A public and natural space advocate, Stuart has been fighting against the privatization of our parks and public spaces for more than 20 years and continues his commitment to maintaining neighbourhood recreational services and keeping the 'public' in public spaces.
Stuart is a retired public school Special Education teacher who retired from Killarney Secondary in 2019. Since then, he worked for the Hon Jody Wilson-Raybould MP as a constituency assistant. Stuart has been a volunteer in his community for many years including May’s Place, a free-standing hospice in the Downtown Eastside; the VanDusen Botanical Garden Association; the Wilderness Committee; and the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC). First elected as a Commissioner of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation in 2008-to 2011, Stuart was re-elected in 2014-to 18 and again in 2018 for another four-year term. Stuart served as Board Chair for 2017-2018, and was re-elected for 2018-19 and again for 2021-22. Stuart has also served as Trustee of the Vancouver Public Library from 2009-10 and 2019-22.
As a Park Board Commissioner, Stuart championed affordable recreation, clean and natural parks, reconciliation, and preparing our parks and recreation facilities for the changes due to climate change. As a City Councillor, Stuart will continue to advocate for neighbourhood services and affordable housing in every area of the city, along with better public transit. He will continue his work on reconciliation and preparing Vancouver to mitigate changes in our climate.