Alton Toth’s Campaign respectfully acknowledges that we live, work, play on the traditional territories of the shíshálh Nation.
Sechelt has always been home to me.
I grew up in Selma Park in a single parent household, and today my wife Jenny and I are raising our family in the same home that my father and grandfather built in East Porpoise Bay. I've watched Sechelt grow, change, and face new challenges over the years.
This community has given me so much, and being able to give back through volunteering and serving two terms in local government has been one of the greatest privileges of my life.
Whether we've met at the Farmers' Market, the Canada Day parade, through the Sechelt Downtown Business Association, a local coffee shop, in our former store (Sew Easy in Trail Bay Centre), or at a community meeting, you probably know that what matters most to me is listening to you, finding ways that we can work together, and coming up with the best possible outcomes.
I'm running for Mayor because I believe Sechelt's best days are still ahead of us, and I want to help build that future together with you!
Alton has organized Sechelt’s Canada Day parade for the last ten years.
Chatting with community volunteers at the opening of the new xwilkway / Halfmoon Bay Hall.
My Approach
I believe local government works best when it's transparent, respectful, and seeking collaboration to reach a positive outcome.
That means listening before deciding, treating everyone with respect (even when we disagree), looking beyond today's problems to tomorrow's opportunities, spending taxpayers' money responsibly and working with our partners instead of against them.
I don't believe progress comes from division or from spreading misinformation in our community.
I believe progress comes from finding common ground.
Leadership Isn't About Being the Loudest Person in the Room
Leadership means helping people work together. In my time as Chair of the SCRD, I’ve had the opportunity to help my fellow Directors through local issues.
I’ve helped to facilitate hard conversations that continue even now, and will result in better outcomes for our community.
Through it all, I’ve known that my being Chair was only temporary, and I wanted to know that I was leaving the organization stronger than when I joined, and that any one of my fellow Directors would feel they had the support and the skills to step up to be the next Chair after me.
To me that’s leadership. Helping to lift up those around you, so that everyone can feel like they have what they need to make the tough decisions.
Why I'm Running
I'm not running because I think I have all the answers. I'm running because I believe good leadership begins with listening, and being genuine about who you are and what you can (and can’t) actually accomplish.
Over the past several years, I've had the opportunity to work with residents, businesses, volunteers, the shíshálh Nation, community organizations, fellow Councillors, Regional District directors, and governments at every level.
One thing has become very clear:
Our community is full of thoughtful people who care deeply about Sechelt.
My goal as Mayor isn't to have the loudest voice. It also isn’t to be the one with all the solutions.
My goal as Mayor is to bring people together, ask good questions, make informed decisions, and keep moving our community forward in a way that makes this a happier and healthier place for our children.
Eight Years of Learning and Serving
Serving on Sechelt Council and as Chair of the Sunshine Coast Regional District has taught me that the best decisions are rarely reached by one person working alone.
They're built through collaboration and working together.
During the past eight years, I've had the opportunity to work on housing, infrastructure, water security, transportation, economic development, parks, and community partnerships.
Some projects move quickly; others take longer.
But I've learned that good leadership, constant dialogue, and developing respectful relationships will accomplish far more than ‘politics’ ever will.
Communication Matters
I believe residents deserve honest answers, even when an issue is complicated (especially when an issue is complicated).
Our community is divided by a lot of different opinions and ideas. As long as you’re respectful, those ideas deserve to be heard.
No one can do this work alone. It takes a team. And it involves bringing the community into the conversation as much as we can.
The Story Of My Logo
I wanted my campaign logo to reflect more than a campaign. Sechelt is the place we all call home.
The mountains, forests, and waters represent the amazing natural beauty that is Sechelt. The hills on either side of the inlet could symbolize different perspectives on an issue, brought together by the waters that remind us we’re connected by a lot more than what divides us.
The float plane is symbolic of Sechelt. It speaks of resilience, and of ways to connect with friends and families who may not be here on the Sunshine Coast. There is light on the inlet because Sechelt’s future is bright, and we have so much to look forward to.
Around that is the message that guides both my campaign and my desired approach to leadership: A Common Ground. A Stronger Future.
A Common Ground. A Stronger Future.
I really do believe that it’s not just a campaign slogan, but how our local government should work.
If we invite more people in, we make better decisions by considering the bigger picture rather than just what’s in front of us at any given moment.
Paramount to that is treating each other with respect, and recognizing that there are so many different paths that brought us together in Sechelt.
When we work to solve our problems together, we all work towards the same goal:
A stronger Sechelt for the next generation!