Port Coquitlam.                                                   phone 1.877.810.1072

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I’m passionate about my community and working together to produce a new generation of leadership that will move us into the future. I am here to bring enthusiasm and energy to the representation of Port Coquitlam in the coming provincial election. I want to put the interests of the people in our community in the forefront and help meet the needs of both individuals and families. I feel honored to call British Columbia my home and to continue to be a vital part of positive change and growth towards a stronger future. I am encouraged by the people in our riding and look forward to meeting the people that make our city a great place to live and work.

I want to listen to my constituents and take our concerns and vision for a bright future for Port Coquitlam to Victoria and represent our community.

Sincerely,
Bernie Hiller
BC Liberals Candidate
Port Coquitlam

Meet Bernie Hiller,
BC Liberal Candidate for Port Coquitlam.

Bernie was born in Vancouver and grew up in Burnaby. He’s been a resident of Port Coquitlam for the past five years. His father taught high school math and music at Burnaby Central and his mother was a top Burnaby realtor. Bernie attended Clinton Elementary, Vancouver Christian School and then went to Burnaby South Secondary School. As a young man, he took great delight in working with his hands, and playing trumpet.

Hard work was ingrained in Bernie from an early age. His grandfather ran a construction business and the young Hillers were introduced to the tools of that trade by their Dad. Through his high school years, Bernie worked side by side with his brother in various construction jobs. The skills he acquired here not only gave him an appreciation of a hard day’s work, but also the satisfaction that comes from a job well done. It also provided him a means to help pay his way through university.

Bernie’s plans for life after high school took a significant turn when he lost his Dad to cancer during his grade 12 year. His father’s life long love of music figured prominently in his request that his son attend Taylor University College and Seminary in Alberta. Bernie had earned a music scholarship and honouring his Dad’s wishes, he commenced study at Taylor in 1998. As part of his undergraduate study, Bernie did field work in developing countries. It was here that he developed his enduring passion for outreach and public service. It was also at Taylor that Bernie met his future wife Pamela whom he would marry in 2003. Over the next four years, supported by summer jobs in construction and 12 hour days tree planting around BC, Bernie completed his Bachelor of Arts degree, all the while deepening his commitment to making the world around him a better place. Upon graduation, this commitment, and his already strong work-ethic, would be applied to improving the lives of those less fortunate.

Bernie spent the next year and half working towards a Masters degree in Psychology but with money tight, Bernie and Pam gave in to the lure of home and returned to BC. He found the perfect avenue for applying himself to his community when he began work at Coquitlam Alliance Church as Pastor of Missions and Middle School Youth. He set to work and over the next four years would work on projects both global and local in scope.

Internationally, he trained, equipped and led participants from the Tri-Cities to work on an orphanage in Zambia, where they gave students graduating from grade 12 an opportunity to be trained in a trade or small business, helping to break the cycle of poverty in their community. In 2006 his team built a classroom where they conducted 2 week seminars for graduates on: bike repair, simple accounting, teaching English grammar, building, health and hygiene, and first aid. In August of 2008, Bernie led a team back to the Village of Hope to build a library and computer lab. Through fundraising efforts, the team managed to cover the costs of the building and computers, and library books were donated and sent via container.

His outreach work not only honed organizational and leadership skills, it taught him respect for indigenous peoples, here and abroad. Over the past 5 years he led a team of 20 to Rio Chico, Chihuahua. Here they assisted in bringing food and clothing to the Copper Canyon; the ancient home of the Tarahumara Indian tribe known to be the most traditional Native Americans left in North America. Bernie’s teams have delivered tons of critically needed famine relief and saved perhaps hundreds of these very unique and endangered tribal people.

Bernie has applied the experience acquired internationally, right here at home. Homelessness is a significant problem in the Tri-Cities, and particularly in Port Coquitlam. Collaborating with Managing Director, Rob Thiessen of the Hope for Freedom Society, Bernie was a strong supporter of the Cold Wet Weather Mat Program. In what may have a been an indicator of things to come, Bernie presented a compelling case to Coquitlam Council, supporting the program not just with words, but with both physical and human resources, offering up the church and its parishioners to house and deliver the program.

With much local support, including moving and thoughtful presentations from area young people, Council passed the required zoning changes, and The Cold Wet Weather Mat Program operated nightly from 10 PM – 7 AM from November 1st 2008 – March 31st in 2008 and 2009. Shelter clients are provided with a mat and blankets for the night, an evening meal upon arrival, a breakfast and a bag lunch before transport back to the muster points in the morning, and, if desired, someone to listen. Not only did the program provide some of the most basic comforts most of us take for granted, as a result of the program, people have actually come off the streets, and into more permanent shelter programs.

The advocacy for the Mat program touched the other element of Bernie’s work at CAC; working with Middle School Youth. Bernie has been involved in mentoring teens throughout the Tri-Cities for the past 5 years. Through events like laser tag and bowling, and a teen drop-in with Wii, Xbox 360 and fooseball, he kept kids busy and out if trouble. He has trained 20 young adult leaders who now help mentor as many as 100 kids in grades 6 through 8. At a time when gang violence and lifestyle are a huge issue, it’s not hard to see the value of young kids having a place to be and belong. Many of these same kids were amongst the most compelling presenters at Coquitlam Council’s Public Hearings into zoning changes for the Cold Wet Weather Mat Program. Their obvious concern for those less fortunate (in clear contrast to some ‘adult’ presenters) clearly impressed Council.

The brush with the political process and the insight that it can be pivotal in helping not only those less fortunate, but all citizens, struck a chord with Bernie. Like others before him who have been drawn to public service, he saw a way to advocate for many more people by becoming part of the political process. When a vacancy in the provincial Port Coquitlam riding presented itself, Bernie jumped at the chance to run. On Saturday, April 4, 2009, with his wife Pamela, mother, friends, supporters and Premier Gordon Campbell in attendance, Bernie Hiller was acclaimed as the BC Liberals candidate in the May 12th Provincial Election.

At just 29 years old, Bernie already has an enviable record of public service, and of getting results. He has tackled some of our community’s most intractable issues — poverty, hunger, youth alienation, homelessness — and done so successfully! He has, through hard work and effective collaboration with individuals, groups, organizations and government, made a tangible difference in the lives of hundreds of people. How many of us can say that… at any age?

It is his obvious spirit of public service, his passion for the next generation, his community and dealing with homelessness within the City of Port Coquitlam that will motivate him as the candidate for the BC Liberals.

Anticipating the criticism that he is young or inexperienced, he will point to his lengthy record of tangible accomplishments, and remind detractors of the words of Shunryu Suzuki who said: