A byelection is expected in November to fill the seat of View Royal Coun. Heidi Rast, who has attended her last meeting.
Elected in 2008, Rast said Wednesday that she is moving to Charlottetown to take a job with a biopharmaceutical manufacturer that begins Sept. 11.
Rast, 41, moved to Greater Victoria from her home province of Alberta and most recently worked for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. She said she felt ready for a change and she and her retired husband opted for another island — one that happens to have a bridge to the mainland.
“I think I will miss being on council, but I do want to take a couple of years off,” she said, adding she plans to do volunteer work in Prince Edward Island.
“I’m actually looking forward to winter — I miss cross country skiing,” she said. She is also looking forward to spending roughly half as much for a comparable home and being able to fly to Europe more easily.
Rast said she has been touched by the compliments she has received since news of her departure was made public.
“It’s a fond thing I’ll definitely take back with me. … I’ve been very fortunate with the colleagues I’ve had over the years,” she said, adding that she has especially enjoyed being able to meet community members via advisory groups.
In a statement posted online, Mayor David Screech called Rast’s contribution to View Royal significant and noted she oversaw the process of getting a new fire hall built in the community.
Rast said the initial rejection of the fire hall budget in a public referendum was the “biggest lesson learned,” adding the township “didn’t really inform the public properly.”
More recently, she was one of two councillors to vote against rezoning Christie Point. The decision cleared the way for a $200-million development featuring 473 apartment units in mostly six-storey buildings. It would replace 161 units in two-storey buildings built in the 1960s.
Rast topped the polls for council candidates in 2011 and in 2014, something she attributes to being the only female candidate and gaining votes from electors interested in closer gender parity.
As for View Royal, “we’ve got to get the E&N Rail going,” she said.
Council will next meet on Sept. 5. Local government legislation dictates that once a chief electoral officer is appointed, the byelection must be held on a Saturday no more than 80 days later.
Chief administrative officer Kim Anema said that puts the likely byelection date in the week before or after Nov. 18.
