Scott Young

Scott Young, a GCIU member and newly elected mayor, is truly an activist. Ever since he was an 18-year-old pressman with Vancouver 25C, he has been busy volunteering his time trying to help other people, his union, and his community.

He recently experienced the high point of his community involvement when he was easily elected in February as the 14th mayor of Port Coquitlam, B.C., a city of 52,000, near Vancouver.

Paying his dues on the way to his desk in the mayor's office, Young earned his success through 21 years of union and community activism.

In a letter congratulating him on his election, GCIU Pres. George Tedeschi said, in part: "I am sure your leadership will improve the quality of life for your constituents. It makes us all proud within the GCIU to see one of our brother unionists obtain such an influential and respected position."

GCIU Canadian Vice Pres. Duncan K. Brown also wrote him: "I have heard many good things about you and your involvement in your community. I am sure that your leadership, hard work, and commitment to the values of working families will ensure your success as mayor."

Young's election comes at a time when union members are urged to run for public office to ensure that working peoples' values have a place in the political debate at all levels of government.

"I really enjoy public service," Young told the Graphic Communicator, noting that it was his 11th year serving the city where he lives.

Young started out as a trustee on the Port Coquitlam School Board and served for six years. He then was elected to serve on the City Council. During his four years on the City Council, he served on various council committees, including Environmental Protection, Parks and Recreation and Family and Youth Justice committees.

He worked on the School Board and the City Council in addition to working as a pressman at College Printers in nearby Vancouver.

When the past mayor of the city, who was in office for almost 20 years, became seriously ill, Young and two other candidates ran to succeed him. Young won easily.

Since his job as mayor is a full-time job, Young had to take a leave of absence from his job as a pressman with College Printers.

In addition to his volunteer activities for Port Coquitlam, he is an active participant in many community organizations such as the parents advisory council at a local school – he and his wife Wendy are the parents of a daughter Sydney, 8, and a son Nicholas, 1-1/2-years-old – and member of the city's Heritage and Cultural Society and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 133.

Over the years as a member of council and the School Board, he is used to working the extra hours after his pressroom day is over and getting telephone calls at home from citizens. "I don't mind that since I am working for my community and am doing what I want to do," he said

Raised by his father, Jim Young, who was a dedicated leader in both The Newspaper Guild and his community, Young knew service to others was expected of him. When he signed on as an apprentice pressman with Local 25C 21 years ago, he knew he had to do more than just pay dues to make his union and his community better. He started by helping out at the union and worked his way up to shop steward at College Printers and served as a Local 25C vice president for eight years until 1991.

Young thanks the many unions and union members who helped him through his public career. And he credits his election to head Port Coquitlam to help from the working men and women in the community he represents.

"I had a lot of help from workers in the city who knew I would represent their values as mayor of the city," Young said.

As to the future, Young admits he has been approached by people suggesting he run for provincial elective office. Right now, he is only interested in doing his job as mayor of Port Coquitlam. He did say he will run for reelection as mayor next year.