Max Zahedi

My climate-action work combines strata governance, building-efficiency training, and public advocacy. I have served for years on three strata councils, helping draft bylaws and weigh maintenance, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and long-term costs against what owners can afford.

I completed BCIT’s XZEB 1001: Fundamentals of Zero Energy/Emissions and Passive House Buildings. I have also taken BC Housing Building Smart training on the BC Energy Step Code, air barriers, insulation, mechanical systems, high-performance walls, and basement flood prevention. These courses strengthened my understanding of how buildings can use less energy and withstand climate risks.

When I ran for City of North Vancouver council in 2018, I said banning single-use disposable plastics would be my first priority. In business and the arts, I have supported digital workflows that reduce paper use. During this campaign, I have advocated for housing planned alongside roads, transit, water, and sewer services, and called for transparent oversight of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant.

If elected, I would build on the District’s existing programs to prioritize drainage and wildfire-risk work, help residents and strata councils access practical energy improvements, seek available grants, and publish project costs and results.

I oppose a blanket moratorium on AI data centres because it would rule out proposals before their impacts are known. Each proposal should be assessed for its energy and water use, location, and benefits to the community. I would only support one if it could operate without putting unacceptable strain on local resources.

The District has useful foundations, including hazard maps, FireSmart assessments, and North Shore emergency alerts. As mayor, I would work with council and staff to carry out existing plans with clear priorities, public reporting, and careful use of taxpayers’ money.

I would ask staff to use infrastructure-condition data and hazard maps to identify which drainage systems, roads, creeks, and public buildings face the greatest risk from flooding, wildfire, and extreme heat. Council could rank repairs and upgrades by public safety, likelihood of failure, and cost, then publish timelines and progress. I would seek provincial and federal grants where eligible, but would first establish each project’s need, price, and funding source.

For wildfire, I would support targeted removal of hazardous brush and vegetation in areas identified as high risk. I would ask staff to jprovide clearer guidance on requesting the District’s FireSmart assessments, including for strata councils, without weakening safety standards.

For heat and smoke, I would protect trees where they provide shade without increasing wildfire risk. I would work with North Shore Emergency Management and community partners to promote existing alerts, information about available cooling spaces, and practical guidance, especially for seniors and others who may need help. New housing should be assessed for flood, wildfire, and heat risks.

I would work with Indigenous peoples and neighbouring governments where risks cross boundaries. Residents should know what each major project will cost, what it will protect, how it will be funded, and whether it is working.