BACKGROUND

Business and politics
  • A small business owner, Mark was raised in a family supported by union wages in Powell River. He calls himself a capitalist with a social conscience.
    "Business creates jobs, and jobs help people raise families. I'm well aware of the benefits of strong resource sector and the jobs those create," he says. "It's exciting to see new jobs being created, but we must make sure we're creating family raising jobs as well."
  • Mark has been a small business owner since 2004, when he started Business Vancouver Island newspaper after serving as a publisher of another newspaper for the previous 14 years. He is president of Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd., which publishes four monthly business newspapers throughout B.C.: Business Vancouver Island, Business Fraser Valley, Business Thompson Okanagan and Business Peace Cariboo.
  • Mark also owns Communication Ink, a media and public relations company
  • Mark ran for the B.C. Liberal nomination in 2005 for Nanaimo-Parksville, and has served on the Nanaimo riding constituency board in a number of positions over the years. He is currently a member of the B.C. Citizens for Green Energy commitee.

Personal Information

  • Mark moved to Nanaimo in 1978 to play junior hockey with the Nanaimo Clippers, and earned a scholarship to United States International University (now Alliant International University) in San Diego, California in 1981 to play NCAA Division I hockey. He majored in International Relations, studying U.S. Foreign Policy and Political Science. He was also on the 1983 National Dean's List for academic achievement, as well as the 1983 Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges for scholastic and athletic achievment.
  • He also attended Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas on a scholarship from 1985-87, earning a degree in practical theology.
  • Mark attends a local church, and coaches Nanaimo Minor Baseball, has coached in Nanaimo Minor Hockey and stillplays Oldtimers hockey. Married to Lise, they have five children.

Led Chamber Team

  • Nanaimo was named B.C. Chamber of the Year for 2003, the first time a Vancouver Island Chamber of Commerce has won the provincial award. Also during Mark's tenure, the Chamber was involved in helping bring about the creation of a public school program for home learners, called "Learn at Home". The program provides funding for home learners to pursue their education on B.C. curriculum with the assistance of local teachers, and retains funding in the local school district that had been flowing to other school districts throughout the province that already had similar programs.
    That year, the Chamber also focused its attention on expanding operations at Nanaimo Airport.