Question: How long have you lived in Burnaby?
Answer: I have been living in the provincial riding of Burnaby-Edmonds since July 2009 with my wife and five children. My children attend Burnaby South Secondary School and Suncrest Elementary School. The oldest is currently working at a Lower Mainland cancer research facility under a UBC co-op work team. We have enjoyed, since 1997, many picnics, walks, and bike rides in Central Park, and we continue to do so now, living in the south-slope neighbourhood. We also have been regular visitors to Ron McLean Park and the Bonsor recreational facility when we lived on Gilley Avenue. The people in the neighbourhood have been phenomenal with their kindness and have continuously reached out to include us in the community. A special thank you goes to Vicky Briggs, who has been our children's "adopted grandma" after noticing that our family had fallen victim to an ill-handled secondary suite and offered her help: thank you to Burnaby and Vicky.
Q: Why do you think you are uniquely qualified to represent the riding?
A: I am a counsellor for young adults, and my years of experience dealing with students in the education sector provide me with an extensive understanding of their aspirations and those of their parents. As one of the many fathers in this community, I just want what is best for our children. I am trained in business management, sociology and political science: the perfect combination for a candidate running for the people.
Q: What would be your own personal priority as an MLA?
A: I would like to see young adults in the province adequately prepared for their futures; as a high school counsellor in secondary schools and as an academic advisor in the post-secondary education sector for more than two decades, I want our children to have the best education we can give them so that they will prosper.
Q: What accomplishment in your life are you proudest of?
A: Despite the many obstacles I have faced since my arrival in Canada, I am very proud of my children, who, despite living a modest lifestyle, are excelling in their personal and professional lives.
Q: Who, in your life, has been a role model for you?
A: My role model is Dr. Jeffrey Ian Ross, a Canadian professor of criminology and public affairs who is currently teaching in the States.
I met Dr. Ross in 1988 when I was joint-chair of the Asian Students' Society in the University of Lethbridge, where I studied political science and business management. I took a number of higher-level political science, sociology and criminology courses after I met him in that university. Unlike other professors, Dr. Ross was a sympathizer of the international students' plight and was very supportive of those who left their home countries in search of new ideas to help drive change. Dr. Ross became the club's faculty advisor and helped many international students with their political careers at the University of Lethbridge, including my own.
