Mayor & Council - Council Bios

Trust and passion are two words that guide Dan's approach to life. The trust has allowed him to build strong relationships with friends, family, and the community. The passion has fueled over two decades of experience in marketing and communications.  Dan says he got the best job in the world when he was elected as Mayor of the City of Prince George in November of 2008.

The election as Mayor came after twelve years on City Council where he served the community from 1993-2005. Among other things Dan is Past President and Life Member of the North Central Local Government Association, a former Director with the Union of B.C. Municipalities, and the current Co-Chair of the Community Energy Association of BC.

Downtown redevelopment is one of Dan's top priorities and he currently chairs the Downtown Partnership. He is also a Director with the Regional District of Fraser Fort George and a member of the Board for the Northern Development Initiative Trust.  He currently sits as a member of the City's Finance & Audit committee, Canada Games Bid Committee, and he was the Chair of the Spirit of BC - Prince George Community Committee.

Dan likes to think long term and is a champion for the development of City's current sustainability plan, myPG that is setting the stage for the community for the next thirty to forty years.

As a Councillor, he Chaired Prince George's Aquatic Centre Building Committee, served as a member of the Prince George Multiplex Building Committee, and Co-Chaired 2001 National Health Summit in Prince George, and represented the Federation of Canadian Municipalities on the Five Star Community Awards Program in the mid 1990's.

A long time community volunteer, he Co-Chaired the 2007 National Junior "A" Hockey Championship in Prince George, was Chair of the City's Trails Task Force from 2005-2007 and has been a coach with youth soccer for a number of years.

Aside from his professional career, his passions include family, community and an occasional athletic pursuit.  He and his wife Linda have two young daughters.

Mayor Rogers can be contacted by email at mayor@city.pg.bc.ca

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Personal

• resident of the City of Prince George since 1967
• retired school administrator after 33 years with School District 57
• Bachelor of Education degree from UNiversity of Victoria and Masters degree from Simon Fraser University
• in addition to a keen interest in City Council and community matters, a good amount of time is spent gardening, fishing, hunting, cooking, volunteering and camping

Present Community Involvement

• fourth term on City Council
• second term on Regional District Board
• Director, Two Rivers Gallery
• Director, Prince George Community Foundation
• Director, Forest Expo
• appointee to Prince George Treat Advisory Committee
• Chair, Scott Tournament of Hearts Legacy Committee
• advisory member to UNBC Research Park Committee

Past Community Involvement

• Director, Regional Development Corporation (Initiatives Prince George)
• Director, Prince George Hospice Society
• Director, Prince George Senior Games Society
• Chair, Prince George Business Care Program
• Director, BC Summer Games, Prince George, 1990

Don can be contacted by email at bassermann@shaw.ca

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Council Activities

• Member, Finance and Audit Standing Committee
• Member, Policy Advisory Standing Committee
• Director, Fraser-Fort George Regional District
• Vice-chair, Cultural Services Advisory Committee
• Vice-Chair, BC Caucus, Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Background

Garth and his wife Sue have three young children who are just starting school, learning soccer, judo and swimming.  Garth speaks English and French, and enjoys public speaking, fireworks (Level I Supervisors Ticket) downhill skiing, karate, cycling, swimming and spending time with his family.

Garth has a Master’s degree in International Studies from UNBC.  His software and project management business, Terra Cognita Software Systems, continues to expand as an award-winning software company.  Terra Cognita is located on Third Avenue in downtown Prince George.

Volunteer Work

Garth was president of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce (2007-08), and sat on the BC Chamber of Commerce Policy Review Panel (2008, 2009).  He is a member of the BC Small Business Roundtable, which advises the Minister of Small Business (2008-2010).  He currently sits as vice-Chair of the Innovation Resource Centre (2007-10). He is currently on the board of the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society (2008-10).

Garth can be contacted by email at garthfrizzell@citynotice.ca

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Personal

Shari Green was born and raised in Prince George, graduated from PGSS and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from UBC. Shari is married, with one son, and spent several years living in Alberta and one year in Maine for her husband's work in the pulp industry. During that time, Shari worked in computer software support for the pulp and forest industries. In a move to self-employment and a total change of career, since 2004, Shari has co-owned and operated J.J. Springer & Company in downtown Prince George. Shari is Past-President of the Downtown Business Improvement Association and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

Shari can be contacted via email at greeninpg@shaw.ca.

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Past

• Intercultural Committee, City of Prince George, Chairperson
• UNBC Research Ethics Committee
• United Way of Prince George and District, Executive Director
• City Councillor, City of Prince George 1996 - 1999
• Prince George Community Planning Council, Chair of founding Board of Directors
• Prince George Community Foundation, Chair of founding Board of Directors
• Hate Activities Task Force, City of Prince George, Chairperson
• College of New Caledonia, Chairperson of Board of Governors
• Health Canada, Community Action Plan for Children, Committee Member
• Health Match BC - Advisory Committee Chairperson
• Prince George Citizen's Health Group - Co-Chair
• Community Advisory Committee to the Regional Health Board - Chairperson
• (National) Voluntary Sector Initiative - Awareness Table, Committee Member
• (Provincial) Remote and Rural Aboriginal Health Strategy, Committee Member

Current

• Executive of the North Central Municipal Association
• Vice-Chair of the Barkerville Heritage Trust
• Central Interior Native Health Society, Executive Director
• Communities Against the Sexual Exploitation of Youth, Chairperson
• Grief and Loss Support Centre - Advisory Committee
• City Councillor, City of Prince George

Awards and Citations

• Governor General of Canada - The Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada - for Service to Community, Compatriots and Canada 1867 - 1992
• Queens Golden Jubilee Medal - Awarded 2002
• Prince George Native Friendship Centre - Community Leadership - Awarded December 1999
• Prince George Violence Against Women in Relationships Committee - Certificate of Appreciation - Awarded April 1999
• Prince George's Citizen of the Year for 2000/2001

Murry can be contacted by email at: murry.krause@cinhs.org or through his website at: http://www.murrykrause.ca

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Debora Munoz was first elected to City Council in November, 2005. This is her second term on Council and she is honored to have the opportunity to continue to serve her community in this capacity. Debora is a long time advocate, facilitator and promoter of health and wellness in community. She is a health sciences professional who has spent the past twenty-eight years working as a Clinical Neurophysiology Technologist. Debora has held employment as a manager in both corporate and non-profit organizations and she previously owned and operated two Spanish Restaurants in downtown Prince George. Debora is the mother of three, two teens, Gala and Felipe and an adult daughter, Paris. Debora's interest in political work evolved from her commitment and extensive volunteer experiences at the grass roots, community level.

Past

Debora's past volunteer experiences in Prince George include direct community service and volunteer positions to promote and enhance individual and community health and well-being with:

• 2008 BC Seniors Games: Accredited Volunteer and Host
• 2007 RBC Royal Bank Cup: Accredited Volunteer and Host
• Chair, Prince George Health Advisory Board
• Co-Chair Regional Women’s Wellness Committee
• Prince George Sexual Assault Committee Member
• Instructor/Facilitator, Multi-Media Art and Art Therapy Programs
• Chair Citizen’s Coalition on Mountain Pine Beetle Infestation and Government Lobby  
• Coordinator/Organizer/Fundraiser, Regional Women’s Wellness Conference, UNBC
• National Health Network 2008, Co-author 'Boom, Bust and Beyond' Women's Perspective on the Mountain Pine Beetle
• College of New Caledonia~ Art and Cultural Diversity Tiled Mural
• Women's Health in Mid-life UNBC
• Prince George Public Library
• At risk Youth and Teens
• Community Against Sexual Exploitation of Youth (CASEY)
• College Heights Community Association
• Community Theatre
• A.C.E. (Activity Centre for Empowerment)
• City of Prince George 90th Anniversary Committee
• ForesTree Fest Committee Member   

 Awards

• Northern British Columbia Today's Woman : Leadership in Technology Award

 Recognition

• 2008, Nominee Healthier You Awards, Health Advocate of the Year
• 2007, Nominee Healthier You Awards, Technology Leadership & Health Advocate
• 2008 Nominee Healthy Air Symposium, Clean Air Award, Category Politician

Present

• Director Fraser Basin Council
• Director Regional District of Fraser- Fort George
• Director Resources North Association
• Community Partners Addressing Homelessness
• Canadian Federation of University Women, BC Chapter
• Prince George Treaty Advisory Committee
• Progress Prince George
• Beyond Homelessness Committee
• Northern Health Authority, Diagnostic Neurophysiology Technologist
• Member of British Columbia Health Sciences Association
• Member of British Columbia Community Theatre
• Alumna and member Canadian Women Voters Congress
• Appointee to Prince George and Region Performing Arts Centre Task Force
• Appointee to Asia Pacific Twinning Committee

Debora can be contacted via email at: deboramunoz@shaw.ca or on her website at http://www.deboramunoz.com

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Personal

Brian Skakun was elected to City Council in November, 2002 for his first term as Councillor. Brian has lived in Prince George for 42 years. He has spent his working career in the forest industry and is presently employed at Intercon Pulp as a Power Engineer. Brian spends a great deal of time out in the community helping groups and individuals address their local issues.

As a City Councillor, Brian feels it is important to not only represent the interests of the municipality but to also ensure his constituents interests are looked after. Brian feels he has a strong reputation for standing up for what is right and looks forward to serving the people of Prince George during his third term as a City Councillor.

Past

• Community Advisory Committee
• President local SPCA
• Co-Chair PG Pulp and Paper Safety Committee
• Prince George Toastmasters

Present

• Seniors Advocate
• RCMP Building Review Working Group Committee
• Governance Review Committee
• Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel
• Alternate Director Regional District of Fraser Fort George Member BC SPCA
• Member BC Waste Water Association

Brian can be contacted via:email: bskakun@telus.netphone:250 964 CITY (2489)

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