Dustin Lee Hiles - Vancouver Centre Conservative Nomination Candidate
Dustin Lee Hiles - Vancouver Centre Conservative Nomination Candidate
Dustin Lee Hiles is a Pacific Islander of Ukrainian decent who is a dedicated community activist with strong roots in Vancouver. A professional opera singer, Dustin began his career with Vancouver Opera Association, at just fifteen, as a young artistic prodigy.
Dustin's life in politics started as a youth advisor to Premier Gordon Campbell and a BC youth organizer for Prime Minister Paul Martin, Dustin is active in the local Roman Catholic community and is a passionate advocate in the fight against poverty and antisemitism.
Originally from Mission, BC, Dustin attended St. John Brébeuf Catholic Secondary and studied theology at St. Andrew's College, University of Manitoba, as well as singing at the University of Toronto's Opera Division.
Dustin was a young artist at the Banff Centre for the Performing Arts, Victoria Conservatory of Music, and the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, making his professional debuted at the Orpheum Theater, as the tenor soloist, with Vancouver Symphony in Handel’s Messiah, at just fifteen years old.
Dustin has used his talent in support of many local charities including the Polio Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Association, the Abbotsford Hospice Society, the Mission Indigenous Friendship Center, and in support of Mexican migrant workers in the Fraser Valley.
Dustin spent almost a decade volunteering with Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in both Kolkata and Krishnanagar, India, working in support of the poorest of the poor, and was nominated for the Fraser Valley Champion of Diversity Award in 2022.
In 2022, Dustin organized a fundraising dinner that raised almost fifteen thousand dollars, in less then a week, in support of Ukrainian refugees. He then traveled to Krakow, and Kiev, to help resettle Ukrainian families fleeing the war in both 2022 and 2023 respectively.
As a professional classically trained tenor, Dustin has performed before Queen Elizabeth II, every Canadian Prime Minister since John Turner, and His Holiness the XVI Dalai Lama. He finished his professional training under the legendary singer Montserrat Caballé (Queen) and has been engaged by the Canadian Opera Company, Vancouver Opera, and Seattle Opera.
Dustin's talent was discovered and fostered by the late Irving Guttman and Maestro Mario Bernardi of the CBC symphony Orchestra.
Dustin began singing with the UBC Opera Ensamble, at thirteen, and participated in five consecutive summers of the UBC Opera Workshop,
As a political organizer, and consultant, Dustin has worked with City Councillors Hector Bremner (Vancouver), Sarah Kirby Young (Vancouver), Ken Herar (City of Mission) and has collaborated extensively with dozens of MLA's and MP from across Canada. and party lines He ran for Mayor of Mission, in 2022, earning the endorsement of former Premier Christy Clark.
Dustin served as Private Secretary to Canada's longest serving Speaker of Parliament, the Hon. Peter Milliken PC, OC.
Formerly a federal Liberal, Dustin left, to join Pierre Poilievre's Conservative Party, because of how disconnected and out of touch the government has become with young Canadians and in particular because of the March 19th, 2024, vote to support Hamas terrorists over a free and democratic Israel.
Dustin is a strong advocate for gender equity, Ukrainian sovereignty, a free and independent Taiwan, and LGBTQIA2+ rights.