Federal Elections Issue: an introduction to the candidates
With the opportunity for candidates to declare for the federal election closing April 7 at 2 pm, we now know who will be running in the Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies District.
Coming as no surprise, Bob Zimmer is running again for the Conservative Party of Canada. Zimmer is the incumbent, and has been in the role since May, 2011. He was re-elected in 2015, 2019 and 2021.
The Liberal Party will be represented by Peter Njenga. Njenga worked as a Real Estate Agent in Nanaimo, but moved to Prince George shortly before the election.
Njenga has a doctorate in finance, a master’s degree in business administration, a bachelor’s degree in commerce, is a chartered professional accountant and runs a philanthropic group called the Dr. Njenga Foundation Charity that helps people experiencing homelessness in Canada and orphans in Kenya.
Once again Cory “Grizz” Longley will be running for the New Democratic Party. Longley placed second behind Zimmer in the 2021 election, with 13.5 percent of the popular vote.
The People’s Party of Canada placed third in the riding in that election, but their former candidate, Ryan Dyck, will not be running this time. Instead, the candidate is David Watson, who lives in Bear Lake, about half an hour east of Prince George, where he works as the postmaster.
Mary Forbes will be representing the Green Party of Canada on the ballot this year for this riding. The Green Party has had a candidate in this riding for every election since 1997, though has only gained more than 10 percent of the vote once.
Forbes used to work as an archaeologist in the Fort St. John region, but these days lives in the Williams Lake area, where she is vice chair of School District 27.
This is a very brief introduction to all the candidates. You can find more about each of them elsewhere in this issue. Note that each candidate was given the same opportunity to submit a 600 word bio and head shot, as well as answer a list of questions, though some of the candidates submitted shorter bios than others.
Also, some of the candidates had yet to answer our questions by press time, so for now we are just running the bios as submitted, or as found on-line.
As we get answers to the questions, we will post more here at
www.tumblerridgelines.com.
Photos on this page by alphabetical order, by last name. Introductions to the candidates are in reverse alphabetical order, again by last name.
Conservative Party of Canada
An introduction to…Bob Zimmer, Conservative Party of Canada
Born in Dawson Creek, and raised in Fort St. John, Bob began his career working for his Dad’s carpentry business. Bob obtained his Red Seal Journeyman Carpentry Certification and went on to own his own construction business.
He received an undergraduate degree from Trinity Western University in human kinetics and history/political science as well as a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of British Columbia while working as the head coach for Langley’s TWU varsity rugby team. Bob then moved back to Fort St. John where he taught for seven years and built several homes.
Bob was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River in 2011 and then re-elected MP for Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies in 2015, 2019 and again in 2021.
Bob serves as Shadow Minister for Northern Affairs and Arctic Sovereignty; Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Outdoor Caucus and recently formed the all-Party Rugby Caucus on Parliament Hill.
Bob is an honourary member of the Fort St. John Sunrise Rotary Club and volunteers for many local events and organizations. He attends his local church with his wife Val, their daughter Bobbie and their three sons, Kristian, David and Tim.
An introduction to David S. Watson, People’s Party of Canada
Currently, the Postmaster for Canada Post. Married to Sandra 47 years. Father of four children and fout grand children. Born and raised in Vancouver, BC. Attended and completed business management program, financial management and investment management professional programs. Attended and completed Computer Engineering Bachelors program, and numerous technical improvement courses. Added sales and business management professional courses.
Worked in Financial and Investment sales for 15 years, Sales Management for two years and Branch Management for three years. Altered career course into the computer industry, and spent ten years working as Help Desk Manager and five years as a Network Manager. Experienced in Web Development. Spent 14 years in Canadian Forces Reserves and retired at the rank of Captain.
Hobbies include gardening and traditional living, with experience in structural building.
Canada needs every single person to stand up and be counted. Voting specifically for those we believe have similar values and beliefs to OUR own. Our votes then become very strong and an expression of our own truth. How can you go wrong doing that?
These last five years and more have been extremely difficult for some, many families and individuals have been prevented from standing up for themselves and things they believe in. We live at a precarious time, our history is being eroded constantly and humanity’s future has become more and more clouded. Without corrections occurring, I fear for the future.
Correction for Canadians needs to start with how we govern ourselves and those around us. What we consider right and proper and how we react as individuals, families, communities… is the basis for our future viability as a country and as humanity. Our past history and the present divisiveness as well as the way blame is passed onto others needs to come to an end. We must accept responsibility for ourselves and for those close to us to ensure the continuity of our future. We must adhere more to the principles of fairness and respect for all.
I personally have been frustrated and somewhat appalled at the direction the world is going in general but within our country specifically, the incompetence and corruption among politicians—particularly career politicians—when they break the trust gifted to them. THEY are responsible for the ruination we see today.
In 2023, I received a ‘call to arms’ for brave, hardworking, patriotic Canadians to stand with the PPC in trying to accomplish changes that I believed in. This spurred me on to running. Individuals who can persevere and bring common sense to any situation great or small are needed. As the saying goes: common sense is quite uncommon.
As citizens of this country who are working on behalf of others, politicians need to be accountable for their sphere of influence (their riding and their party) both in what they do and what they don’t do. Without that accountability they are just yes ‘men or women’ who are playing follow the leader. Their ability to fight wrongdoing or negative influence is severely hampered. Basically they become placeholders. Our concern and priority as a party and as citizens needs to be correcting our own society and problems before considering other countries problems, the only exceptions being disaster relief. Importantly we need to prohibit Foreign Nations , Globalist tendencies as well as NGO’s (Non-Governmental Organizations) from infiltrating our systems. I further believe immigration although a good thing if handled correctly, is disastrous if allowed to happen unrestrained as it has.
Together, we can form a Government that puts Canadians First.
Introducing…Peter Njenga, Liberal Party of Canada
A champion for a better future in Prince George–Peace River–Northern Rockies
Dr. Peter Njenga is a devoted community leader with a proven record of community service. Peter is focused, persistent and multifaceted in his professional career as a University faculty member, businessman, licensed CPA accountant, and licensed realtor. Above all, he is socially responsible and active in helping homeless people in BC and orphans in his native Kenya through his charity, the Dr Njenga Foundation. Peter holds a Ph.D. in finance, an MBA, a B.Comm. and CPA designation. He is married to Jennifer Kube-Njenga and together they have a blended family of six children.
Born and raised in Kenya, Peter immigrated to Canada in 2006. He has deep roots in the communities in which he has lived. With the help of his charity, he supported homeless people in Greater Vancouver and Vancouver Island with food hampers and by supporting organizations such as the Surrey Mission. Peter has now moved to Prince George, seeing a community of vibrant character full of investment potential.
Peter has seen firsthand the opportunities and challenges that middle-class families face every day and understands the priorities and issues of the region. These include the need for support of our forest industry during, and after, any US tariffs, creating more affordable housing and reducing homelessness, supporting farmers, investing in industry, and supporting our healthcare system. Families in the region need a trusted and persistent voice in our federal government, who will champion a stronger middle class and help build an economy that works for all Canadians. As your Liberal Candidate, Peter is ready to work with Mark Carney and the Liberal team to invest in our middle class, and build the strongest economy in the G7.
Peter will never stop working hard to build a better future for the families of Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies and to provide everyone an equal and fair chance at success.
Introducing…Cory Longley, New Democratic Party
Cory “Grizz” Longley is a proud Dawson Creek local with deep roots in the community and a passion for making life better in Northeast BC.
A husband, father of three, and dedicated tradesman, Grizz wears many hats — plumber, morning show host, and outspoken union activist.
Voted citizen of the year in 2007 for his caring and compassionate fundraising efforts and known for his no-nonsense attitude and progressive values, he’s committed to fighting for accessible healthcare and meaningful change across the region.
Whether he’s on the job, behind the mic, or online, Grizz speaks up for working people and stands up for YOU.
Mary Forbes, Green Party of Canada
I am a former oil patch archaeologist that now makes her living providing “trash talks and nature walks”.
From dump tours, recycling bin audits and zero waste pow-wows to class and community presentations on local flora and fauna I am a lifelong learner who excels in communication and relationship building.
One of my favorite jobs is providing free recycled bikes and maintenance workshops on location in Indigenous communities around the province. What started as a program with the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society Waste Wise program has expanded beyond their service region to anywhere my traveling bike shop( cube truck) and trailer full of free bikes is invited to as Feral Bike Recycling.
When you see rainbow fish on a school fence that is me again as the northern co-ordinator for Steam of Dreams Mural Society, teaching kids through art that “All Drains Lead to Fish Habitat”.
In 2013 I was recognized with a Community Achievement Award for my work in heritage and sustainable education.
In 2011, I was awarded Gold for best Interpretive program in a cross Canada competition while I worked for Parks Canada in Lake Louise by the professional association Interpretation Canada.
Shortly after graduation from SFU I was employed by the RCMP in the Picton investigation as a search technician and was part of the team that provided closure for families for some of Northern BC’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Each of these and many more experiences has led me to this moment.
“Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”- Unknown Author
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
