IN a surprise move, the highly popular Lois Jackson, who’s been the Mayor of Delta for 19 years, has joined George Harvie’s ‘Achieving for Delta’ slate of Council candidates. That gives the slate a tremendous boost.
Topping the Delta polls since 1999, Jackson was first elected to council in 1973. She served as Chair of the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors from 2006 to 2011 and as a member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Standing Committee on International Relations. In 2015, Jackson was recognized by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities for her 35 years of public service.
“Every team needs a bridge between yesterday and tomorrow, someone who can help the transition from what has already been achieved to what’s possible for the future,” said Harvie, who served as Chief Administration Officer alongside Jackson for 17 years. “With her extensive record of delivering for the people of Delta, Mayor Jackson is that person — and I’m proud to welcome her to the Achieving for Delta team.”
Working with Jackson in his capacity as City Manager, Harvie’s record of achievement includes eliminating Delta’s debt while investing over $50 million on new recreational facilities, road improvements, new fire halls and an additional office for Delta Police. He also worked across government lines to secure funding for the bridge over the train tracks to Deltaport and transformed Boundary Bay Airport from being $2 million in arrears for taxes to providing over $2 million in taxes to Delta each year.
In 2012, Harvie moved to protect more than two thousand hectares of Burns Bog and achieved the goal of having it declared a Ramsar Wetlands of International Significance – an accomplishment Jackson remembers as one of her proudest.
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve as Delta’s mayor for the past 19 years, and a significant part of that experience has been working with George Harvie,” said Jackson. “Together, we’ve accomplished a lot for Delta – but there’s more work to be done, and as an experienced force for our city, he is the right person to lead that work.”
She added: “From keeping Delta debt-free with low taxes, to protecting our farmland, investing in our turf and track facilities, and pushing forward on the George Massey Tunnel Replacement, George’s vision for the future is one that inspires me to continue serving the people of Delta — and I’m looking forward to delivering even more results for our community under his leadership at City Hall.”
Jackson joins five council candidates on the ‘Achieving for Delta’ slate, including former Delta fire chief Dan Copeland, Param Grewal, Alicia Guichon, Dylan Kruger and Cal Traversy. Last week, Harvie announced Erica Beard, Daniel Boisvert, Jesse Dosanjh and Sujay Nazareth as candidates for school board.
The civic election falls on Saturday, October 20, with advanced voting opportunities on October 6, 10 and 11.