James Atebe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Atebe
Mayor of Mission, British Columbia
In office December 1, 2005 – December 1, 2011
Preceded by	Abe Neufeld
Succeeded by	Ted Adlem
Member of the Mission Council
In office December 1, 1999 – December 1, 2005

James Atebe is a former mayor of Mission, British Columbia, Canada. Mission is a town located east of Vancouver in the beautiful Fraser Valley region. James Atebe was born in a village called Ekerenyo in Kenya. He grew up with eight siblings, four brothers and four sisters.

When he was a teenager, James Atebe moved to Canada from Kenya. He later earned a master's degree in city planning from the University of Washington, Seattle. This education helped him understand how cities are built and organized.

Becoming a Community Leader

James Atebe started his journey in public service in 1999. This is when he first ran for a position in local government. He was elected to the city council, where he served for six years.

Serving as Mayor

In 2005, James Atebe was elected as the mayor of Mission. He was re-elected in 2008, showing that many people in Mission supported his leadership. During this election, his opponent, Matt Johnson, received less than 20 percent of the votes.

However, in the 2011 local election, James Atebe was not re-elected. Ted Adlem won the election, receiving 50 percent of the votes.

Interesting Facts About James Atebe

James Atebe once shared a home with Stephen Harper in Calgary. Stephen Harper later became the Prime Minister of Canada.

In 2009, a magazine called Canadian Immigrant recognized James Atebe. They named him "one of Canada's Top 25 immigrants." This award celebrates people who have made a big difference in Canada after moving there.