The Saanich We Want to Build Together. Looking 10 or 20 Years Ahead, what do you want Saanich to look like for your children, your grandchildren and the generations that follow?

It’s a question worth asking not just during an election campaign, but whenever Saanich makes decisions about our community's future.

Saanich is a special place. It’s where we put down roots, raise families, build friendships, volunteer, enjoy our parks and trails, support local businesses and connect with the people around us. It’s a community with a strong sense of place, beautiful natural surroundings, and neighbourhoods, each with its own character.

As someone who lives, works, and volunteers in Saanich, I care deeply about protecting what makes this community special while ensuring it remains a place where people can afford to live, feel connected, and build a future.

My vision is a Saanich that grows thoughtfully, welcomes people at every stage of life, protects its natural environment and makes decisions with future generations in mind.

But what does that look like in practice?

Housing Choices for Every Stage of Life

A healthy community needs a range of housing choices. Young adults should have opportunities to stay in the community where they grew up. Families should be able to find homes that meet their needs. Seniors should have options that let them stay connected to their neighbourhoods as their circumstances change.

We need honest conversations about affordability, housing supply, and how we accommodate growth. Thoughtful planning can help us create more housing choices while considering infrastructure, neighbourhood character, accessibility and the natural environment.

This isn’t about choosing between growth and preservation. It’s about asking the right questions so we can plan responsibly so more people can find a place to call home without losing the qualities that make Saanich such a wonderful place to live.

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Getting Around Safely and Reliably

How we move around Saanich shapes our daily lives.

Whether we drive, take transit, cycle, walk or use a mobility aid, residents need transportation options that are safe, practical and accessible. Parents need to feel confident about their children’s journeys to school. Seniors need to reach appointments and community activities. Workers need reliable ways to get where they need to go.

Good transportation planning means looking beyond individual projects and considering how our roads, sidewalks, cycling routes and transit services work together. It also means listening to residents about local traffic concerns and finding balanced solutions that improve safety while keeping our community moving.

As Saanich grows, we have an opportunity to make thoughtful decisions today that will serve residents well for decades to come.

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Neighbourhoods with Their Own Character

One thing I value about Saanich is that the neighbourhoods aren't all the same.

From established residential streets to village centres and growing urban areas, each part of our community has its own identity, history and priorities.

Future planning should recognize those differences. We need to consider where housing and services belong, how development fits into existing communities, and what infrastructure change requires.

Most importantly, residents should have meaningful opportunities to participate in these conversations; the same should apply to their community associations. Local knowledge matters. People who live in a neighbourhood often understand its strengths, challenges, and possibilities in ways that a planning map alone can't capture.

Listening doesn’t mean every person will agree on every decision. It means taking different perspectives seriously, asking good questions and working toward solutions that serve the broader community.

Protecting Green Spaces and the Natural Environment

Our parks, trails, trees, waterways and natural areas are more than beautiful places to visit. They support our health and well-being, provide wildlife habitat, help manage heat and rainwater, and connect us with the natural world.

Environmental stewardship must be part of our growth planning, not something we consider after decisions are already made.

We need to think carefully about protecting environmentally sensitive areas, preserving and expanding our tree canopy, maintaining access to parks and trails, and ensuring that future residents can enjoy the natural spaces that are such an important part of Saanich.

Responsible growth and environmental protection should go hand in hand. The challenge is to make informed choices that support both a changing community's needs and the long-term health of the places we call home.

Planning for the Next Generation

It can be tempting to focus on the immediate challenges facing us. Housing costs, traffic, infrastructure, recreation and the everyday pressures on household budgets all deserve attention.

But local government also has a responsibility to look further ahead.

What infrastructure will we need in 10 or 20 years? Will your neighbourhood offer housing choices for the next generation? Will your parks and natural areas remain healthy? Will people be able to get around safely? Will your community remain a place where you feel you belong?

The decisions we make today will shape the opportunities available to residents like you, who may not yet have a voice in these conversations.

Planning for the future doesn’t mean Council can predict every challenge or get every decision right the first time. It means looking beyond the next election cycle, considering the long-term consequences of its choices, and being willing to work with you to find practical solutions.

This Conversation Belongs to All of Us

My approach to local leadership begins with listening. I believe good decisions come from asking questions, understanding different perspectives, reviewing the evidence, and bringing people together to work through complex issues.

I don’t believe any one person should define the future of Saanich. Thoughtful planning, open conversations through a systems-thinking lens, and a shared commitment to the community that we want to leave behind should shape it.

That’s what I mean when I talk about listening first, planning together and building Saanich’s future.

And now, I want to hear from you.

If you could look 10 or 20 years into the future, what would you want Saanich to look like?

What would make you proud to call this community home? What should be protected? What needs to change? What opportunities should be created for the next generation?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on housing, transportation, neighbourhood character, parks and green spaces, or anything else you believe will shape our future.

Donèt worry, you don’t need to have all the answers. Sometimes the most important first step is simply asking questions.

Please share your ideas, your hopes and your concerns. I would love to learn what matters most to you and what you want future generations to experience when they call Saanich home.

Because building a better Saanich isn’t just about what we do today. It’s about what we make possible for tomorrow.

Let’s start the conversation. Let’s listen to one another. And together, let’s build a Saanich we can all be proud of.