Zoë Royer: A Trusted Voice for Community, Inclusion, and Change
Zoë Royer has called Port Moody–Coquitlam home since 2004. Like many locally elected leaders, she balanced her public service with day-to-day work. While serving on Council, she and her husband opened three small businesses right here in the Tri-Cities. She’s not a career politician; she’s a trusted and hardworking community leader who shows up, listens, and gets things done. With deep experience in healthcare, business, education, and housing, Zoë brings heart, strength, and a lifelong commitment to doing what’s right.
Zoë began her elected journey in 2011 as a City Councillor for Port Moody, serving for 11 years and acting as Mayor for two. She chaired key committees, including Land Use, Arts & Culture, and Economic Development, and was appointed to 16 different task forces and boards in her final year. From 2020 to 2022, she proudly served as Port Moody’s representative on Metro Vancouver’s Climate Action Committee.
One of her most meaningful contributions came in 2021, when she co-authored a report developed in consultation with Chief Ed Hall of the Kwikwetlem Nation, outlining concrete steps Port Moody could take to advance reconciliation. Her leadership led to a proposed task force of Indigenous members, a city-wide Blanket Exercise, and recommendations aligned with UNDRIP and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. Zoë is deeply committed to this work and has continued to call for education on residential schools, support for trauma-informed training, and recognition of the unmarked graves of Indigenous children. For her, Every Child Matters is not just a phrase; it’s a principle she brings into public life.
Zoë also stood firmly against anti-Asian hate when it surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and helped bring community attention to the Women, Life, Freedom movement following Mahsa Amini’s death in Iran. Her belief in inclusiveness, dignity, and justice for all people is central to her leadership.
Throughout her time on Council, even when things got difficult, Zoë led with integrity. She worked alongside individuals with very different styles, some of whom caused disruption or division. But she never took part in grandstanding or personal attacks. Instead, she stayed respectful, spoke the truth clearly, and kept her focus on the best interests of the community. Residents saw this, and they continued to re-elect her, even as others were voted out.
In 2022, Zoë was elected as a Trustee for School District 43, managing a $400 million budget and supporting the success of over 33,000 students. She is proud to be part of a unified, respectful board that gets results. As a Trustee, she’s worked to ensure schools are welcoming, safe, and inclusive for every child, regardless of their background, income, or identity.
Outside of elected office, Zoë’s two-decade healthcare career includes helping expand a dental network from a handful of clinics to over 60 across Canada. She also launched startups and created software to improve healthcare communication. Most recently, she served as Strategic Growth Officer for Massive Canada, developing modular housing solutions to help tackle Canada’s growing housing crisis. She understands how cost, time, and sustainability all need to align if we’re going to build smarter and faster.
Zoë is a lifelong champion of the arts. From 2016 to 2020, she curated nearly 40 exhibitions at her local gallery, making art more accessible to the public and supporting West Coast creators. She co-founded and co-chairs the Art Shuffle, an annual uniquely Port Moody art walk now in its fifth year. Without a gallery space, she personally curates over 7,500 square feet of space on the heart of Moody Centre in preparation for the June event, showcasing the work of many local artists.
Her own family story reflects Canada’s diversity. Born in Scotland, she immigrated as a child when her parents came in search of better opportunities. Her mother, her greatest inspiration, was one of Canada’s first female OB/GYNs. She helped shape the Shocking Pink Papers in 1988, stood for pay equity and gender parity, and helped secure women’s autonomy over their own bodies through precedent-setting work with the Supreme Court of Canada. Her legacy reminds Zoë of the power of service and the responsibility of leadership.
Zoë’s husband, Gaëtan, was born in Québec City and served for 22 years in the Canadian Air Force, including as a UN peacekeeper. He later became Port Moody’s longest-serving City Manager and went on to lead Planning, Parks, and Environment for Metro Vancouver. Their home is a blend of Anglophone and Francophone culture, rooted in shared values of inclusion, public service, and respect for all.
Zoë is also deeply connected to both ends of the generational spectrum. Her 85-year-old mother continues to live independently and remains a guiding light in her life. At the same time, Zoë plays an active role in the lives of her two young grandchildren. She believes that young people represent our future, and that elders deserve dignity, care, and inclusion. Her vision for Canada is one where every generation thrives.
Throughout much of her time in elected office, Zoë has quietly donated a significant portion of her salary to local charities and community causes. She and her husband are active volunteers and board members for several nonprofit organizations, reflecting their shared commitment to giving back. In past civic elections, Zoë was honoured to have earned the trust and full support of the Port Moody Firefighters; support that spoke to her strong record of service and leadership in the community during her tenure on Council.
Zoë Royer is running because Canada needs leaders who lead with courage, compassion, and conviction. With decades of experience in public service and community-building, she’s ready to be a strong voice for Port Moody–Coquitlam, one that delivers results. She doesn’t just talk about unity, she lives it. Zoë believes that real leadership means lifting people up, solving problems together, and never backing down from doing what’s right. In this moment of national challenge and opportunity, she is the leader we need.