Alan arrived in the District in 1953 at the age of 4 having immigrated with his family from South Africa. As a child, he played in the alder forests bordering Marine Drive, the islands within the Capilano River and climbed the sides of Grouse Mountain.

Alan attended Capilano Elementary, Hamilton Junior Secondary and North Vancouver Senior High School.

After briefly attending Simon Fraser University, Alan started his work career with Wright Engineers Ltd. in Vancouver, subsequently working with Canadian Bechtel Engineering in Montreal and Noranda Mines Ltd at Babine Lake in northern British Columbia.

A project management career in the heavy construction industry (primarily forest industry related) followed as Alan settled down in the District to begin raising his family.

Alan has held a number of senior executive positions within the Construction Industry culminating in his appointment as President of Westec Energy Inc in 1988. Under his leadership, Westec went on to become the largest residential heating system conversion company in British Columbia. Alan later became the first General Manager of Bridge Electric Corp. that today is one of BC's largest and most successful Electrical Contractors.

In 1994, after 25 years in the Construction industry, Alan decided to become a Realtor. The career changed afforded Alan the opportunity to spend more time with his wife Cathy and their young daughter. It also gave Alan the chance to live and work in the District, the very best place in the world! 10 years of successfully listing and selling homes on the North Shore just served to confirm his love for the area.

Alan and Cathy share their Pemberton Heights home with daughter Kirby. He also has 2 daughters, Wendy and Angela from his first marriage. Both Wendy and Angela grew up and went to school in Lynn Valley. 3 granddaughters Maia, Jolie, and Lucy have arrived on the scene in the past few years to add a whole new dimension to Alan's life.

Alan is a Past President of the North Vancouver Division of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver from 2000-2002.

Alan has always been involved in contributing to his community. Coaching Wendy and Angela in the Lynn Valley Girls Soccer Association, coaching and assisting in Kirby's softball ventures in the North Vancouver Girls' Softball Association are but a few of his activities over the years.

At age 16, Alan coached a team of Minor League (8-10) kids in the local baseball league. Also at 16 he became the youngest person ever appointed to the Official Board of Capilano United Church. In later years Alan served again in that capacity.

Moving back to the District in 1994 to the very address at which he had grown up, Alan became heavily involved in the Pemberton Heights Community Assn eventually serving as it Chair for a number of years.

It was during his terms as Chair that Alan began volunteering at the municipal level. He was appointed to the Advisory Planning Commission and eventually served as its Chair from 1998-1999. In his role as Chair of the APC, Alan also served on the Transportation Planning Advisory Committee for a number of years.

Running for the first time and being elected to Council in 2002, and re-elected in 2005 has certainly been one of the highlights in Alan's life, so far! He has found it be the very best way to contribute to the maintenance and enhancement of the quality of life for his family and all those who call the District of North Vancouver home.