Former Victoria mayor and Heritage Award winner, Peter Pollen died Jan. 4 at his family home in Oak Bay at the age of 89.
Pollen served as mayor from 1971 to 1975 and from 1981 to 1985. He was recognized by the Hallmark Society for his dedication to heritage preservation in Victoria.
“I was struck by his keen mind, his passion for Victoria and honoured that he wanted to take some time to give me advice and share his wisdom and experience,” said Victoria’s mayor Lisa Helps, who had lunch with Pollen at his house last year.
Pollen, raised in Ontario and Saskatchewan, first came to Victoria at the age of 34 as a temporary employee of the Ford Motor Company.
In four terms as mayor, Pollen fought hard for the kind of city he believed Victoria should be.
He was the driving force behind the rehabilitation of Government Street in the 1970s – which included trees in planters and a statue of Captain Cook on the upper causeway. He also trumpeted the need for a lower causeway development and was a vocal supporter of the marina remaining accessible to everyone.
Pollen is survived by his wife, MaryAnn, four children, 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
