurr
Peter has 25 years of experience as a researcher and analyst for the federal housing agency in Ottawa, and 10 years’ experience as a private research contractor specializing in urban planning topics. Now a resident of Cook Village, he previously lived in Saanich for 19 years. He is an active cyclist, walker and BC Transit user, and was involved with the Mount Tolmie Community Association. He is the President of the Victoria Chapter of the Carleton University Alumni Association. He believes citizens should have accurate information about amalgamation issues.
CONGRATULATIONS KAREN HARPER!
Karen, a founding member of Amalgamation Yes, has succeeded in the by-election campaign to win a council seat in the District of Saanich. We wish Karen all the best in her new role! She was sworn in on October 16, 2017.
MANY THANKS, JOHN VICKERS!
John helped to found a number of community events including the International Buskers, Chalk Art and Kite Festivals along with several community fundraisers including the annual Pumpkin Art display. He is a past recipient of the CFAX Arts Leader of the Year award and a runner-up for CFAX's Community Leader of the Year. John has passionately fought for regional amalgamation for many years and founded Amalgamation Victoria in 2009, which merged with other groups to form Amalgamation Yes. John leaves Victoria to pursue career opportunities elsewhere in Canada. Thank you for all your hard work in bringing the governance file to prominence, and for your tireless enthusiasm for making Greater Victoria a better place to live!
Board of Directors 2017 - 2018
James Anderson
James is a graduate of UBC in Regional Planning, a 40 year resident and retired senior manger of the BC Government. He has experience with land use for parks/recreation, agriculture and coastal resources, and is the author of BC’s Magnificent Parks; the first 100 years. James is a former resident of Edmonton and Calgary where even with massive urban growth were governed as unified city states, and particularly with joint use facilities between schools and community recreation. James is concerned with the unequal contribution of many CRD residents to the costs of arts/culture, recreation and social services/housing, the integration of regional emergency services and failure of our municipal leaders to give priority to need for regional transportation plan.
Earle Anthony (Secretary)
Earle, Professional Engineer (Civil), spent 32 years in provincial and federal government environment agencies, 17 of those years at a senior management level. Following retirement, he grew vegetables in Central Saanich for 13 years. He now lives in Oak Bay where he does a little writing and a little gardening. He was elected Secretary of the Board in June 2013.
Pat Clements
Pat was raised in the Cowichan Valley, and was Chairperson of the CVRD in 1976. Now retired, he has worked most of his life sales and owned several small businesses. Pat has lived in Langford for 20+ years.
John Ellis
John had a 30-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces, the last 18 here in Victoria. After retiring in 2017, he completed an Masters of Business Administration at Royal Roads University and started a consulting firm, focused on strategic planning in the arts. As part of his research it became evident that having 13 individual municipalities in this region create significant duplication of services that draw on similar resources. Drawing parallels from the arts community to the larger community of Greater Victoria, John is interested in creating efficiency and reducing barriers to innovation that often seem improbable in the fractured politics in our region.
Lesley Ewing
Lesley is a retired provincial senior public servant with a keen interest in public policy at all levels of government. During her working career she held executive positions with the Province of BC, responsible for finance, administrative and technology services in several ministries. Her consulting activities included international trade issues. Lesley is also devoted to active transportation advocacy (cycling/walking infrastructure) and to an improved system of governance for Greater Victoria. She has lived in the area for 35 years and is a graduate of the University of Victoria.
Marg Gardiner
Marg has lived in the region for 24 years, 10 in Saanich and 14 in Victoria. Her public sector career involved leadership roles in regulatory enforcement and research administration. She has lived in four provincial capital cities in Canada. Marg’s sense of, and respect for community activism stems from her prairie roots. Much of her current community work is through the James Bay Neighbourhood Association, where she serves as President. Marg’s focus has been on quality of life issues, including airshed and noise pollution. Recently, her attention has been drawn to the CRD Wastewater Treatment System as the neighbourhood of James Bay is expected to carry the heaviest load of construction impacts.
Shellie Gudgeon (President)
Shellie is a former City of Victoria Councillor who is passionate about working together for the enhancement of the region. Shellie was born and raised in Victoria. She and her husband have owned several restaurants over the past twenty five years and currently own Il Terrazzo Ristorante in the City of Victoria. Shellie believes that "Simply put - together we are stronger."
James Legh
James is a lawyer, businessman and community volunteer. He currently Chairs the National Scout Foundation and is active with local youth. He has worked with the Victoria Foundation, been a member Saanich Police Board, a director of Children's Museum of Victoria Association, the Learning Disabilities Association of British Columbia, Stages Dance Theatre Society and Kaleidoscope Theatre Productions Society. He is a holder of the Chief Scout's Award and has been recognised by the Saanich Volunteer Adult Award (2001), the Medal of Merit for service to Scouting (2005), the Canadian Bar Association (B.C.) Community Service Award (2008), awarded the VBA Volunteer Award in 2013, and the Bar to the Medal of Merit for continued good service to Scouting (2011). He owns businesses located in Saanich, Victoria, Esquimalt and Sooke.
Paulette Marsollier
Paulette has an accounting background. She worked with the Alberta Children’s Hospital Child Abuse Program, and spent 30+ years as a real estate brokerage owner/realtor. She has served on the Calgary Real Estate Board, the Alberta Real Estate Association, the Victoria Real Estate Board, and the Canadian Condominium Institute. Paulette is currently on the board of the Vancouver Island Strata Owners Association, the Rotary Club of Victoria, and President of the Newcomers of Victoria Alumnae.
Sandie Menzies (Treasurer)
Sandie is a Greater Victorian who grew up in Gordon Head, graduating from Mt. Douglas High School and the University of Victoria. During the years that her children were growing up, she served on the executives of both Gordon Head Soccer and the Saanich Lacrosse Association. Her family has been involved in the plumbing and heating business in Greater Victoria since 1909, and has experienced the difficulties of working across municipal boundaries. For 15 years she operated a bed and breakfast. She believes that the people of Greater Victoria should have an opportunity to tell the local politicians how they feel about amalgamation in the Capital Region.
Colin Nielsen (Vice-President)
Colin is a retired RCMP member and he served as their representative on the CRD Enhanced 9-1-1 project. The unnecessary complexity originally built into the region’s 9-1-1 system to accommodate multiple emergency response agencies convinced him that a regional emergency centre would provide more effective and efficient service. Colin has lived in Greater Victoria since 1967.
John Weaver
John was born and raised in Great Britain, graduating with an honours degree in mathematics from the University of Bristol. He moved to Canada, where he obtained a PH.D in physics at the University of Saskatchewan. John has lived in Victoria since 1961, and joined the University of Victoria faculty in 1966. Since retirement, he has been active in the Rockland Neighbourhood Association. As their representative, and in conjunction with other neighbourhood associations, he petitioned the Province and local government to amalgamate the numerous police forces in the region. He ardently supports municipal amalgamation.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE:
Chris Fleming
Chris is a passionate public servant and has served the federal government, the Alberta government, and currently the British Columbia government mainly in the field of government relations. He is also active in the local community as President of the North Park Neighborhood Association and currently chairs the Victoria Community Association Network, a monthly meeting of Victoria neighborhood associations. He is interested in issues of governance and in making government more responsive to the needs of its citizens, which is why he is supporting Amalgamation Yes’ efforts.
Tony Heemskerk
Tony is retired and involved in various community endeavours, such as health care and political campaigns, and other individual activities. He is a former provincial deputy minister with the British Columbia government with 33 years of public sector experience, including corrections, policing, victim services, emergency services, and liquor, gaming, transportation, firearms, and security industry regulation. He has lived in Saanich since 1985 and believes that amalgamation will have many benefits and that the public should be given the opportunity to decide.
Jim Rae (alternate)
Peter Spurr
Peter has 25 years of experience as a researcher and analyst for the federal housing agency in Ottawa, and 10 years’ experience as a private research contractor specializing in urban planning topics. Now a resident of Cook Village, he previously lived in Saanich for 19 years. He is an active cyclist, walker and BC Transit user, and was involved with the Mount Tolmie Community Association. He is the President of the Victoria Chapter of the Carleton University Alumni Association. He believes citizens should have accurate information about amalgamation issues.
CONGRATULATIONS KAREN HARPER!
Karen, a founding member of Amalgamation Yes, has succeeded in the by-election campaign to win a council seat in the District of Saanich. We wish Karen all the best in her new role! She was sworn in on October 16, 2017.
MANY THANKS, JOHN VICKERS!
John helped to found a number of community events including the International Buskers, Chalk Art and Kite Festivals along with several community fundraisers including the annual Pumpkin Art display. He is a past recipient of the CFAX Arts Leader of the Year award and a runner-up for CFAX's Community Leader of the Year. John has passionately fought for regional amalgamation for many years and founded Amalgamation Victoria in 2009, which merged with other groups to form Amalgamation Yes. John leaves Victoria to pursue career opportunities elsewhere in Canada. Thank you for all your hard work in bringing the governance file to prominence, and for your tireless enthusiasm for making Greater Victoria a better place to live!