Candidate Summaries

Nomination Documents: ABDI, Behzad (PDF)

Email: electphillipbuchan@gmail.com

Website: PhilBuchan.ca

Facebook: "Phillip Buchan" (Candidate Did Not Provide Link) 

Instagram: @philbuchan

X: @philbuchan

Nomination Documents: BUCHAN, Phillip (PDF)

Hi! My name is Phillip Buchan and am grateful to have the opportunity to run for Coquitlam Council again.This is a natural next step in my journey in working for the city that I love. 

I was born in Calgary, but I grew up all over Canada, and in Germany, as my father was in the army. I have a BA in Political Science from the University of Calgary. I also lived in Japan teaching English for 18 years and that is where I met my wife, Miho Kitamoto. We have called Coquitlam home for the last 13 years, and many more still to come.

I feel a responsibility for looking after Coquitlam and my neighbours. I started as a member of Burke Mountain Naturalists in 2014 (Board of Directors since 2022, and was President 2024 and 2025). I have been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #263 since 2015 and have volunteered collecting money for veterans in November since then.

An important part of my platform is advocating for food security and shelter for all. I have worked at the Tricities Winter Shelter the last two winters and I am a founding member of Tri-Cities Food Not Bombs which was established in 2024 and provides free lunches to the unhoused on Gordon Ave in Coquitlam every second Sunday. 

My work life represents what I feel is important in caring for community. 

I am presently working at Access Youth Outreach Services as a bus driver.

Working with youth, you understand the importance of looking after the environment, and securing a good future for generations to come.

Email: info@talicampbell.ca

Website: www.TaliCampbell.ca

X: @CampbellTali

Facebook: @TaliCampbellforCityofCoquitlamCouncil

Instagram: @talicampbell

Nomination Documents: CAMPBELL, Tali (PDF)

My name is Tali Campbell, and I am running for Coquitlam City Council because I believe our community deserves leadership that listens, engages and delivers.

Coquitlam has been my home for the past six years, and during that time I have had the privilege of building my career, volunteering and becoming deeply involved in our community.

As President and General Manager of the Coquitlam Express and a leader in local youth sports, I work every day with families, young people, local businesses and community organizations. I oversee a multi-million-dollar organization, manage staff and budgets, build community partnerships and help create opportunities for young people.

My community involvement has also included supporting organizations and initiatives such as SHARE Family & Community Services, KidSport, the Canucks Autism Network, local schools and numerous community events and charitable causes.

I am running to help build a stronger Coquitlam by focusing on four key priorities: safe neighbourhoods, responsible growth, stronger service options and fiscal responsibility.

As our city continues to grow, we need to protect the quality of life that makes Coquitlam such a great place to live. That means thoughtful planning, safe and vibrant neighbourhoods, strong recreation and community services, support for local businesses, and responsible management of taxpayers’ dollars.

I believe elected officials should be accessible, accountable and willing to listen to residents.

I would be honoured to bring my energy, community experience and practical leadership to Coquitlam City Council and work every day to help build a stronger Coquitlam for everyone.

Email: contact@alicina.ca

Website: Alicina.ca

Facebook: @realalicina

X: @realalicina

 Instagram: @realalicina

Nomination Documents: CINA, Ali (PDF)

Ali Cina here, I’m a 22-year-old Coquitlam resident, SFU student, freelance web and software developer, security consultant, and Eagle Ridge Hospital volunteer running an independent, grassroots campaign for City Council.

I grew up in the Tri-Cities and have called Coquitlam home since my early teenage years. I’m studying Computer Science and Political Science at Simon Fraser University, and I also work part-time at a local Coquitlam shop, where I hear daily how rising costs are affecting families and small businesses.

Politics did not begin as a career path for me. It started as a desire to see real improvement in the community I live in, and it has grown into a clear commitment to public service.

I’ve built this campaign the same way I approach every project: hands-on and from the ground up. I designed and built the campaign website myself, managed the technical infrastructure, and worked directly on materials with volunteers. That same practical approach, attention to detail, responsible use of resources, and a focus on getting things done, is what I intend to bring to City Hall.

I’m running to lower the cost of living, make City Hall more transparent, and give residents a genuine voice in local decisions. My goal is a city government that treats residents like owners of Coquitlam, not customers of it.

A city that listens starts with someone who listens.

Nomination Documents: DJONLIC, Matt (PDF)

Nomination Documents: JAMSHIDIAN, Habib (PDF)

Email: SteveKim4Council@gmail.com

Website: SteveKim4Council.ca

Facebook: @SteveKimBC

Instagram: @SteveKimBC

Nomination Documents: KIM, Steve (PDF) 

For the past eight years, it has been one of the greatest honours of my life to serve the residents of Coquitlam on City Council. I’m running for re-election because I believe Coquitlam needs balanced, thoughtful leadership that plans ahead, manages taxpayers’ dollars responsibly, supports our local economy, and protects the quality of life that makes our city such a great place to call home.

I am a long-time Coquitlam resident, entrepreneur and community leader. I believe in listening first, working collaboratively, and making thoughtful decisions that reflect the long-term interests of our community.

My parents were early Korean immigrants who arrived in the Lower Mainland in the late 1960s. In 1981, when I was eight, our family moved to Coquitlam. Today, three generations of my family live, work and study in the Tri-Cities. My parents built their lives and small businesses from the ground up, teaching me that success is not just about what you achieve for yourself, but what you do for others and your community.

Before serving on Council, I built a career in marketing and communications, working with small businesses, technology companies, non-profits and professional organizations across B.C. For the past two years, I have also served as Executive Director of a Tri-Cities-based charity supporting vulnerable and at-risk youth and families. This experience has deepened my understanding of the challenges facing our community and reinforced the importance of prevention, compassion and strong partnerships.

As Coquitlam continues to grow, my Five Priorities are:

• Plan responsibly for our future
• Grow a strong local economy
• Protect what makes Coquitlam special
• Advocate for Coquitlam
• Lead thoughtfully

Together, let's continue to build a stronger Coquitlam for today, for tomorrow, and for generations to come.

Please visit SteveKim4Council.ca for more detailed information.

Nomination Documents: KYLE-LEFEBVRE, Genevieve (PDF)

Email: robertjmazzarolo@gmail.com

Facebook: @robert.mazzarolo

Instagram: @robertmazzarolo

Nomination Documents: MAZZAROLO, Robert (PDF)

As a lifelong Coquitlam resident, being an active volunteer for our community has always been a priority for me. My guiding principle continues to be to do what is in their best interest of our residents of today and what is in the best interest of our residents of tomorrow. 

My vision for our city is for residents to receive value for their tax dollars, invest in community infrastructure, enhance our local economy, push for a family-size housing policy, and advocate for increased transit and medical services. As a lawyer, my career continues to provide me with unique skills that I want to continue to bring to city council for the benefit of residents. I routinely advocate for my clients’ interests and negotiate to achieve the best possible outcome. I want to continue to put these skills to work for you and provide more for our community.

My commitments to our community and past experiences include:

• Chair of Economic Development, Environmental Sustainability, Multiculturalism, and Culture Services advisory committees
• Volunteer Director for SHARE Family and Community Services Society
• Volunteer Director for 43 Housing Society
• Volunteer Director for The People’s Pantry Food Recovery Society
• Volunteer and paid Coach for Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club
• Bachelor's Degree majoring in economics from Simon Fraser University
• Centennial Secondary School graduate

My wife, Roxana, and I look forward to raising our family in the City of Coquitlam that we both love. I want to ensure that your family and future generations have the same opportunities that I had growing up in Coquitlam. With your trust, support, and vote, I am confident I can continue to serve you and your family well on Coquitlam city council. 

Nomination Documents: MCBRYER, Cameron (PDF)

Email: elect@benjaminperry.ca

Website: BenjaminPerry.ca

Facebook: @PerryCoquitlam

 Youtube: @benjaminperry1590

Instagram: @benjaminperry4coquitlam

Nomination Documents: PERRY, Benjamin (PDF)

Benjamin Perry is a longtime Coquitlam resident and community advocate who believes City Hall should put the needs of residents first.

Benjamin does not accept campaign donations from executives or owners of property development companies and is independent of political parties. His first responsibility as a councillor will be to represent the residents and business owners of Coquitlam.

His platform has been shaped by thousands of conversations with residents at their doors, in neighbourhoods and throughout the community. Those conversations have helped set the priorities he is bringing to City Hall:

Growth That Works for Residents; Safer Streets and Managed Traffic; A Green, Liveable City; and Keeping Coquitlam Affordable.

That means making sure growth doesn’t outpace infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, roads and other services residents need; improving pedestrian and road safety; protecting trees, parks and natural areas; supporting affordable and family-sized housing; strengthening protections for renters; protecting industrial and employment lands; and ensuring tax dollars are spent responsibly.

Benjamin wants Coquitlam to remain a welcoming and inclusive city that values its cultural assets, including the cultural heritage of Maillardville and the diverse cultural communities that have made Coquitlam their home. He is committed to reconciliation and to strengthening the City’s relationship with the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation.

Benjamin believes residents deserve meaningful opportunities to shape decisions affecting their neighbourhoods. He wants public consultation to be accessible and meaningful, with a City Hall that genuinely listens to the people it serves.

If elected, Benjamin Perry will take leave from his healthcare job to serve as a full-time representative for the people of Coquitlam.

Email: shereen.samimi@gmail.com

Instagram: @samimi4ccc

Nomination Documents: SAMIMI, Shereen (PDF)

I was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and moved to Coquitlam in 2010. Since then, Coquitlam has become my home, and it is where my husband and I have chosen to raise our son.

Outside of community volunteering, I am a graduate of the University of Victoria, where I studied psychology and social justice. My education later took me to Harvard for grad school, where I continued studying psychology and social epidemiology. My time at Harvard deepened my understanding of social determinants of health, the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, and how profoundly those conditions shape our health and well-being.

That experience shaped how I think about public policy. Health and well-being cannot be separated from the communities we build. Housing, transportation, the environment, social connection, and access to community spaces all influence whether people can thrive. I believe we need to bring a social-determinants-of-health lens into local policy and decision-making.

My platform is focused on circular economy principles, integrating social determinants of health into policy, building a stronger designated Blue Community, bringing urban planning and public health perspectives to the way we approach traffic and road safety, and creating more third spaces where people can connect, gather, and belong.

My work with the Together Against Poverty Society in Victoria also showed me firsthand how important affordable housing is, not simply as a housing issue, but as a foundation for health, stability, and opportunity. Everyone deserves the ability to find a safe and affordable place to call home.

I am running for Coquitlam City Council because I believe local government has an important role in shaping the conditions that allow people and communities to flourish. This is an independent, grassroots campaign. I will work hard for you, Coquitlam. 

Think global. Act local.

Email: Matthew@MatthewSebastiani.ca

Website: www.matthewsebastiani.ca

Facebook: @Matthew.Sebastiani.Coquitlam

Instagram: @Matthew.Sebastiani

Nomination Documents: SEBASTIANI, Matthew (PDF) 

I’m a lifelong Coquitlam resident who grew up in Burquitlam, attended local public schools, and spent countless hours in our parks and recreation centres.

As a finance and policy professional and long-time community advocate, I bring a unique blend of financial experience and collaborative leadership. Professionally, I’ve served as a Senior Analyst at the Bank of Canada, Associate Director of Corporate Development in life sciences, and Policy Advisor for the Senate of Canada. I hold an MBA in Finance from UBC Sauder and a BA (Honours) in Economics from SFU. My background equips me to deliver fiscally responsible decision-making at City Hall.

My dedication to Coquitlam is demonstrated through extensive local non-profit leadership past and present, including: Chair of the Coquitlam Foundation, President of Place des Arts, Director for the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, Director of the Coquitlam North Road Business Improvement Association, and Citizen Representative on the City of Coquitlam’s Economic Development Committee and Universal Access-Ability Committee. In 2025, I was recognized as the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the Year. 

My Five Platform Pillars

• Practical solutions to affordability: Keep property taxes low and predictable. Support a balanced mix of housing, including affordable options. 
• Responsible financial stewardship: Prioritize essential services and scrutinize new spending. Uphold fiscal accountability at Metro Vancouver.
• Safe, inclusive, and accessible communities: Provide resources to fire and police to keep our community safe. Reduce road congestion and improve transit. 
• Enhancing community life: Invest in local parks, recreation facilities, and support sports, arts, and culture.
• A future-ready Coquitlam: Build infrastructure to match growth. Diversify the local economy.

I care deeply about our community, and I bring the experience and passion needed to serve. Join me in Building Coquitlam’s Future Together.

Nomination Documents: SU, Harvey (PDF)

Email: KashTayal@gmail.com

Website: www.KashTayal.com

Facebook: @tayalk 

X: @KashTayal

Instagram: @kashtayal

YouTube: @KashTayalCampaign

Nomination Documents: TAYAL, Kash (PDF)

From the Ground Up to Giving Back

My journey has been shaped by hard work, resilience, and the belief that opportunity is earned through determination. It began in Europe with a scholarship to study hospitality and little more than the bare minimum needed to survive. I took on a dishwasher’s job to support myself and help fund my education. Through perseverance and a commitment to excellence, I worked my way up to managing international hospitality operations, gaining firsthand experience in hard work, accountability, service, and leadership.

My wife and I proudly made Canada our home in 2006, where I launched my first business from our basement. Through innovation, perseverance, and an entrepreneurial mindset, I built a successful hospitality supply enterprise specializing in eCommerce, IT, warehousing, and logistics.

Four pillar values define who I am and how I want to serve Coquitlam:

• ENTREPRENEURSHIP — I understand how to build, manage, solve problems, create opportunities, and turn ideas into results.

• FISCAL PRUDENCE — I believe in disciplined budgeting, responsible financial management, accountability, and ensuring taxpayer dollars deliver value.

• FAMILY & COMMUNITY — As a family man and community volunteer, I believe strongly in educational values, safe neighborhoods, engaged citizens, and vibrant parks, sports, recreation are the foundation of a great city.

• IMMIGRANT SUCCESS: As an immigrant who built a life and business in Canada, I have experienced firsthand the opportunity this country provides. I want Coquitlam to remain a place where families, entrepreneurs, newcomers, and future generations can pursue their dreams.

Coquitlam is our home, and I’m running for City Council to bring entrepreneurial thinking, strategic leadership, disciplined budgeting, and accountable decision-making to City Hall. My commitment is simple: practical, results-driven solutions that build a safer, smarter, more connected Coquitlam while protecting taxpayer value

Email: jane@janethomsing.ca

Website: https://janethomsing.ca/

Facebook: @jane.thomsing

Instagram: @janethomsing

Nomination Documents: THOMSING, Jane (PDF)

I've been proud to call Coquitlam home for nearly twenty years. I'm running because I believe in making sure our city remains the best place to raise a family, be near nature, and have access to excellent amenities.

Most of us in Coquitlam are juggling some combination of work, kids, family responsibilities, long commutes, and bills that keep going up. As a mom of three kids and an education assistant in School District 43, I understand the daily struggles families face.

I serve as a Nature Ambassador with the Lower Coquitlam River Nature Association and volunteer helping children connect with nature, supporting environmental initiatives, and assisting in the rescue of injured wildlife.

I believe everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. As Coquitlam grows, we need a range of housing options for people at every stage of life, thoughtfully planned near transit, and supported by parks, schools, and community spaces. 

We must balance growth with safety, environmental responsibility, and affordability. This means ensuring community safety resources, city amenities, and services keep pace with population growth, improving compassionate responses to mental health challenges, tackling climate change, and reducing traffic congestion.

As your city councillor, I'll focus on the cost of living, making sure our communities are healthy, and ensuring this city is for residents of every age and background. 

I'd love to hear from you, and I hope to earn your vote on October 17.

Email: Rosalindaforcouncil@gmail.com

Website: RosalindaforCouncil.ca

Facebook: @Rosalinda-Thorleifson

Instagram: @rosalinda_thorleifson

Nomination Documents: THORLEIFSON, Rosalinda (PDF)

Lifelong Coquitlam resident, three generations deep, with 15 years building marketing and growth departments at enterprise companies and Canadian tech startups. 

President of her strata council, leading budgeting, infrastructure planning, and long-term savings strategy. Running as an independent for council on October 17th to bring that strategy and discipline to city hall.

Platform summary:

• Housing: Push for more 2 and 3 bedroom homes in every development, build non-market and co-op housing into how neighbourhoods grow, and hold firm on parks, schools, and infrastructure that keep pace with growth
• Growth: Cut red tape and push for a fast-track permit stream, champion small business and entrepreneurs, and communicate the city’s budget in plain language
• Jobs: Strategically diversify Coquitlam’s economy by investing in industrial land and every SkyTrain hub, bringing new revenue streams that ease the property tax burden on homeowners
• Tech Sovereignty: Champion a Coquitlam data residency policy and push city technology contracts to prioritize BC and Canadian companies first
• Green Spaces: Protect the urban tree canopy, fund real wildfire prevention, and steward Pinecone Burke Park for the next generation
• Safety: Better lighting near parks and transit, safer sidewalks and roadways, and outreach and mental health response paired with policing
• Community: Push for real mental health funding, a mix of shelter options, and expanded access to family doctors through BC’s internationally-trained doctor program
• Accountability: Base every vote on what residents actually tell her, and keep her decisions and donors fully open to the public
• Neighbourhoods: Real consultation before traffic and parking changes, explaining the why behind every redesign, and better bus service where SkyTrain doesn’t reach

Read the full platform in detail at rosalindaforcouncil.ca. 

Vote for Rosalinda on October 17th for Coquitlam City Council.

Email: teri@teritowner.ca

Website: teritowner.ca

Facebook: @TeriTownerCoquitlam

Instagram: @teritownercllr

Nomination Documents: TOWNER, Teri (PDF)

I love Coquitlam and genuinely love the work of serving our community. I’m seeking re-election because I’m still energized by the opportunity to make a difference, excited about Coquitlam’s future and committed to working hard for the people who call our city home.

I believe good local government starts with listening, showing up and focusing on what matters in people’s everyday lives: safe neighbourhoods, well-maintained roads and sidewalks, reliable police, fire and bylaw services, parks and trails, recreation and community facilities, transportation options, housing choices and the infrastructure needed to support a growing city.

My approach to decision-making is practical, balanced and solutions-oriented. I continually come back to four important lenses: livability, affordability, sustainability and accessibility. I believe we must manage taxpayers’ dollars responsibly, scrutinize spending and keep property taxes as low as reasonably possible while continuing to deliver the quality services residents rely on.

Through my time on Council, I’ve gained significant knowledge and experience, built strong relationships with community organizations and other levels of government, and helped advance important investments in housing, public safety, parks, recreation and community amenities. I’m proud to be approachable, responsive and actively involved throughout our community.

The next Council will bring considerable change, with a new mayor and several new councillors. I welcome the new voices, perspectives and ideas that will come with that change. I also believe my experience, relationships and knowledge can contribute valuable continuity as we work collaboratively to address the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Most of all, I want Coquitlam to remain a safe, welcoming, vibrant and connected community where people can put down roots, raise a family, age in place and belong.

I would be honoured to earn your trust and your vote for another four years.

Email: lien.tran002@gmail.com

Website: www.lilientran.ca

Nomination Documents: TRAN, Lili (PDF) 

I am running to help shape a city that grows sustainably while protecting affordability, neighbourhood character, public spaces, and quality of life. I believe Coquitlam is a city with enormous potential, and residents deserve a council who listens carefully, communicates transparently, and put the residents’ everyday concerns at the centre of local decision-making.

My campaign pledges to bring transparent, community-focused leadership through active listening, open communication, and practical action on climate and sustainability.

Grassroots campaign prioritizes transparent community engagement; low-carbon transportation; housing affordability and smart growth; early childhood education and childcare access; environmental stewardship that protects Coquitlam’s parks and ecosystems; local endeavours and community partnerships support. 

My campaign is about creating a more affordable, connected, and sustainable Coquitlam—one where families, seniors, workers, and small businesses can thrive.

I bring 10+ years of combined private- and public-sector experience in building science and provincial housing strategies. My extensive experience in civil infrastructures, budgeting, strategic planning, and community advocacy provides me with the analytical tools needed to ensure transparent, accountable local decision-making. 

I hold a bachelor’s degree of applied science in civil engineering from UBC and a master’s degree of engineering in building science from BCIT, grounding my campaign in technical expertise, evidence-based decision-making, and a commitment to building a sustainable Coquitlam.

Residing in Ranch Park neighborhood, our family is raising our 2-year-old daughter, a 6-year-old French bulldog, and caring for our elderly mother.

Email: harry@harrywarren.ca

Website: harrywarren.ca

Facebook: "Harry Warren in Coquitlam" (Candidate Did Not Provide Link) 

Instagram: @HarrywarrendubsCDN

 YouTube: @HarryWarrenCDN

Nomination Documents: WARREN, Harry (PDF)

I have lived in Coquitlam my entire life, I’m aware of the major issues in our city. We need to ‘Keep It Super Simple’ in regulation, policy, for homeowners and city business. Easier to understand and less volume of paperwork. We need more sports training facilities, like baseball and others, so that youth have great places to excel in the sport they love. We need to build on community & senior centres, libraries, parks and connecting communities. Improving our road network.

Police, Fire and Search & Rescue receiving increased funding to be effective in the extremely important jobs that they do everyday. We need to encourage PoCo to build their own police station - as the one in town centre is full now.

Handle the housing issues differently, from homelessness to the different levels of housing affordability that uses a Made in Canada solution to solve these issues. A city review of what works and what does not.

Good financial management. Maintain city services, be responsible with the taxes collected. Encourage more growth in the commercial and industrial tax base to limit tax increases on residential properties.

The city should be looking at involving the local user groups to help design and get their assistance on building these capital builds for less.

Dealing with the wildlife attractants issues with more education.

Buying local and Canadian made as a first priority for all purchases.

Gander Social: @harrydoubleu