ABOUT
Hi, I’m Blair and this is my story
BACKGROUND
A Leader with Vision
Langley isn’t just where I live, it’s where my family has grown, and where I’ve volunteered, coached community soccer, and served two terms on Council. This community has shaped who I am, and it inspires my vision: safer streets, connected neighbourhoods, accessible services, and opportunities for every resident to thrive.
I lead with heart and experience, listening closely, collaborating openly, and making decisions that balance growth with the values that make Langley home. Together, we can ensure our Township grows responsibly, preserves its character, and builds a future where everyone feels included, supported, and proud to belong.
QUALIFICATIONS
Experience that Matters
I’ve spent decades serving Langley because I believe a community prospers when its people are heard, supported, and empowered. As Councillor, I’ll leverage my extensive experience to bring meaningful change to our community.
Proven Civic Leadership: Served as Councillor between 2014 and 2022, guiding Langley through years of growth and change.
Driving Community Progress: Partnered with groups like the Rotary Club, Gateway of Hope, and Christian Life Assembly.
Academic Vision & Integrity: Dean at Trinity Western University, shaping future leaders with values and purpose.
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More than 35 years ago as a first year student at Trinity Western University, Blair got to know The Township of Langley beyond the campus as he trained to be a triathlete. He cycled and ran on the roads and paths around the town and discovered the area had a “small-town feel” with which he fell in love. He knew he had found his home.
During those early years, he strengthened his bond with the community by working and volunteering as a lifeguard at the W.C. Blair Recreation Centre which had just opened. Blair embraced Langley as the place to raise a family, to work, and to enjoy life and has remained in Langley except for the brief period it took him to earn his PhD.
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Blair and his wife, Lorraine, returned from his graduate work in Edmonton in 1996 to raise their three daughters, Karina, Jolayne, and Tana. His daughters played community soccer for many years and all three of the girls have attended Trinity Western University. Blair and Lorraine are also active members of Christian Life Assembly Church in Langley.
Langley has provided the backdrop for a fulfilling life for the Whitmarsh family who live in the Brookswood area. The quality of life that his family has experienced has convinced Blair that the Township is the best place to raise a family.
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Learning has been foundational for Blair. He is an eager student, who received his bachelors in physical education from Trinity Western University. He followed this by earning a PhD in sports psychology from the University of Alberta in 1998 and his MBA from Trinity Western University in 2014.
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Blair returned to Langley in 1996 as a professor at Trinity Western University. In 2005, the university appointed him to the job of Dean of the School of Human Kinetics and Athletics at Trinity, and he remains in that position today. In the joint venture between Trinity and the Township of Langley, he played a role in developing and designing the Langley Events Centre.
Expertise in the following areas:
Budget management
Human Resources
Problem Solving
Setting and Accomplishing Goals
Teamwork
Leadership
Performing under Pressure
Stress management
Communication
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Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Blair believes a strong community needs active citizens. He leads by example, coaching youth soccer in Langley and serving on the boards of private schools, the Canadian Sports Institute, Christian Life Assembly Church, and the Community Council for the Gateway of Hope in Langley.
ACHIEVEMENTS
My work and key contributions as
Councillor from 2014 to 2022
Developed and managed sustainable initiatives
Led the development and adoption of the Community Forest Management Strategy
Supported Langley's Climate Action Strategy. Adopted in 2021, it included over 140 action items aimed at aligning with Metro Vancouver's 2035 and 2050 goals.
Expanded community infrastructure and created vibrant public space
Delivered Aldergrove Community Centre and Outdoor Water Park
Built George Preston Outdoor Sports Box
Expanded South Langley trail system
Advanced Brookswood Neighbourhood Community Plans
Advocated for a Fine Arts Facility in Brookswood
Supported the development of the jointly-planned Langley Events Centre in collaboration with Trinity Western University
Improved transportation and strengthened local connectivity
Completed widening of 208 Street Overpass
Delivered widening and sound walling of Highway 1 Overpass at 216th Street
Opened University Drive to connect Glover Rd to 216th and the freeway interchange
Championed new roads and infrastructure, including accelerating the 208th Street corridor project with careful public consultation
Enhanced public safety and emergency services
Supported staffing and capacity improvements for rural fire protection, including increases at Brookswood-Fernridge and Willoughby firehalls
Supported community wellbeing and youth engagement
Supported Creek Stone Housing for vulnerable residents
Promoted youth and sports programs through local clubs and coaching
Housing and development improvements
Approved Subdivision Bylaw Reform (2019) - updates to local road and parking standards through bylaw reform, resulting in a 30-50% increase in on-street parking for new developments
Prioritized affordable housing and permitting reform, promoting industrial land use for job creation and simplified development processes
Fiscal responsibility
Maintained low property tax increases and transparent budgeting tied to inflation and fiscal responsibility
