Healthy Community, Healthy People, Healthy Environment

About Dr. Jonathan Kerr

Click each heading to expand the text:

  • Lead Physician, Sea Cove Medical Clinic
  • Chair – Comox Valley Family Physician Recruitment and Retention Task Force
  • Advisory Committee – Comox Valley Division of Family Practice
  • Councillor, Town of Comox (2021 – present)
    • Vancouver Island Regional Library Board
    • Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness
    • Comox Valley Social Planning Society
    • Nautical Days Committee
  • Director, Comox Valley Regional District (2022 – present)
    • Comox Valley Regional District Board
    • Vice-Chair: Comox Valley Sewage Commission
    • Comox Valley Recreation Commission
    • Comox-Strathcona Waste Management Board
    • Comox-Strathcona Regional Hospital Board
    • Comox Valley Water Committee
  • Chair, Comox Valley Family Physician Recruitment and Retention Task Force
  • Past-President, Ontario College of Family Physicians (representing 12,000+ physicians)
  • Vice President and Program Director, Vancouver Island Biathlon Club (current)
  • Citizen Scientist / Volunteer, Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society (current)
  • Event Organizer, Comox Valley Community Listening Event (2021 & 2022)
  • Board Member, Dawn to Dawn Action on Homelessness Society (2015-2017)
  • Member, Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness (2015-2018)
  • Treasurer, Parent Advisory Council, Navigate School (2015-2018)
  • Award of Excellence, College of Family Physicians of Canada
  • Speaker, TEDx Conference, “How many doctors does it take to change a light bulb”
  • Spirit Award – Comox Valley Division of Family Practice
  • Service Recognition Award, College of Family Physicians of Canada
  • Early Career Development Award, College of Family Physicians of Canada
  • Community Award, Gateway Community Health Centre
  • Murray Stalker Leadership Award and Lectureship – College of Family Physicians of Canada.
  • 70+ oral presentations
  • 40+ Peer-Reviewed Research Articles, Research Posters, and Policy Papers
  • Certified Competition Coach, Biathlon Canada
  • Competitive Youth Coach, Vancouver Island Biathlon Club

Jonathan also competes provincially and nationally in biathlon. 

Other hobbies include: playing sports with his two amazing kids, hiking, camping, running, cycling, and board games.

“I care deeply about the health of our community, the health of all Comox residents, the health of our local businesses, and the health of our beautiful natural environment. I will bring a community-wide health lens to every decision, and I will represent Comox residents with dedication, hard work, optimism, compassion, and integrity.” Dr. Jonathan Kerr, MD, CCFP, FCFP.

 

Jonathan brings a wealth of relevant experience to Comox Council, including senior management and organizational skills, running a small business, budget management, high level communication and public speaking, chairing and facilitating meetings, strong interpersonal skills, writing, researching and publishing experience, event management, coaching, volunteering with local non-profits, and caring for citizens from all walks of life. He is a dedicated husband and father to two kids, ages 12 and 14.

Priorities

Take the Community Health Check-up survey to share what is most important to you in creating a healthy community.

 

 

“Comox residents have been telling me that they are concerned about:

  • Housing affordability
  • The need for more family doctors
  • Tackling climate change
  • Supporting small businesses, and
  • Protecting our parks, forests, and shorelines”

 

“Listening to our citizens is important. I will work hard at realizing this list of priorities and goals to ensure Comox is the best place in Canada to live, work, play, and retire.” Dr. Jonathan Kerr

 

Click the headings below to expand the text:

  • Comox should partner with both the province and local non-profits to build enough community-led housing units to ensure everyone in our Town has a place to live.

  • The Town should use the money it already collects from large development projects and purchase vacant lots in Town.

  • Comox must be a leader to ensure that the servers in our Town’s restaurants, baristas in our coffee shops, tellers in our stores, single-income parents, seniors on a fixed income, and everyone else, has place to call home.

    Seek out innovative housing solutions so that Comox is an affordable Town for our children and grandchildren.
  • Goal: All new development projects should include affordable units. We also need to re-examine the definition of affordable housing.
  • Create more high-quality housing for seniors.
  • Work closely with local non-profit organizations to find places to live for all Comox families.
  • Increasing housing density, particularly closer to downtown, including mixed use buildings (residential and commercial). 
  • Encourage more duplexes and triplexes in Comox, reducing the Town’s carbon footprint and allowing for more affordable homes to rent and to buy.

  • Enable Comox to be a leader in climate change and adaptation solutions. (Up to half of Canada’s carbon pollution is influenced by local policy decisions. Source: Federation of Canadian Municipalities)

  • Transition the Town’s vehicle fleet to 100% electric vehicles by 2030.

  • Increase the number of electric vehicle charging stations in Town, taking advantage of the CleanBC Communities Fund.

  • Planning, monitoring and constructing infrastructure that can resist local effects of climate change flooding, fire, and heat.

  • Work with local businesses to eliminate single-use plastics

  • For those using wood stoves, I encourage the use of dry wood in efficient-burning wood stoves so that those with lung conditions are not affected by wood smoke.

  • Provide education and promote financial incentives to help people make the switch from wood to healthier forms of heat.

  • Strengthen policies and bylaws to promote clean air and reduce wood smoke. 

  • Promote urban agriculture and community gardens.

  • Champion active transportation (see section below).

  • Promote the transition of the Town’s gas-powered equipment (leaf blowers and lawn mowers) to electric-powered equipment, to reduce both noise and greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Continue alignment with the BC Energy Step Code efficiency standards for new developments and existing buildings.

  • Encourage existing house/apartment/condo owners to take advantage of BC Hydro rebates for energy efficiency upgrades.

  • Require that 100% of new homes and apartment/condo buildings have electric vehicle charging stations.

  • Consider starting a municipal rebate for home energy efficiency upgrades (similar to Powell River).

  • Actively support clean energy initiatives aimed at zero carbon emissions.

  • Create incentives for local businesses to recycle, reduce waste, and decrease our carbon footprint.

  • Continue to support the Comox Youth Climate Council and adopt the proposed Green New Deal.

  • Reduce pollution of our land, air, and water.

  • Conserve and enhance our parks, forests, shorelines, and wildlife.
  • Salmon come home to the Brooklyn Creek. They come home to Comox. I will work to ensure Comox is a salmon safe Town and will focus my attention on the places where our infrastructure impacts salmon.  
  • Protect our Town’s tree canopy to reduce street-level temperatures.
  • Recognize that “green spaces” are the places where we work, play, and come together as a community.
  • Develop volunteer initiatives and education programs to support environmental stewardship.
  • Make biodiversity conservation a common element in municipal decision-making.
  • One of my top priorities is ensuring every person in Comox has a family doctor.

  • Goals: Recruit 4 new family doctors to Comox in 2021, and 4 more in 2022.

  • Collaborate with local medical clinics and the Comox Valley Division of Family Practice to develop a family physician recruitment strategy.
  • Work with the UBC Strathcona Family Medicine Program to retain new doctors after completing their residency in the Comox Valley.
  • Support our local businesses to create and maintain a thriving local economy.
  • Be proactive and work hand-in-hand with the Comox Business Improvement Association (BIA) and Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce.
  • Encourage business innovation and increased economic activity.
  • Promote a diversified local economy, including technology and small manufacturing companies. This would provide more stable and diversified employment opportunities.
  • Continue the outdoor patio program for our restaurants.
  • Innovate to attract tourists and shoppers to our beautiful town.
  • Improve cycling connectivity both within the Town of Comox and to/from Courtenay and the Comox Valley Regional District.
  • Increase the number of bike racks downtown in strategic areas of the Town as recommended in the 2011 Bicycle Network Plan.
  • Ensure that sidewalks, intersections, and greenways are safe for people of all ages and mobilities.
  • Update the 2011 Bicycle Network Plan by adding more safe cycling infrastructure.
  • Recognize the regional bus system is an important component of active transportation.
  • Encourage more local arts and cultural activities, events, and festivals.
  • Support our community sports clubs and teams. (Community sports are key in preventing childhood obesity and depression.)
  • Optimize the use of existing sports and other recreational facilities.
  • Explore the need for additional or enhanced sports and recreational facilities in conjunction with community needs. For example, Comox is currently lacking an artificial surface field (with lights) to serve multiple user groups year-round.
  • Promote life-long participation in sports, community groups, and clubs.
  • Preserve our community parks and green spaces.
  • Champion sharing centres, tool lending libraries, and community-based repair hubs.
  • Foster individual and community resilience.
  • Invest in the Comox Marina and facilities for boaters.
  • Improve parking availability downtown and at the Marina.
  • Improve the accessibility of the marina for families with children, with an emphasis on self propelled watersports such as kayaking and paddleboarding.
  • Monitor and address road and traffic issues.
  • Repair high priority roads.
  • Monitor and address issues with our water, wastewater, and sewer systems.
  • Supporting Reconciliation and Indigenous Sovereignty are core to the work of climate action and to resilient and healthy communities.
  • I support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action, the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), and full implementation of the calls for justice in the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
  • If elected, I’ll support more initiatives like the recently announced land transfer agreement between the Town of Comox and the K’ómoks First Nation (KFN) for the area currently known as the Northeast Woods.
  • I am open to working closely with KFN, and I’ll also work with fellow local and regional Council members to continue to implement the actions recommended in the reports listed above.
  • I am committed to working together in a good way to understand how to advocate strongly for DRIPA implementation at a Provincial level while learning how to enact DRIPA locally.
  • Most importantly, I’m open to continuous learning and humility. My own learning journey has included participating in a Blanket Exercise with KFN, the San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training program (August 2021), and the Culturally Informed Team-Based Care Elders Opening Circle (Oct 23, 2021).
  • Ensure seniors have easy access to services and support when they need it.
  • Explore opportunities for more recreational facilities for seniors.
  • Create more high-quality affordable housing for seniors.
  • Focus on health and wellness for all Comox residents.
  • Improve accessibility of our roads, walkways, parks, and recreational facilities.
  • Encourage opportunities to volunteer and participate in local clubs, non-profits, and community groups.
  • Advocate for more childcare spaces in Comox.
  • Explore opportunities for more recreational facilities for children and teens. (See “Building Community” section above)
  • Ensure safe streets and parks in our community.
  • Support our local schools and educators.
  • Explore opportunities for more age-specific recreational facilities for our youth.
  • Work to increase student understanding of local government and democracy.
  • Provide mentorship opportunities for students curious about a potential career path.
  • Make efficient use of residential and business tax dollars.
  • Ensure the Town has a rainy-day fund and is prepared for unexpected events.
  • Budget long-term with respect to our roads, parks, infrastructure, and services.

  • Provide reliable roadside pickup of garbage, recycling, and organics.

  • Actively address pollution concerns.
  • Increase recycling depot options.
  • Advocate for more local mental health services, including for children/teens/seniors.
  • Facilitate coordination amongst mental health services.
  • Support local non-profits that are already addressing this issue.

  • Collaborate with the province and other municipalities on addressing the opioid crisis.

  • Work with local non-profits to improve the social conditions that are feeding this crisis.

  • Advocate for more rehabilitation and treatment options.

  • Partner with the Comox Valley Substance Use Strategy and the Walk with Me initiative to promote education and reduce stigmatization.

  • Make all decisions using a social justice and community health lens.

  • Improve accessibility of our downtown, sidewalks, and greenways.

  • Install a rainbow crosswalk in downtown Comox.

  • Act with compassion and respect towards all individuals in our society.

  • Utilize the Canadian Index of Wellbeing framework for strategic planning and tracking how well we are doing as a community.

  • Connect and consult with the K’ómoks First Nation.
  • I will approach municipal issues and politics with love, kindness, compassion, inclusion, optimism, and collaboration.
  • Ethical leadership.
  • Collaborative approach.
  • Focus on good governance and process.
  • Work closely with other municipalities and the Comox Valley Regional District.
  • Increase community engagement activities throughout the calendar year.
  • Hold zoom-based “office hours”, ensuring I am available and accessible to every resident and business owner in Comox.

Important Links

 

 

  • Need a family doctor? Sign up here with the Health Connect Registry.

Connect with Dr. Kerr

  • If you would like to speak with Dr. Kerr about a local issue, please send an email to jkerr@comox.ca

Contact

healthycomox@gmail.com

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Dr. Kerr is committed to the core values of:
Sustainability • Respect for diversity • Participatory democracy • Social justice • Ecological wisdom • Non-violence

 

I respectfully acknowledge that I live, work, and play on the Unceded Traditional Territory of the K’ómoks First Nation.

 

Select photos courtesy of: Bill Jorgensen, Sean Wood, Ali Roddam, Laura Johnston, and Koreen Gurak

 

Material on this site may not be reproduced without permission. 

Authorized by Christy Wagner (healthycomox@gmail.com)