Celia Stock
Facebook: Celia Stock for North Saanich Council
Are you associated with or running as part of a slate? If so, which one?
I am not running as part of a slate
Do you live in the municipality where you are running, and if so, for how long? If not, what is your connection to that community?
I live in North Saanich, and have been a resident here for 16 years
What is your occupation, and for how long?
I am a retired Federal public servant, having worked for the Government of Canada for 35 years
Tell us about your previous elected and/or community experience.
I have been involved in municipal governance as an elected official since 1979 when I was first elected as an Alderman on the City of Yellowknife, (NWT) Council.
My commitment to public service is further demonstrated by my having served three terms as a Councillor on the District of North Saanich Council (since I was first elected in 2011).
I am running for re-election for a fourth term as Councillor.
Why are you running? What’s your motivation?
1. to work to continue/preserve our rural and agricultural community vision and presence in the CRD by synchronizing the Regional Growth Strategy with a North Saanich
residents’/‘peoples’ Official CommunityPlan (OCP);
2. to continue to support and encourage the Victoria International Airport (YYJ), BC Ferries, the major focus of our Transportation Hub, and all present and future Manufacturing Industries located
on airport lands;
3. to continue to ensure reasonable levels of property tax through sound financial management and fiscal responsibility;
4. to strengthen open, transparent government and collaborative working relationships through excellence in Leadership;
What are your top three issues?
1. To “warp up” open communication and dialogue with all North Saanich residents - that is listening, really listening to residents’ views and ideas;
2. To re-examine all six themes of the new draft OCP, with particular emphasis on the Housing and Affordability Theme, and to pause the OCP proceeding ahead;
3. To protect our food-producing farmland, ALR land, forests, parks, and marine habitats, particularly through our Climate Action policy lens.
What’s your vision for your community in 25 years?
The District of North Saanich will:
- continue to be an important rural and food producing farming area for the South Island and the Greater Victoria Area, as well as providing green space, and recreational space;
- retain its commercial importance as a major transportation and manufacturing hub for all of Vancouver Island;
- make progress in business development with new industries locating on airport lands.
What’s one “big idea” you have for your community?
North Saanich, Central Saanich and Saanich should work together to protect food producing lands within our three contiguous communities, and to assist farmers in getting their
produce and animals to market. With the advent of more drought, hotter summers, rising sea levels, wetter winters, we must see this as a priority.
