Council Members

Richard Walton, Chair

Richard Walton was elected Mayor of North Vancouver District in 2008 and again in 2011. He was also elected as Councillor in 2002 and School Trustee in 1986, 1988 and 1990. Currently he is in his 16th year of elected public service.

During his term as Mayor, Mr. Walton has also served on the Boards of the Municipal Finance Authority of BC and the Fraser Basin Council. He is serving on the Board of Indian Arm/Say Nuth Khaw Yum Provincial Park.

Mr. Walton has a BA from UBC, an MA in Education from Simon Fraser University, and is a member of both the British Columbia and Canadian Institutes of Chartered Accountants, having been in professional practice with Coopers & Lybrand in Vancouver.

He has served within the public school system as a humanities teacher and administrator, worked as an international tour guide specializing in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, and also served in senior management and ownership positions with a number of public and private companies.

In 2004 he and his wife co-founded and chaired the inaugural World Mountain Bike Conference held in Vancouver and in 1999 he chaired the BC Games for Athletes with a Disability.

Wayne Wright, Vice Chair

Wayne Wright was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, where he went on to graduate from the Windsor’s Teachers’ College, earning his permanent Teaching Certificate.

By 1969 he had relocated to the United States to work with one of the world’s leading food chains, and there, he instructed management trainees on all aspects of the business.

He was transferred to Sydney, Australia, where he continued teaching management skills.

Next, he moved to New Westminster in 1976 and assumed ownership of the Old World Fudge Company Ltd.

He has been involved with a number of community organizations including the Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Society, New Westminster Chamber of Commerce, Westminster Club, Simon Fraser Society for Community Living and other charitable groups.

He has been involved with a number of community organizations and in 2000, the entrepreneur organized the fundraising and building of the World’s Largest Tin Soldier with the Simon Fraser Society for Community Living. To complement that effort, he wrote and published a children’s book on the Tin Soldier with proceeds going to charity.

In 2000 Mayor Wright was named New Westminister Citizen of the Year, and in 2002, he was elected to the seat of mayor.

Other affiliations and involvement includes:

• Chair, New Westminster Police Board;
• Commissioner, Electrical Utility Commission;
• Metro Vancouver/TransLink director; committees include: Environment, Sustainable Region Initiative Task Force, Mayor’s Committee; and chair of the Housing Committee;
• Member of the Municipal Finance Authority;
• Premier’s Task Force on Homelessness, Mental Illness and Addictions.

Jack Adelaar

Jack has been a litigation lawyer in the city of Vancouver since 1972. He continues to practice law and was elected Mayor of Bowen Island Municipality in 2011. 

An appreciation of art has been, and continues to be, a major part of the Adelaars’ lives.  Over the years Jack has been closely involved with many arts organizations in the Lower Mainland including the Vancouver Art Gallery, Presentation House Gallery, The Western Front Society, Contemporary Art Gallery and The Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.

Jack is a proud member of the Bowen Island Golf Club.

Heather Anderson

Heather Anderson was elected Mayor through by-election on May 15, 2010. Prior to becoming Anmore's third Mayor, Heather served as a long-term Anmore Councillor from 1993 to 2008.

Heather's interest in the community was apparent long before being elected to Council. She served as a resident member of the Advisory Planning Commission and was a volunteer reporter for the Anmore Times newsletter. She also served as Chair of the Board of Variance until being elected Mayor in 2010.

During Heather's 15 years on Anmore Council, she served on numerous boards and committees including the Day Care Committee, Trustee for Sasamat Volunteer Fire Department, Anmore Youth & Community Services Society, and also served as Chair of the diverse Environment, Parks, Day Care, Protective Services, and Emergency Preparedness Council Committees.

In addition to being the Mayor of Anmore, Heather teaches at a secondary school in the Coquitlam School District.

Wayne Baldwin

Wayne Baldwin was elected Mayor of White Rock in 2011, continuing a life-long career of public service, which included serving as White Rock’s City Manager for 23 years, Deputy Engineer for the District of North Vancouver, and as a Major in the Canadian Army.

In addition to his extensive career experience, Wayne brings a solid background of education to the office of the Mayor. He holds three degrees: a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Engineering, and a Master of Business Administration.

Wayne was a  member of the Board of the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators and served a term as the Association’s National President.

Community involvement has always been important to Wayne. He is a Rotarian and past president of the White Rock Rotary Club, and a Paul Harris Fellow. Additionally, Wayne has served on the board of the Peace Arch Hospital and Community Health Foundation Board.

Wayne has also served as a soccer coach for eight years and as a community sports organizer. He is a member and former chairman and principal fundraiser for the South Surrey Fieldhouse Society and a former executive board member of the Peace Arch Soccer club.

Malcolm Brodie

Leading up to his position in the mayor’s seat, Malcolm Brodie was a practicing lawyer with a B. Comm. from the University of Britsh Columbia in 1973 and LLB in 1974.

He was elected to Richmond Council in 1996, and following a by-election, he was sworn in as mayor in Oct., 2001. He was re-elected as mayor in 2002 and again in 2005.

Mayor Brodie was appointed First Director to the Board of Directors of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (now Metro Vancouver) and he currently serves on MV’s Land Use & Transportation Committee, Finance Committee, and MV’s Mayors’ Committee.

He represents MV on the Municipal Finance Authority and is also the Director Representative to the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (TransLink). Jan. 2006, he was elected as the organization’s Chair.

For his long-standing commitment to community service, he has been honoured with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002, and the Canada 125 Medal in 1992.

Other affiliations and involvement, past and present, include:

• Director, Richmond Board of Health;
• Director, Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games Bid Committee;
• Chair of Richmond’s General Purposes Committee; member of the Finance Committee;
• Board member, Gateway Theatre;
• ‘ex officio’ member of the four standing committees of council;
• Fundraising director, Richmond Caring Place;
• Richmond Sunrise Rotary Club (named a Paul Harris Fellow); Richmond Sunset Rotary Club; Richmond Chinatown Lions Club;
• Honorary member of the Richmond Asiana Lions Club;
• Richmond Chamber of Commerce;
• Canadian Cancer Society (Richmond unit) past president, fundraising chair.

Brenda Broughton

Brenda first served as Mayor of the Village of Lions Bay 1993-2002 and was elected Mayor again in 2008 and 2011.

Brenda received a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University and completed her Masters in Counseling Psychology from the University of British Columbia.

Brenda is a pioneer in her approach to community based initiatives such as her role as creator and Charter Chair of the Howe Sound Community Forum. She served as Regional Transit Commissioner from 1997-1999.

For the last 10 years Brenda has owned the Lions Bay General Store & Cafe. She is also the President of Broughton Consulting Group.

Mike Clay

Mike was first elected to Port Moody City Council in 2005 and was re-elected in 2008, before being elected as Mayor in 2011. Over two terms on Council, Mike chaired various city committees, including: Transportation, Environmental Protection, Heritage, Finance, and Land Use, in addition to representing Council on many regional committees and Metro Vancouver.

Mike was born and currently lives in Moody Centre where his family has lived since 1935. He has been involved for the past 30+ years with the marine activities at Rocky Point Park and continues to spend much of his time in the park and the trails of Port Moody, often with his dog.

Mike has a background in computer programming and consulting, including owning a technology consulting company for the past 18 years. His particular areas of focus and strength in business have been in financial planning/accounting, including developing financial management software, and personnel management.

Derek Corrigan

Mayor Derek Corrigan has been a Burnaby resident since 1977. He was first elected to Burnaby City Council in 1987, serving as a Councillor for 15 years until his election as Mayor in 2002.

Married to his wife Kathy for 31 years, they have raised four children in our community, all attending Nelson Elementary and Burnaby South High School.

Mayor Corrigan has a law degree from the University of British Columbia, obtained after 3 years of undergraduate study in political science and philosophy. He was called to the B.C. Bar in 1978.

Over his lengthly political career, Mayor Derek Corrigan has served on many key committees at the local, regional and national levels. He also served as the Chair of B.C. Transit from 1994-1997 assuming responsibility for all transit system in B.C. Mayor Corrigan currently sits on the Mayor's Council on Regional Transportation.

At present, Mayor Derek Corrigan is an ex-officio member of all Council Committees. As a long-time Director of Metro Vancouver (GVRD), he currently serves as Chair of the Land Use and Transportation Committee, Vice Chair of the Water Committee, and is a member of the Mayor's Task Force, the Sustainable Region Initiative Task Force, the Intergovernmental Committee and the Port Cities Committee. Metro Vancouver has also appointed Mayor Corrigan as a representative to the international Centre for Sustainable Cities and an Alternate Representative to the Western Transportation Advisory Council (WESTAC). He is also an appointed Director of the Municipal Finance Authority.

Mayor Derek Corrigan has a very strong history of community involvement as a coach for Burnaby Metro Club and Bunaby Minor Lacrosse and team parent for Burnaby Minor Hockey. He is very privileged to serve as the Honourary Chair for Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion and was the Honourary Chair for the Empty Bowls Campaign in 2005 and 2007. The mayor is a member of the North Burnaby Lions and the Royal Canadian Legion. He is also an Honourary Member of the Edmonds Lions Club.

Mayor Derek Corrigan has been recognized as a recipient of the Canada 125 medal for Community Service. He has also received special recognition awards from the Siri Guru Ravidass Temple and the Arul Migu Thurkaderi Hindu Society B.C. for community service.

Mayor Corrigan continues his commitment to the International Mayors for Peace organization and received a special recognition award for his participation in the United Nations Nuclear Non-Prolifieration Conference.

Ernie Daykin

Ernie was first elected to Council in 2002 and served two terms (six years) as a Councillor before taking on the exciting challenge of his first term as Mayor in November 2008. He began his second term as Mayor in November 2011.

Ernie's roots in Maple Ridge are deep, with his great grand father Hampton arriving in the late 1870's and the Daykins arriving in 1915. Ernie has spend virtually his entire life in Maple Ridge, moving away briefly, and yet having the good sense to move back home. He has primarily been self employed in his working life, owning and operating a Windsor Plywood franchise in Maple Ridge with his wife Judy for 24 years. As well, Ernie worked for Baptist Housing both on a contract basis and as an employee providing affordable housing for seniors.

With four generations of family living in Maple Ridge, Ernie knows first hand the possibilities and challenges that are facing every stage of life…young families raising kids right through to dealing with aging senior parents. Ernie and Judy have two grown married children, Christine (married to Ryan) with two active grandsons and Michael (married to Dana) with a beautiful granddaughter. In his spare time Ernie fits in the odd round of golf and always has a good "Who Done It" on the go to read.

Ernie values teamwork and relationships and feels that both are necessary to move Maple Ridge towards being a community that will be the envy of many. "This Council will continue to achieve results through positive respectful working relationships. It is Maple Ridge's Time to Shine". He believes that the next three years will be exciting as staff and Council work together with the community to continue to build on past successes.

Ernie's Committee and Board roles are:

• Maple Ridge Economic Advisory Commission
• Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services Commission
• Maple Ridge Audit & Finance Committee
• Ridge Meadows Youth Justice Advocacy
• Pitt Meadows Regional Airport Society
• Metro Vancouver Board Member
• Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Affairs Committee
• Metro Vancouver Finance and Administration Committee
• Metro Vancouver Utilities Committee
• Metro Vancouver Intergovernmental Committee
• TransLink Mayors Council
• E-Comm Board of Directors

Ralph Drew

Ralph Drew has been active in municipal politics since he chaired the Village of Belcarra’s incorporation committee in 1979.

Following Belcarra’s incorporation referendum, he was appointed by the provincial government to Belcarra’s Inaugural Council Aug. 1979, and elected Alderman Nov. 1979.

He has been Mayor of Belcarra for 24 years (elected Dec. 1983) and has been on the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors for the past 26 years and is the longest serving MV Director.

Ralph is presently Chair of the Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee (LMTAC), and has served as Chair of that organization for the past five years.

During his time in politics, Mayor Drew’s professional career has been as Director of Technical Services for the Canadian Fishing Company from 1986 until 2006, when he opted to semi-retire.

As director of technical services, he was chair of the Industry Advisory Committee for the BCIT Fish Harvesting & Processing Program from 1991 to 1998, served three terms as chair of the Fisheries Council of British Columbia Technical Committee, and in 2004-2005 was president of the association of Pacific Fisheries Technologists.

He received two degrees from Simon Fraser University, Bachelor of Science (Honours Chemistry) in 1971, and a Masters of Science (Inorganic Chemistry) in 1973.

Other affiliations and involvement includes:

• 10 years as chemistry section supervisor of the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Fish Inspection Laboratory;
• Former quality assurance manager, Coca-Cola Bottling, Vancouver.

Peter Fassbender

Peter Fassbender was elected for the first time as a councillor to City of Langley Council in Nov. 2002 and then to the mayor’s seat in the Nov. 2005 civic elections.

In his business career, Mayor Fassbender worked in radio and television as well as a number of other communications fields.

In his last 29 years he was a partner and senior executive with DDB Canada (formerly Palmer Jarvis), one of Canada’s largest and most successful marketing and communications firms. In that capacity he dealt with both public and private sector clients with a global reach.

Several years ago, he helped establish the first Earth Day International Awards presented at UN Headquarters in New York and via satellite in Germany and Los Angeles. These awards were used to recognize international celebrities who had made significant contributions to the environment.

He is often sought out as a speaker on communication and social marketing issues.

Currently and during his tenure on council, he has served on most civic committees and boards as well as the boards of a number of provincial, national and international organizations.

Other affiliations and involvement includes:

• Chair, Fraser Valley Regional Library Board;
• Co- Chair, RCMP/Mayors Consultative Forum;
• Co-Chair, Fraser Health Municipal Advisory Council;
• Member, Metro Vancouver Land Use and Transportation Committee;
• Chair, Emergency Planning Committee;
• Chair, Police Advisory Committee;
• Chair, Social Planning Committee;
• Metro Vancouver Board Alternate;
• Former Trustee Langley School Board.

Jack Froese

Elected to office in 2011, Mayor Jack Froese is currently serving his first term as Township of Langley Mayor.

For 32 years, Mayor Jack Froese has lived, worked and raised a family in Langley. He is the successful owner of a family run business.

Through responsible, accountable leadership, Mayor Froese works in cooperation with Council, other elected officials, and members of the community to ensure the Township of Langley remains a thriving residential and business destination. With a vision for enhanced economic activity and job creation, improved transportation, and safe, well-serviced communities, he is dedicated to providing an exceptional quality of life for those who live and work in the Township, now and in the future.

Jack serves the community as:

• Director, METRO Board of Directors
• Member, GVRD Mayor’s Committee
• Member, Metro Region Finance Committee
• Member, Metro Regional Planning Committee
• Member, Metro Region, Agriculture Committee
• Member, Metro Region, Utilities Committee
• Member, Langley Citizens Committee for Criminal Justice Reform
• Vice-Chair, Langley Healthier Community Partnership Steering Council
• Member, Canadian Pacific Rail Community Advisory Panel

Jack owns and operates a turkey farm and turkey wholesale business with his family. Jack is also a retired Police Officer from the Vancouver Police Department.

Maria Harris

Maria Harris was elected in 2008 as the representative for Metro Vancouver Electoral Area ‘A’, a constituency that covers all parts of the Greater Vancouver Regional District that do not have a mayor and council. As such, she represents a number of small communities in rural parts of the region as well as the rapidly growing communities of the UBC area. 

A former economist at BC Hydro with degrees from UBC and abroad, Maria has lived on the University Endowment Lands (UEL) since 1999. She is a member of the Association of Professional Economists of BC and has taken part in numerous processes related to land-use and community planning, including serving on Metro Vancouver committees, consultation on the Coquitlam watershed and developing the UEL's Official Community Plan.

Maria also serves on the Boards of St. Mark’s and Corpus Christi Colleges, situated on UBC campus, and has been involved in a variety of volunteer activities with Vancouver’s homeless population.

Lois Jackson

She was first elected to serve the people on council in 1971, and since then, Lois Jackson has maintained her long-standing commitment to public service.

She won the mayor’s seat in 1999, and is currently the chair of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (now Metro Vancouver) Board of Directors and Chair of the MV’s Mayors’ Committee.

She also chairs MV’s Port Amalgamation Task Force, and is a director with MV’s Labour Relations Bureau.

Mayor Jackson is an elected representative for the Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee (LMTAC) and a representative for MV on the Western Transportation Advisory Committee.

During her tenure in public service, she’s been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the Union of British Columbia Municipalities Long Service Award in 2005.

She was honoured with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal in 2005, and in 1993, was awarded the 125th Anniversary of the Canadian Confederation Medal for outstanding contribution to community service.

Other affiliations and involvement includes:

• Chair, Delta Police Board;
• Chair, Delta Standing Committee on Agriculture;
• Chair, Delta Standing Committee on Finance;
• Chair, Delta Standing Committee on Tourism and Economic Development.

Craig Keating

Councillor Craig Keating has been appointed the permanent delegate representing the City of North Vancouver. Councillor Keating is serving his fifth term on City Council since being elected for the first time in 1999.

Councillor Keating holds a PhD in History from McMaster University and has taught history at the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University and Langara College. His work has also been published in journals in Canada, the United States and Europe.

An avid outdoor enthusiast, Councillor Keating enjoys hiking, jogging, skiing, camping and kayaking.

Greg Moore

Greg Moore is a lifelong resident of Port Coquitlam and is serving his second term as Mayor. Previously, he served two terms as a City Councillor from 2002-2008.

Greg’s past council committee appointments include Alternate Director, Metro Vancouver Board of Directors, Chair and Deputy Chair, Environmental Protection Committee, Council Liaison, Youth Advisory Committee and City Representative, School District #42 Municipal Liaison Committee.

Greg has earned a Masters of Business Administration (with emphasis in Digital Technology) from Royal Roads University and Bachelor Degree in Urban Geography/Planning from Simon Fraser University.

Gregor Robertson

Gregor Robertson was first elected Mayor of Vancouver in 2008.

Gregor is committed to building a sustainable and prosperous future for Vancouver. Prior to entering politics, Gregor co-founded Happy Planet, and grew the Vancouver-based socially responsible company up to 50 employees in 10 years. Happy Planet produces organic juices, promotes health and nutrition, and supports family farms and communities. Happy Planet received the Ethics in Action Award in 2004, and was awarded the Vancouver Mayor's Environmental Award for exemplary achievement in 2003. For his achievements as a successful entrepreneur and community leader, Gregor was named one of Canada’s “Top 40 under 40” by The Globe and Mail in 2004.

In 2005, Gregor was elected MLA for Vancouver–Fairview and served as the Opposition Critic for Advanced Education and the Critic for Small Business and Revenue.

Gregor has a long record of involvement in the community. He has served on a number of boards, working for sustainable farming and forestry, and to protect wild salmon. Through his business, he's helped support over a thousand community organizations and events, from the Food Bank to the Folk Festival.

Gregor is an ardent bike commuter, and in his spare moments he plays soccer, explores the great outdoors, and gets musical.

Michael Smith

Mayor Michael Smith was first elected to Council in 2005, re-elected in 2008 and was elected by acclamation (2011) to the Office of Mayor.

Michael previously served on the West Vancouver School Board from 1982-1990. He was Chairman of the Finance and Facilities Committees of the Board for all eight years and was Board Chairman in 1985-1986.

Michael has also served on the North Shore Union Board of Health, on several Municipal Committees and is an Honorary Director of the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation.

A West Vancouver resident for 50 years, he graduated from West Vancouver High School and the University of British Columbia. For the past 25 years Michael has owned and managed M.R. Smith Limited, the wholesale distributor for Imperial Oil and ExxonMobil in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. Prior to this, he worked as a territory manager for a major oil company and as an account executive for a national commercial lender. He has been a Director of several public and private companies involved in finance, newspapers, oil and gas exploration, and mining.

Richard Stewart

Before becoming Mayor, Richard was a City of Coquitlam Council member and private sector communications consultant specializing in government relations and consumer housing issues. He is bilingual (English and French) and has lived all his life in Coquitlam.

Richard studied economics and business administration at Simon Fraser University. From 1985 to 1994, he was publisher/editor of a trade magazine, was a building technical consultant, and a consultant in government relations, corporate communications and public relations.

From 1994 to 1998, Richard was the Director of Corporate Communications for BC's largest builder of single-family homes. He has also served as Chair of the National Housing Economic Research Council in Ottawa, and as President of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of British Columbia.

He was elected MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville in 2001 and was the appointed MLA Responsible for Francophone Affairs, member of the Government Caucus Committee on the Economy, and Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Education.

Richard was elected as Coquitlam City Councillor in 2005 and as Mayor in 2008, and currently sits as a director for Metro Vancouver. He has recently served as a director for the Lower Mainland Local Government Association and for the GVRD labour Relations Bureau.

Deb Walters

Deb Walters was first elected to Pitt Meadows Council in 2005. She served two terms as Councillor prior to being elected Mayor in 2011.

Deb has worked for School District #42, the Ministry of Tourism and Appraisals for BC Forest Service. She has also completed studies in accounting, marketing, communication, management, and leadership. She holds certificates in Hospitality & Tourism and Local Government Leadership.

Winner of the 2005 Pitt Meadows Citizen of the Year Award, Deb recognizes the spirit of volunteerism that is such a huge part of this community. She is a member of many volunteer committees and boards, including the Pitt Meadows Foundation and Pitt Meadows Day Society. She was also the Dry Grad Chair for Pitt Meadows Senior Secondary in 2003 and 2005, and has been a Club Statistician/Media Rep, Team Manager and Fundraiser Chairperson for many groups and organizations. She also served for four years as a delegate to The National Communities In Bloom Symposium, a program that dedicates itself to making communities better throughout Canada.

Dianne Watts

Dianne Watts is the first woman to be elected mayor of Surrey, British Columbia’s second largest city.

She was first elected mayor in 2005 after serving on Surrey City Council for nine years. Since taking the mayor’s seat, she has created multiple Mayor’s Task Forces to address key issues in Surrey. Among these is the Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety, whose efforts provided the foundation for the Surrey Crime Reduction Strategy. Other task forces include:

• 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games;
• Homelessness and Housing
• Health;
• Multiculturalism;
• Early Childhood Development and Literacy.

She has a strong background in the Surrey business community, as her family has owned and operated a manufacturing plant in the city for more than 30 years.

Mayor Watts currently sits as a director for Metro Vancouver and as a member of the Metro Vancouver Mayors’ Committee.

She has also represented Surrey on the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (Translink). Currently, she represents Surrey in the Big City Mayor’s Caucus of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Within this group, she is a member of the National Transit Strategy Committee, Public Safety Committee and the 1% Equivalence of the GST Committee.

Other affiliations and involvement includes:

• In 2001, Mayor Watts was honoured as the first elected official in the history of Surrey to become an Honorary Firefighter for her work with the Surrey Fire Service and Public Safety;
• In 2006, Mayor Watts received a further honour by being named an Honorary Fire Chief.

Bryce Williams

Chief Bryce Williams' Haida name is "Yaahl liwaans," which translates to "Big Raven." His mother is from Haida Gwaii and his father is a Coast Salish from Tsawwassen.

Chief Williams was elected Chief and Executive Council member for the Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN) Government on September 5, 2012. He became the youngest Member in TFN history to be elected to Government, when he was elected to the first Executive Council under Treaty in 2009. He built on that experience to become one of the youngest elected Chiefs of TFN at 23.

Chief Williams brings an important perspective to the TFN Government. The majority of the TFN population is under the age of 25 and one of Chief Williams's goals is to be a positive role model to youth through serving his community. He believes deeply in enhancing TFN's culture and heritage and is focused on ensuring that TFN continues its economic growth in order to create a more promising, stable and prosperous future for the Tsawwassen People.

Chief Williams is also a talented Haida artist—another in a family of many great artists, carvers, painters and weavers. After graduating high school, Chief Williams moved to Massett, BC, and started his apprentice under master carver Christian White. During his apprenticeship, he was encouraged to join his "Tluu Xaada Naay" dance group where he learned to drum and sing. Chief Williams is a past recipient of the YVR Art Foundation Scholarship through the Audain Foundation for the Visual Arts. He has also been named as one of South Delta's Top 30 under 30 in 2010.