For your Independent Voice

Making a difference starts with listening

In 1984, Albert, a stranger from North Vancouver, changed the course of Shervin’s life. At the time, Shervin was a teenage newcomer to Canada, struggling to find work and gain admission to college. The two met when Albert offered him a ride while Shervin was hitchhiking during the summer-long bus strike. That chance encounter and Albert’s kindness led to a life-changing college admission, his first job, and it set Shervin on a career path that would ultimately prepare him to serve on City Council.

 

“It all started with Albert taking the time to listen to me and stand up for what he felt was the right thing to do. Ever since, I have tried to live my life by listening to people, understanding what matters to them, and making a positive difference in their lives,” says Shervin.

 

A background in education and career that serves the role of Councillor

After earning his Bachelor of Science and Executive MBA degrees from Simon Fraser University, Shervin built a successful career in business, technology, and leadership, including as Senior Manager of Technology Planning at TransLink. He later pursued his passion for teaching by becoming a faculty lecturer at Langara College’s School of Management, teaching project management and a range of business courses.

 

Alongside his full-time professional career, Shervin devoted decades to serving the North Vancouver community. He mentored local teenagers through Family Services of the North Shore, served on the North Vancouver Museum and Archives Commission, including two years as Chair, and authored the frequently cited local history book North Vancouver’s Lonsdale Neighbourhood. He later chaired the North Vancouver City Library Board for five years, and co-organized a Lions Gate Hospital Foundation fundraiser that helped increase cultural safety for Indigenous elders and families while bringing Indigenous art to a North Vancouver long-term care facility. In 2022, Shervin was elected to his first term on City of North Vancouver Council.

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A love of North Vancouver

“I love North Vancouver. Our city is a wonderful place to live, and being named Canada’s most livable city for two years in a row is something we can all be proud of. But we cannot take that for granted,” says Shervin. “Growth should strengthen our city, not diminish what makes it special, and everyone should share in North Vancouver’s exceptional quality of life. During my first four years on Council, I listened to the community first, thought independently, and stood with residents to preserve what makes North Vancouver special.”

 

“My approach on Council has been to consider every issue on its own merits. I voted independently, based on the facts before me, and on what I heard from the community. Those principles shaped the way I approached my work throughout my first term on Council.

 

I supported projects that strengthen our community, including North Shore Neighbourhood House Phase 2, with its respite centre and housing for people who work here; the completion of the Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre and Silver Harbour Seniors’ Activity centre project, which were already underway when I was elected; new parks and public spaces; improvements to the Shipyards, the library, and the museum; and upgrades to the Mickey McDougall Community Recreation Centre, the new home of Flicka Gymnastics.

 

Beyond these projects, I successfully championed initiatives to enhance pedestrian safety and walkability, improve accessibility for lowincome people with disabilities across the North Shore, encourage the retention of mature trees, and encourage vibrancy at the street level by managing the proliferation of money service businesses.

 

I also advocated for safe, practical and accessible active transportation improvements, rapid transit, traffic flow and adequate parking, the preservation of heritage buildings, 30-minute free parking, continued investment in core infrastructure and public assets, and the responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. I also raised concerns at Council and publicly about the escalating costs of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant project, its disproportionate financial impact on North Shore taxpayers, and strongly supported calls for an independent public inquiry.

 

Balance in supporting, opposing and creating policy

Just as importantly, I opposed proposals when, after listening to the community, I believed they were not in our community’s best interests or when there had not been adequate public consultation. I opposed the Harbour Swimming Deck proposal, seven-day-a-week pay parking from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., aspects of the St. Andrews bike lane design, the closure of sections of West Grand Boulevard, and elements of the Lonsdale Great Street project that required greater clarity and public consultation. I also voted against resolutions related to development proposals when I believed they did not adequately address parking, tenant displacement or when whe I believed the loss of mature trees or a heritage building could have been avoided.

 

Looking ahead, I will continue to push for practical measures that support responsible growth and preserve the qualities that make North Vancouver such an exceptional place to live. My platform will build on the same principles that have guided my work on Council over the past four years,” says Shervin.