Wendy Bowkett

Climate action has shaped my professional work and community involvement. I believe development should leave a community stronger and more sustainable than we found it.

Through our housing development company, we adopted Green Built Gold standards well before many of these practices became embedded in the building code. We made that commitment because environmental responsibility should reflect what is right for the community, beyond what regulations require.

Our most recent project on Portage Inlet in Saanich, BC, demonstrates that philosophy. It achieved the highest Green Shores for Homes score in the program’s history: 68 points. We retained 157 of the site’s 180 existing trees, planted another 46, and preserved 23% of the property in its natural state. Those results reflect a conscious decision to work with the natural environment rather than clear the site and start over.

I have brought the same perspective to my community advocacy. Through my work with the Downtown Residents Association, I have consistently advocated for renovating and adapting existing buildings rather than demolishing them wherever possible. Preserving what we already have is a practical form of climate action, reducing embodied carbon while maintaining the character and history of our neighbourhoods.

My approach has been practical and hands on: making better choices through my work, protecting natural assets, reusing existing resources, and advocating for more sustainable development in the community I call home.

My environmental priorities build on two decades of advocating for responsible development, heritage protection and liveable neighbourhoods.

1. Protect trees, green space and biodiversity. I would strengthen protection for mature trees, Garry oak ecosystems and native understory, restore more generous building setbacks, and reintroduce neighbourhood planning that integrates housing with green space. Budgets should support tree maintenance, planting and habitat restoration, particularly in underserved areas.

2. Strengthen climate resilience. I would prioritize drainage renewal, rain gardens, permeable surfaces and natural infrastructure that manage runoff, reduce flooding and provide cooling. These investments should be incorporated into infrastructure upgrades, with adequate maintenance funding.

3. Reduce emissions and waste. I would support building rehabilitation, adaptive reuse and energy retrofits, alongside a balanced transportation network supporting walking, cycling and transit while accommodating accessibility, deliveries and emergency response. Municipal building and fleet upgrades must demonstrate measurable benefits and value for taxpayers.

To fund these priorities, I would review existing programs and spending, prioritize essential infrastructure, seek senior government funding, and require clear objectives, lifecycle costs and public reporting.
When environmental protection appears to conflict with housing or economic growth, I would insist on credible evidence, rigorous public engagement and consideration of alternatives before decisions are settled. Well-designed, ground oriented, gentle density, building reuse and predictable approvals can support housing and businesses while protecting Victoria’s natural and heritage assets.

Protecting residents from extreme heat requires practical measures in both homes and public spaces, with particular attention to seniors, people with disabilities, low-income households and residents without reliable access to cooling.

My first priority would be protecting existing mature trees and expanding shade where it is most needed. I would support shaded seating, drinking water access and cooling spaces in underserved neighbourhoods, along walking routes and near transit stops. Cooling facilities must have accessible locations, useful operating hours and clear public information.

For housing, I would support practical improvements such as exterior shading, ventilation and efficient heating and cooling systems. Any proposed tenant cooling requirements need careful assessment of effectiveness, costs, enforcement and potential impacts on rents. The objective must be safer homes with workable implementation.

Budgets should provide for maintaining trees and cooling amenities, operating heat response services and seeking provincial and federal support for building upgrades.
Neighbourhood planning should assess heat vulnerability alongside housing and infrastructure needs. More housing must be planned with sufficient space for healthy trees, green space and safe public amenities. Rigorous public engagement would help identify gaps and ensure investments reach residents who need them most.

Protecting Victoria’s urban forest and Garry oak ecosystems has been a consistent part of my advocacy for responsible development. My professional and volunteer experience includes protecting green space, mature trees and native understory through conservation covenants.

I would restore more generous building setbacks and reintroduce neighbourhood planning that identifies important natural assets before development proposals are considered. Site assessments should guide building placement, servicing and construction methods, with retention of healthy mature trees considered early.
Replacement planting has a role, but young trees cannot immediately replace the shade, habitat and other benefits of mature canopy. Protection must also address soil, root systems and the ecological connections that sustain Garry oak habitats.

Budgets should fund tree care, habitat restoration, enforcement and monitoring, alongside planting in areas with limited canopy. Development commitments must be checked during construction and after completion.

Housing and environmental protection should be addressed together through well designed gentle density, building reuse and site layouts that preserve significant natural features. Where tradeoffs remain, I would require credible evidence, consideration of alternatives and rigorous public engagement. Clear policies applied consistently would give residents and developers greater certainty while protecting the natural assets that make our neighbourhoods liveable.

The City’s progress report shows that buildings and transportation account for 93% of Victoria’s community emissions. These should be the focus of practical, measurable investments that also support affordability, accessibility and a functioning local economy.

For buildings, I would support rehabilitation, adaptive reuse and energy retrofits, particularly where improvements reduce operating costs and protect existing affordable homes. Retaining suitable buildings should be assessed alongside replacement, including the environmental costs of demolition and new construction.

For transportation, I support a balanced network that makes walking, cycling and transit safe and convenient while accommodating people with mobility limitations, deliveries and emergency response. I would support regional coordination through the CRD’s Regional Transportation Advisory Committee to improve reliable travel options.

For municipal operations, building efficiency upgrades and fleet replacement should be guided by lifecycle costs, operational requirements and measurable emissions reductions.
I would review existing spending, prioritize investments with demonstrated benefits and pursue senior government funding. Annual public reporting should show spending, emissions outcomes and progress, with corrective action where programs fall short.

Residents and businesses need clear requirements, realistic timelines and meaningful engagement. Environmental policy should support a prosperous, liveable city through lower energy costs, reliable infrastructure and predictable decisions. I would assess proposals against both environmental outcomes and their effects on housing affordability and local businesses.