Mayor Marianne Alto

Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan

Adopted on July 3, 2025, the City's Community Safety and Wellbeing (CSWB) Plan identifies actions, in collaboration with multi-sector partners, to build a safe, inclusive and connected community where all residents feel welcome. The Plan's development was guided by an 11-member Community Leaders Panel convened by Mayor Marianne Alto.

Biography

Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto is a facilitator by trade with university degrees in law and science.  A businesswoman active in community causes for decades, Marianne was first elected to Victoria City Council in 2010.  

A zealous advocate for community wellbeing, Mayor Alto actively facilitates work to create an intentionally transformed City. Her persistent advocacy on increasing housing supply and affordability, combined with her work to bring safety and wellbeing partners together has informed and directed much of her term. Mayor Alto convened the city’s first collaboration with Island Health and service providers working in various fields of harm reduction, addictions and mental health, and initiated the city’s first open data portal, driving the city’s commitment to open government. 

She continues to work to expand key services and policies supporting livable, thriving communities, including housing, safety and wellbeing services, business, and more. She has focused on building a city that considers the wellbeing of all residents and takes action on issues like affordability, climate change adaptation, access to parks and natural spaces, accessibility, emergency management, public transportation, sports and recreation facilities, public infrastructure, and engagement and inclusion initiatives.

Mayor Alto is again a board member of the Capital Regional District (CRD), having previously served elected terms on the CRD from 2011-2018. During that time, she chaired its landmark Special Task Force on First Nations Relations.  She is now a member of several CRD committees and chairs its Arts Commission and the Performing Arts Facilities Select Committee. During her time as a CRD director, she has also served on multiple  committees such as the CRD Core Area Liquid Waste Management, First Nations Relations, Hospitals and Housing Committees, and the Capital Regional Hospital District. 

Mayor Alto is also a member of the Victoria/Esquimalt Police Board, the Victoria Regional Transit Commission, the provincial BC Transit Board, the Border Mayors Alliance, the UBCM Local Government Policing Modernization Roundtable, and the Te'mexw Treaty Advisory Committee. She is also co-chair of the BC Urban Mayors’ Caucus.  

During her time on City Council, Mayor Alto gained experience as the liaison to the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, South Island Prosperity Partnership, Greater Victoria Public Library, Destination Greater Victoria, Royal and McPherson Theatres Society and a host of other community and professional organizations.  Mayor Alto has been Council liaison to most of the city's neighbourhoods, and is matriarch of the City Family (a unique collaboration among the City, the Songhees Nation and the Xwsepsum Nation) having nurtured a long, rich relationship with those Nations. She was President of the Canadian Capital Cities Organization for 5 years.  

Married and a mom of two boys, Marianne is a lifelong activist who vigorously advocates for equity, inclusion and fairness for everyone.  Prior to her time as an elected official, she owned and operated a research and consulting firm specializing in problem solving, change management and facilitation.  Mayor Alto owns a home in Victoria’s Burnside Gorge neighbourhood. Her favourite activities include dining at Victoria’s fabulous local restaurants, visiting one of the many arts and culture spaces in the city, and cheering on Victoria’s local sports teams at venues throughout the City.

Inaugural Address

Watch the video below of Mayor Marianne Alto's Inaugural Address on Thursday, November 3, 2022.