About the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District
The Sounder has published a transcript of the seven questions asked at the All Candidates Meeting with the answers each candidate gave: Gabriola Talks holds all candidates meeting for GFPID board nominees.
Candidate Liz Wallinger was unable to attend the meeting, but "the Sounder extended the opportunity for her to answer the questions via email" and the article appends her answers at the end.
Tell us about your skills and experience.
I bring a unique skillset with progressive experience in operational and financial oversight. I am a geologist by training and began my career managing mineral exploration programs in Canada’s North. After broadening my experience and obtaining an MBA, I have spent the past decade in senior financial leadership roles, including Vice President Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Director, and Audit Committee Chair for both private and publicly listed companies. I am also a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) in British Columbia. From 2020–2022, I served with the Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department. My professional roles have required strong leadership and collaboration, including managing and working with diverse groups. I am a team player who thrives in complex operational environments and excels at bringing people together, even in challenging or contentious situations.
Why should I vote for you?
While progress has been made in recent years to increase transparency and accountability to Gabriola taxpayers, I believe there is still more work to be done. I will bring strong financial oversight and leadership grounded in sound governance which will support effective operations, streamline board meetings, and ultimately help Gabriolans feel confident that the GFPID is delivering high-quality fire protection services at a reasonable cost. In the current economic climate, it is more important than ever that the GFPID maintains strong financial oversight to ensure that a clear business case supports the use of taxpayer dollars. I also want to acknowledge the dedication of the volunteer firefighters who serve Gabriola. I intend to support them to ensure they have the resources they need to protect our community, as this should always remain central to the Board’s work.
Learn more
Website: lizwallinger.ca
Email: use the contact form on the website
Meet and greets: —
For all candidates, we recommend that those interested in their campaign
Tell us about your skills and experience.
My wife and I have been residents and home owners on Gabriola since 2000.
I have a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the University of Victoria, with a Major in Biology. After university, I worked for Fisheries & Oceans Canada, doing a variety of stock assessment related jobs. After injuring my back, I left DFO, and became a partner in Slow Rise Bakery.
I helped grow and run Slow Rise for 10 years, and decided it was time for a change. I then started working at the Gabriola Branch of Coastal Community Credit Union. I’ve been with Coastal for 10 years, and I recently became Assistant Manager at the Gabriola Branch.
Shortly after my eldest daughter was born in 2003, I joined the Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department. I was a member of the GVFD for 16 years. In that time, I served in a number of roles, including: frontline firefighter, first responder, Lieutenant, Captain of the South Hall, first responder instructor, fire service instructor, Fire Inspector, and FireSmart Community Representative.
My time with the credit union has provided me with experience in HR management, professional development, performance reviews, committees, meetings, and collaboration. I strongly believe that accountability, transparency, integrity, and honesty are traits that the GFPID should strive to model, and I’m willing to put in the work to help do that. The GVFD and it’s members are very important to Gabriola, and they deserve the best support possible.
I’m looking forward to being able to help support the GVFD and Gabriola once again, as a Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District Trustee.
Why should I vote for you?
If you are looking for leadership that moves beyond the status quo, then cast a vote for me. I will do my best to help the Board implement good governance principles, model them, and improve the culture within the GFPID and the GVFD. The Board should act with integrity and accountability. Gabriolans should be able to trust the decisions of the Board.
The GFPID has slowly started to move towards policies, processes, and procedures that are standard in the modern world of government and governance. I believe that the Board needs Trustees who are willing to go beyond the status quo, create policies that will improve the culture and performance of the GFPID and GVFD, and ensure honest, transparent governance.
I welcome respectful discussion. Please see my website at dimitritz.ca for more information, and to contact me directly.
Thank you for your support.
Learn more
Website: dimitritz.ca
Email: use contact form on website
Meet and greets: —
For all candidates, we recommend that those interested in their campaign
(UPDATED on April 18th.) Here's the information we have on each candidate and how to engage with them. Candidates may choose different ways to communicate within our community, so these points of contact will not necessarily be relevant to all of them. (We have reached out to all candidates, and will post information about each candidate if and when it is provided to us or made public.)
UPDATE April 29th: the Sounder has published the transcript of the All Candidates Meeting, with 7 questions and the answers from all attending candidates. Candidate Liz Wallinger could not be at that meeting, but her answers, sent by email, are appended.
...continue reading "How to find out more about the candidates"