Long-time valley resident Barry Brown-John filed his nomination papers last Friday, making official his intention to run for mayor against two-term councillor Gerry Taft.

One of the original faces in the valley’s real estate industry and the developer of the small footprint Westside Park project, Brown-John said he brings experience, leadership and knowledge to the table.

Those three traits are among the issues he sees as pivotal in the Nov. 15 municipal election.

He also noted: “substantial movement towards the creation of affordable housing; transparency of, and communication by local government; researching the opportunities of uniting the east side areas of Windermere, Timber Ridge, Baltac, Terra Vista and Akiskinook with Invermere; building a sustainable and environmentally-aware community; seeking partnerships with senior governments and community groups to build a better community.”

Brown-John entered the valley's once stagnant real estate scene in the late 1980s after operating a small business, an experience where he "learned all was not quite as easy as it had appeared.

"It is a financial coincidence that we may be experiencing a similar meltdown at this time. I escaped bankruptcy but several hard years followed."

His introduction to the real estate world showed him "to a lesser degree, the ups and downs of the business cycles," he said.

Brown-John and his wife Patricia purchased Windermere Realty in 1991 and opened Rocky Mountain Realty in 1999.

Brown-John who has become a familiar face in the valley's business centre was a different creature from his earlier days in the valley.

See BROWN-JOHN on Page 6

He arrived in 1966, "rough, tough (young) and hard to bluff," fresh from the streets of Burnaby.

He worked as a logger and in construction and became known a bit farther afield for his contributions to the successes of the Invermere Selects, a senior league team that competed against clubs spread between Golden and Fernie. Brown-John's contributions would have made Reggie Dunlop proud. Old time hockey – "bloodbath Barry, the Burnaby brawler."

During the week, Brown-John drove a freight truck, making contact with local business owners delivering their goods.

"From this humble beginning I started Barry's Crane Service and ran through the great years of the late ë70s until the fateful early ë80s,î he recalled.

Brown-John continued to become more involved in the community during that time, as well, signing onto the Columbia Valley Rockies' board of directors, serving as president during their "glory years."

He fondly recalls "working with Eddie Mountain, Tom Renney and several up and coming hockey players including Jason Marshall (now playing in Europe and Shmiggy our mayor for the last nine? years."

Brown-John's passion for hockey even led him to the broadcast booth and to The Valley Echo.

"My friend Gordon Askey decided we should start broadcasting the Rockies games and along with Gordon and Marshall Davidson we did the first games of the KIJHL final from the Trail Cominco arena in 1987,î he recalled.

Entering the 1990s, Brown-John left behind his commitments to hockey as he became more involved in the real estate business.

"I became very involved in the political/governance side of the real estate industry and several volunteer organizations, WVMHA, Toby Benches Society, chamber of commerce, IBC and FBA. I served as an elected representative on the Kootenay Real Estate Board, chairing several committees before becoming president in 1996. From there I was elected to the Real Estate Council (the provincial regulatory body) and spent four years (two terms) there as member, where I chaired the Relicensing Education Program and sat as a member on several other committees," he outlined.

"I was appointed to the Real Estate Foundation in 2003 and have found this to be one of the most satisfying opportunities I have ever had the opportunity to be part of. We grant $5 million to $6 million a year to communities throughout the province for such things as an Abbeyfield home for second stage housing for abused women with children in Cranbrook. The project's aim is to help them recover from the pain of abuse. And during their healing period learn parenting, homemaking and life skills that can help them break the circle of violence. We also provided a grant for a housing study for Invermere, the Lake Windermere Project and the building of non-market and affordable housing in communities throughout the province. I was honoured to be elected chair of the foundation for 2007 and 2008 and continue to be a sitting member of the board of governors," Brown-John said.

In 2007 the Brown-Johns sold Rocky Mountain Realty, concentrating solely on the Westside Park project, located on the former Hollybow farm property.

"It was obvious in the early years of the new millennium that affordable housing was quickly becoming more and more of a challenge for the young people in our community. Westside Park was born and I believe in the 50 homes we have developed to date, 46 of them are owned by local people working, living and contributing to the growth and well being of our community. Pat and I are very proud of his. It was during this time that I began to learn a lot about local governance and the ins and outs of working with local government(s)," Brown-John said.

He remains active with the Real Estate Council and BCREA, sitting on several committees for these groups such as education, quality of life and government relations.

"I believe this background has prepared me for municipal governance in our community, for as the Code of Ethics of the Canadian Real Estate Association begins; Under all is the land. Upon its wise utilization and widely allocated ownership depend the survival and growth of free institutions and of our civilization. Through the REALTOR®, the land resource of the nation reaches its highest use and private land ownership its widest distribution. The REALTOR® is instrumental in molding the form of his or her community and the living and working conditions of its people. Such functions impose grave social responsibilities, which REALTOR® can meet only by diligent preparation, and considering it a civic duty to dedicate themselves to the fulfillment of REALTOR® obligations to society," Brown-John stated in an email to The Echo

"The Land Use knowledge I have gained, as a resident in the Valley for 42 years, volunteering on many committees, working as a realtor, land use consultant combined, with the 16 years of governance experience collaborating with others to make beneficial decisions has given me the background to lead our local government as it is poised to face the future.

“We have such a beautiful area in which to live that attracts tourists and retirees from Alberta and around the world. I believe many opportunities exist through collaboration and compromise to maintain and build upon the vibrancy and the beauty we possess,” he said.

Meanwhile, Brown-John's competition, Gerry's Gelati owner Gerry Taft, also filed his nomination papers Oct. 3.

“I am looking forward to the attention a mayoral race will bring on the significant issues facing Invermere and the key qualities I am putting forward as a candidate are experience, balance, and integrity,” Taft said.