Nick Akvenich is running for Burnaby city council as an independent:
(Nick Kvenich is also known as Nick Akvenich, the name that will appear on the municipal ballot.)
I am 61 years old, retired, and have been a Burnaby resident since 1980.
I am married to my wonderful wife, Yuriko. I have one great son, Nickolas.
I have diplomas in finance and industrial engineering (specializing in lean thinking).
I have participated in a number of community organizations, including Community Policing District 2. I am the founder and member of the Burnaby Optimist Club, member of the Eagle Creek Stream Keepers, I coached soccer for nine years with the Cliff Avenue club, have worked with SUCCESS assisting immigrants to adjust to Canadian life, I am on leave as director of the Seton Villa retirement community, and I am chair of the Christmas at the Overlynn Mansion fair.
I received a Local Hero Award in 1999 for my community work and have received recognition from the Burnaby RCMP, a Burnaby Optimist award, and the Macdonald Cartier award in 2002 for promoting democracy in Canada
My community philosophy is that we must always give more into our community than we receive. This builds a stronger community.
I am running to provide taxpayers with a balanced budget with a 0 per cent tax increase. The present councillors are not capable of doing this, so they should be replaced. The year upon year of tax hikes is a heavy burden on seniors.
I want to take a leading role in preventing the erosion of Burnaby Lake as a wildlife sanctuary. We are seeing it gradually change into a recreational lake. This year's dredging did not achieve the dredging the mouths of four creeks. It seemed to be on and off in the preplanning. Burnaby must do more in working with the Ministry of the Environment to achieve this end. Wildlife is continuing to suffer under the stagnate actions.
