Ben Geselbracht
Website: www.bengeselbracht.ca
Facebook: Ben Geselbracht Nanaimo City Council
Twitter: @BenJGeselbracht
Are you associated with or running as part of a slate? If so, which one?
I am not running as a slate.
Do you live in the municipality where you are running, and if so, for how long? If not, what is your connection to that community?
I live in Nanaimo and was raised here. I look forward to raising my newborn child here as well.
What is your occupation, and for how long?
I have been a city councillor and regional district director for 4 years and am also a business owner of a tree service company that has run in Nanaimo for nine years. My past background was working in wildlife conservation and as a registered clinical councillor.
Tell us about your previous elected and/or community experience.
I have served one term as a Nanaimo City Councillor and Regional District Director. Im the current Chair of the Regional District Solid Waste Select Committee and work on variety of committees involved with the environment, transit, parks and open spaces and climate action. I have also served as a Director-at- large on the Union of BC Municipalities and am the current 1st Vice President of the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities.
Why are you running? What’s your motivation?
I’m running again because a well functioning local government is a critical piece in solving the big challenges we face as a community namely homelessness, affordable housing, community safety and climate change. When there is dysfunction and upheaval at city hall, nothing gets done. I’m proud in my last term our council has brought back strong governance. I’m running again to build on that foundation and realize the many goals we have set for a safe, thriving Nanaimo that is environmentally sustainable and full of opportunity for everyone.
What are your top three issues?
1. Homelessness and Housing affordability
2. Community Safety
3. Climate Change and Environmental Protection
What’s your vision for your community in 25 years?
My vision for Nanaimo in the next 25 years is a safe and thriving community that operates within the means of the natural environment and provides for the needs of our community members. This means a carbon neutral city, that creates no waste and can provide a roof over everyone’s head with ample opportunity for meaningful employment in a diversity of different sectors.
What’s one “big idea” you have for your community?
My big idea for our community is the same as last term and from my work before getting elected. It is to create a community where there is no waste. We have set an ambitious regional goal of diverting 90% of our waste from landfill. We now have two new “first in Canada” bylaws around mandatory source separation of organics and recyclables from waste for all sectors. These Bylaws are now waiting for provincial approval. With these bylaws and other innovative programs, we as a region are going to be much closer to our goal in this next term. I hope to continue furthering these efforts of the Nanaimo region in being a leader towards the zero-waste circular economy of the future.
