Rishi Sharma

FOR SAANICH MAYOR

Rishi Sharma is a lifelong Saanich resident, community leader, and former senior public servant with over 25 years of experience across government, non-profit, and private sectors. Born in Port Alberni and raised in Saanich since the age of four, Rishi has deep roots in the community. For over four decades, he has lived, worked, and contributed to Saanich, building strong connections through volunteerism, youth mentorship, and community leadership.

Rishi’s professional career includes senior leadership roles within the Government of British Columbia, including serving as Chief of Staff to provincial ministers and working in the Office of the Premier. His work focused on public policy, stakeholder engagement, and intergovernmental relations, providing him with extensive experience navigating complex issues and delivering practical solutions.

He holds a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University, where his thesis focused on how open and sometimes difficult conversations can strengthen relationships and build trust. This work continues to shape his leadership approach, emphasizing respectful dialogue, collaboration, and meaningful engagement with communities.

Rishi is currently an instructor at the University of Victoria Continuing Studies, where he teaches leadership and communication. He also serves on the University of Victoria Continuing Studies Business Management Advisory Board, helping guide program development and alignment with workforce needs.

He is an active member of the District of Saanich Technical Accessibility Committee, contributing to initiatives that improve accessibility and inclusion across the municipality.

In addition to his policy and leadership experience, Rishi brings hands-on knowledge from the trades and construction sector. He is certified through Camosun College’s trades program and has worked as an ironworker and in forestry. He and his family have also been involved in residential construction projects in Saanich and the West Shore for decades.

Rishi has also contributed to advancing equity and inclusion through his work with organizations such as the BC Centre for Women in the Trades and the BC Construction Association’s Builders Code.

A dedicated husband, father, and community volunteer, Rishi continues to coach youth sports and remains actively engaged in local initiatives. He is committed to ensuring Saanich remains a safe, affordable, and well-managed community for current and future generations.

Nancy Di Castri

FOR SAANICH COUNCILLOR

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For more than 22 years, my husband and I have proudly called Saanich home. Together we have a blended family of four children and six grandchildren. Like many residents, we’ve chosen Saanich because of its beautiful neighbourhoods, parks, trails, and strong sense of community.

I began my career in real estate in 1989 and spent more than three decades helping families buy and sell homes throughout Greater Victoria. During that time, I watched Saanich grow into one of the most sought-after municipalities in British Columbia. I also saw the importance of thoughtful planning—growth that respects the character of established neighbourhoods while meeting the needs of a changing community.

Community service has always been important to me. I served for five years on the Real Estate Standards of Practice Committee and volunteered for five years on the Canadian Cancer Society’s Run for the Cure organizing committee. Over the years, I also canvassed annually in support of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Kidney Foundation, and I currently serve as a Director-at-Large with the North Quadra Community Association.

After retiring in 2021, I co-founded Save Our Saanich, a volunteer-led community organization committed to ensuring residents have a meaningful voice in local government. Our volunteers worked constructively with thousands of residents to advocate for greater public consultation on major planning decisions. We were also successful in leading an Alternative Approval Process campaign that gathered the signatures required to stop the municipality from borrowing $150 million without direct voter approval.

Those experiences strengthened my belief that good governance starts with listening. Residents deserve to be informed, respected, and genuinely heard before important decisions are made. If elected, I will work to ensure Saanich remains financially responsible, environmentally responsible, and committed to meaningful public engagement.

When I’m not involved in community issues, you’ll usually find me gardening, hiking, or walking my dogs around Elk and Beaver Lakes. I love this community, and I’m committed to helping preserve the qualities that make Saanich such a wonderful place to live—for today’s residents and for generations to come.

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Lorne DeLarge

FOR SAANICH COUNCILLOR

I am a long-time Saanich resident, husband, son and father of two adult children who cares deeply about the future of our community.

I am running for Saanich Council because I believe Saanich needs new leadership that respects voters, homeowners, neighbourhoods, and the environment. Residents deserve a council that listens, makes balanced decisions, protects the character of our communities, manages growth responsibly, and ensures taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and transparently.

Professionally, I bring extensive executive leadership experience across real estate, government, finance, marketing, and non-profit organizations. Throughout my career, I have focused on improving organizational performance, strengthening accountability, and delivering measurable results.

Most recently, I co-founded and operate Island Estate Transitions in Victoria, where we provide estate and downsizing services, including estate clearing, donation management, and property support services for families navigating major life transitions.

Prior to this, I served as General Manager with CBRE in Victoria, leading a team of approximately 300 employees delivering real estate and facilities management services to the Province of British Columbia. In this role, I was responsible for operational leadership, financial management, construction oversight, environmental initiatives, and corporate services. During my tenure, employee engagement, client satisfaction, and operational performance improved significantly.

Before joining CBRE, I spent more than a decade in executive leadership roles with the Government of British Columbia. As Executive Director of the Accommodation Management Branch within the Real Property Division, I led strategic real estate planning and service delivery for provincial ministries with a budget exceeding $215 million. I helped lead initiatives that modernized workplaces, generated substantial lease savings, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improved long-term operational efficiency.

Prior to joining government, I held senior leadership roles in marketing and communications with Island Savings and Coast Capital, leading major branding and organizational change initiatives. I also taught strategic marketing for nearly a decade as an Associate Professor at Royal Roads University.

I hold a Master of Business Administration from Royal Roads University, a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from University of Victoria, and the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation from the Canadian Securities Institute.

I am committed to bringing practical experience, fiscal responsibility, respectful leadership, and common-sense decision-making to Saanich Council.

Laurie Lidstone

FOR SAANICH COUNCILLOR

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Saanich has been my home for my entire life, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

I was born in Cadboro Bay and grew up in several Saanich neighbourhoods, including Royal Oak, Shorncliffe, and Braefoot. I attended Braefoot, Cedar Hill, and Mount Douglas schools, experiences that gave me lifelong friendships and a deep appreciation for the community that shaped me.

After my husband and I married, we made Maplewood our first home. While he built a career as a first responder, I established my career in real estate. Together we raised our three sons in Saanich—first in Maplewood, where they attended Lake Hill Elementary, and later in Gordon Head. Today, we’ve come full circle and once again call Cadboro Bay home.

Giving back has always been important to me. I volunteered with National Little League, Gordon Head Baseball, and at my children’s schools. Later, my husband and I became foster parents, opening our home to youth in care—an experience that reinforced the values of compassion, community, and service.

My commitment to Saanich has also extended to my profession. I served as a Director of the Victoria Real Estate Board and, in 2024, was honoured to be elected Chair. Throughout my career, I’ve worked collaboratively to strengthen professional standards, support practical housing solutions, and build partnerships that benefit our communities.

Today, I continue my career in real estate while staying active in the community I love. Whether I’m hiking Saanich’s parks and trails or volunteering locally, I remain deeply connected to the place I’ve always called home.

Having lived, worked, raised my family, and volunteered in Saanich for more than 60 years, I understand both the opportunities and the challenges our municipality faces. I believe in responsible financial management, protecting our natural environment, supporting local businesses, maintaining safe neighbourhoods, and planning thoughtfully for future growth.

After more than 60 years of calling Saanich home, I’m committed to protecting what makes our community special while planning responsibly for the future, so it remains a vibrant, welcoming place for generations to come.

Matt McGeachie

FOR SAANICH COUNCILLOR

Matt has been actively involved with Save Our Saanich since February 2025 and currently serves as Treasurer for the SOS Neighbourhoods Society, a role he has held since the organization’s inception in June of 2025. His involvement grew out of a desire to ensure residents have a meaningful voice in decisions shaping our community. Matt was part of the team that organized opposition to the proposed $150 million borrowing for the Saanich Operations Centre through the Alternate Approval Process and has continued to advocate for Saanich residents by speaking at Council meetings and submitting letters published in both the Times Colonist and Saanich News.

Saanich has been home for most of his life. Matt attended Arbutus, Mount Doug, and Mount View, and he has lived with his wife in the Braefoot area for the past 25 years, where they’ve raised a blended family of eight children, and now enjoy twelve grandchildren, plus two beloved Doodles.

Matt’s career began at the Times Colonist, where he was actively involved in the union before moving into management as City Circulation Manager. In that role, he oversaw a team of employees and managed a multi-million-dollar budget. While there, Matt taught himself programming, which led to a contract as a software developer with a multinational firm. At the same time he also created a fundraising platform for local charities, hibid.ca, which he continues to manage today.

Matt believes that the current Saanich Council has lost the trust of Saanich residents. It is time for a reset.

Graham Wright

FOR SAANICH COUNCILLOR

Graham, known as Gray to friends, is a happily married father of two young adults, a longtime Gordon Head resident, business owner, sports organizer, and someone who genuinely cares about the future of Saanich.

He grew up in Toronto and moved to Greater Victoria in 1999 to marry his wife and build a better life together. After several years in Victoria, the whole family moved to Gordon Head in 2009, where they’ve proudly lived ever since. Graham has always believed that being part of a community means contributing to it — not just living in it.

His career path has been anything but boring. He studied political science, computer science, and psychology before building a career in software development, project management, and eventually serving as a small-scale CIO. In 2016, he purchased a security company, followed by another in 2019, nurturing them into the businesses he operates today.

Outside of work, he is active in local sports, organizing softball leagues and tournaments, and probably spends a little too much time thinking about technology, cars, motorcycles, and public policy. He also occasionally enjoys cycling, but only in good weather and on the region’s trails.

During this council’s mandate, Graham has become very concerned about the direction of local government in Saanich and Greater Victoria. Through community involvement, local associations, and advocacy work, he saw firsthand how disconnected decision-making had become from the people actually living here. That compelled Graham to become involved with local groups, community discussions, and eventually to run for municipal politics.

Along the way, Graham has learned a great deal — not just about transportation and infrastructure, but also about fiscal responsibility, watersheds, Garry Oak ecosystems, heritage preservation, and the importance of balanced, community-appropriate growth. Those experiences helped broaden his perspective and reinforced his belief that communities work best when residents actually have a meaningful voice.

At the end of the day, Graham is simply someone who wants to help preserve what makes Saanich special while ensuring it remains livable, practical, and welcoming for future generations — including our own kids, who are somehow still living at home thanks to the state of housing prices. Graham firmly believes in prioritizing reality over ideology. Graham’s priorities match 100% with Save Our Saanich’s primary objectives.