Matt Dell
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Are you associated with or running as part of a slate? If so,which one?
• Independent
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’ve lived in the City of Victoria for 20 years. I live in the South Jubilee Neighbourhood at 1525 Fell Street
What is your occupation, and for how long?
• Director of Legislation with the BC Government, 11 years total.
Tell us about your previous elected and/or community experience.
• I have served as president of the South Jubilee Community Association since 2018 and as secretary for the Victoria Community Association Network (VCAN), where I work to improve life for his residents. As a parent of two elementary-age children, I’ve coached soccer and baseball and serve on the Board at National Little League and Oaklands PAC. In 2021, I founded “Do The Loop” fundraiser, a 25km run around Victoria, that raised over $28,000 for at-risk youth at Threshold Housing Society
Why are you running? What’s your motivation?
• We need optimistic, experienced, and motivated community builders to serve on City Council. I have served as President of South Jubilee Neighbourhood Association since 2018 and understand how to work collaboratively to get things done in the community. I am running to build a better city for residents and the next generation. To get there, we need councilors who will advocate for the big issues impacting residents, including housing affordability, climate action, expanding active transportation, parks and public spaces, safe/accessible communities and effective governance.
What are your top three issues?
The most important thing the council can do is listen to residents and work to address their concerns. My top issues, informed by conversations with voters, are to:
1) Build more affordable housing, including to accelerate construction of affordable housing, purpose built rental units, and missing middle housing.
2) Focus on climate action. This includes building15-minute communities, expanding active transportation options and public transit and implementing policies to reduce building emissions and waste.
3) Invest in parks and public amenities, with a focus on public space in the downtown core, a new Crystal Pool, and an outdoor splash pad/waterpark.
What’s your vision for your community in 25 years?
My vision for Victoria is a city made up of unique, complete, walkable villages, where citizens have most services in their own neighbourhood. I am inspired by smart, sustainable urban design that aims to build “15-minute communities” – a place where basic needs are within walking distance (schools, shopping, parks, community). This type of community is so important for our physical health, for our mental health, for building community, reducing our emissions and adding housing diversity. 15-minute communities are great for children too, as they learn to explore the city and meet neighbours, without experiencing it from the backseat of a vehicle. Victoria is an amazing place to build Canada’s most walkable city.
What’s one “big idea” you have for your community?
I want to build a world-class pool and recreation centre to replace Crystal Pool. My first job in Victoria was working as a lifeguard and swim coach at Crystal Pool. My vision is to rebuild Crystal Pool into a flagship urban recreation facility, including expanded amenities for kids and teens, waterslides, a new gym, ample community space, a coffee shop, arts space, and potentially a new pocket-library. A new Crystal Pool needs to be more than a recreation facility – it needs to be a place where we build community, make new friends or get reprieve from a busy world. A new Crystal Pool should be a place where parents can drop kids off to swim, then grab a coffee with friends, or get some library books.
