What People are saying

Marie-Terese was recently interviewed by  “The Westshore” and  provided her frank perspectives on several issues facing Metchosin residents including  establishing financial priorities, the importance of good governance and  how to preserve the rural nature of the district given the existing tax base.  

You can read the full article here. 

The Westhore, October 6, 2022 

 "Marie-Térèse Little is a brave protector of local farms, small businesses, parks and trails. Marie-Térèse is widely respected by her municipal, provincial and federal peers for her hard work and her ability to get things done. Please vote Marie-Térèse for Mayor if you want to keep Metchosin green and rural" 

David Merner, Federal Candidate in our riding, 2015 and 2019

 “Marie-Terese Little has shown integrity and leadership on Metchosin council. Her commitment to accountability, community preservation and sustainability would make her an excellent mayor. As the Member of Parliament for Metchosin, I am pleased to endorse Marie-Terese Little for Metchosin Mayor.”

Randall Garrison-Member of Parliament -  Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke 

“Working with Marie-Terese over the past four years on the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee has given me an opportunity to see that her level of commitment is matched by her ability to get things done - without a huge budget! When she took on the role of Chair she led with a clarity of purpose and resolve that I truly respect.  While I live in Colwood (35 years) I understand and respect the wishes of Metchosin to remain rural and affordable.  I think Metchosin would be well served with her tenacity, education and experience leading the way.“

Yours Truly, Cynthia Day - City of Colwood Councillor

 “I love our parks and trails.  I love them so much I’ve volunteered for 19 years maintaining them and constructing new ones.  Councillor Little has worked alongside her Parks and Trails advisory committee for the past term making sure we had the funding to repair storm damage and approvals to construct new trails such as the Pears Road roadside trail.  Labouring on the end of a rake or compactor shouldn’t be part of her portfolio but when you have her community spirit it doesn’t seem abnormal.    From decision to implementation Councillor Little gets the job done.“

Mark Atherton 

“ Decades ago, I came to understand the importance of healthy intact ecosystems in providing the ecosystem services that all humans on the planet depend upon. These services include clean air, clean water, ground water retention, the oxygen we breathe, pollination, composting and the sequestration of carbon to regulate atmospheric CO2. This respect brought me to volunteer in Devonian Park for invasive species removal in 2003. As volunteers we spend two hours weekly for about five months each year. This will be my 19th year. Following Councilor Moralea’s death, who was a close friend, I have been a volunteer on the restoration of “Morlea’s Meadow on the municipal grounds. I have also served as a member of the Metchosin Environmental Advisory Select Committee since 2003. Metchosin is a rural community that has protected the natural ecosystems and agricultural land since incorporation. With Langford and Colwood hard up against our borders, it is important we understand that the retention of Metchosin as a rural large property community is key to protecting our ecosystems. In its role as a protector of natural ecosystem, Metchosin provides ecosystem services to the urban and suburban communities and that protection is up to us. Marie-Térèse Little has demonstrated during her time as a Councilor, in her involvement in natural environment protection and support for the agricultural sector, that she is a friend of the earth. In her role as a Councilor Marie-Térèse has also demonstrated that she is competent, hardworking and does her homework on all the issues that Council must deal with on our behalf. For these reasons I believe Marie-Térèse Little is an excellent candidate for the position of Mayor of Metchosin." 

Bill Cave

"In 2019 Metchosin Invasive Species Cooperative (MISC) was formed and, with the unanimous support of the Metchosin Parks and Trails Committee, took on the task of eradicating invasive English holly from all Metchosin parks. Also in 2019, MISC successfully applied for a five-year $25,000 grant from the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation. We have since broadened our scope to working on tansy-ragwort, black

knapweed and other local invasives and would be very happy to increase our membership. For the past three years, volunteer groups have regularly worked in Metchosin parks and removed thousands of holly from our parks. By the end of this current calendar year, we hope to say that we have eradicated holly from all Metchosin parks at no cost to the district. After three years of negotiating, the CRD finally allowed us to work as volunteers to remove holly in Matheson Lake/Roche Cove Parks. Marie-Térèse is a member of MISC and not only has she worked along side us at holly pulls, she was instrumental in our successful negotiations with the CRD. As Chair of MISC, I would like to acknowledge the hours of volunteer labour and strong support for our group that Marie-Térèse has donated and am pleased to endorse her candidacy for Metchosin Mayor.”

Neil West

“Marie-Térèse was instrumental in moving many of our projects forward including installation of bike racks and the next phase of our installation of market vendor structures.  Working proactively, she ensured all user groups came together and allowed for a collaborative discussion.  This then ensured the next steps of the approval process moved through smoothly. She continues to visit our market weekly and when not buying from all the amazing vendors, she is taking photos and sharing on social media feeds.  Marie-Térèse also went on the radio recently to promote us in the community, this is amazing.  Being approachable and discussing view points is one of her strengths and this was especially noticeable during the early days of the pandemic when she became involved in ensuring our market remained safe while we continued to serve the community.  I am pleased to endorse Marie-Térèse for her candidacy of Mayor of Metchosin.”

Jacqui Anderson

President of the Metchosin Producer’s Association 

“On December 10, 2018, Councillor Marie-Térèse presented a proposal to the District of Metchosin council meeting. Her ability to get that proposal accepted would mean a turning point in my life.
Metchosin's beloved Moralea Milne had died, and if I couldn't find a way to work through my shock and grief, it didn't feel like life was worth living.

When Councillor Little heard of my plan she was immediately activated on its behalf. She made sure I understood all the steps that would be necessary and worked to create support in the community. I thought we had it nailed. Then on the Council night when Marie-Térèse spoke for my proposal to create the Gary Oak meadow in honor of Moralea , I was saddened to hear that another councillor and the mayor thought my proposal wasn't worth doing- it would cost the district too much.

Councillor Little didn't back down. Her reasoned arguments and determination gave my plans life and convinced them it was worth their support. Moralea's Meadow has now gone from a neglected little field of a few scattered Camas blooms to a beautiful path-lined site of native flowers with hundreds of Camas, and many hundreds more to come. Beautiful signage reflects Moralea’s goals, and signage to inform visitors of the various plants and insects that inhabit the area are also going to be part of the meadow. Volunteers from all over Metchosin and beyond work together over the seasons, learning from nature, and helping in its restoration there.

Councillor Marie-Térèse not only loves and respects our community, she puts in the real work necessary to grow Metchosin stronger for the people who live here. I am proud she is running for mayor.”

Katy Nelson

”Metchosin Equestrian Society (MES) is a well-established group of horse enthusiasts, many mounted and others unmounted. We frequent miles of trails connected by roadways and hone our skills within the safe confines of our community riding ring. Marie-Terese’s willingness to seek solutions, support community initiatives and work alongside residents at work parties such as MES’s “broom and bramble bash” is admirable. Not to be dissuaded by the essence of physical labor she steps up when needed and has fun doing so! During her tenure Marie-Terese has worked collaboratively with MES and other community stakeholders to finalize the connection of the Happy Valley roadside trail from Rocky Pt. Road to the business community in the Village core. Finding balance of work and play, Marie-Terese has helped promote recreation and safety for all residents of Metchosin, she is approachable, proactive, engaging and truly cares about our citizens. Her tenacity to better understand a topic or situation is a valuable trait as a leader in our community! “

Shelly Donaldson
MES President

“ Councillor Marie Terese-Little is a Councillor who cares about her community. She is Metchosin Council’s liaison to the Intermunicipal Advisory Committee on Disability Issues promoting accessible and inclusive communities. She is currently the Chair of the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee which facilitates connections between municipal and Indigenous governments, school districts, service providers and the broader community to educate and advocate for children, youth and families who may come into contact with the justice system.
She helped me to make connections in my role as a Butterfly Ranger with the David Suzuki Foundation as we tried to encourage citizens, schools and community groups to plant native plants that would encourage pollinators to visit. The Butterflyway Project is a volunteer-led movement through the David Suzuki Foundation that is growing habitat for bees and butterflies in neighbourhoods throughout Canada. Wild pollinators such as butterflies and bees are crucial to human survival. Climate change, development and widespread pesticide use are compromising their habitat and food sources. This project aims to help people step up efforts to help pollinators find food and shelter.
Thanks Marie-Terese for being a community collaborator. Metchosin is lucky to have someone like you as their representative.
Marnie Essery, Chair, Intermunicipal Advisory Committee on Disability Issues”

Marnie Essrey

Secretary, Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee
Butterfly Ranger, David Suzuki Foundation.