After 12 years of dedicated public service to his community, Sechelt's outgoing mayor Darren Inkster is looking forward to spending more time with his two young sons.
"Before, a lot of my time went to the community, so now my two boys will get the time that they deserve," Inkster said.
He said he is sad to leave his post, though, having poured himself into the position of public servant first as a councillor for three terms and then as mayor of Sechelt for a term.
"It's been fun serving, and I considered it a duty," he said.
However, Inkster said he was getting weary of the misinformation and lies that started circulating months before the campaigning officially started.
"My big concern was how some members of the public were following the misinformation without checking the facts," Inkster said. "I just couldn't believe it toward the end of this term, the misinformation that was out there."
He made reference to accusations pointed at him during the campaign saying things like he was anti-business.
"How did I ever become anti-business? We've had a local business for over 25 years with a lot of local employees," Inkster said.
He feels he has done a fine job as mayor and that many of the things said about him during the election were damaging and untrue.
During Inkster's time on council, he says much has been accomplished for Sechelt.
"There's lots. Recreation facilities is a big one. Norwest Bay Road completion, Mis-sion Point Park acquisition and rejuvenation, reintroduction of the new official community plan. It took five years from visioning to OCP," Inkster said.
Other accomplishments he mentioned include twinning the fields at Kinnikinnick Park and setting it up for tournaments with lighting, a concession stand, washrooms and fountains, establishing washrooms and fountains throughout the District, revitalizing the downtown core, installing a day float, creating a liveable community plan and embarking on District-wide beautification.
"We also now have a tree planting program, proliferation of parkland and beach accesses, expansion of trail networks, waterfront redevelopment and beautification of Davis Bay," Inkster said. "We've done a lot of beautification with the flower beds and hanging planters. I asked for an extension of the planter and banner program this last term and it was expanded onto the side streets."
Inkster said he's proud to have kept the business licences in Sechelt above the 1,000 mark, noting there were previously around 850 licences in Sechelt under the last mayor's watch.
He's also proud of securing money for highway and sewer improvements during his term.
"There was a big debacle last summer [in Davis Bay] but that's just because we were trying to figure out a way to get the work done, but no one had ever secured the funding before like we had," Inkster said.
He hopes he is remembered for his service to Sechelt and the great strides made under his guidance on behalf of the community.
Inkster is unsure what the future holds for him, but his immediate goal will be to finish the community economic development diploma he has been working on.
"My near future goals are to complete the practicum to do with my community economic development diploma; I have to complete that. And my kids deserve their dad back," Inkster said.
