Gary C. Beyer
Website: garybeyer.ca
Twitter: @garycbeyer
Are you associated with or running as part of a slate? If so, which one?
No
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 have lived in my rental apartment on the edge of Fernwood for 15 years and in the same building for a total of 21 years.
What is your occupation, and for how long?
I am the majority shareholder and manager of Tesseract 2.0 Computing in Downtown Victoria.
Tell us about your previous elected and/or community experience. (80-100 words)
Co chair Senior Men’s National Baseball Championships to Victoria 2017/2018, sat as equipment chair Langford Fastball (Mid 80s), Finance Chair St Andrews Elementary (late 80s)
Supporter of multiple charities, and during pandemic lockdown started a restaurant gift card program at Tesseract. (Bought thousands of dollars in gift cards to help local eateries and pubs.)
Why are you running? What’s your motivation?
I was taught early to leave a place better than when found, by my father, former Daily Colonist/ Times Colonist reporter Hubert Beyer . After more than 20 years of Victoria being good to me, it is time for me to help make Victoria an even better place for everyone to live in, visit, work in and do business in.
What are your top three issues?
• Trust — Trust between the voter and City Hall is a priority and must be earned. Without trust, Council and Mayor lose a moral right to Govern.
• Fund Police — Our police deal with issues that were less prevalent only a few decades ago. It is time council recognizes it costs money to police Victoria and finds ways to address budget shortfalls.
• Core Services — Council and Mayor need to understand the core service the city needs to provide to citizens and stay within that mandate. Policing, Fire Department, Garbage collection, water, roads, and infrastructure.
What’s your vision for your community in 25 years?
Until council recognizes and adopts a short-term vision for Victoria, I would find it difficult to propose a long-term vision. I do think a long-term focus needs to keep the core area around the harbour as culturally and architecturally intact. After all, isn’t this why people visit Victoria.
What’s one “big idea” you have for your community?
While “Big” ideas are great, focusing on the core issues will help get Victoria back on track to being a safer, more livable, diverse and inclusive city.
