Meet Your Candidate: Carmon Leeson

Village Resident seeks Council seat

Editor's Note: The Watershed has contacted all the current candidates running in the upcoming Municipal Election to give them the opportunity to answer a few questions. All the candidates were offered the same questions (apart from those which differ to reflect the experience of candidates who have not held office before). Responses have been edited for brevity, style and clarity. 

Council Candidate Carmon Leeson. Submitted photo.

Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself? How long have you lived in the Village? What's your favourite part of living here?

I’m Carmon Leeson, and I have lived in Lions Bay for 11 years.

For more than 30 years, I have worked in leadership, business and community-facing roles. I have led people, managed competing responsibilities, made difficult decisions and been accountable for results. My approach is straightforward: listen carefully, understand the issue, communicate clearly and follow through.

What I love most about Lions Bay is that it still feels like a village. We know our neighbours. We share a strong connection to the mountains, creeks, beaches, roads and infrastructure around us. This is home, not simply a place where we live. That is worth protecting.

I am running because Lions Bay needs practical leadership, responsible financial decisions, respectful governance and clear priorities for maintaining the services and infrastructure residents depend on.

I also understand that for most residents, their home is one of the largest investments they will ever make. Protecting the character of Lions Bay, maintaining our infrastructure, managing growth responsibly and making sound financial decisions all contribute to protecting the long-term strength and value of the community.

Lions Bay First means putting our community, essential services and long-term future ahead of personal agendas. Listen. Prioritize. Act.

You have never held the position of Councillor before. What made you step forward to take the job on now?

You are right. I have never served as a Councillor. But I have spent more than 30 years leading people, managing competing priorities and being accountable for decisions and results. I understand that municipal government has its own rules, responsibilities and processes, and I am prepared to do the work required to serve effectively.

I decided to step forward because Lions Bay needs a Council that can work constructively, make informed and financially responsible decisions, communicate clearly and follow through on commitments.

I am not claiming to know everything about municipal government. I am committing to learn the legislative framework, understand the Village’s finances and infrastructure needs, listen to staff and residents, ask informed questions and make decisions based on reliable information.

I do not need to know everything on Day One. I do need to be prepared, open to learning and accountable for the decisions I help make. That includes explaining the reasoning behind decisions, acknowledging constraints and reporting back on progress.

That is Lions Bay First: learn the job, respect the responsibility and serve the community.

How many Council meetings have you attended in person or online?

I have followed Village business closely and attended approximately six Council meetings in a typical year. I have not attended every meeting, and I would not suggest that attendance alone makes someone ready to serve on Council. It has helped me understand the format of Council business, the issues that come forward and the way decisions are discussed publicly.

I have also worked to understand the broader context by listening to residents, following Village information and paying attention to the financial, infrastructure and operational issues facing the community.

If elected, I would treat preparation as part of the job. That means reviewing agendas and reports in advance, understanding the financial and operational implications of proposals, asking questions when information is unclear, respecting the limits of Council’s authority and making decisions based on the full record.

Good decisions do not begin at the meeting table. They begin before the meeting starts. They also require clear communication afterward so residents understand what was decided, why it was decided and what happens next.

Have you volunteered for a Village committee or event? What other volunteer experience do you have?

Yes. I have supported Lions Bay in several practical ways. I have volunteered my time and resources to our Firefighters Day, Canada Day, Halloween, Lions Bay Bird Friendly and past community events, by donating my audio equipment and expertise. These were not formal municipal appointments, but they gave me opportunities to work with residents, contribute time and resources and help make community events happen.

I am also involved with the North Shore Seniors Circle, a networking group that connects organizations and individuals who provide services to older adults. That work has reinforced the importance of cooperation, communication and community support.

I would not claim that volunteer work is the same as serving on Council. It is not. But it has taught me something important: communities work when people show up, communicate with one another and do their part.

That is the standard I would bring to Council. If residents trust me with this responsibility, I will take it seriously, prepare properly, contribute consistently and follow through on the work residents have asked Council to do.

Should you win your seat, what is the most important challenge facing the Village in the upcoming term?

The most important challenge is maintaining the Village’s essential infrastructure in a financially responsible way. Lions Bay depends on roads, water systems, drainage, bridges and emergency access. These assets require ongoing maintenance and, in some cases, major renewal. The challenge is deciding what comes first, understanding the risks of delay, finding available funding and being honest about what residents can afford.

My priority would be to establish a clear picture of the Village’s infrastructure: what we own, its condition, the level of risk, the cost of renewal, the available funding options and the expected timing. Before adding new projects, we need to protect essential services and address the highest risks. That does not mean ignoring other priorities. It means sequencing them responsibly and communicating those choices clearly.

You cannot manage a household by postponing every major repair until it becomes an emergency. A municipality is no different. Delayed maintenance often becomes more expensive, disruptive and difficult to manage.

Infrastructure is also directly connected to the strength of our community. Roads, water, drainage, emergency access and well-maintained public assets support the quality of life residents expect and help protect the long-term value of the community.

Lions Bay First means protecting the fundamentals, planning honestly and following through before expanding the wish list.

The most recent term of Council was divided to the point of dysfunction. Do you have any thoughts for a positive change?

Residents do not benefit when Council spends too much energy on personal conflict or procedural disputes. They need a Council that can disagree respectfully, make decisions and keep working.

I would bring three principles to the table: Listen. Align. Act.

Listen to residents, staff and professional advice. Align around the facts, the Village’s priorities, its financial capacity and the responsibilities of Council. Then act, communicate the decision and remain accountable for the result.

We will not agree on everything. That is normal, and sometimes healthy. The important thing is to distinguish between a legitimate policy disagreement and behaviour that prevents Council from doing its job.

I would also respect the difference between Council and staff. Council sets direction, establishes policy and provides oversight. Staff provide professional advice and deliver services within that direction. Respectful governance means giving staff clear direction, considering their advice and allowing them to do their work.

My goal would not be to eliminate disagreement. It would be to make disagreement useful, keep discussions focused, ensure decisions are clear enough to implement and report back to residents on progress. Stable, respectful and predictable governance matters to residents. It matters to businesses. It matters to people considering investing in or maintaining their homes here.

Lions Bay First means putting the work, the community and responsible decision-making ahead of the drama.

In the last term, Financial Officer Joe Chirkoff noted that the Village faces at least $10 million in pending infrastructure upgrades not covered by grant money. How would you prioritize these projects?

I would use a transparent, risk-based process rather than prioritize projects according to who advocates most loudly.

For each major project, I would consider public safety and emergency access, the effect on essential services such as water, roads and drainage, the condition and remaining life of the asset, the consequences and likely cost of delaying the work, legal, environmental or regulatory requirements, available grants or other outside funding and the impact on taxes, fees, borrowing and the Village’s overall financial capacity.

I would also want a clear multi-year capital plan identifying the problem, estimated cost, funding source, priority, timing, responsible parties and next step. Residents should not need to be engineers or accountants to understand where their money is going. If a project is a high priority, Council should explain why. If it is being deferred, Council should explain that too. If costs or timelines change, residents should hear about that promptly.

A dashboard will not solve the financial challenge. But a consistent process will make the trade-offs visible and help Council make decisions based on risk, evidence and affordability.

Good infrastructure is not simply an expense. It is part of what makes a community functional, safe and desirable. Maintaining what we already have and planning responsibly for the future helps protect both the quality of life residents enjoy and the investment they have made in their homes.

Lions Bay First means no favourites, no surprises and no pretending that everything can be done at once. It means setting priorities, securing funding where possible and following through on the plan.

What strengths do you bring to the Council table?

I bring more than 30 years of leadership, business and community-facing experience, along with a practical approach to decision-making. I have worked with people, managed competing priorities and been accountable for outcomes. That experience has taught me to prepare, listen carefully, identify the real issue, communicate expectations and follow through.

I am comfortable making decisions when there is no perfect option, but I do not believe decisions should be rushed. Good decisions require the right information, a clear understanding of the risks, an honest assessment of financial implications and a willingness to hear different perspectives.

I also know the limits of my experience. I have not served on a municipal Council, and I would rely on staff, professional advisors and residents for information and local knowledge. My responsibility would be to ask good questions, understand the advice, respect the process and make decisions in the public interest.

My goal is not to be the smartest person at the table. It is to help make the table work, ensure decisions are understandable and help turn decisions into results.

The recent clear-cutting of a private property on Oceanview Road has prompted a petition and a public outcry. Would you support the creation of bylaws addressing tree-cutting, protection of riparian boundaries and steep slopes?

I support protecting the natural environment that makes Lions Bay distinctive, while recognizing that decisions affecting private property must be based on clear, consistently applied rules and reliable information.

I would start with the rules already in place. What do the bylaws require? How does enforcement work? Where are the gaps? Do staff have the resources and authority needed to respond? Are residents receiving clear information about their responsibilities?

Where tree cutting, riparian areas or steep slopes involve environmental protection or public safety, decisions should be informed by qualified professional advice and applicable provincial and local requirements.

If existing rules are working, enforce them consistently. If they are unclear or inadequate, identify the problem, communicate the issue clearly and consider targeted changes rather than reacting case by case. We need to protect Lions Bay’s natural character, reduce risks to people and property, respect due process and property rights and ensure that decisions can be explained publicly.

I also recognize that the character of Lions Bay is part of what residents value about living here. Protecting that character while applying fair and predictable rules is important not only environmentally, but also to the long-term strength and desirability of the community.

Clear rules. Good information. Consistent enforcement. Follow-through. That is how we protect both the community and the environment.

Many residents along Mountain, Sunset and Bayview have expressed frustration with the vast increase in hiker vehicle parking and traffic. Suggestions have been made to offer alternate parking in the gravel pit or elsewhere on Crown land. How would you respond to resident concerns?

I understand why residents are frustrated. Lions Bay is a small community, and neighbourhood streets were not designed to become overflow parking for large numbers of visitors. Blocked driveways, restricted emergency access, congestion and impacts on residents are legitimate concerns. At the same time, hiking and outdoor recreation are part of the region, and visitors will continue to come. A workable solution has to recognize that reality while protecting residents and essential access.

I would support a coordinated approach involving the Village, relevant landowners and other responsible agencies. That should include identifying realistic parking options, improving signage and wayfinding, communicating expectations before visitors arrive and enforcing the rules already in place.

I would also want Council to assess whether current enforcement and traffic-management measures are working, what they cost and what changes are needed. Residents should receive clear information about the approach, the responsibilities of each agency and the results.

The test is simple. Can residents access their homes? Can emergency vehicles get through? Can visitors reach the trails without turning neighbourhood streets into parking lots?

A good solution must address all three. It must also be practical to administer, financially responsible and followed through over time. Protecting the quality of life in our neighbourhoods is also part of protecting what makes Lions Bay an attractive place to live.

The recent trial of public porta-potties positioned near the Village centre has produced calls of concern regarding smell and garbage from nearby homeowners. This is balanced against evidence that visitors are relieving themselves on our local streets. Do you have any thoughts to share?

The need for public washroom facilities is real, but the location, servicing, cost and impact on nearby residents all matter. If visitors are using streets, trails or private property as bathrooms, the Village has a problem that should be addressed. If a portable toilet creates unacceptable odour, garbage, noise or other impacts for nearby residents, that must also be taken seriously.

Before deciding whether a facility should remain, move or be replaced, I would want to know whether it is being serviced often enough, whether the location is appropriate, whether complaints have been documented, what the arrangement costs and whether it is actually reducing the problem.

The answer might be a different location, a different type of facility, more frequent servicing or a combination of measures. Whatever approach is chosen, residents should understand the reasoning, the cost and how its effectiveness will be assessed. I would not assume that installing a porta-potty automatically solves the issue. I also would not ignore the need for a proper public facility.

The goal is practical: give visitors a legitimate place to go, protect nearby residents, use public funds responsibly and follow through if the chosen solution is not working.

What else would you like to share with residents today? Where can they reach you? Do you have a website where voters can read your platform online?

I have not served on Council before, and I would not pretend that municipal government is simple. It requires preparation, patience, financial discipline and a willingness to work within a legal and administrative framework.

What I can offer is relevant leadership and business experience, a record of contributing to community activities, a willingness to learn and a practical approach to accountability.

I believe Lions Bay needs a Council that listens to residents, understands the facts, sets realistic priorities, makes financially responsible decisions and reports back on what happened.

That means being honest about costs, timelines and limitations. It means respecting staff expertise while ensuring Council provides clear direction and oversight. It means treating infrastructure and essential services as long-term responsibilities rather than short-term political issues. It also means recognizing that not every problem can be solved immediately, but every important problem should have a clear next step and a person or process responsible for moving it forward.

I also believe protecting Lions Bay means recognizing what residents have invested here, not just financially but personally. Our homes, our neighbourhoods, our natural environment and our community are all connected.

Maintaining essential infrastructure, protecting community character, managing growth responsibly, keeping our finances sustainable and making thoughtful decisions about the future all contribute to protecting the quality of life and long-term value of Lions Bay.

I want Lions Bay to remain the community we chose to live in. Protecting it will require careful decisions about infrastructure, finances, the environment and the pressures created by visitors.

I am ready to do that work with focus, discipline, respectful governance and accountability. I will listen carefully, communicate clearly, make decisions based on the best information available and follow through on the commitments residents have entrusted to Council.

Lions Bay First. Listen. Prioritize. Act.

The Watershed welcomes your thoughts.

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