Over 20 years of listening, learning, and working for our community.
My experience in local government has taught me that good decisions begin with listening. Over more than 20 years on Council, I have worked with residents, community organizations and colleagues to turn ideas and concerns into action.
Below are some examples of what I've stood for, what I've done, and what happened as a result.
1. Public Participation & Open Government
What I Believed: Government works best when it is accessible, transparent, and directly involves residents in shaping local decisions.
What I Did: Early in my tenure, I held informal community gatherings and office hours to make council information easy to access. I strongly advocated for webcasting council meetings so residents could follow proceedings and view recorded votes. More recently, I pushed for initiatives like a Participatory Policy Forum and Citizen Liaison Group.
What Happened: Central Saanich began webcasting Council meetings, making it much easier for residents to follow decisions and see their local government at work.
2. Environmental Protection & Community Character
What I Believed: Protecting the natural environment and the character of Central Saanich requires more than good intentions. It requires speaking up when particular trees, streams, shorelines and natural areas are at risk..
What I Did: Over the years, I have advocated for Garry oak and stream protection, Sought to retain mature trees, raised concerns about light pollution and pollution in Brentwood Bay, and initiated Central Saanich's annual Tree Appreciation Day. I have also pushed for practical climate action, from home energy retrofits and solar energy to electric-vehicle charging.
What Happened: Some initiatives succeeded and others did not, but many became part of the District's work. Tree Appreciation Day became an annual community event, energy-efficiency initiatives moved forward, and in 2026 Council supported my motion to explore expanding publicly accessible EV charging.
3. Agriculture & Food Security
What I Believed: Protecting farmland is essential, but farmland alone doesn't create food security. Farmers also need the infrastructure, services and support that allow them to grow, process and sell food locally.
What I Did: I have advocated for protecting farmland from urban sprawl, raised concerns about the application of biosolids on agricultural land, and pushed for farmers to be directly involved when municipal policies affect agriculture. In 2024, I successfully moved to remove an inappropriate business-licence charge against Sea Dog Farm. In 2026, I advocated for continued municipal support for the Peninsula and Area Agricultural Commission and pushed to secure land for food-processing and food-hub infrastructure in Keating.
What Happened: Some initiatives succeeded and others remain unfinished. Council unanimously supported removing the Sea Dog Farm charge. In 2026, Council agreed to discuss food-hub opportunities with landowners, although my later effort to identify and preserve a suitable food-hub site before rezoning the Keating extraction lands was defeated... for now.
4. Reconciliation & Relationships with First Nations
What I Believed: Meaningful reconciliation must be grounded in government-to-government respect, open communication, and sustained partnership.
What I Did: Prioritized collaborative dialogue, shared initiatives, and respectful engagement with local First Nations leadership.
What Happened: Built stronger, more respectful intergovernmental relationships built on ongoing cooperation and mutual respect.
5. Responsible Use of Public Money
What I Believed: very dollar Council spends comes from the community. I believe we should distinguish between what we need and what we would like, follow our own policies, and be prepared to say no when the benefit doesn't justify the cost.
What I Did: Over the years, I have pushed Council to follow its Grants-in-Aid policy rather than make exceptions, opposed increases to Council remuneration, and questioned spending on new committees and other initiatives when I did not see clear objectives or measurable benefits. More recently, I voted against the 2026 financial plan and opposed proceeding with the Municipal Hall redevelopment design contract at that stage.
What Happened: I have often been in the minority on these votes. In 2016, for example, Council approved an increase in Council remuneration that I opposed. In 2026, the financial plan and Municipal Hall design contract also proceeded despite my votes against them. My approach has remained the same: ask what is necessary, what it will cost residents, and whether there is a better use for public money.
6. Housing & Thoughtful Growth
What I Believed: We need housing people can afford. But growth should fit our community, respect neighbourhoods and farmland, and provide real public benefits rather than simply asking residents to accept more density.
What I Did: I supported Central Saanich's participation in the regional Housing Affordability Trust Fund and later asked staff to examine affordable-housing approaches used by other municipalities. When major developments came forward, I pushed for tangible benefits. At the Marigold development, for example, I sought more below-market rental housing, electric-vehicle charging and car-sharing. I have also voted against developments when I did not believe the proposal before Council was right for the site or community.
What Happened:Some of those efforts produced concrete changes. EV charging was incorporated into the Marigold proposal, and on other developments I successfully pursued car-share memberships tied to homes. Other proposals proceeded despite my opposition. My approach has been to consider each application on its merits, listen to the people affected, and ask what the community receives in return for additional development.
What do you think?
Experience isn’t about standing still—it’s about continuously finding better ways to work together. If you have questions about my record or ideas for where our community should go next, I’d love to hear from you.