|
| Affiliation | New Democratic |
|
| Name | Diane Thorne |
| Address |
Coquitlam, British Columbia , Canada |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
Unknown
|
| Contributor | Monsieur |
| Last Modifed | Monsieur
May 10, 2009 06:37pm |
| Tags |
|
| Info | Diane Thorne has served on Coquitlam council since 1996, bringing considerable experience in business and social services to the political arena.
As an experienced business woman, Diane understands the challenges faced by small business owners. During their 38-year marriage, Diane and Neil have owned and operated several businesses including three Big O Tire stores. She has consistently supported lowering the annual business tax increase in Coquitlam and is an advocate for the community's emerging Business Improvement Associations and the growing tourism industry. Balanced budgets and social responsibility are priorities for her. Diane has demonstrated the ability to remain accountable for a large municipal budget while pushing for improved community services, particularly in the areas of youth, environment, arts and recreation. Long committed to community advocacy, in 1993 Diane received the BC Distinguished Service to Families Award and in 1992 the Canada 125 medal. She was a founding member of the PoCoMo Youth Services Society, the Family Life Educators of BC and the Fraser Burrard Restorative Justice Society.
Diane studied liberal arts at several community colleges and Simon Fraser University. She taught Sunday school in Newfoundland, where she was born, and in Port Moody at the St. Johns Anglican Church. She and Neil have lived locally for 32 years, where their adult sons, Jay and Lee, graduated from Coquitlam public schools.
As a city councilor, Diane has consistently voted to provide housing and services for people with mental illnesses while protecting the Riverview Hospital grounds and arboretum as a heritage site. She supports the recently completed Riverview Task Force report which recommends many viable initiatives including art, culture and business venues.
As a city councilor, Diane served on the Greater Vancouver Regional District board of directors from 2001 to 2003. She initiated councilor's request to the provincial government (which was rejected) to consider spending some of its budget surplus to resurrect SkyTrain to Coquitlam Centre. She was the respected chair of the city's first Environmental Protection Committee which recommended many initiatives that eventually came to fruition including the development of a Coquitlam River Corridor Strategy, the Coquitlam River Aggregate Task Force and a land trust that is now part of the Coquitlam Foundation. Diane supports high density and other planning principles that prevent urban sprawl. She instigated walking spaces for dogs off leash in Coquitlam and added a strong voice opposing the closure of St. Mary's Hospital in New Westminster.
Diane has chaired numerous council committees including: Livable Communities; Leisure, Parks and Cultural Services; Community Capital Fund; Gender Equity; Community Liaison; and the Committee for People with Disabilities. She co-chaired Coquitlam's Parks Master Planning Task Force and has served on the Growth Management, Corporate and Protective Services, Infrastructure Management, Joint Family Court and Youth Justice committees, as well as the GVRD Labour Relations Board. Diane chaired the city's Public Art Task Force and was a member of the boards of Evergreen Cultural Centre and Place des Arts. Diane also chaired the city's Millenium committee which developed a popular community public art project at Evergreen Cultural Centre involving District 43 school children.
Diane was a past director of the Simon Fraser Regional Health Board, Coquitlam/Moody Minor Baseball treasurer, director of Westminster Community Legal Services and a Coquitlam Montessori Society director. When SUCCESS opened its office in Coquitlam, Diane, with SHARE, started the area's first multi-cultural parenting courses.
|
 | BOOKS |
 |
|
| Title |
Purchase |
Contributor |
|
| Start Date |
End Date |
Type |
Title |
Contributor |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
| INFORMATION LINKS |
|
|
|
