Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Our family business had a relationship with a local sportscaster for promotions.   Ken Dobson * , known as ‘The Dobber,’ became a dear friend who passed away much too soon. Montreal Canadian Larry Robinson Ken started his career in Montreal, and often spoke of his friendship with sports legends, so I immediately phoned him when we booked hockey great Larry Robinson for an autograph signing event at our store. Ken was ill then but his frail voice was excited and he said he’d stop by with his son and grandson.     When my father and I had lunch with Larry, before the event, I said that Ken would attend yet Larry seemed puzzled and asked that I point him out when he arrived.   So, when Ken approached with his family I whispered in Larry’s ear “that’s Ken Dobson, ‘the Dobber.’” When Larry Robinson interrupted his signing of autographs, got up from his chair and exclaimed “Ken Dobson, my goodness, how is ‘The Dobber’”, Ken’s smile momen...

I returned to the University of Victoria (UVic) while I was Mayor, and completed my Master’s Degree in 2002.   As I defended my thesis, I knew I had passed when the conversation turned with this question: ‘ so why didn’t you run with Gordon Campbell last year ?’   I frequently encountered this question and still do but it did make me chuckle to hear it in this serious academic setting.   My reply?   “ Well, I bought this tee shirt that said ‘to thine own self be true .’” I was a Saanich Councillor and Capital Regional District Chair in the early 1990’s, and was often working with Campbell while he was Vancouver Mayor and Greater Vancouver Regional District Chair.   I recall telling him that when he made the move to provincial politics that I’d go with him – even though I didn’t know which right of centre party he’d choose.   So, I was there as we built up BC Liberal constituencies and recruited candidates – and celebrated victory in May 1996, ...

Protocol?   Know Your Place So I was in this movie.    Yes, while Mayor I signed up as an extra in a movie to learn about the economic impact of the movie industry.   I spent a day of waiting for a scene and didn’t learn anything that I didn’t already know, but I satisfied my ego’s need to be able to say for the rest of my life ‘so I was in this movie.’ My scene was a parade to celebrate the dog becoming a duke.   Yes, the dog becomes a duke.   I’ve had a great deal of experience working my way to the front of parades, so that’s how the first take went.   The director was quite upset with me as no one was to be in front of the star – the dog – so for the second and final take I was back in the crowd applauding adoringly for ‘The Duke.’   I needed to know my role; know my place. It is ironic that politicians note the discipline within paramilitary bureaucracies when overseeing police and fire departments but don’t se...

Speak when you can improve upon silence ~~ Frank Leonard Legend has it that one day Saanich Mayor Hugh Curtis was asked what a particular member of Council contributed to the meetings – and he replied … “ about two hours ”.   I later served on Council with that individual and can verify Hugh’s assessment.   In fact, from time to time a Council or Regional Board will come across at least one person like this.   They want to always have the last word, they want to explain and show off their infinite knowledge, and they can never be persuaded that this isn’t to everyone’s benefit.   Thankfully, I’ve never run into this on a corporate board – this is something that possesses politicians. I’m not without sin here - not so much for lengthy oratories - but I did seek to get in a good one-liner on most nights.   In fact, since a high school chum also served on Council, we would practice our lines in advance and see who could make the paper. ...

It is a given that the Mayor represents the community .     To me this means the Mayor or Board Chair are in many ways an ambassador and this leads to many ribbon-cuttings and sod-turnings.   I also believe you have to take the good with the bad and that when something goes wrong, you have to step up and ‘take one for the team.’ When a road project went over budget or when a bridge took far too long to complete, I always felt I had to take responsibility and represent the municipality.  Perhaps not with too much enthusiasm, but I believed you can’t take credit when things go well but then point fingers when they don’t.  In the case of the Admirals Road bridge that took months longer than originally announced to complete, I was steaming inside and let staff know that I was extremely upset that the contract allowed this but publicly I agreed to the interviews and provided factually updates.  Nonetheless, I had no interest in a r...