Patrick Johnstone is immersing himself in the Royal City in numerous ways, whether it's volunteering on city committees, pursuing environmental initiatives through New Westminster Environmental Partners, curling at the Royal City Curling Club or donning a referee's jersey to MC an all-candidates meeting during the recent civic election campaign. Let's get to know this resident whose opinions on various issues can be read on his blog, (nwimby.blogspot.ca).
Theresa McManus: Can you introduce yourself?
Patrick Johnstone: Patrick Johnstone, New West resident, geoscientist, environmental coordinator, rabble-rouser, proto-pundit, purveyor of ideas and active member of my community.
TM: How did you end up in New Westminster?
PJ: I was born and raised in Castlegar, in the sunny West Kootenay, but came to coast as a teenager for the unknown opportunities. The first apartment I ever paid rent on was on Royal Avenue in the late 80s. After several years of different jobs and school, and after meeting my partner, we came back to New West, so the first place I ever made a mortgage payment on was on Royal Avenue. We ended up back here because we loved the location, the SkyTrain access, the fact it is a small town in the middle of a big city, it was affordable, and a compact enough city that we can walk and bike places. It helped that New West hosts the best curling club in B.C.
TM: You're an environmental geoscientist - what led you to pursue that education path and what sort of experiences have you had in that field?
PJ: I have always loved science, and started university as a chemistry major; ends up chemistry was no fun, and I loved geography and geology. After a few years doing geology work, I completed a master's degree, on a topic that was leading me towards an oil industry job. At some point, I decided I didn't want to work for Dick Cheney or move to Calgary, and instead found a more fulfilling way to apply my education towards finding solutions for problems instead of creating them.
The best experiences I have had in geoscience were back in my mapping days. I spent a couple of summers making geological maps in some of the most remote parts of central B.C., and a magical summer mapping rocks on the Southern Gulf Islands for my master's. I seem to remember it was challenging at the time, but these days I only recall the fun and the wonder of exploration. With the benefit of time, all the negatives have been woven into "bears and bugs stories" that all field geologists share.
TM: You're employed as an environmental coordinator - can you tell me about that work?
PJ: I work for a municipality, the token non-biologist in the environmental sustainability group. My file is essentially "pollution prevention". This means I deal with contaminated sites issues, spill response, and protecting water and soil from all sorts of pollution-related indignities. Part of my role is helping different city departments understand what they have to do to stay compliant with environmental laws, and part of it is helping residents and businesses understand the same thing.
It is fun, because I work with many different city departments, and directly with the public. Sometimes I am the "bad guy" for suggesting to someone that what they are doing is rather illegal and bad for the fish, sometimes I am the "good guy" finding ways to help residents deal with their concerns, or navigate the inevitable bureaucracy. Never a dull day.
TM: As someone working in the environmental field, what are your thoughts on New Westminster's environmental offerings? Is there anything you'd like to see
offered that's not currently available?
PJ: Although it sounds like I am always complaining, I think New West does a pretty good job overall. The staff and council seem aware of the issues, and have shown an ability to turn into advantages some of the some challenges inherent to a small, built-out urban centre with a relatively small tax. We are not the "greenest" municipality, but we are far from the worst. From my time at the New Westminster Environmental Partners, I can say city staff and council were always willing to listen and discuss environmental issues, they were never dismissive of legitimate concerns, and that is half the battle.
I think there are a few unique characteristics of New West that we could take more advantage of: with our own electrical utility we could take more of lead on energy efficiency; we own our roadways (unlike most municipalities), so you would think we could be more proactive at discouraging those hundreds of thousands of through-drivers every day instead of waiting to see what TransLink or the province try to come up with next. We lack a tree protection bylaw, and I can't get a water meter for my home. However, I also see signs of progress: our solid waste plan, the revitalization of the downtown on a transit-oriented model, a master transportation plan that emphasises sustainable modes, an aggressive community energy and emission plan, and the continued re-engagement of the riverfront, from Downtown to Queensborough. It is a work in progress, but the progress is visible and it is real.
TM: You work as an environmental coordinator today - what was your first job?
PJ: When I was nine years old, my parents bought a sporting goods store. My earliest job was replacing flat tires on bikes and sorting cross-country skis and hockey sticks on the racks. I'm not sure when I started, or when they decided to start paying me to do it, it seems I was always in the shop doing odd jobs. It paid off, though, as I worked my way through university turning wrenches at bike shops and installing bindings on skis. It also fostered my life-long love of bicycles.
TM: You're the past president of New Westminster Environmental Partners, a group that's highlighted various environmental and transportation issues. What is the group focusing on at this time?
PJ: Too many things for one member to keep track of! There is a group very engaged in the master transportation plan process, and the discussions around the potential replacement of the Pattullo Bridge. Another group is still beating the drum on solid waste issues, happy to see the city extending organic pick-up to multi-family housing, while keeping a wary eye on the political situation around trash incinerators. We are working with the Fraser River Discovery Centre and the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup to coordinate a clean-up event around Fraser Fest. A few of our members are working on a "Green Map" project for New West, some on the New West Doc Fest, some on a more proactive social media presence. There are probably a few other things I don't even know about, but rest assured it is just the usual "radical environmentalist" stuff.
TM: You're now serving on three of the City of New Westminster's advisory committees. Which committees are you on, and what are your goals on this front?
PJ: I joined the bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee a couple of years ago, as sustainable transportation is an interest of mine. As lifelong recreational and commuter cyclist, I want to help build better infrastructure for bikes. I am also representing that committee on the master transportation planning committee, for the same reasons. I joined the emergency advisory committee last year, because I thought I could contribute, having a lot of geoscience knowledge around natural disasters, and having extensive emergency operations centre training as part of my job.
My goals are just to take part in my community, stay involved and use the skills I have. I was raised to believe that you are responsible for the community around you, and it is better to work to improve it than to sit at home complaining about it (although I still do a lot of the latter!). I also volunteer on the boards of the Royal City Curling Club and the Environmental Managers Association of B.C. Needless to say, I go to a lot of meetings.
TM: Do you have any hobbies?
PJ: Besides meetings? Aside from the inordinate amount of time I spend inside curling rinks in the winter, I try to spend as much time as possible outdoors: riding my bicycles, hiking, and travelling. Geology has become a bit of a hobby, now that I am not looking at rocks professionally. I read a lot of science, engage in the social media, and write when I find time and/or inspiration. The little vegetable garden in my front yard and my composting complex keep me busy around the yard. I also talk a lot. Is talking a hobby?
TM: As the founder of the New Westminster In My Back Yard blog (nwimby.blogspot.ca) and formerly Green New West, you've commented on everything from the proliferation of dollar stores, to civic election expenses to transportation issues in New West. Other than being a "rabble rouser" what's your goal for the blog?
PJ: No, I think rabble-rousing is the ultimate goal. I really just want to keep the conversation going on issues I care about. I like to write, to debate ideas, and I clearly need the practice at both. Letters to the editor are limited to a few hundred words, and I can't sing Happy Birthday in less than 600. The blog is my chance to vent. Hopefully, once in a while one of the readers (Hi Mom!) will agree or disagree with me strongly enough to raise a ruckus - that is how change happens in a community.
TM: What's your favourite thing about living in New Westminster?
PJ: It is a community within in a big city. I'm a small-town boy, and my partner is a big-city girl; we find New Westminster the perfect balance. We are 25 minutes by SkyTrain from anywhere, yet when I go to a civic event in New West, I often know most of the people in the room. I belong to a great curling club, I have a diverse network of interesting friends, my neighbours are friendly, we can walk to a great selection of pubs and restaurants, and the garden in my front yard is coming together. My favourite thing is that it is home, it is where my back yard is.
