Burnaby school board trustee Ryan Stewart is looking to take his political career to a different level, launching campaign for a spot on Burnaby city council.
Stewart is a trustee with the Burnaby Citizens Association (BCA) political party and he would need to win a nomination to run for council. The BCA will hold its nomination meeting on Sunday, March 27 at 2 p.m. Online voting ends on Wednesday, March 30 at 5 p.m., Stewart told the NOW.
If Stewart does win the nomination, the move could still be risky. Baljinder Narang was a school trustee who ran for a seat on council with the BCA four years ago, but just lost out.
“I'll be actively reaching out to party members,” Stewart told the NOW.
I mean, there's not a lot of not a lot of time left in the contest, but making connections with members new and old. And I'm certainly taking nothing for granted.
“I'm confident it'll have a high level of name recognition and hopefully we'll be able to secure enough support to be on the ticket. If I don't, BCA has my full support. Regardless, I'll be looking to help elect councillors and school trustees whether I'm on the ticket or not.”
The BCA currently has four members on council, including Alison Gu (elected in the 2021 byelection), James Wang Sav Dhaliwal and Pietro Calendino. Couns. Colleen Jordan and Dan Johnston quit the party and are sitting as independents.
Stewart said his campaign will focus on climate change, fighting discrimination on racism and transphobia, advancing reconciliation with First Nations, and supporting the community of Burnaby with high-quality public services.
Stewart works as a negotiator for the Burnaby-based B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) and lives on Burnaby Mountain.
“Within my lifetime, hard-working people could afford a secure home here,” Stewart said. “But more and more people are being squeezed out. Let’s create the conditions in Burnaby for regular people, and not just the very rich, to build and live good lives. Collaboration with other governments and our community partners will be key.”
Stewart committed to championing the city’s 10-year housing and homelessness strategy adopted late last year, and voiced support for considering land value capture as an innovative funding mechanism for non-market housing.
