Jeremy Caradonna
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Are you associated with or running as part of a slate? If so, which one?
No
Do you live in the municipality where you are running, and if so, for how long? If not, what is your connection to that community?
Yes, I live in Fernwood and have owned a home here for ten years.
What is your occupation, and for how long?
University professor of various ranks (15 years) and provincial policymaker (3 years)
Tell us about your previous elected and/or community experience.
I have served as a board member of the Fernwood Community Association, been actively involved with my daughters’ PACS (South Park and Central Middle School), and volunteered with many community organizations, from the Islands Biodiesel Coop to the Friends of Spring Ridge Commons. I have also taught at the university level for 15 years and published 3 books and numerous articles.
Why are you running? What’s your motivation?
I am running because of my daughters. They are ages 11 and 13 and I want them to live in a safe and vibrant city; I want them to be able to settle here, find affordable housing, and raise children of their own. I want Victoria to be as adapted as possible to a changing climate. I have extensive leadership experience, a long professional resume, and decades of active community work to bring about this achievable vision.
What are your top three issues?
The top issue in Victoria is and remains housing and affordability. Uvic students, low-income seniors, young families, and the unhoused are all struggling to find housing right now. We need more social and market housing to close the gap.
Second, I am focused on reviving our downtown core, sheltering the unhoused, cleaning up the streets, and supporting our struggling small business community.
Third, I am committed to bold climate action and protection of Victoria’s natural assets. That means supporting active transit, decarbonizing buildings, and taking action to guard against a changing climate.
What’s your vision for your community in 25 years?
My vision is that Victoria is the world’s most sustainable and vibrant small city, along the lines of the most forward-thinking and dynamic parts of Western Europe. A place where you can raise a family, get anywhere in town in 15 minutes (with or without a car), and participate in a vibrant arts landscape. I want Victoria to leverage its strength as a charming and historical destination, while also moving forward on new housing (the heritage of the future) and innovative urbanism. In the next mandate, I commit to building a new Crystal Pool, adding new public art, and building a new library in the downtown core. It’s time to revive this city after the hard years of the pandemic and give Victorians a sense of optimism and faith in the future.
What’s one “big idea” you have for your community?
I have two big ideas, one related to city council and one related to my bid to join the CRD board. On council, I want to knock down the parkade in Centennial Square, put the parking underground, and build a world-class library facility. The ground floor of the library would have patio seating throughout the Square, transforming this mostly deadzone into a European-style plaza. In terms of the Regional District, I want to advocate for a regional train network, including the revival of the E&N line and a 15-year vision for light rail throughout the CRD. It’s time to plan for the future and build a sustainable transit network that eliminates sprawl, slashes emissions, and improves transit-related wellbeing for all users.
