Spencer Pierre

My name is Spencer Pierre. I grew up on the community on Barnston Island. My parents are Cyril Pierre and Brenda Pierre-Leon, and some of you who don’t know me may know my brothers Stuart, Burgess, Terrence and Trenton Pierre.

From a young age I’ve learned from my father and family to not only provide for my family but for my people as well. I have been fishing on the Fraser River since the age of 5, and at the age of 16 I was fishing on my own boat; I continue this day as a deckhand on the Buck Fever. I hunt seasonally for gatherings of the community and for the longhouse whenever I can. My wife is still waiting for me to bring something home, I say when there is enough I will bring my share home. We look after others first, before ourselves, is how we were raised.

I graduated from Fraser Heights Secondary with honours in 2001. There I met my wife Ashley and have been married since 2014. I have worked in the Security industry for 14 years and I am currently a Senior Security Guard and First Aid Attendant at the Vancouver Aquarium. I am also an Occupational First Aid Instructor with St. John Ambulance. My passion for looking after healing and taking care of people has led me into these industries.

As a chief I believe wholeheartedly that it’s a position of duty to the people, as their voice and to stand up for our people in our future challenges that lie ahead. The position should not be that of control, a boss, or power, but representation and conducting oneself in a respectable manner to all they encounter.

I strongly believe in maintaining and teaching our culture and traditions to not just our youth but to anyone who wishes to learn. The teachings of our elders are vital to our identity and their words are invaluable, not only at our gatherings but in terms of the progression and future of our nation. I have been involved in some of our past programs in revitalizing our hulquminum language and am an advocate in bringing it back with strength to the community before it is lost.

If elected my platform is not to overhaul what already exists, but to try and enhance certain areas that need updating or bring in new ideas to the table. There’s a lot to go over and review, but not a task that I did not realize that I was pursuing and am fully aware it will take great dedication and commitment to serve as best as I can, and will try nothing less.