Meet Jason (Jay) Matte

I’ve called Mission home for almost 15 years, and I’ve had the privilege of building businesses, raising a family, and becoming deeply involved in the community I unexpectedly fell in love with coming from East Vancouver.

I’m a small business owner, entrepreneur, community volunteer, and have a passion for great relationships, inspiring others through connections, and leading creative individuals with their own amazing talents by mentoring them with the skills I’ve learned over the last 20 years as a business owner. My businesses have given me the opportunity to work with hundreds of people and organizations throughout Mission and the Fraser Valley. Through Pressland General and Pressland Printing, I’ve built my businesses from the ground up in a tiny apartment on Commercial Drive at 4th Avenue to having a brick and mortar shop in the heart of historic downtown Mission for seven years. I’ve learned firsthand the challenges and opportunities over the course of that time and wouldn’t change a thing because it has led me to this incredible city.

But business is only one part of my story.

Over the years, I’ve tried to contribute wherever I felt I could make a difference. I’ve served on the Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for more than six years, including creating the Youth Entrepreneurship Program. I’ve served on the City of Mission Economic Development Select and Advisory Committee, and currently serve on the Mission Historical Society as a new board member.

I’ve also always believed that a strong community is one where people have opportunities to connect and learn. That belief has shaped many of the projects I’ve been involved with, including TEDxMission, the Pressland Collective, and the Pressland Skateboard Club. Whether it’s entrepreneurship, arts and culture, history, recreation, or business, I believe these connections are what make a community feel like home.

Outside of work and community involvement, I’m a dad to a wonderful teenage son, and we love watching movies and gaming together (although he is a master, and I’m pretty bad at his games…they are hard!). I enjoy spending time on my skateboard, love exploring the trails and natural spaces around Mission and the Valley, and spend lots of time with my partner watching movies, spend sleepy mornings sipping coffee on the patio, having a picnic by the Fraser River, and hanging out with friends and our families.

My background is a little unconventional. I spent part of my earlier life as a professional skateboarder and stunt team performer, experiences that taught me a very high level of persistence, creativity, calculated risk-taking, and the value of relationships with people from all walks of life. Those lessons have stayed with me through every business, project, and community initiative I’ve taken on.

I’ve been fortunate to receive recognition for my contributions to our community, including being named Citizen of the Year by the City of Mission and being nominated for Business Leader of the Year through the Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce.

All this said, I don’t see community involvement as a list of fancy accomplishments. I simply see it as natural progressions and continuing to grow and learn.

Running for Mission City Council is a natural extension of that belief.

I’m running because I believe Mission has tremendous potential, and I want to help build a city where people can build businesses, raise families, find opportunity, and feel proud to call home for the rest of their lives.

I want to bring a practical, collaborative perspective to Council…one grounded in being great with relationship building, business experience, community involvement, and a genuine understanding of the people who live, work and play here.

Mission has everything we need to build something special: YOU, the people. I want to help us connect those pieces and create the opportunity for our community to thrive for decades to come.

Building Opportunity.
Strengthening Community.