Background

We sent all candidates five written questions and asked them to submit written responses to us by October 1st. To see this candidate’s full answers to the questions on these issues, visit: https://thescca.ca/current-campaigns/2022-civic-elections/.

Bio

My name is Annemarie De Andrade. I’ve lived in Gibsons for the past 10 years and have many family members here. I love Gibsons and care deeply for this community.

I have over 20 years’ experience working with senior governments, First Nations, and the non-profit sector, developing multi-stakeholder partnerships, and implementing programs and projects to achieve environmental protection and sustainable community development.

I have a BSc. in Biology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, a MSc. in Natural Resources Management from the University of British Columbia and a certificate in Human Resources Management from Simon Fraser University.

I am running for RE ELECTION because I believe my experience will help the new Council continue the path towards a more sustainable future.

Climate change is real and it is affecting the world in unprecedented ways with extreme everything – weather, heat, flooding, drought, wildfires, ocean acidification, and habitat and biodiversity loss. Urban development has also carved deep scars into our landscapes, weakening the resilience of ecosystems and further exacerbating climate change impacts.

The good news is - with proper science, traditional knowledge and being friends with nature we can mitigate many of these impacts and even adapt to them.

The Town of Gibsons has taken this approach by making substantial investments in protecting and using the Town’s natural assets to deliver services such as stormwater and erosion control, water filtration and storage, climate regulation, recreation, among others.

This approach has benefited the Town both financially and environmentally. Our stormwater management costs have been drastically reduced with the use of natural stormwater ponds. Additionally, we have not run out of water neither flooded in the past years when neighbour municipalities have.

I have supported this work for the past 4 years and will continue to do if I am elected.