January 2026 Municipal Update

January 2026 Newsletter

From the Mayor’s Office

As we begin a new year in our municipality, Council’s focus remains firmly on supporting the well-being of our residents, strengthening local governance, and ensuring that the Rural Municipality of Victoria continues to be a safe, responsive, and well-managed community. On behalf of Council and municipal staff, I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and all the best in 2026. While we are fortunate to enjoy the benefits of a strong democracy here in Canada, along with programs and services that support a fulfilling life, the same cannot be said for many parts of the world. As we watched the news over the holiday season, it was a reminder of how grateful we can be for the amenities, safety, and security our own community provides.

The RMV Council held its first meeting of 2026 on January 12, where several bylaws were discussed and approved. These bylaws strengthen the municipality’s governance framework and support a more effective operational environment for the Municipal Office. The municipality continues to benefit from strong administrative practices. In wanting to improve those practices, however, the Council approved a bylaw and policy that further strengthens how it does public procurement, helping to ensure the best value for money in the acquisition of goods and services.

Another important matter addressed by Council was the current situation of three vacant council positions. It was decided that a by-election would be held to fill all or some of these vacancies, as the workload would otherwise be very onerous for the remaining members. The nomination period will run from February 4 to February 13. I strongly encourage residents to consider putting their name forward, particularly those who have not participated in municipal governance in the past. With province-wide municipal elections scheduled for November 2026, this by-election offers a valuable opportunity to see whether serving your municipality is something you may wish to pursue in the future.  Please contact CAO Yves Dallaire for more information.

The Victoria Women’s Institute and I will be co-hosting a village Meet and Greet on February 21, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Old School. Special guests will be families who have recently moved to our village. Everyone is welcome to stop by, enjoy light refreshments, and reconnect with old and new friends. So that we have an indication of the amount of food to prepare, please contact Leslie-Ann at 902-388-4094 or nedraleslie@gmail.com.

I encourage all residents to stay engaged, attend council meetings and to reach out with questions, ideas, or feedback on how we can continue to improve municipal services. You may contact your council representatives or the Municipal Office directly. I am also available at 902-388-7584 or by email at allenfarm17@gmail.com. For updates and additional information, please visit our website.

Martin Ruben, Mayor

From the Municipal Office

Working for Residents’ Safety

It has been almost a year since the Municipality entered into a new agreement with the newly formed Victoria Fire Company. The new organization, initiated and led by James Boulter and Allen Marshall, made a presentation at the latest Council meeting regarding proposed changes to how property owners in the unincorporated area of the fire district will be charged for fire services. The proposed changes would move from a flat-rate charge to one based on property values. This is important to maintain the financing of the Company and thus to ensure the quality of the fire prevention services and first medical response while controlling the cost borne by Victoria’s residents. In addition, several hazardous houses and barns have recently been demolished thanks to a 2024 municipal bylaw, making Victoria safer. Regarding the emergency measures (EM) management, the Municipality is still hoping to secure the help of a local volunteer to take over the position of EM Coordinator to coordinate actions in case of a state of emergency.

Victoria Municipality Consolidates Its Relationship with the Victoria Playhouse

An agreement has been reached between the Municipality and the Victoria Playhouse (VP). This agreement represents a significant change in direction. Beginning in April 2026 and for the next five years, the VP will take charge of the year-round management of the Community Hall. Although the Municipality remains the owner of the building, it will be for the VP to maximize its use and potential profitability. Both parties see it as a win-win opportunity and it certainly consolidates the position of the Playhouse as a Victoria institution while it alleviates the financial burden of the residents for the maintenance of that heritage building.

Community Organizations’ Meeting

At the invitation of the Municipal Office, the Victoria community organizations met in January to share future projects and ideas. The project of a Victoria Day opening of the season activity initiated by the Victoria Business Association, attracted the attention of the community as well as the Canada Day Celebration. Both events will require the collaboration of the many volunteers of these organizations.

The Municipality Proceeds with a Master Plan

Following complaints from residents, business owners and visitors alike about car, bus and pedestrian traffic, washroom availability, parking, derelict buildings and more, and considering the development of future housing projects and the uncertainty around Victoria Park, the Council adopted a joint project put together with the help of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). The initial stage of this project involves identifying a planning firm that will work with the community to identify future pedestrian walkways, car traffic patterns, parking spaces, public open parks, etc. The chosen consultant will also advise on the phases of these future developments and their costs. A Request for Proposal is already in place and will be sent to Atlantic planning firms. The next step will be for the Municipal Office to identify financial partners for the development of this master plan.

The 2026–27 Budget Is in Preparation

The preparation of the 2026-27 budget is now in progress with a first public presentation at the February 9, 2026 Council meeting. For this first step, the Council will engage with residents about the financial priorities of the Municipality. A second and final public presentation of the budget will take place on March 23, 2026. The Municipality is required by law to submit a balanced budget to the Province by April 15 of each year for the fiscal year running from April 1 to March 31. Rising costs for supplies and services remain a challenge; however, a recent shift to transferring the management costs of the Community Hall, the Welcome Centre, and the Fire Hall to private users has provided some financial relief.

New or Modified Bylaws to Improve Management and Democracy 

The Municipal Office is always looking for ways to improve its management capacities and to facilitate the democratic process. That is why no less than six bylaws and policies were recently amended while one new bylaw and one new policy (about procurement) were adopted. These updates cover subjects from the procedures of the Council and its Committees to capital asset management. Other updates and new bylaws are already in preparation.

2026 Council Meeting Dates

The 2026 Council Meeting dates are now available on the municipal website: https://www.rmvictoria.com/agendas-and-minutes

Residents are encouraged to attend Council meetings and share their thoughts on municipal governance.

Municipal Training Series

The PEI Coalition for Women's Leadership is offering a Municipal Training Series aiming to develop capacity in municipal politics across PEI. The Municipal Training Series will be a cohort series of six workshops, focused on supporting individuals who intend to get involved in municipal politics. The sessions will be open to members of the public who want to run for elected positions, as well as people who want to support someone else’s campaign. The aim is to demystify politics and reduce barriers to participation, recognizing that knowledge will promote political participation and strengthen our Island.

Register here for the Municipal Training Series.

That’s all for this month! See past issues at www.RMVictoria.com/newsletters

Questions or feedback? Info for a future newsletter or photos you’re willing to share?
Contact staff at victoriamunicipalitypei@gmail.com 

Victoria Historic Schoolhouse

730 Victoria Road, Victoria, PE, 

C0A 1J0, Canada