Amber Champ
Director · Area B · Cowichan Valley Regional District
- Neighbourhood:
- Shawnigan Lake Area B
- Years in the community:
- 35
About
I’m ready to lead with experience, courage and a strong commitment to the residents of Shawnigan. I would be honoured to be your Director and your CHAMPion for Shawnigan.
Policy commitments
Buildings
We all want healthy, affordable, and comfortable homes. These policies will help to lower energy bills, cut pollution, and improve indoor air quality.
✓
Support electrification of new buildings.
Supportive
✓
Incentivize electric heat pumps and air filtration systems.
Supportive
✓
Incentivize renewable energy, battery storage, and smart-grid technologies in new and existing buildings to improve energy security.
Supportive
~
Scale up energy retrofits for existing homes, businesses, and public buildings.
Neutral
~
Implement a 'right to cool' bylaw to protect tenants during extreme heat events.
Neutral
Climate Justice
Our community is already experiencing the harmful impacts of climate change caused by fossil fuel pollution, and taxpayers are on the hook to upgrade and repair critical infrastructure.
✓
Endorse the fossil fuel treaty and commit to phase out fossil fuels.
Supportive
✓
Enact a moratorium on AI data centres to protect our energy and water resources.
Supportive
✓
Pursue available legal options to recover a fair share of the climate costs facing our community from fossil fuel companies and other big polluters.
Supportive
✓
Collaborate with Indigenous peoples as partners in the stewardship of the land, air, and water, and work towards reconciliation.
Supportive
Ecosystems
The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat all rely on healthy ecosystems. Nature can also help protect our community from extreme weather by controlling floods, protecting shorelines, and cooling neighbourhoods. Access to nature improves the health and well-being of residents, and supports biodiversity.
✓
Protect and restore ecosystems, which are essential to human survival, health, and economic well-being.
Supportive
✓
Expand and protect tree canopy, parks, and green infrastructure to cool neighbourhoods, clean air, and manage stormwater.
Supportive
~
Prioritize native tree planting in all areas, especially those with low tree cover, higher population densities, and more vulnerable residents.
Neutral
✓
Create connected urban greenways for people and wildlife.
Supportive
Land Use
We envision vibrant, walkable communities that protect nature and improve food security.
✓
Build affordable homes near jobs, schools, shops, and transit.
Supportive
~
Upgrade critical infrastructure for heat, fire, flood, and storm resilience.
Neutral
✓
Increase food security by supporting local agriculture and community gardens.
Supportive
Transport
Connecting neighbourhoods through public transit and active transportation networks will cut pollution, improve public health, and make our communities more affordable (and fun!).
✓
Deliver reliable, frequent, affordable local transit.
Supportive
✓
Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities.
Supportive
~
Build bike and roll networks that are safe for everyone.
Neutral
~
Expand EV charging infrastructure.
Neutral
Watersheds
Climate change, increasing populations, and overconsumption threaten our water security. Healthy watersheds and forests are critical to support clean drinking water, stormwater management, climate resilience, and biodiversity for future generations.
✓
Implement water conservation plans and educate the public to conserve drinking water.
Supportive
✓
Protect and restore watersheds as vital municipal infrastructure.
Supportive
✓
Develop and implement a water security plan.
Supportive
Zero Waste
Zero waste policies reduce pollution, keep waste out of landfills, build resilient local economies, and safeguard public health by shifting society away from a disposable culture toward a sustainable circular economy.
✓
Implement zero waste bylaws to divert organic waste and recyclables from disposal.
Supportive
✓
Support the development of a circular economy to eliminate waste and improve resilience.
Supportive
✓
Implement bylaws to eliminate waste from new buildings, renovation, and demolition projects and to use existing buildings as efficiently as possible.
Supportive
✓ Supportive
~ Neutral
× Opposed
– No response
Climate action
How have you contributed to climate action in your community through advocacy, past work, advisory committees, volunteer work, and/or reducing your personal carbon footprint?
I live what I believe. I drive an electric vehicle and share my home with three generations of family. For the past five years, I have served as Alternate Director, appointed by Sierra Acton, where I have had the opportunity to assist and represent our community at the CVRD.
Much of my volunteer work has been focused on children and families, and I currently work for the school board. These experiences have given me a strong understanding of the challenges families face and the importance of creating a community where children and young people can thrive.
They have also reinforced my belief that we have a responsibility to think beyond today. The decisions we make about growth, land use, transportation and our natural environment will shape the community our children inherit. I want to bring that perspective to the table, balancing the needs of families today with thoughtful stewardship of our lakes, forests and rural character for generations to come.
Much of my volunteer work has been focused on children and families, and I currently work for the school board. These experiences have given me a strong understanding of the challenges families face and the importance of creating a community where children and young people can thrive.
They have also reinforced my belief that we have a responsibility to think beyond today. The decisions we make about growth, land use, transportation and our natural environment will shape the community our children inherit. I want to bring that perspective to the table, balancing the needs of families today with thoughtful stewardship of our lakes, forests and rural character for generations to come.
Questions for Cowichan Valley Regional District
The Cowichan Valley is vulnerable to many climate-related risks (e.g. wildfire, drought, smoke, flooding, heat, local supply chains). How will you address these risks to support our community’s resilience?
I will continue to support strong emergency management and the expansion of the FireSmart program, helping residents and neighbourhoods prepare for wildfire and smoke events. The CVRD identifies flooding, wildfire, drought, extreme heat and other hazards as increasing regional risks, so we need to plan for both emergency response and long-term resilience.
We also need to recognize that water is at the heart of many of these challenges. The Cowichan Valley can experience both prolonged drought and intense rainfall and flooding. The Koksilah and Cowichan watersheds are a good reminder of this reality. I would support continued investment in watershed protection, flood planning, water conservation and infrastructure that can withstand changing conditions.
For me, resilience means being prepared before an emergency happens, protecting the natural environment that help protect our communities, and making practical decisions today that will help keep our families, infrastructure and local economy safe in the future.
We also need to recognize that water is at the heart of many of these challenges. The Cowichan Valley can experience both prolonged drought and intense rainfall and flooding. The Koksilah and Cowichan watersheds are a good reminder of this reality. I would support continued investment in watershed protection, flood planning, water conservation and infrastructure that can withstand changing conditions.
For me, resilience means being prepared before an emergency happens, protecting the natural environment that help protect our communities, and making practical decisions today that will help keep our families, infrastructure and local economy safe in the future.
With the lack of snow pack, low river flows & drought here in the Cowichan Valley, will you support a ban on AI data centres with their high water & energy use, plus the broader concerns about AI use?
I will continue to support strong emergency management and the expansion of the FireSmart program, helping residents and neighbourhoods prepare for wildfire and smoke events. The CVRD identifies flooding, wildfire, drought, extreme heat and other hazards as increasing regional risks, so we need to plan for both emergency response and long-term resilience.
We also need to recognize that water is at the heart of many of these challenges. The Cowichan Valley can experience both prolonged drought and intense rainfall and flooding. The Koksilah and Cowichan watersheds are a good reminder of this reality. I would support continued investment in watershed protection, flood planning, water conservation and infrastructure that can withstand changing conditions.
For me, resilience means being prepared before an emergency happens, protecting the natural systems that help protect our communities, and making practical decisions today that will help keep our families, infrastructure and local economy safe in the future.
We also need to recognize that water is at the heart of many of these challenges. The Cowichan Valley can experience both prolonged drought and intense rainfall and flooding. The Koksilah and Cowichan watersheds are a good reminder of this reality. I would support continued investment in watershed protection, flood planning, water conservation and infrastructure that can withstand changing conditions.
For me, resilience means being prepared before an emergency happens, protecting the natural systems that help protect our communities, and making practical decisions today that will help keep our families, infrastructure and local economy safe in the future.
Fire risk is high throughout BC, including here in the Cowichan Valley. If elected will you advocate for a higher budget and profile for the CVRD's valuable Fire Smart Program for CVRD residents?
I will continue to support strong emergency management and the expansion of the FireSmart program, helping residents and neighbourhoods prepare for wildfire and smoke events. The CVRD identifies flooding, wildfire, drought, extreme heat and other hazards as increasing regional risks, so we need to plan for both emergency response and long-term resilience.
We also need to recognize that water is at the heart of many of these challenges. The Cowichan Valley can experience both prolonged drought and intense rainfall and flooding. The Koksilah and Cowichan watersheds are a good reminder of this reality. I would support continued investment in watershed protection, flood planning, water conservation and infrastructure that can withstand changing conditions.
For me, resilience means being prepared before an emergency happens, protecting the natural systems that help protect our communities, and making practical decisions today that will help keep our families, infrastructure and local economy safe in the future.
We also need to recognize that water is at the heart of many of these challenges. The Cowichan Valley can experience both prolonged drought and intense rainfall and flooding. The Koksilah and Cowichan watersheds are a good reminder of this reality. I would support continued investment in watershed protection, flood planning, water conservation and infrastructure that can withstand changing conditions.
For me, resilience means being prepared before an emergency happens, protecting the natural systems that help protect our communities, and making practical decisions today that will help keep our families, infrastructure and local economy safe in the future.
What ideas do you have to decrease reliance on personal gas vehicles and improve how people get around the city using low emission transportation methods (e.g., walking, biking, carpooling, bus/transit, EV)?
The CVRD does not have jurisdiction over cars and roads in electoral areas, but that does not mean we cannot advocate for improvements. I would support building stronger working relationships with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, including regular meetings with ministry staff and the Minister, as well as using UBCM and other avenues to raise local priorities.
Our role is to make sure the concerns we hear from residents are clearly communicated, supported by local knowledge and kept on the ministry’s radar. Stronger collaboration and consistent advocacy can help ensure our rural roads, transportation infrastructure and alternative modes of transportation receive the attention they deserve.
Our role is to make sure the concerns we hear from residents are clearly communicated, supported by local knowledge and kept on the ministry’s radar. Stronger collaboration and consistent advocacy can help ensure our rural roads, transportation infrastructure and alternative modes of transportation receive the attention they deserve.
How would you approach land use and housing policies to ensure that people of all income levels—including low-income residents—have access to safe, affordable homes that are also resilient to a changing climate?
We need to support growth where the infrastructure is in place to accommodate it. Many of our Electoral Areas face challenges with density because of limitations around sewer and water, and Area B is no different.
I will continue to support smart, responsible growth that considers the capacity of our infrastructure, the environment and the rural character of our community. Growth should be planned thoughtfully, rather than putting pressure on infrastructure that cannot support it.
Most importantly, I believe land-use decisions should reflect the needs and vision of the community. I will listen to residents, seek their input and work to ensure that future decisions balance the need for housing and responsible growth with the infrastructure, environment and character that make Area B a great place to live.
I will continue to support smart, responsible growth that considers the capacity of our infrastructure, the environment and the rural character of our community. Growth should be planned thoughtfully, rather than putting pressure on infrastructure that cannot support it.
Most importantly, I believe land-use decisions should reflect the needs and vision of the community. I will listen to residents, seek their input and work to ensure that future decisions balance the need for housing and responsible growth with the infrastructure, environment and character that make Area B a great place to live.
Compiled & presented by
Vote4Tomorrow is an independent voter guide to evaluate where local candidates stand on climate and environmental policies that will affect our future.
© 2026 Vote4Tomorrow