Person of the year: Russell Brewer

As 2017 Person of the Year, Peak editorial staff has chosen an individual who is leading Powell River into the next decade: Russell Brewer.

As a two-term city councillor, chair of the city’s finance committee, one of two Powell River Regional District municipal board directors and community liaison for Tourism Powell River, Brewer is in the middle of it all and makes things happen.

“It seems kind of silly, but someone has to step up, otherwise so much of what happens in Powell River just wouldn't happen otherwise,” said Brewer.

Due to his political strength and community involvement, Brewer is one of the most powerful people in Powell River.

Outside of the political arena, he is president of Powell River Cycling Association, Powell River Métis Society and Friends of Louis Riel Society, past-president of Tourism Powell River and Club Bon Accueil, a member of Powell River Search and Rescue, former treasurer of the Sunshine Coast Tourism Association and Powell River Track and Field Association, and current secretary-treasurer for BC Mountain Bike Tourism Association.

Brewer also has a job as a resource manager with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.

In 2017, he was involved with so much it is next to impossible to list all of the highlights.

The year started with Brewer’s push for a regional recreation plan.

“There's no reason why we can’t regionalize recreation and regional parks and just make it one big regional parks and recreation service,” said Brewer. “Services that everyone benefits from and everyone wants to be a part of should be regional, managed by one government or in partnership with three governments. You can figure out ways of paying for it, structuring it and governing it that satisfies everyone.”

This year, Brewer was at the centre of a contentious remuneration for mayor and council that created a firestorm on social media.

“Politicians are easy targets," said Brewer. "You get used to the disrespectful stuff and you shrug it off and you can't pay too much attention to it. It's disappointing. I wish people were more respectful in conversations or posting or asking questions.”

Brewer said his fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers is the heaviest he wears.

“It’s on my mind all of the time; always,” he said. “I don't lose a lot of sleep, but it's on my mind all the time.”

The city’s biggest challenge as it looks to the future is economic diversification, he said.

In the fall, Brewer was at the centre of discussions that resulted in a $300,000 annual tax increase for Catalyst Paper Corporation.

He said, to survive, Powell River has to transition from a mill town to a mix of other economic drivers, including outdoor recreation, light industry and service industry.

Looking back on the blur that was 2017, Brewer said he found it hard to pinpoint one highlight until he is reminded of his 19-year-old son Zevier’s graduation from Brooks Secondary School in June and enrolment at Vancouver Island University’s Powell River campus. His daughter Zoe, 17, will graduate in June 2018.

“I didn't think it was going to be as big a deal for me as it was, standing there, watching the kids with all the other parents; I was close to losing it,” said Brewer. “You start thinking about the last 18 years and that was pretty powerful. I underestimated that. I didn't expect it.”

Brewer said he used to worry he was doing a disservice to his children because of his absences attending to all of the different things he does, but now realizes that could not be further from the truth. Zevier and Zoe are remarkable young people, he said, and they are already showing signs of a duty to serve and the public obligation that runs in the family.

“I see them stepping up,” said Brewer. “It started with Zev, and now Zoe. It's the right thing to do, to get involved and help. It's cool to see.”

In these days of seeing so many shirk the responsibilities of citizenship and civic duty, Brewer stands above and engages in all levels of the community. He said he intends to continue in 2018 and confirmed he will be running for re-election as councillor in the fall municipal election.

“I ask the question of myself a lot; ‘Why do I do it?’” said Brewer. “It’s an obligation. I can’t not be involved.”

It is simply who he is.