Tom Rokeby moved to Nanaimo as a teenager with his retiring parents Noel and Shirley Rokeby. Tom grew up watching his parents immerse themselves in projects such as Loaves and Fishes, Global Village and Woodgrove Seniors Housing from idea to reality. The responsibility to help our community grow with dignity and equity was an early lesson.

A member of Nanaimo District Secondary School’s last mass-grad in 1989, Tom continued his education first at Vancouver Island University (then Malaspina), and in time transfered to the University of Victoria to complete his undergraduate degrees and teacher certification.

Tom returned home to teach French Immersion at NDSS, and soon after to John Barsby, where he established and ran Bulldog Theatre for the next 18 years.  His passion drove him beyond the school day, hosting regional festivals, mounting 2 student productions each year, taking students to Japan, and running Student Vote each election cycle.

Raising a family in Nanaimo with his wife Lisa, Tom continues to build community, the way his parents taught him. Reconciliation is an action item in the Rokeby household. Tom teaches literacy to residential and day school survivors, and sits on the board of The Literacy Circle Society. His creative energy is currently being channelled into his role as Artistic Director of Reconcilation Theatre. The entire family is grateful for the Hulquiminum courses taken with S’nuneymuxw Elder Gary Manson his son and Adam Manson through the Nanaimo Art Gallery.

Tom lives an active lifestyle, developing the property that he and Lisa bought 12 years ago into the South Wellington Art Farm, an outdoor performing arts center and home to our hens, goats and kune kune pigs. Tom has also been an active parent-volunteer, sharing his limited skill and tireless enthusiasm with Island Swish Basketball and Nanaimo Minor Hockey Association. 

Tom’s first attempt at community organizing was an inline hockey league, the CPHL. He grew old enjoying the sport with new friends, and is proud the league outlasted him. Most recently, Tom has been appointed to the steering committee for the South Wellington Community Centre, and is excited to have the opportunity to design a facility to meet the growing needs of the region.