I was born in Dublin, Ireland to Anglo-Trinidadian parents and we immigrated to Vancouver when I was two years old. I’ve lived all over the city, but mostly the East End / Strathcona has been home.

I cut my creative teeth as a club kid in the 1980’s variously as a painter-illustrator, and as a server in nightclubs and late night restaurants. Later while attending SFU Arts and business courses, I ran a small publishing house and clothing import business while I worked at a type foundry and discovered the emerging world of computer design.

For over thirty years I was self-employed as a graphic artist variously owner operator of a print shop and eventually a creative communications firm, along the way working with hundreds of small businesses, arts organizations, and nonprofits. Deep community engagement brought me a sense of belonging and responsibility that gave me clients, collaborators, and neighbours, but a passion for social justice gave me purpose, leading me to volunteer my skills and time for AIDS relief, food security, animal welfare, cultural groups, and youth services.

I first got involved in local politics in 2006 as a representative of the City of Vancouver’s Dog Strategy Task Force (the report and recommendations from that task force was buried with a change in government but you can read it here). Later, after a good friend was killed as a pedestrian on a local street, I became an advocate for road safety and chair of the Strathcona Residents Association leading community response to land use and urban planning. I subsequently served as a community representative on the City of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside Local Area Plan.

I also served as a coordinator with Our Place at Ray-Cam Co-operative Community Centre developing and facilitating collective impact, placemaking, and land use strategies for vulnerable inner city families and youth, on the city’s Community Economic Development Strategic Action Committee and a founding member of the Hogan’s Alley Society.

Some of my personal triumphs as a City Councillor include introducing Vancouver’s first renter’s office, North America’s first ethical procurement policy to include animal welfare, and work to introduced by-laws and policies for reduced speed limits (30km/h on residential streets). I led on a number of animal welfare files including rehabilitation in dangerous dog legislation, wildlife feeding bylaws and pet rental bans, as well as delivering on a ban of the sale and discharge of consumer fireworks in the City.

As an elected City Councillor since 2018 I have variously held responsibilities as chair of the Auditor General Committee, on the board of the Metro Vancouver Regional District, Vancouver Public Library, and National Zero Waste Council. As a councillor liaison I’ve taken an active role with Arts and Culture , Renters, Urban Indigenous Peoples, Racial-Ethno, and Food Policy Advisory Committees as well and the Vancouver City Planning Commission.

For the last eight years I have served on the board of the Union of BC Municipalities, where for much of that time I have chaired the Resolutions Committee, working with local governments from around the province on policy advancement, across political and geographic lines.

Today, I still live in Strathcona with my wife, a dog, and two cats.