Harold Steves
Encyclopedia
Harold Steves, born 1937, in Richmond, British Columbia
, is a Canadian
politician
. Steves is a current and long term city councillor on Richmond City Council, British Columbia, first elected in 1969 and re-elected in 1977, after serving one term as the New Democratic Party of British Columbia
MLA from 1973-1975.
A former school teacher and active rancher by profession, Harold is very active in community life in the Steveston area, and is particularly interested in the preservation of farmland, heritage preservation, and environmental issues.
In the mid-1960s Harold drafted the initial resolutions to NDP conventions to establish an Agricultural Land Bank system in British Columbia. As an MLA he was active in the establishment of the "Agricultural Land Reserve" under the Dave Barrett NDP Government and for the following decades, one of its strongest defenders. He is presently active in the Farmland Defense League.
, urban agriculture
and food security for the region. He represents Richmond as second Director on the Board of Directors of Metro Vancouver and is the alternate Council representative to the Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee. He was the LMTAC rep at the treaty table for the Tsawwassen First Nation treaty negotiations. Harold is also a director of the BC Groundfish Development Authority.
Harold is Chair of the Planning Committee of Richmond Council. He is also a member of the Finance; General Purposes; Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services and the Public Works & Transportation Committees of Council. Harold is a Council representative to the following advisory committees, organizations and community associations: the Agricultural Advisory Committee; the Corporate Sponsorship Program Committee; the Olympic Business Advisory Committee; the Richmond Farmers' Institute; the Sea Island Community Association; the Britannia Heritage Shipyard Advisory Board (alternate); the Museum Society Board; the Steveston Harbour Authority Board (alternate) and the Britannia Heritage Shipyard Society.He is also a director of the Richmond Athletic Commission established recently to regulate professional boxing in Richmond
Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
, is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Steves is a current and long term city councillor on Richmond City Council, British Columbia, first elected in 1969 and re-elected in 1977, after serving one term as the New Democratic Party of British Columbia
New Democratic Party of British Columbia
The New Democratic Party of British Columbia is a social-democratic political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party currently forms the official opposition to the governing British Columbia Liberal Party following the 2009 provincial election in British Columbia.The BC NDP is the provincial...
MLA from 1973-1975.
Early and current life
The Steves family is one of Richmond's first founding families, after which the community of Steveston is named. Manoah and Martha Steves were the first settlers in the area, arriving in 1877. They imported the first purebred Holstein cattle into BC, established a dairy to provide milk for the fledgling City of Vancouver and were Western Canada's first seedsmen. Born of Maude and Harold Sr., Harold and wife Kathy still reside in the old Steves farmhouse, built in 1917, on what is now an 11 acres (44,515.5 m²) cattle farm surrounded by residential development. Harold is a graduate of the University of British Columbia with a BSc in Agriculture.A former school teacher and active rancher by profession, Harold is very active in community life in the Steveston area, and is particularly interested in the preservation of farmland, heritage preservation, and environmental issues.
In the mid-1960s Harold drafted the initial resolutions to NDP conventions to establish an Agricultural Land Bank system in British Columbia. As an MLA he was active in the establishment of the "Agricultural Land Reserve" under the Dave Barrett NDP Government and for the following decades, one of its strongest defenders. He is presently active in the Farmland Defense League.
Current political life
Harold is the Chair of Agriculture for Metro Vancouver and is promoting farmland preservationFarmland preservation
Farmland preservation is a joint effort by non-governmental organizations and local governments to set aside and protect examples of a region's farmland for the use, education, and enjoyment of future generations...
, urban agriculture
Urban agriculture
Urban agriculture is the practice of cultivating, processing and distributing food in, or around, a village, town or city. Urban agriculture in addition can also involve animal husbandry, aquaculture, agro-forestry and horticulture...
and food security for the region. He represents Richmond as second Director on the Board of Directors of Metro Vancouver and is the alternate Council representative to the Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee. He was the LMTAC rep at the treaty table for the Tsawwassen First Nation treaty negotiations. Harold is also a director of the BC Groundfish Development Authority.
Harold is Chair of the Planning Committee of Richmond Council. He is also a member of the Finance; General Purposes; Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services and the Public Works & Transportation Committees of Council. Harold is a Council representative to the following advisory committees, organizations and community associations: the Agricultural Advisory Committee; the Corporate Sponsorship Program Committee; the Olympic Business Advisory Committee; the Richmond Farmers' Institute; the Sea Island Community Association; the Britannia Heritage Shipyard Advisory Board (alternate); the Museum Society Board; the Steveston Harbour Authority Board (alternate) and the Britannia Heritage Shipyard Society.He is also a director of the Richmond Athletic Commission established recently to regulate professional boxing in Richmond