Local Roots. Provincial Experience. Proven Leadership.
For David MacKenzie, community service didn’t begin with a campaign. It has been part of his life in Pemberton for decades.
David MacKenzie
Candidate for Mayor, Village of Pemberton
A Life in Service
to Pemberton
David was elected to Pemberton Village Council in 2005, serving one term as Councillor and gaining firsthand experience with municipal government and the responsibilities of elected office.
For 14 years, David also served as an Auxiliary RCMP Constable, volunteering his time in support of community safety and gaining valuable experience working alongside police and community partners.
Today, David serves as President of Pemberton District Search and Rescue and as one of its SAR Managers. Working alongside dedicated volunteers and partner agencies has reinforced his belief in preparation, collaboration, communication and the extraordinary contribution volunteers make to our community.
David is also the Managing Director of Pemberton Valley Lodge, where he has extensive experience leading people, managing significant budgets and overseeing the operations and long-term strategy of an independent Pemberton business.
But David’s leadership experience extends beyond Pemberton.
He currently serves as Board Chair of go2HR, British Columbia’s tourism and hospitality human resources and health and safety association, and as a Director of the BC Chamber of Commerce, representing business and community perspectives at the provincial level.
David previously served as President and Chair of the BC Hotel Association, providing leadership to the organization representing accommodation operators throughout British Columbia.
These roles have given David the opportunity to chair boards, build consensus among people with different perspectives, oversee organizations, advocate with government and develop relationships with leaders throughout British Columbia.
David believes those relationships and that experience can be put to work for Pemberton.
Municipal, Community,
Public Safety, Business &
Provincial Governance.
David brings an unusual combination of municipal, community, public safety, business and provincial governance experience to the Mayor’s race.
Municipal
Government
Elected by Pemberton residents in 2005, David served one term on Village Council, gaining firsthand experience with municipal governance, public finance, land-use decisions and the responsibility that comes with elected office.
Public Safety &
Community Service
David volunteered for 14 years as an Auxiliary RCMP Constable, supporting community safety and working alongside police and community partners.
David currently serves as President of Pemberton District Search and Rescue and as one of its SAR Managers, helping lead an organization that responds when residents and visitors need assistance.
Business &
Economic Leadership
David has extensive experience managing people, budgets, operations and long-term planning while helping operate one of Pemberton’s established tourism businesses.
Provincial
Leadership
As Board Chair of go2HR, David helps provide governance and strategic leadership to a provincial organization serving British Columbia’s tourism and hospitality industry.
As a Director of the BC Chamber of Commerce, David participates in provincial discussions affecting businesses, communities and economic development across British Columbia.
David previously served as President and Chair of the BC Hotel Association, helping lead the provincial organization representing British Columbia’s accommodation sector.
Relationships matter.
One of the most important responsibilities of a Mayor happens outside Council Chambers.
Pemberton cannot address every challenge on its own.
Housing, infrastructure, transportation, healthcare, emergency preparedness, economic development and climate resilience increasingly require cooperation with the provincial and federal governments, neighbouring communities, regional organizations and other partners.
That means Pemberton needs a Mayor who can advocate effectively for our community.
Through my provincial board and leadership roles, I’ve had the opportunity to work with senior government officials, organizational leaders and people from communities throughout British Columbia.
I’ve learned that effective advocacy isn’t about making the most noise.
It’s about building relationships, understanding how decisions are made, presenting a strong case and being persistent.
As Mayor, I would put those relationships and that experience to work for Pemberton. When important decisions affecting our community are being discussed, Pemberton deserves a strong voice at the table.
Listen first.
Lead responsibly.
My leadership experience has taken me from the Council table in Pemberton to emergency operations, business management and the boardrooms of provincial organizations.
Those environments can be very different. But good leadership requires many of the same things.
Listening
Listen first.
Informed Decisions
Understand the facts.
Respect for Perspectives
Respect different perspectives.
Consensus Building
Build consensus where possible.
Decisive Leadership
Make decisions when necessary.
Accountability
Take responsibility.
Follow-Through
Get things done.
Serving as a board chair has reinforced something I learned years ago on Council: leadership isn’t about being the loudest person in the room. It’s about creating an environment where people can disagree, be heard and ultimately find a way forward. That’s the approach I would bring to the Mayor’s Office.
Twenty Years of Experience Since Council
When Pemberton residents elected me to Council in 2005, they gave me an extraordinary opportunity to serve this community.
I learned a tremendous amount during that term.
More than twenty years later, I’m considering what I can bring back to the Council table — this time as Mayor.
Since serving as a Councillor, I’ve gained experience I simply didn’t have in 2005.
I’ve led businesses and managed significant budgets.
I’ve served our community for 14 years as an Auxiliary RCMP Constable.
I’ve taken on leadership responsibilities with Pemberton District Search and Rescue.
I’ve chaired provincial boards.
I’ve represented organizations in discussions with government.
I’ve worked with leaders from communities across British Columbia.
I’ve dealt with emergencies and difficult decisions.
I’ve learned how to build consensus around a board table.
And I’ve learned that leadership is as much about listening as it is about leading.
I don’t want to return to Council to recreate the Pemberton of twenty years ago. I want to use twenty years of additional experience to help prepare Pemberton for the twenty years ahead.
That’s why I’m running for Mayor.
Experience matters.
Relationships matter.
Leadership matters.
Pemberton’s next Mayor will need to be many things.
A community listener.
A chair of Council.
A responsible steward of taxpayers’ money.
An advocate with other levels of government.
A partner to neighbouring communities.
A supporter of volunteers.
A leader during emergencies.
And someone capable of bringing different perspectives together around a common table.
No one person will have every answer.
But experience matters. Relationships matter. Leadership matters. And above all, community matters.
I’ve spent decades serving Pemberton and gaining experience locally and across British Columbia.
Now I want to put that experience to work for the community I call home.
David MacKenzie
FOR MAYOR•VILLAGE OF PEMBERTON
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