Gord’s values have earned him the trust of local first nations. He was active in beginning a local community healing process that continues to encourage a productive, cooperative reconciliation. Gord envisions new paths to further reconciliation with First Nations in Canada that do not depend solely on litigation or negotiated settlement, but on mutual respect and First Nations’ cultural inclusion.
Gord is committed to active, healthy, community recreation as a key to keeping families in place and engaged. To that end, he coached various children’s sports and served as the director and co-chair of the West Coast Multiplex Society from 2006-2008. Gord brought vigor to a long-imagined recreation facility in partnership with eight west coast communities through the West Coast Multiplex Phase 1 Operating Costs Referendum, for which he was the 2012/2013 Project Manager. Twenty-five public presentations inspired the Hesquiaht, Ahoushat, Tla-o-qui-aht, Toquaht, Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ, Ucluelet and Tofino communities to support the very successful “Yes” vote.
Gord was part of the inaugural Tofino Attainable Housing Committee beginning in 2003 and has been active for over ten years. The committee is dedicated to exploring attainable housing models, partnerships and policies to give families affordable housing options. Advancing development of a local area plan to include the rezoning of forty acres in the District of Tofino to make home ownership possible is one example.
Beginning in 2013, Gord is an International Fundraiser for a school in one of the poorest areas in Guyana, South America. His efforts helped raise one-half year’s operating costs to educate more than one hundred at-risk students and help grow their community.