Community Leader Colette Baty Announces Candidacy for Saanich Council

SAANICH, B.C., August 24, 2026. Long-time Saanich resident and community leader Colette Baty announced today that she is running for Saanich Council, with priorities including housing choice, infrastructure, financial sustainability, economic growth and constructive local leadership.

"Saanich is a great community, and keeping it that way means making thoughtful decisions today about the community we want tomorrow," said Baty. "I want Saanich to be a place where people at every stage of life can find a home, where neighbourhoods remain welcoming and connected, and where growth is supported by the infrastructure and services people rely on."

Baty has lived in Saanich for 27 years. She is President of Dance Victoria and a Director of Intrepid Theatre, and previously served as President of the Victoria Arts Council and Vancouver Island School of Art. A past Chair of the Cadboro Bay Residents Association, her background spans healthcare, public service, education, justice, the arts and community organizations.

Baty said Saanich needs more housing choices while ensuring that infrastructure and public services keep pace with growth. She also called for a more sustainable approach to municipal finances that maintains the services residents value while recognizing the increasing pressure on residential property taxpayers.

"Saanich needs the revenue to maintain good public services and make the investments a growing community requires," Baty said. "But we need to look beyond simply asking today's residential property taxpayers to carry more of the load. We need to encourage economic growth, welcome new businesses and investment, and find new opportunities to generate revenue for the municipality. A growing and prosperous Saanich should help give us the financial capacity to invest in our community for the long term."

Baty also emphasized the importance of a constructive approach to difficult municipal issues, including transportation and development.

"People are going to have different views about how Saanich grows and how we get around our community, and those views deserve to be heard and treated with respect," Baty said. "Whether people walk, cycle, take transit or drive, they need to be able to get around Saanich safely and conveniently. The tone of these conversations matters. We shouldn't turn legitimate differences about how we achieve that into divisions between neighbours. I want to see a positive and respectful discussion that takes different needs seriously, looks for common ground and brings people together around practical solutions."

"I want to bring my governance experience, sound judgment and a genuinely collaborative approach to Council, and help Saanich remain diverse, prosperous and welcoming for the long term."