ERIC WOODWARD
Mayor
CONTRACT WITH LANGLEY
Current Service
Council
2018-2022
Before Council, I was the President of the Fort Langley Business Improvement Association for five years, 2012-2017. I was a Director of the Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation, 2014-2018.
I also served on the Township of Langley's Economic Development Advisory Committee, 2011-2015, and on the Heritage Advisory Committee, 2011-2013.
Revitalization
of Downtown Fort Langley
Starting in 2005, I have been working to revitalize Fort Langley's commercial core. Despite its rich history and obvious potential to become a great walkable destination, Fort Langley was long neglected. For many years, it lacked a common sense vision for its future the commitment to make it happen.
I have renovated multiple aging buildings there. I improved the village's retail tenant mix. In 2017, I finished the LEED Gold Coulter Berry Building at the corner of Glover Road and Mavis Avenue, redefining the village.
The Coulter Berry Building is the most energy efficient and sustainable mixed-use building within all of Langley. It has retail, restaurants, offices and residential. Coulter Berry’s extensive masonry, individualized façades, and a great walkable design were all conceived for Fort Langley's future.
From 2012 to 2017, I served as President of the Fort Langley Business Improvement Association. With the support of so many, we rebranded and promoted Fort Langley anew, and created and expanded events. We secured a critical capital project to bury unsightly power lines and add new street lighting, upgrading Fort Langley's streetscape.
I have assembled over 40% of Fort Langley's commercial core, and most of the commercial frontage between 96th Avenue and Mavis Avenue, in the heart of the village. With the Fort Langley Project these holdings are now fully within a community trust structure solely for charitable purpose, stewarded by and for the community.
Fort Langley's commercial core is now more virbrant and successful than it has ever been, with a great future ahead of it.
Internet
Technology Industry
I was part of the internet industry at a young age, co-founding multiple successful companies.
In 1994, in the very early days of the internet, I left UBC during my 4th year to co-found my first technology company, Internet Direct. It became the largest internet service provider in Western Canada within 6 months.
After that, I co-founded Mail.com in 1996, which completed a successful IPO on the NASDAQ in 1998. I sold my last internet company, DomainWorks, in 2007.
I left the technology industry a few years later to refocus my efforts more toward the local community, starting with the revitalization of Fort Langley.
Growing Up
in Langley
I grew up in Langley at 53rd Avenue and 202nd Street. Langley is my home. I attended HD Stafford when it was still an 8-10 high school, graduated from Langley Senior Secondary. The success, future, and direction of all of Langley really matters to me.
The oldest of three children, I was raised largely by my single mother and caring grandparents. I was very fortunate to have known my grandparents as well I as did. More than anyone else, my grandfather taught me to value each day, and to try and make a difference that matters, that is up to us make things better.
Education
I graduated high school from Langley Senior Secondary. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.
SERVICE
FOR LANGLEY
Contact
Please feel free to contact me at eric@ericwoodward.com or ewoodward@tol.ca anytime. All feedback is welcome.