DNV Elections: Questions to Candidates

I have lived in North Vancouver for 38 years and have always valued the mountains, forests and outdoor recreation opportunities that make our community special. My son bikes regularly, so cycling is also personally important to our family. Through him, I have seen how biking gives young people exercise, independence, confidence and a healthy way to spend time outdoors with friends.

Although I have not been directly involved with the NSMBA, I recognize the important work its volunteers do to maintain safer and more sustainable trails. As our population and trail use grow, we must ensure that young riders, experienced mountain bikers, hikers and other users can enjoy the trails safely, while protecting the surrounding environment. I would welcome the opportunity to learn directly from the NSMBA, riders and other trail users about their priorities and concerns.

The North Shore has an exceptional trail network, but increasing use by mountain bikers, hikers, runners and other users is putting pressure on many trails. The issue is not simply the number of trails; it is whether the network has sufficient capacity, maintenance, safe connections, signage and appropriate separation of users. We should plan for current and future demand while protecting sensitive natural areas.

My first priority would be increased maintenance and rehabilitation of heavily used trails. However, maintenance alone may not provide enough capacity. I would also support evaluating new or improved trail connections where environmental studies demonstrate that they can be built responsibly.

Decisions should be based on trail-use data, environmental protection, safety, accessibility and consultation with the NSMBA, Indigenous Nations, other trail users and neighbouring land managers. Properly planned trails can also reduce unauthorized trail building and direct users away from sensitive areas. These measures are consistent with the District’s plans, which call for maintaining and expanding a safe and diverse trail system, protecting ecological integrity and continuing to work with the NSMBA and trail volunteers.

Yes. Trails are important public recreational infrastructure and require predictable maintenance to remain safe and environmentally sustainable. I would support responsible, long-term municipal funding based on clear work plans, measurable outcomes and transparent reporting. Municipal funding should complement volunteer contributions, memberships, sponsorships and available provincial or federal grants.

Yes. Trails are important public recreational infrastructure and require predictable maintenance to remain safe and environmentally sustainable. I would support responsible, long-term municipal funding based on clear work plans, measurable outcomes and transparent reporting. Municipal funding should complement volunteer contributions, memberships, sponsorships and available provincial or federal grants.

Our mountain trails are one of North Vancouver’s greatest assets. We need to protect them while ensuring that residents of different ages and abilities can continue to enjoy outdoor recreation safely.

As Mayor, I would support a practical partnership among the District, NSMBA, Indigenous Nations, environmental specialists and other trail users. My approach would be to maintain what we have, address overcrowding and conflicts, consider carefully planned additions where justified, protect sensitive ecosystems and report clearly on how public funds are being used.

I have a Trek Mountain bike, but am not a frequent cyclist. Growing up in Seymour I have ridden all of the older trails at some point. As a teen I would regularly transit Blueridge, the Rifle Range/Baden Powell, Deep Cove and even the old BMX oval east of Myrtle Park.

Yes, better than adequate, its fantastic. We do have to keep the expansion in balance with the needs of the environment, but I have been supportive of modest increases in the past.

Like most other sports, I expect the users to contribute the maintenance of the sport and while I know it is not practical to expect mountain biking to account for the capital as it has a very large footprint, Hockey, Golf, Skiing, Indoor Tennis and some baseball programs pay both the capital and operations.

I love biking everywhere. I don’t belong to any specific group. I encourage everyone to ride their bikes.

We need improvements. WE have awesome trails and we can do better

We need to improve the existing ones and also build new trails

Municipal funding is key, as regular users could also volunteer to keep our existing trails, in the end we all can help to improve, build and more to have incredible bike trails while respecting the environment.

We need to review the agreement

I grew up in DNV, attended Argyle High School, I am a local and I love my bike, I understand the needs and will do everything to meet them.

I have been a recreational mountain biker for 30 years and have enjoyed many trails on the North Shore, and in the Sea to Sky, Quebec and Germany. I also enjoy recreational road cycling, as well as hiking and trail running, ascending all of the North Shore’s peaks and many in the Sea to Sky and beyond. I have also been involved in hiking trail maintenance.

The North Shore has an excellent trail network, known regionally and internationally for its quality and variety. The challenge is the management of demand by various users and minimizing conflict. I am open to a conversation regarding how best to facilitate this and make some modifications, if necessary. There are some opportunities for growth of the trail network, both for hiking and biking. I envision a world class network of regional trails that would connect the entire Sea to Sky and North Shore along appropriate corridors, potentially including routes for hiking, road biking and mountain biking. Multiple funding partners and stakeholders would have to be involved, but the dialogue should begin now.

There is a need for new infrastructure, including strategic trail development, the upgrade of existing trails and new signage and amenities at trailheads. To reduce parking demand and car use, the potential for TransLink buses should be contemplated during peak periods on weekends in the summer (as they have done for the Tsawwassen ferry service)

I would like to work with the mountain bike community to determine how to access additional revenue streams from government, NGO and private sources for trail building and maintenance. This could include the potential for the municipality to be involved on a stable basis, as part of a larger effort to expand the economic benefits of mountain biking for local businesses.

I would continue this agreement with ongoing monitoring of costs and benefits to ensure the management of issues and the maximization of benefits, including attempts to broaden community benefits by facilitating use for new entrants to outdoor recreation.

I am a passionate outdoorsman and have made a commitment in my platform to create a healthy, active and connected community through sports, recreation and the arts. I would like to see all our residents – young and old, regardless of income – access our trails, parks and other facilities to build a sense of community and stay healthy.

I frequently cycle around my community and love taking my labrador on hikes around the North Shore.

We need to recognize that trail recreation is a growing movement, drawing both local residents as well as visitors from outside the North Shore. The trails deserve the care and funding we dedicate to other forms of recreation given the growing volume of riders.

Trail creation and maintenance is crucial to support mountain bikers. Overcrowded trails pose a safety risk to riders and that can be avoided through adequate municipal support.

North Vancouver differs from many municipalities: we enjoy some of the most beautiful Pacific coastal rainforests in the world. Municipalities need to support recreation in these green spaces: it’s good for the health of residents, bolsters connection to Nature, and supports our local economy.

I would seek to avoid building new trails, except in limited circumstances where the need can be clearly demonstrated.

Our trail network is a treasure for North Shore residents and visitors alike. Money spent by the Local Government on the trails is a good investment for our community and for our tourist economy.

I would be open to increased funding under the Trails Agreement.

I am grateful to the NSMBA for all of their work in advocacy on behalf of North Shore trails.

I live close to the Fromme trails and trail run on them occasionally. This year I started commuting to work by bike, and I’ve started riding some gravel. I don’t ride downhill myself, but I see firsthand the work that goes into these trails and the value they bring to the people who use them and to the North Shore.

Use is clearly up. You can see it on any weekend on Fromme and Seymour. These trails are a big part of what the North Shore is, and they should be a priority for the District. We’re known around the world for mountain biking, and staying world class means always looking for ways to improve and expand the network, not settling for what we have.

Well-built and well-maintained trails carry more people with less damage, so keeping what we have in good shape comes first. But use keeps growing, and we need new trails too. A big part of my campaign is making District permits and approvals work better for residents and businesses, and trails should be no different. Good proposals should get a clear and timely answer, and outstanding work should get done. Plans only matter if they deliver.

Trails are community infrastructure that people use every day. Funding them on a stable, multi-year basis lets the work be planned properly, and that’s usually cheaper than patching things year to year. With the budget pressures ahead, I’d want clear reporting on what the funding delivers so we can show residents it’s good value. From what I’ve seen, the partnership with NSMBA is a strong model to build on.

NSMBA brings skilled builders, volunteer hours and local knowledge that the District couldn’t match on its own for the same money. That’s an efficient use of public dollars and exactly the kind of partnership the District should keep. I’d support continuing it, with regular public reporting on the work delivered.

Our trails are shared by riders, hikers, runners and dog walkers, and they’re one of the best reasons to live here. I’ll support keeping them safe, well maintained and growing, and I’ll be straight with you about what the District can afford. If elected, my door is open to NSMBA and trail users.

I’m a frequent hiker and sometimes-cyclist. I grew up camping, hiking, fishing, and exploring this province and continue to spend as much time as possible in the trees. I’m passionate about protecting outdoor recreation spaces for human users, the wildlife we live alongside, and the environment.

I think a lot of tensions between different trail users come from insufficient and inadequate spaces for everyone who wants to spend time in the woods. Hikers get frustrated when mountain bikers are on hiking trails, mountain bikers get frustrated when hikers and runners are on mountain bike trails, and everyone gets frustrated when trails get busy and suffer from overuse. In my opinion, the solution is to expand networks. We need to make sure everyone has space and spread the impact of human use on the environment out so some trails aren’t simply loved to death.

I would also like to see more accessible and beginner-friendly trail development. For hiking specifically, there are a limited number of trails that are more accessible and trail degradation (water channels, erosion, etc.) becomes a more significant barrier for folks who need a more stable walking surface. I think it’s important that everyone has access to outdoor spaces.

I think both are necessary. New trail development is necessary to give all trail users space, but existing trails also need to be maintained so they can continue to be utilized well. We can build new trails, but we aren’t adding capacity overall if older trails degrade until they become unusable. We’re just pushing the problem somewhere else. We’re seeing more extreme weather events like atmospheric rivers and that probably isn’t going to change any time soon. It’s important to me that existing trails have adequate maintenance so we aren’t losing capacity over time.

Predictable and long-term funding makes projects so much easier for organizations. Trail maintenance is ongoing and future-facing so funding should reflect that.

I think this model works well and I want to see it continue. The people who use the trails know what they need and should have the tools to make it happen!

Spearheaded the lobby to protect 1000 acres lower slopes of Seymour to protect trails. Supported funding for NSMBA trail work

The impact is greatest in NVD, as the location is most convenient, I have long advocated to spread the impact more evenly across the North Shore.

We need to protect the environment, sometimes that means shifting the impact to allow mother nature to rest, we need a clear assessment of all impacts on trails, with a rating system to determine ability to absorb additional stress.

Quarry Rock, as an example, is one of the most impacted by hikers only, needing significant dollars to maintain it for future generations.

We need to maintain, while ensuring access, without impacting the environment beyond repair, other areas of the region also need to recognize their responsibility to the populations they are serving.

It’s been very successful, and I support it continuing.

We are so fortunate to have these jewels in our back yard, yet, the municipality has been remiss in the last 15 years in putting the natural environment first, focusing first on the built environment, and not understanding the impact to the forest. I hope we can continue to work together to protect these valuable, fragile areas and recognize that we can use them but we also need to make sure that they can remain sustainable for future generations.

Hello, yes through North Shore Safety Council – we promote walking and biking to school and Bike to School Week. I work with all the PACs in NVSD and WVSD to register for BTSW. We also host “Bike Rodeo” events at schools and at community events across the north shore. I also take part in other community events that promote biking for kids and adults.

I think it is – I would need to get more information from NSMBA on this and advocate accordingly

It is a very popular sport and interest has grown a lot over the years so definitely I am in favor of more being added to the trail network. The North Shore Bike Park installed at Capilano Mall was very popular and engaged a lot of young riders. It is sad it was moved to Maple Ridge now because a lot of time, effort and money went into building it.

I would ask staff for an assessment and review the environmental damage shared out and . I would recommend that maintenance be done first before any more trails are added to network.

I am in support of this

We have a natural playground in DNV – with responsible care, proper funding set aside and proper management – we can build more as this sport will continue to grow

I am in favour of continuing this agreement

I would be interested to see what other trails can be added to this agreement and continued partnership for this

The NSMBA does a lot of great work and promoting biking and active play is great for any age. Thank you for all your efforts.

I enjoy the North Shore trails for hiking and walks. I have skied Grouse Mtn., Seymour Mtn. and Cypress.

Now that we have become the backyard to Metro Vancouver our trails are constantly in use. I think we need to look at where new trails can be built for the benefit of all user groups.

Yes, increase the maintenance on existing trails to the same standard and build new trails.

Yes I support sustainable municipal funding. The DNV currently has a 3 year contract (2025 – 2027) for maintenance and negotiates separate agreements for specific projects.

Yes I would continue the maintenance agreement, within the DNV fiscal capabilities.

Mountain biking has been a big part of my life for almost 30 years. I started building and maintaining North Shore trails when I was 14 and served as president of the NSMBA from 2008 to 2013.

Working with a strong team, I helped create the Trail Adoption Plan, build the business case for sustainable District funding and develop partnerships with local businesses and government. We also created the “Trails for All, Trails Forever” mission.

I ride trails as much as a single dad of two young daughters can, which is about once a week. Most of my rides start from home in Lynn Creek Town Centre and I take the backyard trails up to either Fromme or Seymour, or do a quick loop in the LSCR. While previously serving on Council, I also brought forward motions to advance a safe, protected and connected bike network across the District.

While there have been more opportunities and flexibility around the restoration and renewal of existing trails, the expansion of the trail network has been limited, especially on lands under District management. While the District has adopted a Natural Areas Trails Strategy and expanded its maintenance agreement with the NSMBA to cover both Fromme and Seymour, the trail network has not expanded enough to keep pace with growing use.

There is still no clear path for getting a new trail approved. Even the trail expansion opportunities noted in the two-decade-old Fromme Trail Classification Plan, such as an Upper Bobsled, a connector from Dempsey Braemar to the top of Mountain Highway, or an expert-level jump line to Jerry Rig and Pink Starfish, have not been completed, despite several plans being presented by the NSMBA to the District.

I support accelerating the implementation of new trails and connections.

There are more users and more diverse ways of using the trails than ever before. We need a substantial investment in expanding the trail network to continue to provide world class trail experiences to those who live here, and those who move here specifically to be close to the trails.

Every study on recreation done over the past 20 years on the North Shore has put trails as the top priority for our residents. Yet the District only spends a fraction of the amount of money on trail infrastructure and maintenance that it does on other recreation facilities. I’m not sure I can name a sport as popular as mountain biking where the users of the trails contribute so much back into the construction and maintenance of the recreational asset.

The partnership between the District and the NSMBA is one of the more unique and innovative things in recreational sport. It brings together government, the community and business to provide a well-maintained recreational trail system while at the same time building a great, fun and connected community of trail users.

Funding levels should also be scaled to reflect the size of the total network under maintenance.

Absolutely. Cycling and trail use are a big part of my life. I’m a lifelong Lynn Valley resident and I’m an avid road cyclist and triathlete. These days I also spend a lot of time e-biking around the community with my young kids. I’m also a longtime trail runner and have been involved with the Kneeknacker North Shore Trail Run for many years. While I’m not a serious mountain biker myself, I spend a lot of time on our trails and have a real appreciation for how important the trail network is to the identity and quality of life of the North Shore.

We have an incredible trail network, but it is also experiencing increasing pressure. Our trails are one of the reasons many people choose to live in the District, and I believe we need to keep investing in them.

That means looking thoughtfully at opportunities to expand the trail network and create additional access points so that we can provide more opportunities for recreation while also taking some pressure off heavily used existing trails.

I don’t think these are mutually exclusive. We need to properly maintain and reinvest in the trails we already have, but I also believe we should be looking for appropriate opportunities to expand the network.

Adding well-planned, sustainable trails and access points can help distribute users across a larger network rather than continuing to concentrate increasing numbers of people on the same trails.

I support long-term municipal funding for both trail maintenance and, where appropriate, the development of new trails.

I also believe strongly in leveraging partnerships like the one we have with the NSMBA. The NSMBA brings tremendous expertise, volunteer capacity and connection to the trail community, and has taken on a significant amount of trail work that the District simply does not have the resources to undertake on its own.

I strongly support continuing the agreement. It has been an excellent partnership between the District and the NSMBA and is a great example of how local government and community organizations can work together. NSMBA provides expertise and capacity that complements the work of District staff, while helping us maintain safer, more sustainable and better-quality trails. I would like to see that partnership continue over the long term.

As a lifelong North Vancouver resident, outdoor recreation has always been an important part of my life and one of the things I value most about our community. I grew up spending time in our forests, parks and trails, and I have always enjoyed hiking in our local mountains.

I am also a strong supporter of cycling, active transportation and making it safer and easier for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the outdoors. I believe mountain biking is an important part of North Vancouver’s identity and outdoor culture, and that we can support recreation while also protecting the forests and natural areas that make the North Shore so special.

From my meeting with NSMBA’s President and Executive Director earlier this year, I have heard how the local trail network needs expansion, and I don’t believe simply maintaining the status quo will be adequate over the long term. We need to improve our trail network through building new trails for more advanced riders.

I support implementing the Natural Areas Trails Strategy, including improving trail quality and variety, addressing trailhead amenities and wayfinding, and planning for different recreational uses. Any expansion should be planned using environmental science and consultation with trail users, and organizations such as the NSMBA. Our objective should be a sustainable network that provides great recreational opportunities, and advances the sport of mountain biking in North Vancouver.

I support an expansion of the trail network to increase the number of intermediate and advanced trails.

Well-designed and maintained trails can help concentrate recreational use in appropriate areas, and provide better experiences for mountain bikers, hikers, trail runners and other users. Where new trails, connections or reroutes are considered, decisions should follow the Natural Areas Trails Strategy’s evaluation process.

I would also continue working closely with organizations such as the NSMBA, whose volunteers and trail builders bring considerable expertise and experience to maintaining a sustainable trail network.

Yes, our trails are important recreational infrastructure and should be treated accordingly. I support stable, responsible municipal funding for trail maintenance and trail expansion, while continuing to leverage partnerships, volunteer involvement and other funding sources.

Investing in properly maintained trails supports recreation and active lifestyles while also helping protect the surrounding environment.

Yes. I support continuing the District’s partnership with the NSMBA. The NSMBA contributes significant expertise, volunteer involvement and community stewardship to our trail system, and partnerships like this allow the District and trail users to work together toward a well-maintained and sustainable network.

I would also be open to strengthening and expanding this partnership where doing so supports the goals of the Natural Areas Trails Strategy and provides good value to DNV residents. Mountain biking is an important part of North Vancouver’s outdoor culture and economy, and I believe the people who know and use these trails should continue to have a meaningful role in their stewardship.

Overall I support sports and recreation in North Vancouver, including mountain biking. Mountain biking is a part of North Vancouver, and the DNV should be supporting its growth and development. I grew up in the Edgemont area, playing sports such as baseball, football, rugby, golf and tennis. I was not a mountain biker, but was a regular trail user; going hiking and walking my dog. I know how important access to sports and nature are for our community and will be an advocate for those values if elected to council.

I spent many years mountain biking on the North Shore, loved it and therefore support the expansion and maintenance of trails. Unfortunately, I stopped riding after a concussion left me with balance problems. However, at 65 I got an ebike and recently spearheaded the implementation of multi use pathways along Queens to make streets safer for Community centre users. I am a huge supporter of all types of outdoor recreation and responsible for opening 6 new pickleball courts in Delbrook and two more at Little Cates. I have strongly advocated for maintaining DNV funding commitments for artificial turf fields. I also support the implementation of Disc Golf playing areas.

No, its getting pretty crowded up there so we do need some expansion, with careful planning and sustainability in mind.

We know people come from all over the world to mountain bike and recreate on the North Shore. It boosts tourism and the local economy – and strengthens our reputation as an international destination – not to mention the positive health impacts! The numbers of people visiting here has risen dramatically since Covid and we expect that trend will continue.

So we need to expand the trail network. At the same time we must protect the environment and proactive about sustainable growth. Careful planning is needed to ensure the very thing that draws people here is still here generations from now.

I think we need to maintain existing trails and carefully and thoughtfully increase them