After the Vancouver Sun published my OpEd this week which focused on the important need to link infrastructure investments with increased density, I was asked to appear on the Jill Bennett Show.
During the interview, Bennett and I discussed a number of issues pertaining to a ‘carrot’ and ‘stick’ approach when it comes to densifying cities. I spoke about how New Westminster is an older city with ageing infrastructure that already has a high level of density.
If you want to here the entire interview, click on the link below.
On October 15th, if you live in New Westminster, you will once again see the name Daniel Fontaine on the ballot. In 2018 I ran for the first time to secure one of six spots on council. After all the ballots were counted, I came in just shy of the 6th spot.
This year I’ve decided to throw my hat in the ring and run with New West Progressives (NWP) mayoral candidate Ken Armstrong and city council candidates Paul Minhas, Jiayi Li-McCarthy and Rick Folka (more candidates to come!!). The NWP has pulled together a great team and are working on developing a very progressive and fiscally prudent campaign platform that will be released later this year.
If elected to council, I want to assure voters that I will be interested in fixing our crumbling sidewalks and potholes, as much as I am in trying to tackle the affordable housing crisis, reduce crime and protect our environment. We have a very significant infrastructure deficit in New Westminster and we need a team at city hall who is interested in getting that resolved.
I’ll be writing more blog posts here over the coming months as the campaign gets in full swing, but for now I’ll share with you the news release that was issued by the NWP today.
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New Westminster (May 11, 2022): Mayoral candidate Ken Armstrong is pleased to announce that long-time New Westminster resident Daniel Fontaine will be seeking a seat on council with the New West Progressives this fall.
“It’s great to see someone with Daniel’s background, experience and commitment to New Westminster put his name forward once again to become a city councillor,” says Armstrong. “As an Indigenous person of Metis heritage, he brings a thoughtful perspective and understanding regarding how our city can better listen and engage with our residents, including those who have been historically marginalized.”
Fontaine was a council candidate in the 2018 civic election with the NWP. He garnered almost 5,300 votes and came in 7th place, falling just short of securing a seat on council. Fontaine has worked in senior roles for several high-profile non-profit organizations as well as the private sector. In 2015 he established Fontaine Consulting and he previously worked as a civic affairs columnist and radio commentator.
“I’m a resident of Quayside who lives in a dense urban area. That means I’ve got a front-row seat regarding some of the key challenges and opportunities associated with higher density,” says Fontaine. “I want to make sure that city hall doesn’t lose sight of the fact we need to address core issues like the poor state of our crumbling sidewalks, roads and infrastructure, as well as building affordable housing and reducing crime in our city.”
In March 2022 Fontaine was inducted into Canada’s Marketing, PR, Advertising and Communications Hall of Fame. In 2012 Fontaine was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for public service. He remains an active volunteer with the New Westminster Minor Hockey Association. In 2016 they presented him with the Volunteer of the Year award. Fontaine also was appointed by Mayor Cote to the Mayor’s Taskforce on Public Engagement.
The NWP announced earlier this year that Paul Minhas, Jiayi Li-McCarthy and Rick Folka will be running as city council candidates. Additional city council and school board candidates will be announced in the coming months. The civic election is taking place on October 15, 2022.
