Esquimalt is led by a Municipal Council, which includes a Mayor and six Councillors, who are elected to their positions for four-year terms. Mayor and Council create bylaws and policies, approve the municipal budget, and serve on various committees within the municipality and region.
After serving three years on Esquimalt Municipal Council, Barb Desjardins was first elected Mayor of Esquimalt in November of 2008. She was re-elected as Mayor in 2011, 2014 and 2018, Esquimalt’s longest consecutive serving Mayor. She was the Capital Regional District [CRD] Board Chair, elected in both 2016 and 2017.
Throughout her elected career, she has long been known for her accessibility, collaborative approach, and personal attention to the issues raised by her constituents.
Mayor Desjardins has a background as a physiotherapist. Over the years, she has been the owner of four physiotherapy clinics within the region.
In her family and professional life, Barb is a strong advocate for active and healthy living.
As a public servant Barb is guided by a couple of rules: 1) Pay personal attention to issues and 2) Be a visible and active participant in your community 3) Be a strong advocate for the Esquimalt community.
Ken is in his second term as an Esquimalt councillor. He has 20 years of experience at the senior management level in the BC and federal governments and five years of experience with BC post-secondary associations.
His education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, a Bachelor of Education, and a Masters of Public Administration. His past volunteer experience includes being the Chair of the Esquimalt Advisory Planning Commission, Vice President of the Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce, Vice President of the Esquimalt Community Arts Council and President of the Victoria chapter of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada.
Ken enjoys reading, running, cycling, hiking and travelling. He lives with his wife and his cat in the Rockheights area of Esquimalt.
Duncan lives in West Bay with his spouse and two children who attend Ecole Victor Brodeur.
Duncan is a registered planner with a degrees Landscape Architecture and a Doctorate in Civil Engineering. As the principal of a small planning firm he has worked for 15+ years with councils, staff and residents across Canada to achieve consensus on complex issues like municipal climate policy and OCP reviews.
Duncan enjoys volunteering around Esquimalt: he’s a board member and volunteer for Rainbow Kitchen, a volunteer with Victoria Minor Hockey and sat on the Township’s Advisory Planning Commission from 2017 to 2022.
Contact: [email protected]
Andrea is a long term resident of Esquimalt who lives with her husband in the Old Esquimalt area of the Township. She is the proud parent of two children; a son who is a carpenter and a daughter who is a pharmacist.
After working for 20 years as a Registered Nurse for Island Health, Andrea earned a Master of Business Administration from UBC and is currently working as an Executive Director, responsible for Hospital Security Services.
Andrea’s favourite past times are traveling, camping and enjoying daily walks through Esquimalt’s beautiful parks. In her new role as Councillor, Andrea looks forward to actively engaging with the community and is grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact on the town that she will always call home.
Jacob Helliwell has a long family history in Esquimalt and currently lives on Foster Street with his wife, Maria, and their cat, Luna. He has built his career in public sector financial management and currently works for the BC Public Service in financial planning and analysis.
He holds an accounting designation (CPA, CMA) and will soon complete his Master of Public Administration degree. Jacob is an active volunteer and a strong supporter of community groups. He has volunteered extensively with Rotary International, the University of Victoria, the Association of Professional Economists of BC, the Township, and many local organizations.
Jacob is looking forward to engaging with the community and is excited and honoured to be a part of the decision-making team for Esquimalt.
Currently in his fourth term as a Councillor, Tim Morrison has extensive governance experience serving on a variety of local and regional committees, boards and commissions on behalf of Esquimalt. He currently serves as Chair of the Capital Regional Emergency Services Telecommunication Inc. (C.R.E.S.T.) Board of Directors.
A seasoned communications professional, Tim works in a senior communications role at the BC Assessment Authority. He has also worked, volunteered and travelled throughout the world. Having visited over 80 countries on six continents, Tim has experienced a vast array of communities and a diversity of cultures. He has been a school trustee, teacher, journalist, adventure tour guide and travel writer.
Tim is a registered member of the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) and a graduate of Simon Fraser University where he studied political science, communications and geography. He also holds a Certificate in Urban Studies.
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