Who is Richard Walton?
Incumbent Mayor Richard Walton was elected Mayor in November 2005 after previously completing three years as a Councillor and seven years as a School Trustee. He is a chartered accountant and businessman, and a former humanities teacher in the public school system. Having lived on Vancouver’s North Shore for most of his life, he and his family currently reside in the Upper Capilano area. Richard bikes, walks and runs frequently in the forested areas surrounding our community and also wilderness backpacks, golfs, kayaks, skis and plays organized hockey at Ice Sports.
Why is he running for re-election as Mayor?
Simply put, this community has been very good to him and his family and he wishes it to see it continue as the most livable region within the most livable city in the world.. He and his children, now young adults, continue to benefit from the quality of life North Vancouver offers. This is Richard’s sixth time seeking office to serve the public institutions that sustain the healthy lifestyle we enjoy. Public service is the cornerstone of democracy and Richard has served the community as teacher, coach, volunteer, school trustee, director, councillor and most recently as its Mayor.
What strengths does Richard bring to the position of Mayor?
Financial Acumen
Richard is a chartered accountant and experienced CFO. He has over 20 years of business leadership experience in challenging environments, has the necessary skills to be deeply involved with the financial aspects of the District’s operations, and the knows how to communicate the complex financial issues to the public. He currently serves on the District’s Finance and Audit Committee.
Strategic Planning Focus
Richard is a creative thinker skilled at long-range planning. His work has long required that he envision and execute strategic planning that encompasses a variety of issues and interests. Having operated and managed businesses in different sectors, and having held both elected and appointed offices, his experience enables him to work closely with Council to generate broad-based solutions to problems the District faces. Key accomplishments of Council in the past three years include:
- the Lynn Valley Town Centre Phase One Community Consultation
- Lynnmour Community Plan
- Lower Lynnmour Conceptual Plan
- Alpine Plan
Consensus-Builder
Richard brings people together through a combination of patience, humour and solid understanding and appreciation of differing perspectives. In 2005 North Vancouver District elected an independent thinking Council, and is unencumbered with political parties and special interest groups. Successful governance involves the forging of creative relationships and fostering collaborative approaches within Council, community groups, businesses and other local governments.
Lifelong Learner
Richard places a high emphasis on ongoing professional development and learning. A regular reader of the Globe & Mail, the Economist and the New York Times, he believes that to develop effective and responsive public policy, leaders must be engaged with what is occurring within their communities, regions and the world. He holds a B.A. in the humanities from U.B.C. and an M.A. in Education from S.F.U. He worked for seven years as a tour guide in Europe and has travelled extensively. Within the two years he has spent time in China, Sweden, the U.S. and Scotland, meeting with local government leaders and learning about different approaches to local waste and energy, housing, sustainable development practices, land practices and trail building. He also represents B.C. on two national municipal committees advising on municipal finance, transportation, and infrastructure, and also serves on the Fraser Basin Council for the Metro Vancouver region.
What experience will Richard bring to the Mayor's chair?
Experience in Elected Office
- Mayor(2005 to present)
- Councillor (2002-2005)
- School Trustee (1986-1993)
Current Professional Memberships
- Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of B.C.
- B.C. College of Teachers
Current Directorships
- British Columbia Municipal Finance Authority, Director (2008)
- Metro Vancouver, Director (2004, 2006-2008)
- Fraser Basin Council, Director (2007-2008)
- Say Nuth Khaw Yum Heritage /Indian Arm Provincial Park, Director (2008)
- North Shore Coho Festival, Director (2003-2008)
- World Mountain Bike Conference, Director (2003-2005, 2008)
Current Regional and National Subcommittees
- Translink Mayors
- North Vancouver Policing, Co-chair
- Metro Vancouver Port Cities, Chair
- Metro Vancouver Mayors
- Metro Vancouver Environment
- Metro Vancouver Parks
- Metro Vancouver Intergovernmental
- Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Municipal Finance & Intergovernmental Arrangements
- FCM, Municipal Infrastructure and Transportation Policy
Workshops and Fundraisers Initiated in 2008
- May 25, 2008 Inaugural North Shore Mayors’ Golf Tournament raised $125,000 through North Shore Community Foundation; recipient benefactor North Shore Homeless Shelter
- May 7, 2008 “Local Government and Energy” one day workshop
Presentations to District Council and the Metro Vancouver Environment and Energy Committee
- Swedish Eco-community Network
- The Natural Step
- Integrated Waste Management
Business Experience
- CFO and Senior Financial Executive - learning technology sector
- Project Management - public/private partnership (P3) for a private foundation building a performing arts centre
- CFO - manufacturing, construction, technology, retail and e-learning sectors
- President/CFO - video retail sector
- Chartered Accountant - PricewaterhouseCoopers
Community Leadership Experience
- Director, Greater Vancouver Regional District
- Finance Committee, Greater Vancouver Regional District
- Chair, North Vancouver District Advisory Planning Commission
- Commissioner, North Vancouver Arts Commission
- Commissioner, North Vancouver Recreation Commission
- Founding Director and Chair, North Shore World Mountain Bike Conference and Festival
- President, 1999 B.C. Games for Athletes with a Disability
- Chair, 2006 B.C. Summer Games Bid Committee