Dan Brooks

Dan Brooks
Leader of the B.C. Conservative Party
Preceded by	John Cummins
In office April 12, 2014 – February 20, 2016
In office September 17, 2016 – October 28, 2016
Personal details
Born	(1975-07-06) July 6, 1975 Vanderhoof, British Columbia
Spouse(s)	Ellen Smith
Residence	Vanderhoof, British Columbia
Profession	Guide Outfitter, Politician
Religion	Mormon [1]

Daniel Brooks (born July 6, 1975) is a Canadian politician and small business owner in British Columbia, Canada. He is the leader of the British Columbia Conservative Party. He served as leader from 2014 to February 2016, when he resigned at the party's Annual General Meeting.^[2] He was re-elected as leader of the Conservatives on September 17, 2016 at a leadership convention in Prince George^[3] He was removed from the position on October 28, 2016, when the party's executive board ruled that the party meeting that approved his candidacy for the leadership convention lacked quorum.^[4]

Early life

Dan Brooks was born in Vanderhoof, British Columbia to Fred and Carolyn Brooks. Growing up the Brooks family split their time between Vanderhoof, where they ran Crystal Lake Resort as guide outfitters, and their family farm in Alberta. In 1997 Brooks relocated permanently to Vanderhoof, where he became the sole owner-operator of Crystal Lake Resort, which he expanded from strictly guiding to include marketing and consulting services. Brooks and his wife Ellen have 7 daughters, one of whom is an adopted First Nations girl.

Missionary service

Brooks served a 2-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Fresno California from 1995 to 1997.

Education

Before taking up residence in northern B.C., Brooks attended the University of Alberta in Edmonton, and subsequently studied at the University of Waterloo and at the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George to obtain the final credits towards his degree. He took courses in history and tourism management, among others, and in 2005 graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Studies.

Tourism advocate

In 2005 Brooks founded and subsequently chaired the Upper Nechako Wilderness Council (UNWC), which became the voice for tourism operators in the Vanderhoof area. He was well known as a vocal advocate of tourism issues and was successful in several initiatives in land use planning. He remained chair of the UNWC for 8 years until going into politics.

Politics

In the 2013 BC provincial election, Brooks ran as the BC Conservative Party candidate in the Nechako Lakes riding, in which he received 12.6% of the vote. From September 12, 2013 to April 12, 2014, Brooks ran for the party leadership against Rick Peterson, which he won with a large majority (60%).^[5] On January 4, 2016, Dan Brooks announced he would be stepping down at the party's Annual General Meeting on February 20, 2016 for family and financial reasons.^[6]

On September 17, 2016, Brooks was re-elected as the BC Conservative Party's leader at a leadership convention in Prince George, winning on a second ballot with 52.1% over Konrad Pimiskern.^[7] However, the result was overturned by the executive board a month later when it ruled that the meeting that approved his candidacy for the leadership convention lacked quorum.

Political positions

Rural issues

Brooks has issued on his website that the provincial government has done little to address or solve issues regarding rural depletion in British Columbia, including many closings of schools, forest offices, courthouses, and other public offices.^[8]

References

External links

• Dan Brooks Website