Do you have a plan to vote twice? No, this isn't election-rigging.
There are TWO elections this month!
With both a provincial and municipal election, it can be hard to keep track of all the different candidates and their positions. We've included THREE all-candidates surveys for you to research where candidates stand on the issues you care about most.
Advance Voting or Vote by Mail: As early as Oct.7. Each municipality has its own dates.
Election Day: Saturday Oct. 17.
Find your area’s voting details here.
Find your municipality’s election candidates here.
Make a plan to vote in the Provincial Election October 24 as well!
Don’t forget school trustees! VoteMate.org
Victoria school trustee VCPAC candidate questionnaire responses:
SD61 School Board Trustee Candidate Questionnaire - 2026
Questions for Candidates
Attending an all-candidates debate or meeting? Talk to your candidates and ask:
All Municipalities Greater Victoria Acting Together wants municipalities to bring in Right to Cool bylaws before next summer when the climate-charged super El Nino will be making temperatures hotter than ever and the heat fatality risk higher than ever. We need Right to Cool bylaws to require that landlords ensure at least one room in any rental unit can be kept at or below 26 degrees C. Would you vote in favour of such a bylaw?
Sidney, North Saanich, Sooke, Highlands Buildings are a significant source of climate pollution (greenhouse gas emissions) in every municipality, usually the first or second highest, often around 50%. Will you work to get your municipality to adopt the highest level of the Zero Carbon Step Code?
Remember–you have a unique opportunity to vote twice in a row legally! Municipal election day is Saturday Oct. 17 and provincial election day is Saturday Oct. 24. Don’t miss out!
The energy at Let’s Stay Cool was electric (and all zero carbon)!
In May, we held a successful 5-day Regional Training, hosting our sister alliances from around western North America and culminating in our Let's Be Cool Assembly! Our organizations came together and got commitments from Saanich mayoral candidates Zac De Vries and Karen Harper around our climate asks.
GVAT’s Climate Justice Team has been hard at work on Right to Cool, Zero Carbon Step Code, lowering emissions from existing buildings and educating and influencing municipal election candidates. We usually meet on the 2nd Monday of the month from 7:00-8:30 pm online and always welcome new members. Due to Thanksgiving, the next meeting is Oct. 19. Contact jane@gvat.ca for the link.
At May's Let’s Stay Cool assembly, GVAT vowed to get a particular resolution passed at the UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities) Convention in mid-September. We did it! GVAT Press Release: UBCM Resolution NR30 Passed
Also passed at UBCM was a resolution about a GVAT transportation ask, that “the UBCM advocate that provincial Motor Vehicle legislation and regulations be updated to allow the use of wheelchairs and 3&4 wheel mobility scooters on bike lanes and traffic calmed bike routes across BC.”
Climate Justice Team member, Michael Polanyi, was a driving force (literally driving an EV from here to Ottawa) behind the Seniors Climate Witness Caravan. Many other GVAT members and allies were involved and very successful in raising awareness and support for climate action at the federal level.
Democracy Through Dialogue
We invite you to join us for our Democracy Through Dialogue series: the State of Civility. Join us for an expertly facilitated and moderated conversation of the role of civility in our politics.
We encourage you to register for the entire series, as the sections will lead into one another! Check our events page for more information
GVAT Annual General Meeting
In June, we had our annual general meeting. We are honoured to welcome Jaigris Hodson, and Elaine Perry to the board of directors, and to welcome Jen Kostuchuk into her first full board term.
Read our annual report here: GVAT 2025 Report
A huge thank you to Stephen Tyler, outgoing Board member, who served 6 consecutive years on the Board, the maximum allowable. Stephen continues his involvement in GVAT in other ways.
Training
We’re on a roll, hosting a highly successful regional training in May at Broad View United, and a strong Foundations Training at Anglican Church of the Advent in September. Due to the provincial election, we are rescheduling our October 24 training to November. Information will be posted to gvat.ca/events and our social media when available.
