Holly Courtright

Council · Esquimalt

Esquimalt 15 yrs

About

Holly Courtright brings 25 years of municipal public-service experience and leadership with the Esquimalt Chamber, Farmers Market and Police Board. She believes good decisions start with clear evidence, hard questions and public input.

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. No response

– Incentivize electric heat pumps and air filtration systems. No response

– Incentivize renewable energy, battery storage, and smart-grid technologies in new and existing buildings to improve energy security. No response

– Scale up energy retrofits for existing homes, businesses, and public buildings. No response

– Implement a 'right to cool' bylaw to protect tenants during extreme heat events. No response

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. Neutral

✓ 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. Supportive

✓ 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. Supportive

✓ 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. Supportive

✓ Expand EV charging infrastructure. Supportive

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. Neutral

✓ 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?

Climate action has been part of my education, my work and the choices I make in my own life. I completed a minor in Environmental Studies as part of my undergraduate degree, and my Master’s research in Human Rights examined climate change, displacement and the rights of First Peoples. That education gave me a strong understanding of how environmental decisions affect people differently and why climate policy must also consider equity.

When my job and route made it possible, I commuted by bicycle. I have also combined cycling with public transit when sections of the route were simply too dangerous to ride. That experience is one reason I advocate for transportation systems that are connected, practical and safe enough for people to use.

I served on the Esquimalt Farmers Market Board, including as President, supporting local food producers and helping strengthen access to food grown and made closer to home. During my five years as President of the Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce, I promoted shop-local programs and encouraged people to support independent businesses in their own community. Buying locally is not a complete climate strategy, but reducing unnecessary transportation, strengthening local supply chains and keeping small businesses viable all contribute to a more resilient community.

I try to approach climate action practically. Individual choices matter, but municipalities also need to make sustainable choices easier, more affordable and more realistic for everyone.

Questions for Esquimalt

Esquimalt is rapidly losing its affordable housing with rising renovictions and demolitions. What strategies would you promote to ensure affordable housing is built and protected?

Natural Asset Management (NAM) puts a monetary value on living assets. It is key to Tree Protection. Public engagement for Small Scale Multi Unit Housing (SSMUH) identified tree protection as the number one concern.

With Department of National Defence and SeaSpan expansion, what are your solutions to deal with its impact on the existing challenging rush hour traffic?

A temporary permit has been issued for a private, for profit, sauna business to run in Esquimalt Gorge Park. What are your thoughts on private business in public parks?

What is your position on whether Esquimalt should join an initiative to have local governments recover a fair share of climate costs from fossil fuel companies, eg: Sue Big Oil?

Campaign contributions

Public records from Elections BC — 1 contribution totalling $1,879.60.

2025 ESQUIMALT BY-ELECTION

1 contribution · $1,879.60

Contributor	Date	Amount	Office	Jurisdiction
HOLLY MAE COURTRIGHT	Mar 25, 2025	$1,879.60	COUNCILLOR	ESQUIMALT

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