BIO
I am a husband and father of two, a farm boy, a life-long Islander, a leader with broad experience in both the small-business and non-profit sectors, and a current Councillor for the Town of Ladysmith, running for re-election on October 17, 2026.
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I grew up in a rural area between Parksville and Qualicum Beach where my family owned and operated a dairy farm and cheese company called Little Qualicum Cheeseworks. My upbringing gave me a passion for local food and agriculture and appreciation for the entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic that marks so many of our Island communities.
I completed a bachelor's degree from Briercrest College in 2014 and took the role of Youth and Worship Director at Oceanview Community Church in Ladysmith - where my wife, Rebecca, was raised. This is when I first fell in love with Ladysmith - the historic charm, the vibrant local events, the walkable downtown, the high quality local parks and amenities, and much more.
In 2017, Rebecca and I moved our growing family to Parksville where I took a lead role in our family business. I worked closely with my father, Clarke Gourlay, as he ran and was elected as the Area Director for our region of the RDN in 2018 - his passion for public service and positive community impact inspired me greatly and stuck with me past his sudden passing in 2019. I continued managing the business and helping it grow as we navigated numerous changes in the dairy industry and the world, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic brought monumental changes to the food and tourism industries.
In 2021, we made the decision to sell the farm and business, at which point Rebecca and I moved our family back to Ladysmith. I stayed in the dairy industry, as production manager for Promise Valley Farm and Creamery in North Cowich, helping establish their commercial production facility and developing their line of artisan yogurts.
In 2022, I attended multiple public input events for the Ladysmith Official Community Plan and became energized by the ambitious ideas and bold vision that emerged from and for the community during that process. I loved the way the draft OCP laid out a vision for a diversified economy, a greater range of housing options, a vibrant heritage, arts and cultural scene, and a robust plan to renew critical infrastructure. Through many discussions with friends, family, and community leaders, I made the decision to run for council and help bring these principles and ideas to fruition.
Over the last four years I’ve learned a lot, I’ve worked hard in my role on council, and I’m immensely proud of what we accomplished.
Outside of my work on council, I returned to the non-profit sector and became the chaplain at The Salvation Army Nanaimo Centre of Hope men’s shelter. I gained first hand experience caring for those most affected by homelessness and addiction and strengthened my passion for strong social services. This passion led me to the role of Operations Manager at Ladysmith Resources Centre Association (LRCA) where I have been serving since January, 2026. My work at LRCA has been very fulfilling and I am continually awed and energized by the amazing team of staff and volunteers we have serving the community of Ladysmith through our many programs for children, youth, families, and seniors. I get to see the impact we have every day in working towards a thriving community for everyone.
In addition to my work as a councillor and operations manager, I am a licensed wedding officiant, a regular volunteer at our church and at other community events, a musician, trail runner, and passionate supporter of whatever my kids are doing at any given time.
I love this community and the work I’ve been able to contribute to to support it. On October 17, I would be honoured to have your support as I seek re-election to Ladysmith Council to build a thriving community for everyone.
