'Tis the season to make lists.
Every December, newspapers and magazines invariably put out their top (insert category here) lists. The most influential, the sexiest, the best-dressed.
Jim and I decided to jump on this bandwagon, so here's my list of the three most important Tri-City residents:
At number three, I choose Carol Todd, the mother of Amanda Todd, who took her own life in October 2012 after suffering from mental health issues and being the target of online sexual extortion and bullying.
Bullying - especially cyber-bullying - has become one of the most troubling issues affecting our children today. Over the past year, Carol Todd has become one of the most prominent anti-bullying advocates in the country. She helped launch the Snowflake walk, she has been interviewed by news outlets from coast to coast and, last month, was a guest of the federal government at its announcement of their new cyber-bullying bill.
Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart is my choice for second most important Tri-City resident.
I've had my disagreements with Mayor Stewart in the past (see Hotel-gate) but have always found him to be an effective mayor, a great communicator and an unrelenting advocate for Coquitlam and the Tri-Cities as a whole.
I think he's well-respected throughout Metro Vancouver and is often a go-to person for media who seek commentary about municipal issues.
Stewart was also once a BC Liberal MLA and if he still has ambitions beyond city council, I think there's a seat for him at a provincial cabinet table - and, dare I say, a federal cabinet table?
Speaking of federal politics, the Tri-Cities have one of the best federal politicians in the country: James Moore. The local Conservative MP is my pick for the most important Tri-City resident.
Last week, Maclean's magazine ranked Moore as its 14th most important Canadian - the highest ranked Conservative cabinet minister on the top 50 list.
As industry minister, Moore is a key player in the Stephen Harper government and has a great future ahead of him. At only 37, there are a lot of people out there who believe he's destined to one day be Conservative party leader and maybe even prime minister.
A PM from the Tri-Cities. Now wouldn't that be great?
