A new political party has emerged on the scene in Burnaby: One Burnaby.
The party has an emphasis on public safety, community cleanliness and the expansion of TransLink services, including the SFU gondola.
Half the slate has ties to the federal Liberal party.
Mike Hillman, incumbent independent councillor elected in 2021, leads the party with his experience on the city's public safety committee, parcel tax roll review panel and the Metro Vancouver task force on flood resiliency.
"With our RCMP, they need not only a new building, a safer building ... but they also need some support from Fraser Health to have a comprehensive approach to mental health issues," Hillman said in One Burnaby's campaign video.
Part of the party's work will consider how to tweak zoning on single-family lots to allow for multigenerational families to plan for long-term living in Burnaby, according to One Burnaby's campaign manager Kit Sauder.
Hillman in particular has thrown his support behind laneway housing as a means to accommodate multigenerational living.
Other candidates include Mona Grewal, owner of an interior design business with a diploma from BCIT.
Financial auditor and designated CPA Brea Huang Sami joins One Burnaby with ten years of experience in firms like KPMG and DMCL. She ran for the federal Burnaby South riding with the Liberals in 2021.
Mario Miceli, executive director of Il Centro Italian Cultural Centre, brings business administration and executive experience to One Burnaby. Miceli worked at ICBC for about 20 years in a variety of positions including director of strategic development and director of business transformation.
Richard N. Liu was Canada's team attaché at the 2008 Paralympic Games, and a Canada team official at the 2022 Winter Games. Liu sits on Burnaby's Heritage Commission and the Barkerville Heritage Trust.
Richard T. Lee, former Liberal Party North Burnaby MLA and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, previously worked at UBC'S mathematics department and TRIUMF lab, a particle research facility as a programmer analyst.
"The goal is really to try and build a broad centrist coalition that's welcoming to anyone across the spectrum," Sauder said.
The party supports incumbent independent Mayor Mike Hurley.
Local elections in B.C. will be held on Oct. 15 this year.
