Dr. Barakat: What’s your name and your title?

Glen Gower: Glen Gower, City Councillor, Stittsville

Dr. Barakat: What is your profession and how did you get involved in the community?

Glen Gower: My background is in marketing and communications and I’m a longtime community volunteer an advocate.  I’ve been volunteering for as long as I can remember.  Over the past few years, I’ve become more and more involved in local community groups like the Fairwinds-Poole Creek Community Association and the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre.

Dr. Barakat: If you could give one piece of advice to young professionals entering your industry, what would it be?

Glen Gower: Get involved in any way you can in your community, big or small. Shovel a neighbour’s driveway, flood the neighbourhood rink, fundraise for a cause you care about.

Dr. Barakat: What gets you out of bed each morning?

Glen Gower: I have an immense opportunity to make a difference in my community and my city.  Every day is full of challenges, learning and the opportunity to help.

Dr. Barakat: What does your morning routine look like?

Glen Gower: I’m up each morning at 6:00 am to make sure my daughters get to school and the dog gets fed. Between 6:30am-8:00am I multi-task, eating breakfast while listening to the radio and checking email and social media feeds to start the day. I bus or drive to work one of my two offices at either City Hall or the Goulbourn Rec Centre.

Dr. Barakat: If you could have dinner with one person, who would it be and why?

Glen Gower: My wife.

Dr. Barakat: What is a piece of advice/wisdom that has stuck with you over the years?

Glen Gower: “You’ll never be able to avoid the negative comments, that’s part of the job.  But if you’re doing it for the right reasons, if you’re doing it to make a difference in your community, for your neighbours – and keep a positive attitude – you’ll start finding that you’ll attract people with the same vision and passion for the community as you.”

Dr. Barakat: How do you unwind at the end of the day?

Glen Gower: I play the piano almost every day.

Dr. Barakat: What’s something you find unique about Stittsville?

Glen Gower: One of Stittsville’s best-kept secrets is the Poole Creek. It’s the defining natural feature of our community, crossing from east to west through old and new neighbourhoods.

Dr. Barakat: What about Stittsville makes you proud to live here?

Glen Gower: Stittsville Main Street gives our community so much of its character, and one of my priorities is to revitalize the street by attracting more local entrepreneurs to the area. The street is full of history and there’s immense potential for it to grow into a vibrant, exciting street.

To learn more about Glen Gower visit, https://www.glengower.ca/