My Name is Trevor McDonald and I love this community!

I grew up here.  Since 1977, I have called Chilliwack my home.   Central Elementary, CJSS, CSSS, I had many opportunities to leave but this place always felt like the place I should be...Home.   

 

Over those past 49 years I have gained a vast knowledge of this area, the people, the economic and physical ups and downs.  I've witnessed our residential and commercial growth, the population has almost tripled.  I have seen our downtown core at its worst and in the past few years...Its absolute brightest!  ​Through all of these years, I have never lost the love for our city or my passion to keep it moving in a positive direction. ​​

 

​Community leadership = Lead by example & Inspire.

For over 30 Years, I have been the team lead for some our communities largest events, Party in the Parks, Canada Day celebrations, the Village Classic Car Show and a most cherished Hello Goodbye Celebration, a three day event that welcomed thousands of people back home to our community to say goodbye to Chilliwack Senior Secondary.  Literally hundreds of events that have brought our community together promoting our non profits, families and our local business community. I have also been rewarded for it.  I have been recognized for my years of community service with a Paul Harris Fellowship, The Chamber of Commerce Stan Rogers Legacy Award, the Sardis Kiwanis Service award and King Charles III Coronation Medal for service to our community.

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Don​'t be afraid to pivot.

Looking after our non profit organizations has been a top priority for me.  I have worked with almost every organization in our city to raise funds for those in need.   ​​​​Not even Covid could slow us down!  During the Covid pandemic I was part of a team at the Chamber of Commerce who took on the task of funding our local non profits through a live stream give-athon.  I was on the air for 12 straight hours hosting a non stop virtual give-athon live stream during the Covid pandemic with a dedicated team of like minded folks raising money online for our local non-profit organizations.  When a challenge is presented, we pivot and succeed.

 

This proved true for me personally in 2021, the pandemic hit my entertainment company head on, but this opened up an opportunity to pivot.  I was asked to apply for the Executive Director position or the Downtown Chilliwack Business Improvement Association.  This...was a challenge.  Pivoting from self employment (and semi retirement), to working with 400+ businesses, a board of directors and our city council and staff.  I still kept my entertainment business, live shows and radio show active on the side but the challenge offered of being a part of the biggest downtown revitalization in our city's history while working alongside our many locally owned businesses to help revive our economy and our spirits, post-Covid...Challenge accepted!  I said I would stay for two years...Five and a half years ago!

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​The results speak for themselves.

 

The learning curve was steep but here we are, five years later, a vibrant, healthy downtown core fuelled by bold developers, filled with talented entrepreneurs, a steady flow of tourists, families and a downtown community thriving with new businesses.  This was a bold team effort but everyone showed up at the table and got the work done. 

 

There is more to do with our downtown, core, expanding these efforts west on Wellington Avenue and east on Yale Road, new infrastructure work in motion along Main Street and many other smaller projects on the way throughout our downtown but there is no doubt that we are moving in a positive direction.

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What I have learned...What I bring to City Council.

I have been fortunate to work with some great community and business leaders. Mentors who became friends and showed me businesses cannot survive and thrive without a healthy community to support them.

 

As Executive Director of the Downtown Chilliwack Business Improvement Association for the past five years, I have realized that the geographic area may be smaller, but many issues crossing my desk are very similar to issues facing city council.   Business attraction and retention, public safety, development, infrastructure, beautification, tourism, homelessness, parking, transportation, public spaces, property owners, budgets and questions of how we nurture healthy growth while maintaining the charm of our community.

 

​In this past five years, I have learned that economic development isn't simply about bringing a new company to town.  It's about taking care of the businesses that have stood the test of time.  It's about communication, understanding what employers need, reducing barriers and creating a community where people want to invest.  

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I've learned the importance of working with our partners.  Very little gets accomplished by one organization working alone.  I have spent years working with City council & staff, Our MP, MLA's, Chilliwack Economic Partners, RCMP, Griffin Security, Tourism Chilliwack, Chamber of Commerce, our businesses, developers, property owners, commercial agents and community organizations. 

 

I have sat on many diverse boards and committees including the Chilliwack Arts Council & Public Safety.  I have developed programs for our Downtown that work as pilot programs for our whole community. I continue to champion our incredible arts community and will continue to celebrate those fortunate people who have made talent their occupation but my main focus these days is on the growing safety issues in our community.  I have been working with the Province, City, RCMP, Griffin Security and other organizations almost daily on solutions to protect our businesses and our community long term. 

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I have worked with budgets and a board of directors, identifying priorities, getting the greatest value out of every dollar spent for our downtown businesses' continued success.  Even in my personal life, I want a dollars value out of a dime!  

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Above all, I understand fully that City Council is a much bigger responsibility affecting the entire community.  I also see a seat in City Council as a logical next step using the experience gained and the relationships I have built in our historic downtown to benefit our whole community.   

 

To my friends and voters in Rosedale, Greendale, Yarrow, Promontory, Ryder Lake, Vedder, Sardis and of course, the Northside where I live... If I am fortunate enough to earn your vote this October, the learning curve will once again be steep but I am ready to listen and act...Challenge accepted.  ​My name is Trevor McDonald, and I am running to be a city councillor.   Thank you for your consideration. 

 

On October 17th, #ROCKTHEVOTECHWK,

One vote does make a difference.​​