Dean Murdock
@deanmurdock
Saanich Mayor, CRD director, transit commissioner, dad, husband, coffee-drinker, cyclist, guitar player
🍓Strawberry Fest is this Sunday!! 🍓 This is my absolute favourite community event of the year. It’s bittersweet for me since it will be my last time serving ice cream and strawberries as your mayor.
Celebrating Saanich Volunteer Services with a Victorian Picnic. It's the 125th anniversary of McRae House. Bring your bonnet and your parasol!! Today until 3pm at 1445 Ocean View Road.
Celebrating the Uptown Multicultural Festival. I love to see community come together to share traditions, food, music and dance from cultures across the world. An amazing event. On today at Uptown shopping centre at 3pm
A beautiful day to celebrate Saanich’s Emergency Program volunteers. A huge thank you to these incredible volunteers who support Saanich residents during emergency events.
Dropped by the Saanich Youth Council’s last meeting of the year. This incredible group of high school students from across Saanich came together to identify priorities and put forward recommendations for community action
I am thrilled to see construction start on the new Cedar Hill Library & Affordable Housing The building will include a 30,000 sq ft library & 210 affordable rental apartments The project is a partnership between Saanich, Capital Region Housing Corporation, funding from BC Housing
June is Pride month! Yesterday we raised the Pride Progress Flag in honour of Pride Month in the District of Saanich. Raising the flag and celebrating Pride sends an important message of safety, belonging, inclusivity, and love.
This week is Parks & Public Works week! We are inviting visitors of all ages to tour the home of Saanich’s parks & public works crews Thurs, May 21, 1 to 3 at Saanich Parks & Public Works Yard (1040 Mckenzie Ave) This free event is a memorable experience for all ages!
The Mayors Murdock/h squared off again for this year’s Go By Bike Week Commuter Challenge. 🏆 Kevin eked out the win on the motorbike. He knows the mean streets of Oak Bay better than I do. Until next time, Your Worship. 🫡
It’s McHappy Day!! I dropped by the Shelbourne McDonald’s this morning to serve customers and help raise funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities and local children’s charities. It’s always such a joy to visit with the staff and the folks who stop by for a morning coffee and muffin. What a treat!
It’s Literacy Week at Braefoot Elementary School 📚 I had an absolute blast reading with the Grades 1 & 2 classes this morning. I even got to read one of my favourites: The Book with No Pictures by BJ Novak (of The Office).
It was wonderful to see so many individuals and families celebrating Vaisakhi this afternoon at Gudwara Singh Sabha Victoria
Today I had the chance to visit two Grade 6 classes at Gordon Head Middle School. Visiting with students is one of the absolute best parts of being Mayor. I so enjoyed answering questions about being Mayor, making decisions for our community, & discussing ways we can make life better for people
Celebrating Vaisakhi on this gorgeous afternoon. Thank you to the Khalsa Diwan Society for the chance to join the celebration. Vaisakhi diyan lakh-lakh vadhaiyan!
It’s been a special thrill to kick off the baseball season each year. Thanks so much to Lake Hill and Layritz for inviting me to be part of Opening Day and one last chance to throw the opening pitch ⚾️
Communities around the world are celebrating Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Nowruz is a day for reflection about the past, and to look to the future with hope and optimism.
I had the great honour of attending the community Iftar at the BC Legislature, hosted by the Olive Branch Revival Foundation. Iftar is the breaking of the daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan. It’s a tradition of sharing a meal with family, neighbours and community.
Yesterday, we celebrated Employee Appreciation Day. Visiting District staff and crews is one of the best parts of being your Mayor. What an unbelievable privilege it has been for me to work with these amazing folks.
I got to spend the afternoon with a second year Poli Sci class at Camosun. It was a great discussion & excellent questions about leadership in a period of uncertainty & acrimony. I so enjoyed hearing from students about their priorities & the future they want to see for themselves & their loved ones
Celebrating the Year of the Fire Horse with the wonderful folks at the Chinese Community Services Centre of Victoria.
The Province of B.C. has announced that all establishments with a valid liquor license and local government approval can open at 5:00am Sunday so residents can gather to watch the men’s gold medal hockey game.
Happy Lunar New Year 2026! Wishing you purpose, growth & success in the year of the Fire Horse.
Ramadan Kareem. This evening families, loved ones and neighbours gather to begin this month of fasting, prayer, compassion and reflection. We wish all those observing Ramadan a month filled with peace, reflection and hope.
This weekend, I joined Councillor Mena Westhaver and Chris Loran as a trio of MCs for the 7th annual Dancers 4Kids event. This event is a high-energy fundraiser for the island kids cancer association (IKCA) and supports children affected by cancer and their families.
Happy Family Day, Saanich! One of my favourite parts of being Mayor is seeing our community come together to share culture through music, dance and food. Today I had the chance to join the festivities at the Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee’s Dance-along.
Being Mayor of Saanich has been the honour of my life. I love this community. I’ve spent the last 25 years trying to improve it—in office and as a volunteer. Thank you for the extraordinary gift of being your mayor. I will carry that honour with me for the rest of my life.
A growing community needs more parks and green space! I couldn’t be more excited about this new purchase to create a future park in the Shelbourne valley. The property acquisition was made with no need for borrowing or impact on property taxation.