JARMO VENALAINEN - running for Mayor

I was born in a small town in Karelia, Finland.  When 9 years old, my father brought us to Canada for a two year job posting.  Two years passed by quickly and then another 46 more, during which time Canada became home and Finland a nice place to visit.  I first came to Tofino in the summer of 1976 and for the next 10 summers worked in the commercial salmon fishery.  The bulk of my working career up until 4 years ago, was in renewable solar energy systems travelling around a lot.  All along, ever since the very first time I set foot in Tla-o-quiaht Sound, it has held a special place in my heart.  Since 1976, I have come to Tofino virtually every year, at virtually every time of year.  I have seen the community change from logging and fishing, through forestry protests, into tourism, surfing and all else that it has become and now look forward to being its Mayor, should you so desire.

I’m running for mayor because, in the midst of settling down into our new lives here in Tofino, the actions and inactions of district governance have made us feel uncomfortable.  I don’t like that.  This is our home too.  When I looked into the reason why this should be so, I learned that we weren’t alone.  There were many others in Tofino who felt this way, a few of whom have now left. One thing which had not evolved and matured along with the growing and evolving community of Tofino, was that of governance at district hall.  This style of governance may have been appropriate for what Tofino used to be, but it is not helpful now. Tofino is much too mature to be treated in this way.  Tofino is much too diverse to be treated like this.  Tofino deserves more respect.  If you choose me as your mayor, things can be different.

He has been living in Tofino for 4 years and this would be his first term.