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Peak profile: Stuart Clark

New executive director takes over PREP Society, relishes in small-town life
stuart clark
SETTLING IN: Stuart Clark is the new executive director of Powell River Employment Program Society, which delivers a number of social-services programs for the region. Clark started the job on September 7, replacing Lyn Adamson. David Brindle photo

Before arriving in Powell River to begin his new job as executive director of Powell River Employment Program Society on September 7, Stuart Clark was in Bangkok, Thailand, working for a foundation that empowered youth through experiential education.

Clark and his wife Erica did not want to raise their two young children in Bangkok and asked themselves where an ideal place to live would be, said Clark. Powell River was chosen because Erica was familiar with the city after living here in 2006.

“We had visited here as a young family, too, and I loved it,” said Clark. “We could live here and have it be a positive life for our kids in a smaller community, and close to the things we love to do, like biking, water sports and hiking.”

Prior to Bangkok, Clark was executive director of Educo Canada, a youth-development program based in 100 Mile House.

Since replacing longtime leader Lyn Adamson as executive director one month ago, Clark has spent his time becoming familiar with the way things work at Powell River Employment Program Society.

The non-profit acts as an umbrella organization for community-based social service and health programs that meet local needs, including Career Link, Community Adult Literacy and Learning, Community Resource Centre, Family Place, Babies Open New Doors, Powell River Food Security Project, Literacy Outreach Powell River, Powell River Diversity Initiative and Powell River Immigrant Services.

Clark is exactly the person the hiring committee was hoping to find, according to PREP Society board president Marlane Christensen.

"He brings a strong background in leadership, extensive knowledge of the non-profit world and a clear vision for PREP's future," said Christensen. "His family values make him a perfect fit in our community.”

Clark said part of his time has already been taken up participating in the ongoing housing and homelessness dialogue.

“As a citizen coming into this community, I recognize the difficulty of finding housing for someone who has means,” said Clark. “It was difficult, so I can imagine what it’s like for people who don't.”

Powell River has a natural continuity between organizations, according to Clark, where the right hand knows what the left hand is doing. The overlap of individuals and social mandates is a strength, not a weakness, that Powell River shares with other smaller and remote communities.

“The same people are involved in a lot of different things, so we can keep it connected,” said Clark.

Another comparison Clark has found is the positive, collaborative relations between Tla’amin Nation, City of Powell River and Powell River Regional District.

“There's a general spirit of working together,” said Clark, “and a collaboration in this community that's stronger than some other communities I've worked in.”