Roxanne Helme
Website: www.roxannehelme.ca
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?
Yes, I graduated from Oak Bay High School in 1979.
What is your occupation, and for how long?
I have been a litigation lawyer in private practice for 36 years.
Tell us about your previous elected and/or community experience.
I was elected to Provincial Council, Canadian Bar Association and also to the Council and as President of the International Criminal Bar. I was a longtime Member of the Victoria Bar Association Executive. I was as a Community Representative, Leadership Council, Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness. I served as Board Member and President of the Victoria Inter-Cultural Association. I served on the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board and on the British Columbia Association of Police Boards. I am Chair for the Canadian College of Performing Arts and a Board Member for the Vancouver Island Trail Association.
Why are you running? What’s your motivation?
I love Oak Bay and I hope to bring my experience in the practice of sound strategic governance to its council table. I studied Economics at the University of Victoria followed by Law at Dalhousie University. My education, career and governance experience makes me someone who I believe is well suited to the task of local government decision making. I have specialized in evidence based decision making my whole working career. I have watched as our municipality has grown and changed over many years and would like to actively contribute in a governance oversight capacity to this ever ongoing process.
What are your top three issues?
1. Housing: to ensure available housing options and density meet current and future needs and demands, while maintaining the unique character of Oak Bay;
2. Infrastructure Renewal: aging and obsolete infrastructure is not unique to Oak Bay and needs to be actively addressed;
3. Consultation with First Nations: I believe that we need to establish and nurture appropriate and sound relationships with the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations to enable meaningful consultation over projects, such as the Oak Bay Marina/Turkey Head. This is not only appropriate but indeed required by law
What’s your vision for your community in 25 years?
I would like to see Oak Bay continue to grow into an ever more diverse, vibrant and sustainable community increasingly desirable as a place to live and do business I would like to see increased housing density in certain areas, particularly along main thoroughfares. I would like to see the village increasingly limited with respect to vehicle traffic. I would like to see Oak Bay Marina/Turkey Head developed into a world class venue that specifically celebrates the indigenous heritage of Oak Bay and its environs.
What’s one “big idea” you have for your community?
My one “big idea” for Oak Bay is to see Oak Bay Marina/Turkey Head developed to be a vibrant centre of community activity and attention that celebrates the indigenous heritage of the location. I would like to see inspiration taken from places such as Wanuskwin Heritage Park near Saskatoon and the First Nations’ Cultural Centre in Whistler.
