Catch Episode 19 of the Thriving Mayor show as we visit Mayor Lisa Helps in Victoria, B.C.

She is relentlessly future leaning and works hard to ensure that Victoria is prosperous, resilient, welcoming and ready for challenges and opportunities ahead.

She builds teams of community leaders to work together to advance ambitious programs such as future-focused economic development, climate action, affordable housing, and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Mayor Helps is advancing sustainable city building in Victoria and setting an example for all cities and towns to adopt. Lisa is empowering Victoria's city staff and administration to be bold and bring new ideas to Council. We chatted about two of her recent blog posts including:

“Community Making” Requires Housing of All Sorts – Three Big Ideas
a. Amend the City’s Official Community Plan and rezone the whole city to allow well designed higher density housing, especially affordable
b. Get rid of parking minimums tied to the building of homes
c. Change provincial legislation to reduce red-tape at City Hall

Victoria Council’s Glimpse Of Post-Pandemic Life In Cities
a. People Will Go Back to the Office
b. Arts, Culture and Live Events Will Thrive
c. More Public Spaces for More People