Find Out Why Local Scale Matters and How One SIPP-Board Member Helps Greater Victoria Use It Well
Thriving cities tend to rely on residents who understand local scale as a strategic asset. In Greater Victoria, Suzanne Bradbury is one of those voices, shaped by a childhood in a third-generation Victorian family and refined during years in other parts of Canada before returning home for the ocean, familiar scale of the city and pull of family.
You can see this perspective in her work once you know where to look. Design choices guide a community long before policy enters the picture, and Bradbury builds on this idea as co-owner of Fort Properties, with an instinct for human rhythm. Her projects include flexible gathering spaces at Fort Commons and advocacy for local ownership. The Island Design Excellence Awards recently recognized this vision with a Community Champion Award for her work.
Her connection to place also runs through weekend jogs along the waterfront, long mornings at the Moss Street Market and celebrating community roots as a foundation for economic strength. In this Q&A, Bradbury reflects on the ties that brought her home, the habits that anchor her here and the vision she sees for Greater Victoria’s future.
Q1. What first brought you to Greater Victoria, and what keeps you here?
I’m a third-generation Victorian. My grandmother, my dad and I were all born at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. I did spend several years away, but I came back because I love the scale of this city. I also missed the ocean so much while living in other parts of Canada. It’s such a defining part of life here. We’re lucky to have such a beautiful backdrop to our daily lives. And honestly, family was a big reason for coming back, too. Most of my family is here, and that connection keeps me grounded.
Q2. Describe your perfect day living in Greater Victoria.
I have a lot of perfect days here. Most Saturdays start with a walk or run along the waterfront to get some fresh air and exercise.
Without an organization like SIPP that’s focused on long-term, sustainable and non-political planning, we risk being driven by short-term agendas instead of long-term vision.
SIPP Board Member Suzanne Bradbury
Whenever it’s in season, which is almost all year, I go to the Moss Street Market to pick up food for the week. About 80 percent of what I buy comes from local farmers who do an amazing job producing high-quality, nutritious food. I have a health condition, and eating their fresh, beautiful food helps me feel great. The market is also a wonderful social experience. Their contribution to our community is incredible.
We live in Fairfield, close to downtown, so my husband and I can easily walk, bike or drive to one of the many events always happening in the city.
Q3. How long have you been involved in the South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP)?
I was around when SIPP was just being formed. At the time, I was serving as chair of the Downtown Victoria Business Association board, and I didn’t have the capacity to take on both board roles. Still, I’ve followed SIPP’s work closely ever since.
I also worked with Mayor Helps on several initiatives, including Victoria 3.0 and the Victoria Rising plan, which both helped shape SIPP’s strategy over the years. I’ve always been “SIPP-adjacent” and have admired and supported the organization from the beginning.
Q4. What motivated or inspired you to join the SIPP board?
I think a lot of our local economy is influenced by short-term political cycles at the municipal and provincial levels. Without an organization like SIPP that’s focused on long-term, sustainable and non-political planning, we risk being driven by short-term agendas instead of long-term vision.
That’s why I wanted to join the board, to work with others who are committed to shaping the kind of Victoria we want to see ten or twenty years from now.
Q5. What do you wish more people understood about Greater Victoria’s economy?
Greater Victoria’s economy is pretty unique because of our size. We don’t fit the mould for a lot of national chains, so much of our business community is locally owned and rooted here. These are people who have chosen to make this their home and invest in it for the long term.
That creates a business climate full of originality and innovation, with ideas that come directly from people who live and work here. While we sometimes focus on what separates our municipalities, there’s actually a lot that brings us together.
I see a lot of alignment among people doing creative and meaningful work in the region. They’re committed to making Greater Victoria thrive, and they’re generous in supporting one another and giving back. We’re big enough to have interesting opportunities and growth, but still small enough to stay authentic and interesting.
Q6. Why is it important for organizations like the South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP) to exist?
If we don’t have a collective voice that focuses on collaboration and alignment across our 13 municipalities, it’s hard to move forward as a region. SIPP fills that important role, and there really isn’t another organization doing this work locally and regionally.
Economic policy and planning take longer than a single four-year political term, so we need an organization like SIPP that looks beyond those cycles and keeps us focused on the long term.
Q7. What’s one local business or community initiative you think deserves more spotlight?
I’d really love to see a shift in how we recognize and support our small businesses as a whole. Greater Victoria has a strong heritage as a government town, and sometimes that means the creativity and contributions of small business owners don’t get the recognition they deserve.
Their hard work makes our community vibrant and livable. I’d like to see their role respected and celebrated as a vital part of who we are.
Q8. What book, podcast, or idea has influenced your thinking on leadership or community building?
Rather than one book, I’d say my background in psychology has been the biggest influence. I have a few degrees in psychology, and that background has helped me understand what makes people mentally and spiritually well. That interest really shaped how I think about community building and real estate.
At our cores, we all share the same basic human needs, like belonging. When we design spaces and communities that facilitate satisfaction of those needs, we help people thrive.
That philosophy guided how we designed the Fort Commons. We created a public space for people to gather in the summer months, with flexible furniture that can be moved and reconfigured so people can use the space however they need.
My sister and business partner has a background in epidemiology, so together we think about how good design and community building contribute to overall social well-being. That shared perspective makes our work in real estate, and economic development with SIPP, especially meaningful.
