Skip to content

Garrison moves from Saanich to Duncan

With 24 years of experience on other municipal councils, John B. Garrison believes he still has lots to give to the city of Duncan. Initially inspired by efforts to save parkland that the District of Saanich was going to turn into a subdivision, Garrison served as a councillor there from 1987 to 2002.

After a three-year break, he went on to serve on Central Saanich council from 2005 to this year. He also spent nine years as a regional director on the Capital Regional District board.

During his time on Central Saanich council, Garrison and his wife moved to Duncan, and now he's making a bid to join council here.

"I like to see what's going on and be part of the decision-making process," he explained. Garrison has economics, commerce and law degrees from UVic and UBC, and retired as a legal counsel for a Crown corporation in 2006.

In Garrison's experience, all municipal councils face some of the same issues, and he feels his time on other councils would be an asset. "They're all the same, but they're all different," he said. "You can get up to speed pretty quickly."

Having dealt with considerations of amalgamation on both the Saanich and Central Saanich councils Garrison is against the idea of joining Duncan to North Cowichan.

"Duncan would lose its identity," he said. "It would be just a little centre in a large area."

With amalgamation and realignment both on the ballot this election, Garrison will be happy, however, to consider how voters respond.

"I'm prepared to listen to arguments and see how the people of Duncan answer the question," he said.



Kevin Rothbauer

About the Author: Kevin Rothbauer

Kevin Rothbauer is the sports reporter for the Cowichan Valley Citizen
Read more