I have always cared passionately for our parks and green spaces. Growing up in Vancouver was like growing up in a magical land, filled with green fields, tall trees, forests, sandy beaches and sunny days at the poolside. I want every child to be able to share this experience | Stuart
Born and raised in Vancouver, Stuart has lived and worked in rural and urban communities in Canada and overseas including, Malaysia, China, the James Bay region of northern Quebec, Victoria, Ottawa and Montreal. Stuart now lives in Vancouver's Fraserlands neighbourhood.
Stuart is active in parks and green space issues in Vancouver, with a focus on access, preservation and conservation. Stuart is a past president of the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC) and has been a volunteer with May's Place, a free-standing hospice on the downtown east side, the Mission to Seafarers in the port area, as well as a member of the Friends of the Parks and a past board member of the Hastings Park Conservancy . Stuart blogs on park and public space issues at Better Parks for Vancouver
Stuart is a Special Education teacher at Killarney Secondary School in Vancouver, where he founded the Killarney Dragon Boat Racing Club, coached field hockey, and sponsored the Ultimate team. Stuart graduated from the University of Victoria with a BA in Anthropology and Concordia University (Montreal) with a B.Ed in Teaching English as a Second Language. Stuart completed his MA Ed in Educational Administration and Leadership from the University of Phoenix in June 2010.
Stuart has been involved in his professional association, the Vancouver Secondary Teachers’ Association (VSTA), and has served as a member of the executive, a Local Representative to the BCTF and Vice President. Stuart served for many years as a board member of the BCTF Assistance Society including two terms as Chair. Stuart is active in the campaign for full funding of public education and is an advocate for students with special needs.
Stuart is a member of the China Canada Education Association and the Follow Dr. Norman Bethune to China organizing committee, as well as a Director of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee and the Axis Theatre Company. Stuart is an avid Dragon Boat racer and has paddled with Gung Haggis Fat Choy in False Creek and the Unipharm Spirit Dragons on the Fraser river.
In November 2008 Stuart was elected to the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation for the Green Party of Vancouver. He is currently the Commissioner liaison to Kensington, Renfrew and Thunderbird Community Centres and represents the Park Board as a Trustee of the Vancouver Public Library.