Trent Derrick is looking for real change at city hall.
Derrick is taking his third run at a spot in local government, having previously run for council in 2008 and mayor in 2005.
Raised in Prince George, but with short stints in other cities, Derrick said the city is the place he is proud to call home.
After moving back in late 2012 after four years working for the federal government in Port Alberni, Derrick said he wanted to pick up where he left off in the political sphere.
"It gave me a lot of experience working for the federal (government), working with provincial and municipal colleagues," Derrick said.
Currently with the provincial government as a team and contract lead in the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation, Derrick also owns and operates Spa of the North Skin Care Centre.
He has also sat on the board of directors for several non-profit societies and worked for social service agencies such as the Native Friendship Centre, Aboriginal Business Development Centre, Reconnect Youth Village and St. Vincent de Paul.
Derrick's platform has three major planks: community engagement, accountability and transparency and empowerment of others.
On the community engagement front, Derrick is proposing to stay engaged with regular Coffee with a Councillor sessions and to advocate for at least annual town hall meetings with city councillors.
"I intend to remain accountable and transparent through consistent communication in person and online," Derrick said on his website, www.trentderrick.ca. He would also push for fewer in-camera meetings, if elected.
Finally, empowering others is something that begins at city hall, according to Derrick.
"I've worked many years with youth and I've worked many years in management and I found that the most successful projects that I've ever been on and the most successful teams and the most successful groups that I've been part of they've really empowered their employees, ... allowing people to use the tools that they have, their strengths, to really engage in any project that you're moving forward," Derrick said.
That is an element currently missing the last three years at city hall, he said, noting discussions with community members that feel they're not being heard.
"I think if we're going to build a community, it's building a community of diverse ideas and diverse venues," Derrick said.
