Trusted parliamentarian, successful tech entrepreneur and record holder in the subtle art of door knocking.
They may appear as disparate parts to the story at first blush, but they are all integral facets of the Terry Beech story just the same. It’s a story Beech hopes to continue writing after next year’s federal election and beyond.
As MP for Burnaby North-Seymour, Beech has proudly represented constituents across Burnaby and North Vancouver since first being elected in 2015. Perhaps Beech’s strongest suits are his people-first approach and disinterest in engaging in the uglier sides of public life.
“I’ve approached politics differently, placed partisanship aside and worked hard to build strong relationships with community members, leaders and elected officials from all parties and all levels of government so that our community has a loud voice and gets things accomplished,” Beech says.
Born in Comox and later settling in Nanaimo, Beech was elected as an independent councillor in the Hub City while still a teenager in 1999. He rode his bike across the city’s south end, employed unique methods of guerilla campaigning and door-knocked until he could knock no more.
“My experience on Nanaimo city council was one of the best experiences in my life,” Beech recalls. “One thing it truly demonstrated to me is that you can really make a difference with a single individual or an entire community through public service.”
Beech’s move to the Mainland saw him attend Capilano University and SFU before heading up HiretheWorld.com, an international community of professional web and graphic designers. As well as Twinbro, a non-profit organization that’s helped more than 25,000 students obtain millions of dollars in scholarships and financial aid.
His work in Ottawa since 2015 has seen Beech lauded across the board:
- Voted Hardest working MP in Canada out of 338 MPs - Hill Times
- Voted Best Constituency MP in Canada for 2023 and 2024 - Hill Times
- Best MP to Work for in Canada 2024 - Hill Times
- Top 40 under 40 – Business in Vancouver
In Beech’s current ministerial role, he is focused on dental, digital initiatives and customer service. Beech played a key role in overseeing the rollout of one the largest initiatives in recent history, which is delivering dental care to nine million Canadians.
Beech is also working to transform the way Canadians not only receive services and benefits, but how they interact with the federal government. This includes streamlining processes such as obtaining a passport, decoupling complex data and systems and making access to government services easy and intuitive for all. The part he might be most proud of however is using technology and process improvements to significantly reduce the cost of government service provision.
“We’re giving people the service relationship with the government that they want and making sure people don’t have to wait on hold or stand in line,” Beech says.
Beech also proudly touts the Liberal’s record on making life more affordable, improving health care and fighting climate change while growing the economy.
“Everyone in our community who asks for a face-to-face meeting with me gets one, and I’ve kept that promise for more than a decade,” Beech says.
Terry lives in the riding with his wife, Ravi and their two young daughters Nova and Solar. Terry describes Ravi as “the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.” They first met at Simon Fraser University 20 years ago. They have been dating for 19 years and have been married for just over 11 years. Ravi is an entrepreneur and community organizer. She manufactures bathtubs and sinks at Valley Bath and Kitchen and enjoys yoga, dance and healthy living.
To learn more about Terry's initiatives, vision and how you can get involved, visit terrybeechmp.ca
