Mark Neufeld
Website: markneufeld.ca
Facebook: Mark Neufeld an Advocate for Saanich
Twitter: markvneufeld
Instagram: @neufeld4saanich
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 do. I have been living in various parts of Saanich for more than 30 years. Currently living in Cordova Bay.
What is your occupation, and for how long?
I have been a teacher at Saanich School District #63 since 1992. Currently also a part-time instructor at UVic’s Faculty of Education.
Tell us about your previous elected and/or community experience.
I’ve been involved in community politics since I was voted vice-president of UVic’s Student Society (a long time ago!) and also served as a Parks and Recreation commissioner in Area B of the CRVD. I represented the B.C. Greens as Advocate for Youth and Intergenerational Equity while running in Saanich South.
Why are you running? What’s your motivation?
My students and my sons. I have spent a lifetime searching for innovative solutions to the challenges the world faces and I’ve always started in community. After 30 years of teaching, it’s time to serve on council in the community I’ve always served as a teacher.
What are your top three issues?
Equitable Housing, long term decision-making that takes evidence-based serves future generations and makes our lives better today. And finally, community-building. I’ve always valued talking with folks that might not necessarily politically agree with me and finding common ground. I hope my politically-inclusive support speaks to this.
What’s your vision for your community in 25 years?
Honestly, I think Saanich could be a role-model, an example for the North America and the world in how we can make visionary, long-term decisions that serve our community life richer today. Our communities should include a place where our children can afford to live. We need to take on inequity, inclusion in an every day, rolled-up sleeves kind of way. Our community has every thing we need to realize this goal. Leadership is role-modelling but it needs to be inclusive of the brilliant ideas those not often represented.
What’s one “big idea” you have for your community?
My dream is to chair a committee on Intergenerational decision-making and Equity for a just and sustainable climate transition. There are so many powerful voices in our community. I would love to just be a facilitator at that table. We need to tell the story of clear-eyed decision-making that, literally, changes Canada. Again, Saanich has everything it needs to be leaders. And now is the time.
