Long-time Victoria councillor not running for re-election after 20 years
A 20-year veteran of Victoria city council has announced she will not be running for a position again in the upcoming municipal election this fall.
Victoria Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe announced she will not be running for re-election after first joining council in 2002.
"It has been my honour to serve the Victoria community throughout my time on council, but I do not intend to run again this October," she said in a statement Friday.
"While there are many reasons why I would consider running again, I feel that there are even more reasons not to do so," she said.
After working for two decades in local politics, Thornton-Joe says she's excited to return to other areas of her life that needed to take a "backseat" during her tenure, including spending time with her family, travelling, reading and gardening.
"I am grateful to have met so many amazing people during the past 20 plus years and to have had the opportunity to hear what was important to the citizens of Victoria," she said.
"Although we may not have always agreed, I have tried to make the best decisions I could for the benefit of as many people as possible and to the best of my abilities," said Thornton-Joe.
COUNCIL SHAKEUP
Big changes could be coming to Victoria's local government in October.
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps has already announced she's not seeking re-election after two terms in office, and Coun. Sharmarke Dubow has said he's also leaving after serving for one term.
Two current city councillors, Marianne Alto and Stephen Andrew, have also announced their bids for mayor, leaving their council positions open.
Long-time councillor Geoff Young has indicated he's also considering leaving the table, though he's made no official decision yet.
The Victoria municipal election is scheduled for Oct. 15.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
LIVE @ 1:15 PT B.C. premier to give announcement related to public drug use
B.C.'s premier is scheduled to give an update Friday about public drug use in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.