I’m Dimitri, and I’d like to be a Trustee for the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District.  The upcoming GFPID election is on May 6, 2026.  I put this site together to give you an idea of who I am, and what I have to offer our community.

My time in the Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department (GVFD) gave me some good insight into the workings of the department, as well as the Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District (GFPID).  There were many situations when I believed that the GFPID Trustees and Department management were operating with a lack of good governance principles, such as accountability, integrity, and transparency.

I’m very grateful for my time in the GVFD. I still miss many aspects of being a member, but I’ve come to realize that I wouldn’t want to return to carrying a pager.  My hope is to help the community, GFPID, and GVFD by serving as a Trustee.

I believe that the Trustees, as elected officials, are duty bound to do what’s right for the community, and do it in a way that is respectful and transparent.  The Board needs to function as a unit, with integrity.  As leaders, the Trustees need to set the tone, and model the behaviours that foster an environment of tolerance and inclusivity, and create a positive and healthy culture within the GFPID and GVFD.

Although there have been some promising improvements in the last year or so, the Department and the Improvement District continue to function in a way that was not intended by the Province.

This is how it should work: The Improvement District is run by Trustees who are elected by landowners within the District.  The Improvement District enacted a bylaw to create the GVFD.  The Improvement District is supposed to be responsible for governing the Department, creating policies and bylaws, and hiring employees to manage the day to day operations of the Department, and report back to the Board.  There should be clear accountability of the District employees to the Board, and of the Board to the community members.

I would like to see more expert review of policies, procedures, and processes.  There are many community members with experience in many areas, who would be happy to assist the Board.  An improved understanding of the current and future needs of Gabriola, along with knowledge of accounting and budgeting for an organization of this kind would lay the foundation for the ability to more accurately balance the needs of the GVFD with the needs of the community, and an acceptable tax rate.

I still feel honored when community members thank me for arriving at an emergency scene years ago to help them or their loved ones.  I have many fond memories of good times shared with other GVFD members at the firehalls during training, or after call-outs.  It can be stressful when GVFD members respond to emergencies, or attend practices, so it’s important that the atmosphere in the halls doesn’t add to that stress.  The culture in the Department, and within the Board, should be a welcoming one, where everyone feels safe, heard, and appreciated.

One of my goals as Trustee would be to model and foster a positive culture, and to improve policies to make it easier for that culture to grow within the GFPID and GVFD.

Another of my goals will be to improve our community members’ access to information related to the GFPID and GVFD.  The GVFD is a critical emergency service, and the GFPID governs and supports it by using taxpayers’ money.  Everyone should be able to see and understand how their tax money is managed and spent.

Please use my Contact page if you’d like to reach out to me with any questions you may have.