Shervin Shahriari

In my college-level project and operations management teaching career, I guided hundreds of student projects focused on making a positive difference in the community. These included environmental fundraising, sustainability campaigns, clothing exchanges, food security initiatives, and sustainable operations improvements. I have also promoted volunteerism with the North Shore Streamkeepers.
As a City Councillor, I have often advocated for climate action and environmental stewardship. In 2023, I brought forward a successful motion to develop incentives for developers to protect and retain large and mature healthy trees in areas not covered by the Tree Bylaw. That motion also requires staff to report annually on the number of mature trees that are retained or removed under the Tree Bylaw or incentive programs. I have advocated for adequate standards for plantable areas in new developments, building designs that incorporate natural cooling elements, and supported energy-efficient buildings. I advocated for community gardens, pollinator meadows, and increased annual tree planting in parks, boulevards, and along streets.
I opposed a proposed development on East 16th because of the planned removal of all 25 mature trees on the site. I also added my voice to concerns about a construction project near a creek where the initial plans did not adequately address the potential risks to the creek from construction-related dewatering.
I also try to make sustainable transportation choices in my daily life. I often walk to Council meetings and walk, take transit or use an e-bike for many other daily trips.

Lonsdale Energy has reported progress in reducing its reliance on higher-carbon energy sources. According to a June 2026 report to Council, the percentage of energy from low-carbon sources has increased from 1.8% to nearly 25% over the past five years. The commissioning of a new electric boiler energy centre and a planned Urban Heat Recovery Centre are expected to further improve this.
The report also identifies the completion of the Clean Energy Action Roadmap and an updated cooling policy as upcoming work. It sets a target of 40% of energy coming from low-carbon sources in 2027, with net-zero emissions targeted for 2050.
I would push for a more detailed long-term roadmap showing how we intend to achieve the targets, including the projects, energy sources, expected emissions reductions and financial analysis. The detailed roadmap should include a community engagement component and will be a priority for me in the upcoming term.

I believe RNG was introduced by Lonsdale Energy as an initial tool to reduce emissions. Since then, LEC has continued to add other low-carbon sources, including electric boilers, and is planning to move forward with the Urban Heat Recovery Centre.
I would push for LEC to examine a pathway to progressively reduce and ultimately phase out the use of RNG as other low-carbon sources become operational. A financial analysis will be important in making that decision. It should compare the ongoing cost of RNG with the upfront investment and long-term operating costs of alternatives such as urban heat recovery, electric boilers, heat pumps, geothermal and solar, as appropriate. While some alternatives may require greater investment upfront, they may provide greater long-term environmental and financial benefits. I would want this analysis incorporated into the long-term roadmap discussed in the previous question.

The North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant has placed a significant financial burden on North Shore residents, with the project cost increasing from approximately $700 million to $3.86 billion. I would continue to advocate for the full $235 million settlement with Acciona to be applied directly to reducing costs for North Shore ratepayers. I will continue to support calls for an independent public inquiry into the project, including greater transparency and accountability around its governance, procurement, financial management, oversight and cost escalation. As part of that review, I believe we should examine whether Metro Vancouver’s current governance and management structure is appropriate for managing and overseeing projects of this scale and complexity.
I would also call on both the provincial and federal governments to provide meaningful financial support to help address the extraordinary cost burden that has fallen on North Shore residents. Finally, I would continue advocating for a fairer regional cost-sharing framework, so municipalities are not left carrying disproportionate costs from major regional infrastructure decisions over which they have limited control. I will also push for more detailed long-term financial information from Metro Vancouver so we can understand the future impact on North Shore sewer rates and plan responsibly for residents.

This is and will continue to be a high priority item for me. In 2023, I brought forward a successful motion to develop incentives for developers to protect and retain large and mature trees in areas not covered by the Tree Bylaw, along with annual reporting on mature trees retained or removed. My first priority would be to fully implement and strengthen those incentives, and I will follow up on that in the next term.
We should also make greater use of the City's design guidelines and other development-planning tools to design projects around existing mature trees and prioritize their retention. We should look at expanding the Tree Bylaw to cover areas of private property that it does not cover right now, with a clearly defined permitting process informed by approaches used in other municipalities in the region. I would also explore strengthening the Tree Bylaw to provide meaningful and early opportunities for public input and/or Council consideration when the removal of mature trees is proposed.
Mature trees provide environmental, cooling, stormwater, wildlife habitat and neighbourhood benefits that cannot be quickly replaced by planting new trees. Our planning and development policies should recognize that value and make tree retention a priority when evaluating new development.

I would support reviewing and expanding the Tree Bylaw to apply to all properties including those that are not being redeveloped, with a clear tree-removal permitting process for mature trees. We should look at expanding the Tree Bylaw to cover other all private property, with a clearly defined permitting process informed by approaches used in other municipalities in the region. The process should recognize legitimate reasons for removal, such as a tree being dead, diseased or hazardous, while making the retention of healthy, mature trees the priority.
We should also look at approaches used by other municipalities in the region, including permitting requirements and replacement-tree provisions. I would want the process to recognize the environmental, cooling, stormwater, wildlife habitat and neighbourhood benefits of mature trees, while also respecting the legitimate needs and rights of property owners.