Another person has thrown their hat into the ring for Maple Ridge city council.
Leanne Koehn, a long time Maple Ridge resident, environmental advocate and award-winning community leader has announced her candidacy for city council as part of the A Better Maple Ridge slate in the upcoming municipal election.
Koehn was born and raised in Maple Ridge, and has spent decades contributing to the community through environmental leadership, arts and culture, heritage preservation, and volunteer service.
She is best known for her role with the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society and for organizing Maple Ridge Earth Day celebrations for the past 15 years.
Koehn has served as the inaugural chair of the city’s Environmental Advisory Committee, and she has supported local arts and cultural initiatives.
She is also the founder of Maple Ridge Repair Cafes.
In 2024, she received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of her community service.
“I am passionate about the arts, the environment, and social inclusion,” said Koehn. “One of my personal mottos is ‘do what you can when you can.”
Koehn has also taken on roles with the Maple Ridge Chamber of Commerce, the Pitt Meadows Museum, and the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Her commitment to sustainability is reflected in the award-winning “Hammond Forever House” – a craftsman-style heritage house built by her grandfather in 1923 that she and her husband renovated to become a nationally recognized model of environmental innovation.
Koehn said she was drawn to the A Better Maple Ridge team because of its commitment to diversity and kindness, as well as their proactive, pragmatic approach to balancing economic initiatives with making the city an appealing place to live, work, and visit.
“Over the past four years, the team has courageously tackled long-standing local issues that many would side-step,” noted Koehn.
“While addressing climate change, economic development, and replacing aging infrastructure, they have racked up a resume of impressive initiatives and accomplishments. That’s a team I want to be part of,” she said.
So far the slate comprises of current City of Maple Ridge Mayor Dan Ruimy, and current councillor Korleen Carreras, who are both running for re-election.
If elected, Koehn said her priorities will focus on social inclusion, arts and culture, and environmental, economic, and social stability.
“I am running for people who think you have to become someone else to be a politician,” said Koehn.
“I want to represent the voices who have not traditionally been provided with a safe space to be heard. These voices may be tentative, unsure, or feel unsupported, but they are essential for creating a rich, diverse community.”
For more information about Koehn’s campaign, go to: abettermapleridge.ca.