The Mission Record Thursday, May 9, 2013 23
BusinessTRACK Mission Chamber of Commerce
connect • influence • prosper
Meet the candidates for Abbotsford-Mission The Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce encourages community members to exercise their vote. To learn more about the candidates attend the All Candidates meeting being held May 9 in the ballroom of the Mission Best Western. The Maple Ridge-Mission riding forum will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. and the Abbotsford-Mission riding forum will be held from 8:15 to 10:15 p.m. Each candidate running in the two ridings servicing Mission provided the following information. Don Stahl, BC Conservatives Raised in Abbotsford, Don attended MEI (Mennonite Educational Institute) Secondary School. He received a diploma in environmental law enforcement from Vancouver Island University (formerly Malaspina College). For the past 15 years, Don has worked as a B.C. Conservation Officer. Before that he worked as a fishery officer with the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and spent several seasons as a back-country Park Ranger with BC Parks. Don has been politically active for many years, and on three occasions won election as VicePresident of the Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon Electoral District Asso-
which appears in 25 BC newspapers. He previously worked for Trinity Western University, Surrey Metro Savings and Finning Tractor. He has been married to Joy for 37 years and they have two daughters and two grandsons. Simon is a long distance runner and completed the Victoria and Seattle Marathons. In 2012 he also ran in the 55 km Run for Water Ultra Marathon.
Candidates for the Abbotsord-Mission riding are (clockwise from top left): Don Stahl, Simon Gibson, Preet Rai, Marcus Halliday, Aird Favelle, Wendy Bales, and Roman Bojczuk. Learn about each candidate and cast your vote on May 14.
ciation for the Conservative Party of Canada. He’s also a former Big Brother with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Fraser Valley. In his spare time Don enjoys attending church, jogging, fishing and travelling. Preet Rai, BC NDP A chartered accountant from India, Preet is employed as an auditor with the Ministry of Finance for the BC gov-
ernment. A resident of Abbotsford since 1995, Preet is married with three children. His wife Rapinder teaches kindergarten while two of his children attend university and the youngest is in Grade 10. Preet serves on many charitable organizations and has been a trustee with the Abbotsford School District since 2008. Preet believes in giving back to the community. He believes in hard
work and feels a strong commitment to be a proactive voice for change and for hope in the future. Preet is proud of the policies and direction of the NDP. He feels that an NDP government will listen and that we need a “change for the better”. Simon Gibson, BC Liberals Simon Gibson has lived in the AbbotsfordMission riding for 12 years and in the area since 1976. He has exten-
sive Abbotsford council experience and is chair of the Abbotsford-Mission Transit Committee and serves on the Fraser Valley Regional District He is a financial conservative and realizes that government – on all levels – needs to be efficient and sensitive to the needs of all people, especially seniors and young families. Simon teaches in the School of Business at UFV and also writes a weekly business column
Marcus Halliday, Excalibur Party I am 18 years old and have worked as a Flight Sergeant and instructor with the Air Cadet program, volunteered with the Salvation Army and numerous other charitable organizations, owned a small business, been part of the Mission Abbotsford Transit Committee and now work as a manager at Walmart. I will support small business as they are the backbone of a community. I will bring Rail Transit connections for the Fraser Valley, and, using our unique small business, encourage tourism from the USA. I will 'say no' to Waste Incineration, as the resulting pollution will damage our air and health, thus spreading disease and increasing SEE VOTE PAGE 2
Swing Optical...3 Distinctive Businesses in One Great Location FASHION EYEWEAR Proudly serving Mission for over 25 years. • Fashion Eyewear • Contact Lenses • Sunglasses • Fully Licensed Opticians • Sight Testing
EYE EXAM Dr. Lyndon Balisky, Optometrist • Laser consultation • Contact lens fitting
Book Your Eye Health Examination Today 604-820-1112
HEARING AIDS Kristoffer Goos Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioner.
On location Wednesdays
FREE Hearing Test. 604-557-9972 604.820.1112
www.mainlandhearing.com
Located inside Swing Optical
#2 - 33231 First Avenue • Downtown Mission • 604-820-1112 Monday - Friday 9:30 am to 6:00 pm • Saturday 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
w w w. m i s s i o n c h a m b e r. b c . c a
www.swingoptical.com