Katerina Weller

Council · Oak Bay

Victoria 25 yrs

About

With a 22-year year career in education and non-profits, I am running for Council to give families and residents a voice and help create a healthy, connected community for all ages. I am a parent of 2 kids and a community volunteer.

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

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.

✓ 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

Land Use

We envision vibrant, walkable communities that protect nature and improve food security.

✓ 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!).

✓ 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.

✓ Protect and restore watersheds as vital municipal infrastructure. 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 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?

My climate action has been practical and community-based as I don’t belong to boards or organizations.
Though my family has one car, we choose to walk, cycle, or take transit first. I am teaching my children to cycle and walk safely on Oak Bay streets.
My children and I have planted a vegetable garden and a pollinator’s garden in our yard and are expanding our knowledge of growing our own food.
I have made energy efficient upgrades to my home.
I also volunteer with Girl Guides. Part of the Guiding program involves protecting our shared planet and using our resources wisely. For example, our unit hosted our own clothing swap and talked about over consumption, learned about reducing energy use, and we choose no-waste activities whenever possible.

Questions for Oak Bay

What are your top priorities for the next 4 years to address Oak Bay’s climate, environmental, and Coolkit goals?

Protect our trees and green spaces, especially mature trees and Garry oak areas, and work toward Oak Bay’s goal of having 40% tree cover.

Connect neighbourhoods and make it safer and easier to walk, cycle and take transit, so people have practical alternatives to driving when they want them.

Prepare Oak Bay for a changing climate by improving stormwater drainage, creating cooler public spaces and protecting Bowker Creek.

Encourage energy-efficient homes and buildings through grants and municipal loan assistance.

Support the Oak Bay Coolkit

Motivate residents by sharing progress and results. I would support a simple online dashboard where people can see our progress on trees, transportation, climate resilience and other environmental goals.

How would you ensure natural assets like mature trees and ecosystem corridors on private and public land, and Bowker Creek Blueprint goals, are prioritized before buildings are sited or designed? Does this support or change the OCP, processes, or bylaws?

I would like to see mature trees, Garry oak ecosystems, ecosystem corridors, drainage and Bowker Creek considered before buildings are sited and designed. Good environmental design should be part of how we plan for Oak Bay’s future, not something considered after the design is complete. This can be achieved through mandatory pre-application meetings where developers can meet with staff to discuss plans and how they interact with mature trees and other important green assets.

I would support reviewing our OCP, Development Permit Areas, zoning and tree protection bylaws to identify gaps and ensure they work together. Where appropriate, I would support changes that better protect trees, permeable surfaces, habitat and natural drainage while still allowing thoughtful development. I would support incentives for developers who go above and beyond to protect natural assets.

My goal is not to stop development, but to make better decisions about where and how we build so Oak Bay can grow in a way that is healthy, sustainable and resilient.

The federal government just gave Oak Bay $70,000 to plan for climate resilience. How would you support the allocation of these funds to increase community health and safety?

I would use the $70,000 to make sure Oak Bay’s climate planning leads to practical action.
I would support a clear assessment by Oak Bay staff of our greatest climate risks to community health and safety, including extreme heat, flooding, drought, wildfire and impacts on our natural systems. For example, the Heat Dome in 2021 showed how extreme heat is a serious health emergency particularly for older adults, people living alone, people with health or mobility challenges, and other people who may be vulnerable.
After identifying the risks, the next step would be to identify the gaps, for example, in access to cooling, shade, transportation, and other supports.
I would collaborate with community partners, Indigenous partners, local organizations, and residents to understand what they are seeing in their neighbourhoods and what support is needed.
The goal would be a practical climate resilience plan that identifies risks, vulnerable residents, and priority actions with clear next steps for Council and the community.

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.

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