About Jerry Kok

Introduction

Early life and background

I’ve been proud to call Maple Ridge home for more than forty‑five years. This community shaped me from the very beginning. I went to the original Yennadon Elementary, and on weekends you could always find me out front playing street hockey with friends. When school was out, I spent countless hours at Maple Ridge Park, tubing down the Alouette River, and swimming at Davidson’s Pool and Hot Rocks — all the places that made growing up here unforgettable.

My roots in Maple Ridge run deep. My dad, Bill Kok, built the original Black Sheep Pub and Bistro in 1979 before moving into a successful real estate career, and my mom, Ria, created a warm and supportive home for my brother Danny and me. I played hockey and soccer here, built lifelong friendships here, and learned what community really means here.

Maple Ridge is where my wife Marnie and I raised our children, built our lives, and developed a lasting commitment to the people and places that have always felt like home.

I am not running for mayor as an outsider with ideas on paper. I am running as someone who has lived the challenges, celebrated the successes, and is ready to lead Maple Ridge forward with energy and purpose. For years, I have been on the ground listening to residents, supporting local businesses, and rolling up my sleeves to get things done.

As President of the Ridge Meadows Chamber of Commerce for four years, I championed local businesses and worked to strengthen our economy, building on my earlier work as a Director to foster growth that benefits everyone. Those four years became the most transformative period in the Chamber’s history. We rebranded, opened a new office in the heart of Maple Ridge, and adopted the Ridge Meadows Chamber name to better reflect the communities we serve. We examined every part of the organization and made it more diverse, more inclusive, and more representative of the business community. Membership grew by an average of eleven percent per year, and we established fee‑for‑service agreements with both Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. We elevated the Board of Directors into a sought‑after leadership opportunity and reimagined the Chamber’s role as the clear and trusted voice of business. This progress came from hard work, long hours, and countless conversations with local business owners to understand their needs and advocate for them effectively. I was honoured and humbled to receive the first ever Ridge Meadows Chamber of Commerce Legacy Award, recognizing the commitment and dedication to building a stronger, more connected business community.

I do not just talk about economic development. I lead it. As Chair of the Maple Ridge Diversified, Thriving Economy Advisory Committee and a member of the Pitt Meadows Economic Development Advisory Committee, I have helped shape a vision for a stronger and more resilient local economy. A great city is about more than business, it is about people. I have led on transportation as Chair of the Maple Ridge Transportation Advisory Committee and continue to push for safer and more secure communities through my work on the Maple Ridge Safety and Security Committee. I have also contributed at the provincial level as an advisor with the ICBC Graduated Licensing Advisory Group, helping improve road safety for families across British Columbia.

This campaign is about building a city that works for businesses, for families, for seniors, and for the next generation. It is about smart growth, safer streets, and real opportunities right here at home, while still preserving the history and character that make Maple Ridge unique. I am ready to lead. I am ready to listen. And I am ready to get to work for Maple Ridge.