Colette Baty is a community leader, strategic thinker and former registered nurse with more than three decades of experience in community organizations, the arts, education, healthcare, justice, and public service. She has lived in Saanich for 27 years. 

Colette is President of Dance Victoria, a much-valued cultural institution serving the CRD. She took on the role at a critical point in its 25-year history, helping guide the organization through the departure of its longstanding Executive Director, the recruitment of new leadership, and the hiring of a new management team. As Board Chair, she has overseen an annual budget of more 
than $2 million, a new strategic plan and a complete organizational rebranding. 

Her broader nonprofit experience includes serving as past President of the Victoria Arts Council and the Vancouver Island School of Art. She has also held an executive position with the BC Home Learners’ Association and founded the Vancouver Island Water Polo Association. Colette is a past Chair of the Cadboro Bay Residents Association, where she served extensively during two separate periods. Her work included organizing a provincial election candidates’ forum and representing the Association on provincial housing legislation, alongside broader involvement in housing, neighbourhood planning, environmental and public-safety issues. The 
experience reinforced her belief that strong neighbourhoods must work for renters and homeowners alike. 

Colette has also contributed her experience in governance, facilitation and organizational development to consulting projects and spent several years as a Gladue writer, working within the justice system with a focus on equity, restorative justice and culturally grounded practice. She began her career as a registered nurse, working in respiratory medicine, coronary care, leukemia and bone-marrow transplantation, and intensive care. 

Priorities for Saanich Youth: 

• Committing to achieving the climate goals set out in the current Saanich Climate Plan, while ensuring that climate considerations inform long-term planning and infrastructure decisions. 

• Creating complete neighbourhoods where youth are able to access shops, parks, entertainment, and transit without needing a vehicle. 

• Increasing housing supply and choice, particularly purpose-built rental housing that provides secure homes, while ensuring that growth is well planned and that transportation, infrastructure, services and parks keep pace. 

• Providing safe, convenient and affordable transportation options, including safe and connected walking, cycling and transit infrastructure, while making transportation decisions based on the needs of individual neighbourhoods and the people who use them. 

• Growing the industrial and commercial economic base in Saanich so young adults have the opportunity to work in the community they live in, while strengthening the municipal tax base and reducing pressure on residential taxpayers. 

• Creating a robust community collaboration policy that seeks input from those frequently not heard from, which often includes youth. 

• Managing Saanich’s finances and infrastructure responsibly so that today’s decisions do not leave younger residents paying tomorrow for problems we failed to address.