J Kevin Barlow is Mi’kmaw from NB, now living in North Vancouver BC. He has been here in BC for the last 9 years and has operated his own consulting service for over 25 years in addition to serving in senior Executive roles for close to 20 years.
His career began in economic development providing grants and training to Indigenous artists and craftspeople to learn the business side of their creative skills. He also worked for the Kent Economic Commission in NB, one of 13 groups that supported the business community there.
He has worked at the local, regional, national and international levels. In his home community, he oversaw community economic development projects such as an aquaculture (oyster) farm that now employs 7 fulltime seasonal works and generates revenue for the community. During his tenure, he reduced the number of people on social assistance from 40 to about 15 before moving here to BC.
As CEO of the Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council, he advocated on behalf of many of the issues in the DTES. He also formed the Metro Vancouver Indigenous Services Society to address mental health and substance use issues among Indigenous people. He leaves as Executive Director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society of BC to assume the role here at Hastings Crossing Business Improvement Association. He looks forward to getting to know the business community in the HxBIA area and representing issues and concerns at various tables with the City of Vancouver, Province of BC and the Government of Canada.
Kevin welcomes you to contact him at 604-259-1466 ext 2 or kevin@hxbia.com
We acknowledge that we conduct our business on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples including the skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh). We extend thanks, honour, and respect to our hosts.
