Carbon Mayor Bryan Peever served his country for more than 35 years in the Canadian Forces and has served his community in the capacity of both Deputy Mayor and Mayor since he was elected to council in 2017.
His career in the military started at the age of 18.
“I grew up in a small town in Northern Ontario, population about 50,” Mayor Peever told the Mail. “My options in the late 70s were mining or forestry. Being a young lad, I packed my bags and thought the military might be fun. The rest is history.”
After enrollment, he was sent for basic training in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia followed by a posting to Kingston, Ontario for his trades training.
During his military career, Mayor Peever was posted in communities across Canada including several bases in Ontario, Inuvik in the Northwest Territories, and he even spent time in Comox and Haida Gwaii on the west coast of British Columbia.
“I always said when I got out of the military I would get involved,” he said. “In the military you’re not allowed to get involved in communities; you can’t run for council and, as a rule, I never voted in community, council, or municipal elections because I was never going to be there long enough.”
Although he never got involved with local politics, Mayor Peever noted he always voted in federal elections.
The majority of his military career was spent during the Cold War with Russia, though Mayor Peever never served overseas.
“When the Afghan War started (in 2001), I was a Warrant Officer at Kingston at the regiment,” Mayor Peever said. He noted there were many at the same rank lining up for deployment and, later on in the war the availability of positions overseas for his rank were “slim” and there were “people lined up for years.”
His last post, prior to his retirement, was at the National Defense Headquarters in Ottawa as Chief Warrant Officer where he oversaw more than 1,000 individuals.
Now retired from the military, Mayor Peever settled in the quiet village in the valley. Most residents in Carbon are unaware of Mayor Peever’s service to his country; he says, “I’m not one to wave my flag.”
In 2017 he ran for a seat on council and was elected as Deputy Mayor.
Since then, he has moved to the role of Mayor during an organizational meeting, and he now oversees a council of five and some 500 residents. He says the leadership skills instilled from his time in the military have benefited him daily, both as a member of council and in dealing with people.
Mayor Peever was the first in his family to join the military, though he is not the last. His daughter followed in her father’s footsteps and served for a total of five years.
