Community advocate and Surrey business lawyer Tako van Popta has announced his candidacy as a Conservative Party of Canada nominee in the new federal riding of Cloverdale-Langley City.
“We are fortunate in Langley City to have been very well represented by Member of Parliament Mark Warawa since 2004,” says Van Popta. “I want to ensure that the same legacy of integrity, passion and commitment continues as the new Cloverdale-Langley City riding seeks representation.”
Van Popta was raised in Cloverdale and Langley City, and attended high school at Cloverdale Junior Secondary, and graduated from Langley Senior Secondary. “It would be a dream come true for me to represent my home community in the House of Commons,” says Van Popta. “I have a passion for my community, for Canada and for politics generally. I grew up here. I’m well established in both areas so when the new riding was created straddling both communities, I thought, “It’s perfect for me, it fits my life story perfectly.”
Van Popta spent ten years in the construction industry as an electrician in Surrey and Langley before leaving to accomplish his goal of becoming a lawyer. After obtaining a degree at Trinity Western University, Tako graduated from the UBC School of Law in 1989. Since that time, he has been working at McQuarrie Hunter LLP, a Central Surrey law firm, first as an associate, then as a partner, and for the last 8 years as the firm’s managing partner.
Van Popta has served as director and then Chairman of the Langley Memorial Hospital Board (1989-1995), as well as director and Chairman of the Elim Housing Society Board (2006-2012). Tako also chaired the Langley Township Economic Development Commission, and is an active member of the Langley Area Cycling Coalition.