The Masquerade Ball in Prince George
As some of you might be aware, this Friday is the Il Carnevale Di Venezia (aka The Masquerade Ball) for the PGSO. I was asked just a few days ago, “I thought you stepped down from the board. Are you still going to the Masquerade?”Thank You Prince George – Results of Civic Election 2011
Over the last few months my family and I have put everything into running for council. Even up to the last few hours, between midnight and 5am, my beautiful wife Jutta and I were quietly moving my campaign signs closer to the polling stations. I have always trusted that when you work hard, focus on both the bigger picture and the details, the rest will unfold the way it is meant to.
Last night it paid off. Thank you Prince George for your overwhelming vote of confidence in me. It was exciting to watch not just myself get voted in, but the council members that I will be working with over the next 3 years navigate to these guys.
This is definitely a time for new beginnings in Prince George and I believe that your vote in Shari Green’s leadership, myself and my fellow councilors has made a difference already.
Thank you for all the comments on Twitter, Facebook, in my email inbox and kind words of congratulations I have already heard. I look forward to continuing to serve you.
Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Albert
Final Days – Thank You Prince George
As the campaign comes to an end, I wish all the candidates the best of luck. I also encourage everyone to exercise your right to vote.
If you are still undecided, have concerns that have not been answered or just want to know a little bit more, please feel free to contact me. You can do so via Twitter @AlbertKoehlerPG , Facebook http://www.facebook.com/AlbertKoehlerpg, email Akoehler [at] telus.net , or calling my office.
Please go to the polls on Saturday November 19th, 2011 and vote for Albert KOEHLER
I’d like to thank the following people for their support and endorsing my candidacy for Prince George City Council. (more…)
“I don’t want to vote because it is not going to make a difference.”
Does that sound like you or someone you know? The other day in my office I received a delivery from a courier. After a bit of small talk, I asked the woman if she was going to vote. And she said, “Why? There is no point. If I don’t vote, I can complain. Where as if I vote, I can’t complain about the people I have put into office that aren’t doing what they have promised.”
I smiled after hearing this because she is not alone. I have met people throughout my campaign that have said exactly what she did last week.
The political system can be frustrating as promises are made during the campaign trail and not kept.
As I said to her that day (more…)
Conversations from the annual Theatre NorthWest International Wine Festival
This past Saturday night I had a wonderful time supporting the arts at the annual Theatre NorthWest International Wine Festival. It was an opportunity to taste new wines from BC (and all over), enjoy good food and talk to more people.
I ended up in a conversation with a group of entrepreneurs. As they laughed about not ever wanting to run for city council themselves, I found myself explaining how the experience as an entrepreneur taught me many things that I will bring into this election. Here are some of the things I heard myself saying Saturday night: (more…)
Conservative No, Experienced Yes
I overheard a conversation last week that someone said, “Albert Koehler is conservative.” And I guess, with a more mature look than most of the other candidates, this can be what first impressions look like.
However, as a candidate running, I knew I had to write an article that addressed this.
As an inventor of a number of patents, also an entrepreneur that has built (from the ground up) and sold my businesses, I can assure you that conservative is not what led me to where I am today. (more…)
Late adopter for Twitter! But better late than never…
As someone that has built businesses with conversations and handshakes, I must say that all of this social media technology is new to me. At first I really didn’t understand how relationships are actually formed online.
However after I announced my candidacy on Oct 5, I began to take my campaign slogan to heart… “Looking Forward”.
I was already “looking forward” in the actions I was taking to improve Prince George’s economy (click here to read about www.ateec.ca and www.ntes.ca ).
But in order to get my message across to more people, (more…)
How do technology and engineering programs support the arts?
Yesterday at the all candidates meeting at Books and Company, I had a discussion with someone who asked how the technology program I am assisting to bring to CNC and the Engineering program at UNBC was actually going to help the arts.
It was a great question.
Koehler becomes a Canadian
by Teresa Mallam – Prince George Free Press- posted Jul 5, 2011 at 9:00 AM
Albert Koehler raises his right hand, smiles, and braves torrents of rain to proudly recite the Oath of Citizenship at a special ceremony Friday.
Koehler’s been in Canada for 26 years. Only now did he find time to become a Canadian citizen.
“When I first came here, I had other priorities. I had to make a living and support my family,” he said.
“I arrived in Vancouver on March 10, 1985 with my wife and children, aged two and five. I remember we were sitting at English Bay, the children were playing in the water. We were happy – even though we had nothing.”
He has no regrets about choosing Canada as his adopted homeland.
“When we came here, we had our back against the wall. I had to work hard to succeed. This country has allowed us to build up a new life from nothing. It took many years but now I am self-sufficient and financially independent.”
His success is a testament to what can be accomplished in life with a good education, solid work ethic and land of opportunity – Canada.
“There are still opportunities here for people who want them,” he said.
Koehler, 64, was born in Bermen, Germany and grew up on a farm. Later, he studied mechanical engineering in Cologne, earning his MSc. degree then a PhD in engineering.
He married Jutta in 1978 and seven years later, the couple immigrated to Canada.
Today, Koehler is a well known and highly regarded member of the Prince George community.
He’s past president of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce and served on several boards such as Resources North Association, Community Futures and the PG Symphony Orchestra. He is also author of over 40 published articles.
In 2005, he was appointed German Consular for all of northern British Columbia.
For Koehler, however, the road to success began with his own engineering consulting company, Tribotec International Ltd. in Vancouver. The business soon expanded to include a branch office in Prince George with Koehler going between the two cities where he continued to look after clients and teach mechanical engineering courses at UBC.
In 1997, he made Prince George his full time home and accepted a position as adjunct professor at UNBC. He sold his company in 2004 and went into real estate management.
Koehler now feels totally immersed in the community.
“My journey from the small village in northern Germany to Prince George in central B.C. has been most interesting, challenging, enriching and also most rewarding,“ he writes on his webpage.
And true to his rural roots, Koehler lives with his family on a small farm west of Prince George and has an office in town where he continues to serve as German Consular and conduct his business.
His offspring too are enjoying their own success. His son is a land surveyor living in Vanderhoof and his daughter works in patient care for Northern Health.
Jutta will be next to get her Canadian citizenship.
“Then I’ll work on my children,” he jokes.
