W. Canova Peterson's Biography

W. Canova Peterson was elected as the Mechanicsville District Supervisor in November 2011. He served as Chairman in 2013 and 2019. He serves on the following board committees: Facility Space Needs, Finance and Legislative (alternate). He also serves on the Rules Committee and the Safety and Security Committee. He represents Hanover County on the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission (RRPDC) and the Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO).

An architect, Mr. Peterson has lived in Hanover County for over 45 years and has been active in community service with many organizations including the Hanover County Rotary Club, Mechanicsville Ruritan Club, Memorial Regional Medical Center Community Advisory Board, American Legion Post 175 and V.F.W. Post 9808.

Education & Military Service

Mr. Peterson was graduated from Virginia Tech in 1968 with a Bachelor's degree in architecture and a fifth-year option in urban and regional planning. Upon graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. In 1969-70 he was stationed in the Republic of Vietnam, where he was an Armored Cavalry Platoon Leader. He was awarded a Bronze Star. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant as Air Cavalry Troop Executive Officer.

Employment

After being honorably discharged from active duty in 1970, Mr. Peterson began his career as an architect in Newark, Delaware. He moved to Mechanicsville in 1973 and in 1979 he founded Canova Associates Architecture. Mr. Peterson is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Virginia Society of American Institute of Architects (VSAIA), the James River chapter of VSAIA and the Interfaith Forum on Religious Art and Architecture. He is a past Board Director for the Construction Specifications Institutes, Richmond Chapter.

Organizations

Mr. Peterson is also a past president of the Hanover County Rotary Club and in 1991-93 he was the District Governor's Special Representative for forming the Mechanicville Rotary Club. He was named Rotarian of the Year for 2007-08 and serves on the Hanover Rotary Foundation Board of Directors. He also is a past member of the Mechanicsville Ruritan Club and Washington and Henry Masonic Lodge Number 344. He was a member of Memorial Regional Medical Center's Community Advisory Board from 2009 through 2016. He currently serves on the Board of Covenant Woods.

Family

Mr. Peterson and his wife Patricia Hill Peterson have three children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.