Dean Fortin

Dean Fortin (born March 1, 1959) served as mayor of Victoria, British Columbia, from 2008 to 2014.

The task force’s goals were to update the 1995 Bicycle Master Plan and create a new comprehensive plan that took into account pedestrian and greenway needs.

The task force was made up of Fortin along with councillors Marianne Alto and Ben Isitt.

Dean Fortin was first elected to city council in 2002 and became the 51st Mayor of Victoria on November 15, 2008.

During the 2008-2011 term, affordable housing and homelessness was identified as a top priority.

As a result, 447 units of affordable housing were created with City funding from 2008 -10.

This includes 91 units within the Capital Region but outside of Victoria.

Highlights of the 2008-2010 Affordable Housing Initiatives:

Downtown Disorder

In 2009, Mayor Fortin launched a Task Force to address the growing social disorder in the downtown core.

The task force was entitled "Late Night – Great Night" and addressed the issues of excessive intoxication and the associated vandalism, fighting and aggressive behaviour, crowded streets after bar closing time, noise, public urination, and a lack of coordinated late night transportation.

The Downtown Late Night Task Force consisted of Mayor Dean Fortin, Councillor Charlayne Thornton-Joe, and Chief Constable Jamie Graham of the Victoria Police Department.

The task force members interviewed downtown business owners and workers, transportation providers, and security personnel.

The task force also sought input from late night downtown users including students and youth.

The Task Force recommended and Council endorsed a variety of interventions, which led to the introduction of late night weekend public bus service and late night taxi stands with security.

Bar Watch was introduced as well as dedicated weekend night police patrols in the downtown.

The City introduced portable urinals, which were eventually replaced by permanent outside facilities.

Results of the task force show that calls for service downtown between Thursday evening and Sunday morning dropped by 26%, property crime in downtown Victoria was decreased 50%, and disturbances, drug offences and violent crimes decreased by 33%.

Bus Priority Lanes

He was sworn into office for a second term on December 8, 2011.

A cycling task force was established by Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin in 2013.

He was defeated by Victoria city councillor Lisa Helps on November 15, 2014.

Fortin and his council, in partnership with the BC Transit Commission, successfully introduced the first Priority Bus lanes in the Greater Victoria Transit System on Douglas Street in September 2014.

The first phase opened introduced "Transit and Cycling priority lanes" from Fisgard Street to Hillside Avenue Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. southbound and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. northbound.

The Task Force reported back in July 2014.

In August 2015, he was named the executive director of Pacifica Housing.

Fortin has a B.A.(Geography), JD (law) and M Ed (Counselling).

He was executive director of the Burnside Gorge Community Association for 17 years before being elected Mayor.

Previously, he helped establish and operate the Victoria Association for Street Kids for seven years.

He has practiced as a lawyer in both Whitehorse and Victoria.

Fortin's priority was building affordable housing and tackling the issue of homelessness.

Other priorities included encouraging sustainable development, enhancing downtown safety and vibrancy, and advancing a green transportation strategy.

Between 2015 and 2018 Fortin was the executive director of Pacifica Housing, a charitable organization that provides affordable housing to low-income families, persons with disabilities, and persons experiencing homelessness across South Vancouver Island.

Pacifica is one of the largest affordable housing providers on Vancouver Island.

Affordable Housing and Homelessness

A second phase of priority transit and cycling lanes from Hillside Avenue to Tolmie Avenue was begun in early 2015 and is due for completion in fall of 2015.

Cycling Master Plan

About $5 million in cycling improvements were identified as priorities over a five years span, to be implemented in 2015.

The priority projects included bike lanes that are separated from motor vehicle lanes.

The priority list includes improvements on Pandora Avenue, Johnson Street, Vancouver Street and Wharf and Belleville streets.