Dan Ruimy has announced he will take a run at returning to Maple Ridge’s mayor’s office for a second term in this October’s city election.
“The decisions we make today will shape Maple Ridge for decades to come,” said Ruimy in making the announcement.
He brought a message about finishing the job started by the current council.
“Maple Ridge is now one of the fastest-growing communities in British Columbia, and with that growth comes both opportunity and responsibility,” said Ruimy. “Over the past three and a half years, we have made the financial decisions necessary to strengthen public safety, invest in critical infrastructure, improve city services, and prepare our community for the future. We have built momentum on major priorities, from recreation and transportation to economic growth and community safety, but there is still important work to do. I am running because I believe the best days for Maple Ridge are still ahead.”
In October 2022, his slate “A Better Maple Ridge” swept into city hall, with four rookie councillors.
Ruimy won 6,306 votes, compared to incumbent Mike Morden’s 4,321, Corisa Bell’s 2,799, Darleen Bernard at 600 and Jacques Blackstone 346 votes.
Ruimy entered politics in 2015 with Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party, and as a comparative unknown he won the Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge riding. He served one term before being defeated in 2019 by Conservative Marc Dalton.
Having called Maple Ridge home for nearly two decades, Ruimy has a background in business. He was the owner of the Bean Around Books and Tea coffee shop and bookstore when he entered politics. Earlier, he worked with franchisees for Quiznos, and his bio notes he spent more than 35 years in the hospitality and franchise industry, “advancing from frontline positions to senior leadership roles across Canada and internationally.”
During his first term, Ruimy and council authorized 22 new RCMP officers and 22 new firefighters, which he said was the first significant increase in the fire service in years.
He said council advanced major infrastructure projects advanced, improved long-term financial planning, and had important conversations around recreation and community amenities.
“What makes me especially proud is not just any one project, but the broader shift toward planning proactively rather than reactively,” said Ruimy. “Maple Ridge is growing quickly, and it would have been easy to avoid difficult conversations or delay major decisions. Instead, we have focused on preparing the city for the future while still being mindful of affordability and the pressures residents are facing.”
Ruimy said his decision to seek another term is rooted in commitment to the community, and a belief in the city’s potential.
“I’m running for the people of Maple Ridge – the families trying to build a good life here, the seniors who want to age in place with dignity, the young people looking for opportunity, the business owners investing in our community, and the residents who simply want their city to remain safe, connected, and livable as we grow,” he said.
In recent history, it has been tough for a mayor to win a second term. Through a span of 40 years, and 11 mayors, before Ruimy, only two Maple Ridge mayors were been returned to office for a second term – Ernie Daykin (2008-2014) and Carl Durksen (1994-1999). Those were just three-year terms, not the modern four years.
Ruimy emphasized that the coming years will require steady leadership focused on bringing people together and making thoughtful decisions that require balance and long-term thinking for Maple Ridge’s future.
“I believe in practical solutions, responsible growth, strong public safety and infrastructure investments, and leading with respect, collaboration, and accountability,” said Ruimy. “I want people to feel that they have a mayor who listens, who shows up, and who genuinely cares about where this city is heading.”
Ruimy is the first to publicly announce his candidacy for mayor in the Oct. 17 election.
His campaign page is at abettermapleridge.ca.