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.
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.
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 Olson
John Olson is a retired Queens University professor interested in transportation issues. He served on the Kingston, Ontario transit advisory committee, was a member of Transport Action Ontario and co-hosted its AGM in Kingston. As a resident of Colwood for 8 years, John is a frequent user of the #50 bus that braves the rush hour congestion. He's an advocate for light rail using the E&N corridor and for reform of governance to enable regional control of transit management and development.
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:
Stuart Chalmers
Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Stuart and his wife Anne relocated to Victoria in 2015 after Stuart retired as a partner in the Calgary office of an international accounting firm. Stuart was very involved in the Calgary community and since moving to Victoria, he has joined the board of a significant not for profit organization, is on the board of Gyro Victoria and served on a Saanich Municipality advisory committee.
Stuart is pleased to be able to support Amalgamation Yes. On moving to Victoria, Stuart was very surprised that within CRD there are multiple police forces and multiple fire departments. Stuart notes that Calgary with a population of 1.4M has one mayor and 14 councillors.
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 is expected to be 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.
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.
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 Olson
John Olson is a retired Queens University professor interested in transportation issues. He served on the Kingston, Ontario transit advisory committee, was a member of Transport Action Ontario and co-hosted its AGM in Kingston. As a resident of Colwood for 8 years, John is a frequent user of the #50 bus that braves the rush hour congestion. He's an advocate for light rail using the E&N corridor and for reform of governance to enable regional control of transit management and development.
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:
Stuart Chalmers
Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Stuart and his wife Anne relocated to Victoria in 2015 after Stuart retired as a partner in the Calgary office of an international accounting firm. Stuart was very involved in the Calgary community and since moving to Victoria, he has joined the board of a significant not for profit organization, is on the board of Gyro Victoria and served on a Saanich Municipality advisory committee.
Stuart is pleased to be able to support Amalgamation Yes. On moving to Victoria, Stuart was very surprised that within CRD there are multiple police forces and multiple fire departments. Stuart notes that Calgary with a population of 1.4M has one mayor and 14 councillors.
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 is expected to be 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!
