What part of Burnaby do you live in?

South Burnaby / Metrotown.

Which political party (if any) do you represent, or are you an independent?

Independent powered by My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Family, Community, Hard work and Windex.

Can you summarize your general election platform?

Announcements are not accomplishments. Debt free is not waste free. I’m not running to manage the status quo. After eight years, ask: Are you better off? Is congestion less? Housing more affordable? Is City Hall more efficient? Were Burnaby Heights merchants consulted over parking by TransLink? Victoria makes provincial decisions. City Hall affects what happens on your street. Look outside your front door, What do you see? Traffic, Construction. Parks. Roads. Safety. Permits. Infrastructure. Property taxes – 7% annually through 2030 – is that low? Can seniors and businesses afford to stay? Burnaby once had a large bucket of money. Who’s going to refill it? Think about your household budget. One small expense might not matter. But when you keep adding expenses, eventually you look at the bank account and say ” Wait a minute – where did all the money go?.” What happened at North shore wastewater plant? Mayor was on Metro Vancouver for 8 years. Confederation park? Cancelled and $15 million gone. My focus is on transportation that works for everyone. Respect every tax dollar. Listen to every voice. City Hall is more than recreational centres that are completed in 2027 and 2028 – then what’s the vision as we head into an era of AI? Don’t let two elections blur into one. On Oct. 17th, ask a simple question: What has City Hall delivered for my tax dollars and what will the next mayor actually measure and improve? When you’re voting for mayor, look out your front door. Property taxes, roads, parks, policing and fire services, permits, development, local infrastructure, traffic, waste and day to day operation of Burnaby – all council responsibilities. Announcements are not accomplishments. Awards are recognition. Results are what residents actually experience. Great restaurants along Hastings St. City boasts about getting an award for improving permit response time by 85% is a bit like a restaurant winning an award because it started seeing customers faster. Great – but isn’t that the job? My platform is built around one principle: put people first, listen first, then act, measure and report. Vistion 2030 – zero deaths and serious injuries through better data, technology, infrastructure and faster responses to identified problem areas. I’m running to bring a different management culture to City Hall and make Burnaby where everyone can live, work, move, raise a family and build a future. For me, this is about service to the community. Your vote is your voice. After eight years, ask: Are you better off? If no, you have your reason to vote.

What is your position on the BRT through Burnaby? Do you have a route preference? Do you support or oppose removing curbside parking in favour of all-day/every-day bus lanes? Will you listen to and respect local concerns regarding this topic when the time comes for Council to make a decision on the BRT route alignment and design?

Announcements are not accomplishments. Results are. People must come first. A city is not just a map of roads, routes and parking spaces; it is a living community made up of residents, workers, merchants, customers, families and people with different needs. My family doctor’s climic is on Hastings St. Before we redraw a street, we need to understand how that change will affect the neighbourhood and people who rely on it everyday. My preference is the Boundary Road / Lougheed option., because I believe it can provide rapid transit while better protecting the character and economic function of established commercial streets that need more two level commercial space, not less. I want the full evidence: actual time savings, ridership, traffic impacts, parking loss, business impacts, safety, construction cost, and long term operating costs. We should not remove valuable parking or disrupt a business district simply to save 59 seconds without understanding the complete trade off. Most importantly, I will listen to Burnaby residents before Council makes its decision. Listening is not delay; it is responsible decision making. Businesses need to be heard before decisions are made – not after the parking is gone. Don’t lead with ideology, lead with evidence. Better transit should improve Burnaby without unnecessary damaging the people and businesses it is supposed to serve. Burnaby mayor isn’t about ribbon cutting and making announcements – it’s about running the race and showing the results and full costs, including operational costs and results. City Hall needs a CEO culture: listen first, act, measure and report. Debt free is not waste free. Your vote is your voice.

What is your position regarding commercial unit affordability, availability, and size? Do you have any specific plans or initiatives you’d like to explore to alleviate loss of small commercial spaces and the dominance of appointment-based businesses at street level (businesses that don’t depend on walk-by traffic) while Retail (businesses that do depend on walk-by traffic) gets pushed out?

Announcements are not accomplishments. Results are. My position is simple: Burnaby needs a result culture and pro business outlook. More commercial space that works for businesses, not just buildings that look good on paper. We need to protect diversity of our street level economy – especially small retailers hit by tariffs and businesses that depend on walk by traffic. I would use a listen first approach, evidence based approach, not ideology, map commercial vacancies, rents, units sizes and business turnover, then identify where small businesses are being displaced and why. On government land, provide a lease to own option. I would bring SFU + industry + the SFU Supercomputer + the City together to analyze demand – a data driven approach and use analytics. Without data, you’re leading blind. Look at pedestrian patterns, commercial rents and emerging industries. The goal is to turn data into decision – not announcements. I would explore smaller flexible developments , including opportunities for shared or incubator space, so the market is not dominated by large units or appointment- based businesses that don’t generate regular street traffic. I would also create a two level commercial strategy: keep vibrant, walkable retail and services at street level while using upper floors for professional services, research, technology, startups and corporate offices. That creates a pipeline: SFU research to jobs while keeping neighbourhoods active at street level. And I would measure the results: vacancy rates, small businesses retention, commercial rents, diversity of businesses , jobs created and street level activity. My father was a barber for 50 years in Burnaby. Listen first, respect every tax dollar and respect every view point. As CEO / Mayor of Burnaby my principle is: don’t simply approve more commercial space – make sure we are creating the right space, for the right businesses, heading into an AI era, in the right spaces, with a lease to own option, and measure whether it works. Debt free is not waste free. Your vote is your voice. After 8 years, ask: Are you better off?

What are your ideas on helping small businesses and streetfront merchants survive and thrive? How do you plan to help small local streetfront businesses conduct business in Burnaby more easily, pay fewer City fees, and help make commercial property tax more affordable for small businesses and urban villages?

Debt free is not waste free. City Hall has a culture and bucket problem. Who will refill it once empty. My approach is simple: change the culture at City Hall from ” How do we process this? ” to ” How do we help this business succeed?”. One point of contact with priority pathway for permits with clear standards. Make it easier to do business, not harder. Streamline approvals, create priority pathways, reduce unnecessary fees and review taxes with a small business lens. My father was a small business owner for 50 years. I’d protect affordable street front space, work with landlords and developers, and connect SFU, the supercomputer and industry to local entrepreneurs. I’d also develop a tariff- impact strategy to diversity markets and customers, while attracting more hotels, visitors, events and activities. Build the infrastructure first, remove barriers, attract investment and measure results – so our urban villages and small businesses can thrive. After eight years, it’s time for renewal. Your vote is your voice.

What is your position or thoughts on social disorder? How do you plan to support streetfront businesses that are facing challenges and disruption from social disorder, drug addiction and mental health crisis, vandalism, shoplifting, and other problems? What are some ideas you have in mind to address this?

As a former school principal and COO of BC Diabetes, and the son of a small business owner who served Burnaby for 50 years, I see this through both a community and business lens. I also served as a director of the Edmonds Business and Community Association. Street front businesses need to feel sate and supported. I would implement same day graffiti removal, strengthen coordination among businesses, police and outreach teams, and address vandalism and shoplifting while keeping public spaces welcoming. Burnaby Heights does a great job and we want to continue to support their efforts. For people struggling with addiction or mental health challenge, I would develop an Individual Stability Plan – likeI did with students – one point contact to coordinate, connecting each person to housing, treatment, health and employment supports, with follow up and measurable outcomes. Listen first, act quickly and measure results – because small businesses shouldn’t have to absorb the cost of social disorder. I’d add, moving construction to night time, to reduce disruption, putting people first, not profit. Debt free is not waste free. City Hall has lost tough with its community and its time for a change to align back to our priorities and values. Respect every tax dollar. Listen to every voice. Your vote is your voice.

Our BIA would like to bring more fun, attractions, and placemaking to our local district. If elected, would you encourage the City to work with BIAs to create more activities and points of interest for locals and visitors to enjoy?

Absolutely. As a former director of the Edmonds Business and Community Association, where I helped create the Edmonds City Fair and Car Show, I’ve seen firsthand how activities bring people into local businesses. My father also served the community as a small business over for 50 years. I would listen first and work with BIAs and businesses to create more events, attractions and points of interest that bring residents and visitors into our urban villages. When people come off the activity, local businesses benefit. I like to see a stronger relationship with SFU city and students, with bus connections between our communities during events . Bring people in, make it easy to get there, and local business benefit too. Win win win. Vision 2030 – Together, We All Thrive. Visit my website: billpetrovas.ca or Facebook page: Bill Petrovas for Mayor or LinkedIn page: Bill Petrovas.

What is your collaboration and communication style? If elected, how do you plan to work across political differences with businesses, citizens, and even other elected officials, to solve problems together with communities?

As your heard over and over, announcements are not accomplishments. Debt free is not waste free. We need to change the culture at city hall. My collaboration comes from family, team and leadership. I’m Greek, so hard work, family ad community are in my DNA – think My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but with a City Hall agenda, and a little Windex for those complicated problems. I also believe in bringing in the right expertise when situations are complicated, but that kind of help is built on trust and relationships. I’ll work to earn trust and it would be a privilege to serve the City of Burnaby as Mayor. I have three degrees and attended the Wharton School of Business Executive Program, where I studied critical thinking and strategic partnerships. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on understanding different perspectives, building durable relationships and turning competing priorities into practical solutions. My peers voted me the best negotiator because I pursue win – win outcomes-solutions that respect different interests while moving everyone forward. That is the kind of leadership Burnaby needs heading into an AI era: collaborative, decisive and focused on getting results. Announcements are not accomplishments, Results are.
My father’s barbershop was more than a barbershop – it was a place where people came to talk. He taught me a lesson that has guided me career: listen first and respect every view point. As mayor, I will bring that same approach to residents, businesses, community organizations, staff and regional partners. Rugby gave me my PhD in teamwork. As a school Principal and healthcare COO, I learned that diverse perspectives strengthen teams when leaders build trust, find common ground and move forward together. Collaboration does not mean avoiding accountability. It means listing to those affected, seeking expert advice and being claar about costs, timelines and results. Residents need to know the costs including operational costs before paying the bill. That’s respecting every tax dollar means. The Metro Vancouver wastewater experience shows why taxpayers deserve transparency, accountability and total costs upfront – because they ultimately path the bill. Mayor was on Metro Vancouver Board for eight ears, the last two as chair. What questions did he ask? After eight years, ask: Are you. better off? If no, you have your reason to vote for change.
My philospophy is simple: listen first, build trust, bring people together, pursue win-win solutions, fight for Burnaby, one paycheque, know the total cost, measure results and hold people accountable. The Metro Vancouver Board fired the CAO – did they go far enough? That is how I lead – and why I’m ready to lead Burnaby. Burnaby needs a CEO, not another manager. “Running simply to ” finish the job” isn’t enough. First what job? Projects have a beginning and an end., both finished by 2028. If finished, then what? A CEO’s job isn’t to complete yesterday’s projects – it’s to define what comes next. Burnaby needs a clear Vision 2030. I’m not running to finish yesterday’s agenda. I’m running to build what comes next. Being Mayor is a privilege to serve, not a career. After eight years, ask: are you better off today than you were eight years ago? I’m asking for your vote.