Strengthening our Pillars of Success

We have added additional EA's and extended their hours; invested our four consecutive budget surplus dollars back into the classroom; our school district's BEAM program has trained over 20 new EA's who have all entered the system ready to support today's students; by the end of 2026 we will have our second group of EA's graduating; we have just added $1.75 million dollars to support our strategic plan in this area.

TBA

...recognizing a changing world

Brand-new schools are coming to Ladysmith, along with numerous upgrades and expansions at Wellington Secondary, Cilaire Elementary, and Chase River Elementary. We have added accessible washrooms in several schools, secure bike racks, new signage and traffic safety demarkation, and we no longer purchase portables-- our own students and staff in the trades program build them in the form of learning studios. With over 480+ new seemless childcare spaces in our district, we are adding hundreds more. NDSS is at the very top of our facilities list, pending provincial funding.

...forward into a new future

Mark is honoured to have vice-chaired our school district’s former race relations committee whose initial roots with such initiatives as the Cultural Mosiac project led way to what we now see being realized with the Syeyutsus Framework policy. Along with the new co-governing agreement between Snuneymuxw First Nation and Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public Schools at Qwam Qwum Stuwixwulh, these first steps into the reconciliation process are only the beginning and Mark is unequivocal in his commitment to moving forward with the next steps into a new future.

...protecting what we have for future generations

Our schools are award-winning leaders in environmental sustainability. We have invested millions of dollars in electrifying our buses and vehicles—19 in total—which has reduced our greenhouse-gas emissions by 39% while also saving significant operating costs on fuel. Beyond our Active Transportation model, students particiapte in Eco Clubs throughout the district, leading the way in improving sustainability and demonstrating leadership at the student level.

Mark is honoured to live, work, and play on the traditional and historic lands of the Snuneymuxw, Snaw-Na-Was and Stz’uminus First Nations people. As a single parent of three daughters, Mark is raising two young children who attend Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public Schools, while his eldest daughter is a graduate of our district and has since built a nest of her own.

For eight years prior to being elected to the school board, Mark was enthusiastically active in our school district as a member of his children's Parent Advisory Council (PAC), president of the PAC, and representative on the District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC). Mark has also served on the board of directors for Volunteer Nanaimo and the Nanaimo Family Court Committee, chaired the Canada Day Society's fundraising committee, served as vice-chair of the school district's Race Relations Committee, and was appointed to the Nanaimo Culture and Heritage Commission.

Over the last four years on the school board, Mark has served on numerous committees, including the Business Committee, which he chaired. He currently serves as co-chair of the district's Strategic Directions Committee and chairs the Long Range Facilities Planning Committee.

Some of Mark's notable achievements during his first term as a school trustee include visiting each and every school in our district, publishing public trustee reports every two months, maintained the lowest trustee expenses, and initiating the current Student Voice program in our district.

Professionally, Mark is an essential worker with NACL (Nanaimo Association for Community Living), where he works as a frontline community support worker and trainer.

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