Mike Harris is a businessman, journeyman carpenter, award-winning real estate professional, former CEO, husband, father and grandfather who brings more than three decades of experience in construction, housing, real estate, sales, management and business leadership.

Mike has been married to his wife, Debbie, for 42 years. Together they have built a life centred around family, raising two children and now enjoying four grandchildren. Family, hard work, personal responsibility and giving back to the community have been constants throughout Mike's life.

From the Trades to Business

Mike's career began in the construction industry, where he became a journeyman carpenter. Working in the trades gave him practical experience with how things are actually built - from the importance of good planning and skilled people to the consequences of delays, changing costs and decisions made on paper that don't always work in the real world.

That foundation eventually led Mike into the real estate industry, beginning a career that would span decades.

Mike quickly distinguished himself professionally. He was named Realty World Rookie of the Year in 1993 and went on to receive numerous industry honours, including Standard of Excellence, Master Associate, Salesmasters and Circle of Excellence awards.

From 2001 through 2009, Mike received Royal LePage Diamond Awards, recognizing his achievements as a leading residential real estate professional. His long-term accomplishments in the industry were ultimately recognized with the Royal LePage Canada Lifetime Award of Excellence.

His years working in housing and real estate also gave Mike a perspective that goes beyond buying and selling homes. He has worked with families making some of the largest financial decisions of their lives and has watched housing costs, regulations, land-use decisions, construction expenses and government policies increasingly affect affordability.

Business Leadership

Mike's career has also extended well beyond real estate.

As CEO of Yellowblue Canada, an energy-efficiency and home-improvement company, Mike was responsible for leading the company's expansion in Canada.

His work included developing a national distribution network, expanding dealerships and regional offices, and building relationships with utilities, governments, contractors and skilled trades.

Throughout his career, Mike has been a business owner, broker, executive, manager, mentor and entrepreneur.

That experience taught him the realities of managing budgets, meeting payroll, hiring and leading people, negotiating agreements, dealing with unexpected problems and being accountable for results.

Mike believes those experiences matter in municipal government.

In business, spending more money doesn't automatically mean you're doing a better job. You need to establish priorities, understand costs, measure performance and be prepared to change direction when something isn't working.

That is the approach Mike wants to bring to City Hall.

Community and Family

Mike's commitment to community has also been hands-on.

He spent more than 12 years coaching boys' and girls' minor sports and served as a minor hockey director, experiences that gave him the opportunity to work with young people, parents, volunteers and other community leaders.

Throughout his professional career, he has also mentored executives and professionals, sharing the lessons he has learned through decades of business and leadership.

Away from work and public life, Mike enjoys gardening, camping, spending time with Debbie and their family, and working on collectible cars.

Those who know Mike know that he is most comfortable talking directly with people, asking questions and trying to find practical solutions to problems.

Why Mike Is Running for Mayor

Mike is running for Mayor because he believes Victoria needs a fresh start at City Hall and a renewed focus on the fundamentals of municipal government.

His priorities include public safety, responsible taxation and spending, attainable housing, reliable infrastructure and municipal services, a vibrant and accessible downtown, and stronger neighbourhood engagement.

After more than 30 years in construction, housing, real estate and business, Mike has seen firsthand how decisions made by government affect people outside City Hall.

He believes municipal government must understand the financial pressure facing homeowners, renters, seniors and businesses and recognize that taxpayers cannot continually be asked to pay more without being able to see what those additional dollars are accomplishing.

For Mike, responsible government isn't simply about spending less. It's about setting priorities and spending wisely.

Police, fire protection, roads, infrastructure, parks, recreation, sanitation and other core municipal services need to work well. New initiatives should have clearly defined objectives, realistic budgets and measurable results.

When City Hall spends taxpayers' money, Mike believes residents should be able to answer three basic questions:

What are we spending? Why are we spending it? What results are we getting?

A Safer and More Welcoming City

Public safety is one of Mike's central priorities.

He believes residents, workers, seniors, families and visitors should be able to use Victoria's streets, parks, sidewalks and public spaces safely.

Mike recognizes that homelessness, mental illness and substance-use disorders are complex challenges that cannot be solved by municipal government alone. Healthcare, treatment, recovery services and supportive housing require strong provincial and federal participation.

At the municipal level, however, Mike believes City Hall has a responsibility to manage public spaces effectively, support first responders, coordinate with other governments and service providers, and advocate forcefully for the health and treatment resources the community needs.

His approach is based on the belief that compassion and public safety are not competing objectives.

Housing and Affordability

Mike's decades of experience in construction and real estate have also shaped his approach to Victoria's housing challenges.

He supports increasing the supply and diversity of housing—including rental housing, family housing, missing-middle housing and attainable home ownership.

But he believes success should be measured by homes actually being built, not simply by the number of plans, policies or approvals announced.

Delays cost money. Uncertainty costs money. Unnecessary complexity costs money. Ultimately, those costs can be passed along to renters and buyers.

Mike wants City Hall to establish measurable permitting timelines, make development rules clearer and more predictable, and ensure growth is supported by the infrastructure and services neighbourhoods need.

Supporting Victoria's Downtown and Local Businesses

Mike believes a healthy downtown is essential to the economic and civic life of the entire region.

Businesses need safe and clean streets, customers, accessibility, predictable regulations and a municipal government that understands the pressures involved in operating a business.

He wants Victoria to once again be a downtown people actively choose to visit—to shop, dine, work, attend events and spend time with their families.

Mike also believes accessibility means recognizing that people reach downtown in different ways. Walking, cycling and public transit are important, but so are practical vehicle access, parking, commercial loading and accessibility for seniors and people with mobility challenges.

His approach to transportation is not about choosing one mode over another. It is about building a transportation system that works together.

Listening to Neighbourhoods

One of Mike's strongest commitments is to improve the relationship between City Hall and Victoria's neighbourhoods.

He believes consultation should occur before major decisions are made—not after the direction has effectively been determined.

Neighbourhood associations and residents understand their communities. They know which intersections are problematic, where infrastructure is failing, what parks need attention and how development or transportation changes affect daily life.

Council must make decisions for the city as a whole, but Mike believes those decisions will be better when the people most affected have a meaningful opportunity to participate early in the process.

Accountability at City Hall

Underlying Mike's campaign is a straightforward principle: government should be accountable for results.

He wants clearer reporting on major projects, contracts and City-funded programs. Significant projects should have understandable budgets, timelines and performance measures so residents can follow their progress.

When costs increase substantially, taxpayers deserve an explanation.

When a program isn't producing the intended results, Council should be willing to examine why.

And when something is working, City Hall should be able to demonstrate it.

Mike believes transparency is more than putting documents online. It means communicating information in language residents can understand and giving them a genuine opportunity to participate in decisions.

A Fresh Start for Victoria

Mike's vision is of a Victoria that is safe, affordable, welcoming and well managed.

He wants families and seniors to be able to remain in the community, businesses to have the confidence to invest, neighbourhoods to have a meaningful voice, and residents to feel comfortable enjoying their downtown, parks and public spaces.

He wants a municipal government focused on delivering the services residents depend upon while respecting the people who pay for them.

Mike isn't running because he believes every problem has an easy answer. He is running because he believes difficult problems require leadership that is prepared to listen, ask tough questions, bring the right people together, make decisions and then measure whether those decisions actually worked.

After more than three decades of building businesses, working in housing and construction, managing people and solving real-world problems, Mike believes he can bring a different perspective to City Hall.

For Mike, the objective is simple:

Get City Hall back to basics. Focus on results. Respect taxpayers. Listen to residents. And make Victoria a city people are once again proud and excited to call home.

Mike Harris - A Fresh Start for Victoria.