Larry Iwaskow for Mayor

2008 ELECTION IS OVER

VIEW ELECTION RESULTS HERE

NEWS STORY HERE

Larry Iwaskow has lived in Nanaimo since 1967. He has worked as a journeyman glazier and has been a member of I.B.P.A.T local 1527 for over 30 years. He has also worked as a Long-term Care-Aid at Malaspina Gardens (he is a member of the H.E.U.), green chain (I.W.A.), as a first-aid attendant, pizza cook, and fish processor. Larry resides on Protection Island in a house he designed and built in 1995. He lives with his wife Ruth and has 2 children, Edward (25) and Keana (18).

In the 2002 Municipal Election, candidates were asked to respond in 150 words or less to the question:

"Why do you want to be mayor?"

Mr. Iwaskow responded as follows:

"My knowledge and understanding of Nanaimo comes from my experiences as a working family man. I offer you straight talk, common sense, and a commitment to responsible financial behavior, based on a practical knowledge of Nanaimo. I wish to serve the people of Nanaimo. I want to energize the existing system with new hope... I want to promote and build a walkable, cyclable trail from Dodd's Narrows to Lantzville connecting people to ferries, planes and parks to regional transit. Propose and designate 15% of all rezoning DCC's to affordable housing. Establish an environmentally viable maintainable garbage solution and site. Resolve the downtown parking problem. I have the Perfect Parking Plan. Acceptable business and trade practices and standards may be good enough for some. I prefer the benchmark to be excellence in all my endeavors."

Larry's community activity in Nanaimo goes back to 1968 with the "City Plan" as a member of the Committee for the Advancement of Youth. At the same time he also volunteered at the crisis center. He has been a member of the Lions Club, Newcastle Island Steering Committee, Plan Nanaimo Steering Committee, and Nanaimo Traffic Safety Committee.

Larry was a Volunteer Firefighter and Training Officer with Nanaimo Fire Rescue Station #7 for 12 years. Larry is also a member of the Protection Island Ratepayers Association (PIRA), where he served as president for 4 years and secretary for 2 years.

Larry has also been involved in the Bathtub Races since 1969. He is the founder of the Spirit and Intent Bathtub Racing Team, which is the largest Bathtub Racing Team in the world. He raced for over 20 years, both his children have raced, and he continues to dedicate time and energy to the sport and the annual festival through volunteer work, parade participation and event organization.

My Views on the Issues of the 2008 Nanaimo Civic Election

"Common Sense, Courtesy and Respect are how I deal with all Issues."

• Plan Nanaimo-As a member of Plan Nanaimo Steering Committee, my reservations have proven true (i.e. 3^rd street connector). Plan Nanaimo is not a blanket re-zone of Nanaimo. The Plan is a base identifying probabilities and possibilities within the City of Nanaimo and responding to those affected. Most changes to current zoning are non-essential and market driven. Plan Nanaimo goals include pedestrian safety, cycle safety, street quieting, green spaces, public walks, walkable services, mixed uses and moving the dump.

• Garbage Pickup and Disposal- Garbage pick-up and disposal methods-loaded question! Present locations of dumpsites (the Nanaimo River estuary/somewhere on the mainland) are totally irresponsible. The solutions are: SEPARATE IT! Reduce, recycle, reuse, store, transport regionally by rail, spur to new sites. After observing the Japanese garbage pickup system in a residential neighborhood I believe there is a potential to adopt their system within the City of Nanaimo.

• Parking in Downtown Nanaimo- The Perfect Parking Plan (P.P.P)! All streets parking one-hour maximum in the commercial core and the meters should be removed. Commissioners at exits equipped with washrooms and phones should man Gordon Street and/or Bastion Street parkades. Fees in these lots are 1^st hour free and .50 cents an hour thereafter. A Perfect Parking Pass at $30-50 per month for city lots. City parking bylaw enforcement should revert to our Ambassadors to the World, the "Commissioners."

• Big Box Stores- As Nanaimo expands, current zoned property could be tolerated. I find them an eyesore (Big Box Stores) and some design could go a long way! I would rather support my local Co-op, Home Hardware and local small businesses.

• Gambling Revenue- Use gambling revenue to complete the seawall from Duke Point to Lantzville. Promote a seawall trail from Victoria to Comox. Help create the East Coast Trail, a world class destination.

• Leaky Condos- Buyers Beware. Building Inspectors for the City inspect for minimum requirements only. Developers, architects, designers, draftsmen and engineers design...some are better then others. There are many well-designed, beautiful condo projects of excellent quality, paying taxes and providing their owners joy.

• Sewage-Sewage requires secondary and tertiary treatment.

• On Transit- 15 minute service to main links on the core high density routes is possible.

• On Affordable Housing- 15% of all up zonings to be designated for affordable housing; reduce minimum footage on single family dwellings.

• On Homelessness- What do you do? I propose housing funded by private and provincial funds. In lieu of and as a temporary measure, utilize empty buildings from all levels of government. The mentally and physically disabled should be financially supported by provincial and federal agencies.

This information received by email from Mr. Iwaskow, 10/25/2008

Mr. Iwaskow is also a huge supporter of local music and art. In recent years he has become a well known promoter of local music: hosting the weekly open mic night at The Dinghy Dock pub, organizing musicians for entertainment during the Marine Festival Parade and Empire Days Parade, and hosting an annual local musicians music festival at the Port Theater. Larry believes that local arts and culture need to be supported and promoted, first within the community and then broadening to a national audience. He has worked hard over the past few years to promote the Nanaimo music industry and local artisans, in particular downtown music venues, such as the Port Theater, The Vault, The Queens and the Maffeo Sutton Park Band Shell. Larry is also a member of CHLY 101.7 and often performs and speaks live on air. His most recent interview on CHLY can be listened to HERE.

Larry Iwaskow was born and raised in Mill Bay before moving to Nanaimo when he was 12 years old. Larry Attended Barsby Junior High School and Nanaimo District Senior High School. He attended Pacific Vocational Institute (now BCIT) in Vancouver from 1976 to 1980, graduating with a certificate as a Journeyman Glazier. In 1999-2000, Larry attended Malaspina University-College (now Vancouver Island University), graduating from the nursing department with a certificate as a L.T.C.A./ R.C.A.

As a firefighter with Nanaimo Fire Rescue, Larry was certified by the Justice Institute of B.C. as a level 3 First Responder with AED and Defibrillator endorsements, as well as being a Certified Level 1 trainer with Nanaimo Fire Rescue Station 7. Larry also worked as an Industrial First Aid Attendant, WCB certified Level 3 on the Cameron Island High Rise development.

Larry Iwaskow has been involved in most of the major development projects on Vancouver Island over the last 30 years. Here is a brief list of some of the projects Mr. Iwaskow has worked on:

• The Empress Hotel Conference Center, Victoria BC.
• Malaspina University-College New Library, Nanaimo BC.
• The Coast Bastion Hotel and Conference Center, Nanaimo BC.
• The Port Theater, Nanaimo BC.
• Damsel's on Fitzwilliam in the Old City Quarter, Nanaimo BC.
• TreeSea Place (on Wallace Street), Nanaimo BC.
• Cameron Island Development, Nanaimo BC.
• Laurel Point Inn, Victoria BC.
• CFB Esquimalt Ship Repair unit, engineering building and new barracks, Victoria BC.
• Camosun College (Phase 1, 2 and 3), Victoria BC.
• Pacifica (old Malaspina Hotel- under construction), Nanaimo BC.
• Woodgrove Mall, Nanaimo BC.
• Smith's School of English Ohtsu, Japan

Want to know more?

Phone: (250) 754-1587

email: bathtub_parents@hotmail.com