Image: Supplied by J. Shields / Chartered accountant and dedicated community volunteer Jeff Shields will seek a second term on Chilliwack City Council this fall.
Fall election

Chartered accountant, extensive community volunteer to seek re-election on Chilliwack City Council

Sep 7, 2022 | 11:30 AM

CHILLIWACK — Long before chartered accountant Jeff Shields ran for public office four years ago, he gave back to his community on a number of fronts.

The lifelong Chilliwack resident and chartered accountant of 30 years poured himself into the community by serving on the boards of CEPCO, Chilliwack Community Services, Big Brothers, and Rotary, including stints as chair and president of these four, treasurer for Chilliwack Flight Fest, and volunteering as a youth soccer coach and with Chilliwack Secondary School Hello Goodbye Committee.

With this backdrop of community service etched into his life and as CFO of the Visscher Group of companies, Shields will seek a second term on Chilliwack City Council in this fall’s election.

“I am very pleased to announce that I will be running for re-election as councillor in the upcoming election,” Shields said in a statement Tuesday (Sept. 6). “My decision to run four years ago was based on my passion to serve the city that has provided so much to me for so many years and nothing has changed since then. I am immensely proud of what has been accomplished over the last four years and I want to continue to build on that momentum. I came in with a strong resume that included over 25 years as a Chartered Accountant, CFO for a large family owned company that employs over two hundred people locally, and years of involvement in the community on various organizations and boards. Now I can add the experience, knowledge and skills developed over the past four years as a member of your City Council.”

Since joining council four years ago, Shields has been the council liaison to CEPCO, BIA, and Chilliwack Arts and Cultural Centre Society, chaired the Transportation Advisory Committee, and participated as a committee member of Chilliwack Healthier Community.

“I want to add what an honour and privilege it has been to work with such a great team. Each of us came with our own individual strengths and we were able to work together as a cohesive group benefitting from the skillset brought by each member,” Shields said. “Teamwork is and will always be the key to a successful council.”

As a chartered accountant, it’s still within his nature to be fiscally responsible and be good stewards of the tax dollars to which taxpayers have entrusted Chilliwack council members.

“I still commit to the belief that a successful government needs to be fiscally responsible and I will continue to ensure we stay on that path by balancing priorities to maximize your tax dollars,” Shields said. “We need to ensure other levels of government and their respective agencies come to the table to share in community initiatives and work with us. As the second-fastest growing community in Canada, we also need to focus on responsible growth. Increased housing supply is important but first and foremost we cannot lose our identity as a community. I believe I still have so much more to offer to Chilliwack and if you feel the same, I hope that you will support me on October 15 with your vote.”