Coquitlam Councillor Teri Towner has called Coquitlam home for 27 years. She is the proud mother of two adult children and is delighted to now be a grandmother to her young grandson.
Teri holds a Business degree from Simon Fraser University and has built rewarding careers in banking, human resources and the non-profit sector.
A passionate community volunteer and leader, Teri has dedicated decades of service to initiatives that strengthen connection, inclusion and quality of life in the community. Her current volunteer involvements include:
- Burke Mountain Naturalists - supporting invasive plant removal and environmental stewardship initiatives
- 100 Women Who Care Tri-Cities - founding member
- Meaningful Meals for Seniors - volunteer driver
- Local Leaders for Mental Health
- Mentor with Nominee and other platforms – support youth, women and aspiring elected officials
- Habitat for Humanity Family Partnering Committee
- In 2016, Teri co-founded the TriCities Friends of Refugees Task Group (TFOR), which she led as it evolved into a registered non-profit society and later rebranded as In Your Corner Re-Start Support Society
Over the years, Teri has also contributed extensive volunteer leadership to numerous community organizations and initiatives, including:
- Board and volunteer roles with Community Volunteer Connections, SHARE Family & Community Services, Raise-a-Reader literacy campaigns, school breakfast programs, Operation Red Nose, Terry Fox Run events, Pink Shirt Day anti-bullying initiatives, shoreline cleanups, telethons, the 55+ BC Games, the Adopt-a-Street litter control program, Talk of the Town Toastmasters Club and stewardship of a Little Free Library
- Service on 17 Parent Advisory Council executives as well as 10 years on the District PAC43 executive while her children were in school
Teri’s community contributions have been recognized through several awards and nominations, including the provincial BCCPAC Award for Excellence in Parent Leadership, the inaugural Women’s Collaborative Hub “Inspirational Wonder Woman” award and nominations for the Society for Community Development’s “Spirit of Community” award and SportMedBC’s Sun Run Clinic “Leader of the Year” award.
First elected to Coquitlam City Council in 2014, Teri remains deeply committed to enhancing livability in Coquitlam, with a focus on traffic safety - particularly around schools - recreation, environmental sustainability, accessibility, housing, seniors and families.
Teri currently serves as:
- Chair of Coquitlam’s Economic Development Advisory Committee
- Chair of Coquitlam’s Cultural Services Advisory Committee
- Director on the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors
- Vice-Chair of Metro Vancouver’s Housing Committee
- Member of Metro Vancouver’s Governance Committee
Over her time on Council, she has also chaired or vice-chaired numerous City advisory committees, including Sports and Recreation, Community Safety, Multiculturalism and Sustainability, and has been active on the Homelessness & Housing Task Force and the Coquitlam Watershed Roundtable.