I have deep roots in this community
I’ve lived in North Vancouver since 1970. I left after high school to go to university but returned soon after to raise my own family and have lived here ever since.
My relatives were involved in the early settlement of North Vancouver which began in the late 1800s. They named many of the streets in the City after places around Liverpool in the UK where they were from. My grandfather, Oliver Heywood, immigrated from England in the 1920s to be farmer in Abbotsford which is where my father lived until he left to join the RCMP when he turned 18.
Education
After attending Sutherland and Argyle high schools I attended UBC for two years and then completed a Bachelors in Political Studies at Queens University in Ontario. After working for several years I went back to get an MBA from the Sauder School of Business at UBC. Later on in my career, I obtained my accounting designation, CPA,CGA.
Work
My first job was with the BC Resources Investment Corporation, more commonly known as ‘BCRIC’. I worked in the head office as well as in a variety of roles in the mining and forestry divisions.
After my MBA I worked for several major banks as a currency trader, corporate lender, a currency trader and in general management. I was the VP Finance and Treasurer of a large public company, a shareholder in a startup venture in renewable energy and I now work as a consultant for companies needing help with their banking and finance requirements.
Family
I raised my two sons and stepdaughter here in North Vancouver. My wife and I live near Grand Boulevard with Tula the dog and Taz the cat.
My father, former Councillor Bob Heywood, was CO of the North Van RCMP detachment and well known in the community for his work with the North Vancouver Museum and Archives. His wife Peggy volunteered for the North Vancouver Community Arts Council and is a successful artist (you can see her work at margaretheywood.ca). They lived on Victoria Park for over twenty years before moving to Penticton earlier this year.
My remaining family in North Vancouver is my brother Greg and his wife Vesta. They raised three daughters here and show no signs of moving in the near future.
Elected Office & Community Service
I was elected as a Trustee and Chair of the North Vancouver School District for three terms that ended in 2001. I was elected to North Vancouver City Council in 2008 and again in 2011. I didn’t run for re-election in 2014.
In between my time on School Board and City Council, I served on the North Vancouver Recreation Commission which provides recreation programming and manages all of the community recreation facilities located in the City and District.
I’ve also been involved in a wide range of non-profit community organizations. I was an early volunteer and director at the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. I’ve been on the boards of the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, the North Vancouver Arts Council and North Shore Neighbourhood House, which is also where I’ve been a volunteer during tax season doing tax returns for low income residents for the past three years.