ABOUT STEW
Meet Stew Young
Langford has been my home, my community and a big part of my life for more than three decades.
When I was first elected Mayor in 1993, Langford was a very different place. We had high unemployment, a limited tax base and a lot of work ahead of us. But I believed then, that Langford had enormous potential.
For 30 years, I had the privilege of working alongside residents, businesses, community organizations and successive councils to help build a city where people could find jobs, raise families, start businesses and enjoy the community they call home.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Building Langford was always about people
The growth and change Langford experienced didn’t happen because of one person. It happened because people believed in this community and were willing to work together to make things happen.
My approach has always been practical: listen to residents, find solutions, attract investment, keep taxes affordable and make sure growth brings benefits back to the community.
That meant building recreation facilities, parks and infrastructure. It meant bringing businesses and jobs to Langford. It meant finding creative ways to pay for community amenities without continually putting the cost onto homeowners.
And it meant being accessible. I have always believed that if you serve the public, people should be able to talk to you, ask questions and expect an answer.
Why I’m running again
Langford is entering another important chapter.
We can’t go back to the Langford of 1993, and I don’t want to. Our community has grown, our needs have changed and the challenges facing families today are different.
But I believe some things still matter just as much: keeping Langford affordable, making sure infrastructure keeps pace with growth, supporting local businesses, investing in recreation and public safety, and getting good value for every tax dollar.
I’m running for Mayor because I believe my experience can help Langford move forward with a clear plan and a practical approach.
There is more work to do, and I’d be honoured to get back to work for you.
THE RECORD
Thirty years, in short.
1993
Elected Mayor of a newly incorporated Langford.
Twenty per cent unemployment, no sewers, no sidewalks and no real tax base — and a mandate to build a working economy on the West Shore.
Late 1990s
Costco, Home Depot and the first major employers.
The commercial share of the tax base grew from three per cent to twenty, so homeowners stopped carrying the city on their own.
2000s
Parks, rec centres and trails, paid for by growth.
Developers paid to build here and residents got the amenities that came with it — alongside ten consecutive years of zero tax increases.
2021
Named the most livable city in Canada.
The fastest-growing community in the region, with the lowest property taxes in Greater Victoria.
2026
Running independently for Mayor.
No slate and no party — working with whoever Langford elects to council, the same way as for the previous thirty years.