By Anna Kemp, GetAwayBC Magazine, 7 May 2008
Ben describes Victoria as being "at a crossroads"
Most locals know Ben Isitt from his mayoral campaigns, but politics aren’t all that keep this community activist busy. Currently on contract as an independent researcher on co-ops and homelessness for the BC Institute for Co-operative Studies, Isitt recently finished working as a research officer for the Ministry of Advanced Education. He has served on the city’s Environment and Shoreline Advisory Committee for the past three years and has volunteered on a number of initiatives, mostly on homelessness or land use. Isitt will soon be starting a doctoral fellowship in UVic’s history department, after he gets back from a trip across Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railway for a book he is working on.
Isitt moved to Victoria with his family in 1992 while he was still in high school and now lives in Fernwood with a family of his own. His involvement in local politics began in 2002 when he first ran for the Victoria mayoralty as a protest candidate in the time of Campbell’s Liberals’ cuts. After doing well in that campaign he was persuaded to give it another go in 2005, securing 44 perecent of the votes cast (in comparison to Mayor Lowe’s 52 percent).
Isitt’s most recent political involvement has been around protesting the Bear Mountain development, though he says his motivation is more than just political.
“My involvement with Bear Mountain is political in the sense that I have philosophical concerns with sprawl, the loss of green space, increased greenhouse gases and approaches to land use. But it’s also personal. One of my favourite pastimes is hiking and my favourite place to hike is the Sooke Hills. I have a real commitment to protect natural areas for personal enjoyment.”
Isitt sees Victoria as being at a crossroads looking at two different directions to move in.
“One is based on destroying natural areas for profit and building more condominiums for people who don’t even live here yet, with a lack of affordable housing for people who need it. The other vision puts people and the environment first, which means looking after people who need help, looking after the natural environment by encouraging walking, cycling, public transportation, putting aside natural spaces for future generations and encouraging local enterprise rather than corporate enterprise.”
Asked & Answered:
- What’s one thing Victoria needs?
A public market building in the downtown.
- Where’s a good place to meet someone?
For coffee at the Cornerstone Cafe in Fernwood.
- Where’s the best view?
If we’re talking about Victoria proper, Moss Rocks has a pretty amazing view. If we’re talking the region, you can’t really beat Mt. Doug.
- What’s most overrated Victoria feature?
The Englishness-and that’s coming from someone who holds a British passport.
- What’s one local must-visit store?
Silk Road.
- What’s your favourite annual event?
The Moss Street Paint-in.
- Who’s an essential person to know in town?
Paul Phillips.
- What’s the best way to spend a day off?
Hiking in the Sooke Hills.
- Where’s the best cup of coffee?
Caffe Fantastico.
