Marianne Alto

Mayor
Marianne Alto
Mayor of Victoria
Assumed office
November 3, 2022
Preceded byLisa Helps
Personal details
NationalityCanadian

Marianne Alto is a Canadian politician, who has served as mayor of Victoria, British Columbia since November 3, 2022.[1]

She was first elected to Victoria City Council in a by-election in November 2010, following the resignation of Sonya Chandler.[2] The by-election took place on the same day as the city's referendum on the Johnson Street Bridge replacement project, which passed with 60 per cent support; Alto was the only candidate in the by-election who unequivocally supported the project.[3] She was reelected to a full term on council in the 2011 British Columbia municipal elections,[4] and served as chair of the council's housing committee.[5] When the city's federal Member of Parliament Denise Savoie retired from politics in 2012, Alto was speculated as a potential New Democratic Party candidate in the resulting by-election, but declined to run.[6]

She was reelected to council again in the 2014 British Columbia municipal elections.[7] As one of the city's representatives to the Capital Regional District board, she was appointed chair of a special task force to work on improving municipal relations with local First Nations groups.[8]

She was reelected to a third council term in the 2018 British Columbia municipal elections,[9] but did not serve as a CRD board representative in her new term.[10] She was elected mayor of the city in the 2022 British Columbia municipal elections, identifying housing issues in the city as one of her key priorities.[11]

  1. ^ Andrew A. Duffy, "Tough decisions could put new Victoria mayor's 'honeymoon' to the test". Victoria Times-Colonist, January 10, 2023.
  2. ^ Bill Cleverley, "Alto edges out Hobbis to capture vacant city seat". Victoria Times-Colonist, November 21, 2010.
  3. ^ Roszan Holmen, "Bridge replacement secured; Marianne Alto elected". Victoria News, November 20, 2010.
  4. ^ Bill Cleverley, "Fortin rolls to win, but two allies out; Incumbents Hunter, Luton defeated as council gains three newcomers". Victoria Times-Colonist, November 20, 2011.
  5. ^ Bill Cleverley, "City moves motel's conversion to affordable housing a step forward". Victoria Times-Colonist, March 2, 2012.
  6. ^ Bill Cleverley, "City councillor plans to run for NDP nomination". Victoria Times-Colonist, October 2, 2012.
  7. ^ Andrea Peacock, "Lisa Helps is Victoria's new mayor". Victoria News, November 15, 2014.
  8. ^ Christine Van Reeuwyk, "CRD task force steps up First Nations engagement". Oak Bay News, January 20, 2015.
  9. ^ Bill Cleverley, "Victoria: Helps shakes off rivals". Victoria Times-Colonist, October 21, 2018.
  10. ^ Bill Cleverley, "Four consider a run for CRD board chairperson". Victoria Times-Colonist, October 24, 2018.
  11. ^ Jake Romphf, "Marianne Alto ascends to Victoria mayor". Saanich News, October 15, 2022.