Why did the leadership of ‘Save Our Saanich’ hold a meeting with the Conservative Party of BC, without telling their membership?

Why did the leadership of ‘Save Our Saanich’ hold a meeting with the Conservative Party of BC, without telling their membership?

By Sasha Izard
Sept 1, 2026

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In July of this year, I wrote the following article:

How did Save Our Saanich turn from an organization of concerned neighbours, into a Political Slate with 2/3rds of its candidates having worked or continuing to work in real estate or development – in only one year?

I asked the question, but it was never answered.

A puzzle begins to build, but transparency is not one of the pieces.

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In mid-December of last year 2025, the Save Our Saanich leadership held a closed and apparently unminuted meeting, with two heads of the Conservative Party of BC, Saanich South Riding Association. A screenshot of their website at the time of writing can be seen below:

Only the SOS leadership did not tell the SOS membership about the backroom meeting with the Conservatives Party of BC.

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I was a member of SOS at the time. I left the organization the following month, when they voted to adopt an Elector Organization Constitution, with false Elections BC requirements in it, that would allow the President and Vice President positions in the organization to be unelected in those positions for up to a year.

Also notably present in the critically flawed Constitution document was a draconian and undemocratic Code of Conduct, which was clearly modeled on that of the BC Conservatives.

I wrote about it in the following article:

Grassroots or Astroturfing? A comparison of the Save Our Saanich EO Code of Conduct, and that of the BC Conservatives. – CRD Watch Homepage

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So, how did ‘Save Our Saanich’ an organization ostensibly created to protect Saanich neighbourhoods, get so close to the BC Conservative Party and its Constitutional setup, without informing their own membership?

An article written in the Times Colonist last August stated that “Elections B.C.’s official list of registered political parties, updated earlier this week, shows that a Conservative civic political party is now registered to operate in 15 B.C. municipalities, including Saanich.”

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Yet, with only a month and a half from the date of election, the BC Conservatives have announced no candidates running in Saanich, why?

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In 2025, a Saanich resident Carolyn, was seeking to help make a positive difference in Saanich through civic involvement. The Save Our Saanich Neighbourhoods Society looked like a potential way to make a positive outcome. Carolyn offered to help the organization in regard to its communications with the wider public.

However, after attending only one meeting, Carolyn left the organization, appalled at the way it was operating. Carolyn had been invited to a meeting with the SOS leadership, but was not informed that the meeting would be closed to the membership, and that leaders from the Saanich South Riding Association of the BC Conservatives would be together with the leadership in a backroom meeting.

It was exactly this type of closed to the public, backroom meeting e.g. that takes place between the UDI development lobby and Saanich staff, that many in the Saanich public have been tired of. ‘Save Our Saanich’ was not acting as an alternative to the way the District of Saanich operates. Rather, it was acting as business as usual, and now party politics had found its way in the backroom of an organization ostensibly there to represent the interests of Saanich residents and seeking to transform the outcome of the 2026 Saanich local government election.

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Carolyn, acting as a whistleblower, informed me of the meeting after it took place.

A member of SOS, I too was appalled. I telephoned its unelected ‘President’ at the time Nancy Di Castri and asked her about the meeting. The phone call was brief. Di Castri quickly ended the conversation and never called back.

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I immediately emailed both Di Castri, and Teri McGeachie who has been in charge of SOS’ communications, on Dec 18, 2025:

The subject title:

SOS committee held in the last few days.

Hello Teri and Nancy,

Nancy mentioned that there was an SOS committee held in the last few days.

For the purposes of transparency, I have a few questions:

1. What was the name and purpose of the committee?

2. Who were those present at the committee?

3. How were the membership informed that the committee would take place?

4. What was the process by which a person was able to join the committee?

Note: As a member of SOS, I was not informed about this committee.

Thank you,
Sasha

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Nancy replied:

Sasha,

As myself as President (by default) and Kevin Neary as Vice President as well as Doug Pelton as Financial Agent had to step up in these roles in order to even register the EO, we are now finding ourselves in the position of having to create a structure.

We reached out to a few people, who we felt would be able to help us create that structure, but because that’s not set in stone as of yet, we are not completely ready with the organizational chart.

We felt that unless we established a solid base, we would not be in a position to fundraise, endorse the candidates and elevate the presence of Save Our Saanich within the community.

So at this time, you are just going to have to trust that we have the best interests of the community, the candidates and Save Our Saanich members. We are not going to make decisions by committee as it is too onerous and will take too long. Time is of the essence, so I hope you can cut us some slack, given that we are new at this, and are just feeling our way.

We are just starting to sketch things out, but are clear that we will not have any candidates on the Board or the Executive, so there are no conflicts of interest.

This was not a membership meeting, but simply an informal working group, to see if we could identify who is prepared to step up and help us.

Nancy

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I wrote back:

Hello Nancy,

Thank you for your response.

I have a few more questions:

1. Did the informal working group, have a name?

2. What was the purpose of that meeting?

3. Who were those present at the meeting of the informal working group?

Thank you,
Sasha

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Sasha,

We don’t have a name. The purpose of the meeting was as I described above and here is the list of people who were there.

What are your concerns?

Nancy

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Note: Of those present at the meeting, Matt McGeachie, Lorne Delarge, and Nancy Di Castri, are currently half of the candidates running under the SOS banner during the 2026 election.

Stu Hackett is now the current President of the SOS Neighbourhoods Society. Reuben Mills is now an SOS Elector Organization Director and an Administrator of the Save Our Saanich Facebook page.

Kevin Neary and Nancy Di Castri, were the founding Principal and Vice Principal of the SOS Elector Society.

Teri McGeachie, who was mentioned previously is in charge of SOS’ communications, and was part of its Executive (and probably still is), as was her husband Matt McGeachie prior to his running as a candidate for SOS. Teri is currently the party Secretary of the SOS Elector Organization.

2 names that were in the meeting that I had not heard of being involved with SOS prior to that, were Rob Finlay, and Bruce Kennedy.

Only a couple weeks prior to the meeting with SOS, both Finlay and Kennedy’s names were on a letter calling for the resignation of recent BC Conservative leader John Rustad:

This letter was posted on the Saanich South Riding Association (of the Conservative Party of BC) website at the time of writing: News and Updates – Saanich South Conservatives

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So, having played a role in the successful party call for Rustad to resign as head of the BC Conservatives, why were the President and Vice President of the Saanich South Riding Association of the BC Conservative Party now having a backroom meeting with the SOS leadership without informing the SOS membership?

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I replied to Nancy:

Thank you Nancy,

Are they all members of SOS?

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Nancy wrote back: Yes they are

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Hi Nancy,

Yes, I do have a problem with this informal working group that the membership do not seem to have been informed about.

The main item of concern, is that there has been no meeting of the Elector Organization, and yet there is this back room committee or informal working group if you will, taking place, discussing election issues as you mentioned on the phone, constituted of people that the membership have not selected to be on this working group. The meeting took place without the people that joined the Elector Organization being informed of it, or involved, as far as I can tell.

In addition, Robert Finlay is a member of a different civic political party and part of its leadership from what I understand.

The people of Saanich are upset about a lack of transparency and open public engagement, and yet the organization of the Elector Group appears to be operating the same way.

“This was not a membership meeting, but simply an informal working group, to see if we could identify who is prepared to step up and help us.”

Since the volunteers on the EO, have already decided to step up and help, why are you not meeting with the volunteers on the EO, who have already stepped up to help in the process?

On the phone, you told me that the membership was informed at a Zoom meeting that this informal working group would take place, but I talked to 2 people who were on that Zoom, that do not recall that.

Are you sure that the membership was informed that this group was being formed by Zoom?

Why was the membership not informed by email about this?

I ask these questions, because I think that it is important that Save Our Saanich, which I am a member of, is run as a democracy, not as an oligarchy, and as transparently as possible.

Thank you again,
Sasha

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Instead of Nancy Di Castri, the SOS ‘President’ at the time responding to my reply to her email – Stu Hackett now responded for her instead. It was clear to me that Stu was taking on the role of ‘damage control’:

Hi Sasha.

Our plan is to move forward in a way that includes all members as much as possible. We are planning on calling a membership meeting to vote on the EO Board and Constitution, and we are planning on asking for members to help select candidates to endorse. But in order to do those things we need to be organized, so a small group convened to get things a bit more organized and moving forward.

As you are likely aware, volunteers from the SOS Neighbourhoods Society have already identified 5 main priorities. Those priorities were developed by a working group of volunteers from SOS who put their name forward following the SOS in-person meeting on September 23. You may recall that the group circulated the priorities on November 12 in order to get feedback from all members. Those priorities have not changed significantly from then and will be shared again as soon as the EO has a website.

Rob Finlay is not part of the EO leadership, and he will not be part of the Board. He has offered to give us some advice as we move forward, but he is not making decisions for the EO.

We are moving forward in the best way we know how. If you are not happy with the direction of the EO, then please let us know and we will remove you from the membership list.

If you would like to meet in person to chat about the EO, then Kevin, and/or Doug and/or I would be happy to meet with you.

_______________________________

Stu Hackett

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Hello Stu,

“Our plan”

Who is “Our”?

“Our plan is to move forward in a way that includes all members as much as possible. We are planning on calling a membership meeting to vote on the EO Board and Constitution, and we are planning on asking for members to help select candidates to endorse. But in order to do those things we need to be organized, so a small group convened to get things a bit more organized and moving forward.”

Who picked who the small organizational group was, and were members of the EO/SOS informed about this?

“As you are likely aware, volunteers from the SOS Neighbourhoods Society have already identified 5 main priorities.”

From what I am aware, there was no transparency about that process. The priorities which you identified yourself, having 12 people listed, when there weren’t 12 people on the committee. There were no names attached to the ranking of the priorities of the 12 people, so no one could see who made those priorities. Why not?

“Those priorities have not changed significantly from then and will be shared again as soon as the EO has a website.”

When was your list of priorities, last discussed with by the general membership of SOS, either in-person or in a Zoom meeting?

“Rob Finlay is not part of the EO leadership, and he will not be part of the Board. He has offered to give us some advice as we move forward, but he is not making decisions for the EO.”

For what reason was he in the meeting? Why did you select Robert Finlay’s advice, when he is part of the leadership of another Civic Political Party in Saanich, and is part of a Provincial Political party?

This is the organization: Saanich South Riding Association

Saanich South Conservatives – B.C. Conservative Riding Association

Saanich riding association calls for B.C. Conservative leader to step down | The Northern View

“The Saanich South Riding Association (SSRA) of the B.C. Conservatives is calling on party leader John Rustad to step down, saying his continued leadership threatens the future of the party. In a letter released Tuesday, Dec. 2, signed by SSRA president Robert A. Finlay, the association said it was acting “for the good of the Party, and the Province,” and urged Rustad to resign.

Why is this person advising a back room committee of Save Our Saanich?

Is Finlay a member of Save Our Saanich?

“We are moving forward in the best way we know how. If you are not happy with the direction of the EO, then please let us know and we will remove you from the membership list.”

So, this was a meeting of the EO? If so, I am a member of the EO, why was I not invited to this EO meeting? Were the other members of the EO invited to this meeting?

One last question: I emailed this question to Nancy (the President), why have you responded to the email that I sent her, and not Nancy herself?

Thank you,
Sasha

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Hi Sasha

We are moving forward in the best way we know how.

If you want to meet in person with me and/or Kevin and/or Doug, please let us know.

If you are not happy with our direction, please let me know and we will remove you from the membership.

Otherwise we will see you when we meet with all EO members to approve the Constitution and the Board.

Stu Hackett

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“If you are not happy with our direction, please let me know and we will remove you from the membership. “

This appeared to me to be a thinly veiled threat/request for me to leave the organization for asking these critical questions regarding transparency and what should have been a democratic process.

I wrote back:

Hello Stu,

Why have you not answered my very valid questions, as a member of SOS, and a member of the EO?

“We are moving forward in the best way we know how. “

Do you know how to move forward in a way that is democratic and transparent?

“If you are not happy with our direction, please let me know and we will remove you from the membership.”?

From what position are you threatening to remove my membership from SOS, a legally registered Society under the Societies Act, for simply asking for some transparency with how you are operating?

“Otherwise we will see you when we meet with all EO members to approve the Constitution and the Board. “

After registering a Society, the first order of business is to have an election for the Directors by the general membership. This has not happened. You are acting as a defacto board. You have no authority to make these decisions, until that has taken place.

Please answer the very valid questions that I have, as a member of this Society and of the EO.

Thank you,
Sasha Izard
Concerned member of Save Our Saanich and the EO.

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Hi Sasha.

We are moving forward in the best way we know how.

If you want to meet in person with me and/or Kevin and/or Doug, please let us know.

I will rephrase my comment about EO membership…I certainly did not mean it as a threat, what I meant to say is that if are not happy with our approach, and if you no longer want to be part of the EO, please let me know and we will remove you from the membership. Otherwise we will see you when we meet with all EO members to approve the Constitution and elect the Board.

Stu Hackett

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Hello Stu,

“If you want to meet in person with me and/or Kevin and/or Doug, please let us know.”

I would would like my questions answered transparently, in writing.

Please answer my questions in writing.

“what I meant to say is that if are not happy with our approach, and if you no longer want to be part of the EO, please let me know and we will remove you from the membership.”

If I am an unhappy with the way the EO is operating e.g., by not involving the actual members of the EO, as you have, then I will tell you, as I have.

Why are you suggesting to potentially contact you to remove me from the membership? What is your position on the EO to remove me from the membership?

Was this working group/committee meeting, a meeting of the EO?

Please answer the question in writing.

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Hackett replied now, simply copying from his previous words:

Hi Sasha.

We are moving forward in the best way we know how.

If you want to meet in person with me and/or Kevin and/or Doug, please let us know.

Stu Hackett

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Hello Stu,

You repeated what you said with a copy and paste and did not respond to my email.

Here is what I wrote to you.

Hello Stu,

“If you want to meet in person with me and/or Kevin and/or Doug, please let us know. “

I would like my questions answered transparently, in writing.

Please answer my questions in writing.

“what I meant to say is that if are not happy with our approach, and if you no longer want to be part of the EO, please let me know and we will remove you from the membership.”

If I am an unhappy with the way the EO is operating e.g., by not involving the actual members of the EO, as you have, then I will tell you, as I have.

Why are you suggesting to potentially contact you to remove me from the membership? What is your position on the EO to remove me from the membership?

Was this working group/committee meeting, a meeting of the EO?

Please answer the question in writing.

Thank you again,
Sasha

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Hi Sasha.

We are moving forward in the best way we know how.

If you want to meet in person with me and/or Kevin and/or Doug, please let us know.

Stu Hackett

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Hello Stu (defacto ruler of SOS),

You are repeating the same thing over and over.

Why will you not answer my questions in writing?

Sasha Izard
Concerned member of Save Our Saanich, and member of the EO.

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Hi Sasha

We are moving forward in the best way we know how.

If you want to meet in person with me and/or Kevin and/or Doug, please let us know.

Otherwise we will see you when we meet with all EO members to approve the Constitution and the Board.

Stu Hackett

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Hello Stu (Defacto ruler of SOS, and government employee),

Stu Hackett | Government of British Columbia

You are repeating the same thing over and over.

Why will you not answer my questions in writing?

Sasha Izard
Concerned member of Save Our Saanich, and member of the EO.

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Note: I attach below a screenshot of the link, which showed Stu as a Provincial Government employee:

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Stu replied:

Hi Sasha.

I am happy to meet and chat if you like.

We are moving forward the best way we know how.

Stu Hackett

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I wrote:

Hello Stu (Defacto ruler of SOS, and government employee),

Stu Hackett | Government of British Columbia

You are repeating the same thing over and over.

Why will you not answer my questions in writing?

Sasha Izard
Concerned member of Save Our Saanich, and member of the EO.

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Stu replied:

Hi Sasha.

This is the last email I will send on this topic.

We are moving forward the best way we know how.

I am happy to meet and chat if you like.

Stu Hackett

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I wrote back:

Hello Stu,

You have repeatedly refused to answer critical questions regarding the operation of the Society and its EO in writing, therefore you are not operating transparently and democratically.

You have been answering on behalf of the Society’s President, who I was initially having a dialogue with, and you have not explained why you have done so.

Your refusal to be open and transparent to the membership is a matter of record.

Thank you,
Sasha Izard
Concerned member of Save Our Saanich, and member of the EO.

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Stu Hackett, who was listed in the provincial government employee directory that I cited at the time, did not respond.

The Provincial Government has since pulled down its official employee directory from public view. The text stating this can be viewed archived at the following link: BC Government Directory Home Page

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7 months later in 2026, the SOS Elector Organization unveiled its new mayoral candidate, Rishi Sharma.

Saanich through and through: Save Our Saanich announces mayoral candidate | Saanich News

Sharma had a vast history working within the BC Government and for the BC Liberal Party, which you can read about in some more detail in this article. He had been Manager, Media Monitoring in Gordon Campbell’s Premier’s Office. In an interview he provided to the Capital Daily in 2022, Sharma was described as a “longtime property developer.”

Excerpt from Rishi Sharma’s LinkedIn profile:

More recently, according to his LinkedIn bio, Sharma worked full-time in the BC Government for the Intergovernmental and Stakeholder Relations Secretariat.

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Many of the former BC Liberals, have since joined the BC Conservative Party, among them was its recent leader John Rustad.

In both 2013, and in 2020, the now Save Our Saanich mayoral candidate Rishi Sharma, had run for the BC Liberal Party for the Saanich South riding.

Last year, the Save Our Saanich leadership held a closed meeting with the President and Vice President of the BC Conservative Party, Saanich South Riding Association.

I ask again, Why did the leadership of ‘Save Our Saanich’ hold a meeting with the Conservative Party of BC, without telling their membership?

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See also:

Save Our Saanich Cops Out on Subject of Amalgamation – CRD Watch Homepage

How did Save Our Saanich turn from an organization of concerned neighbours, into a Political Slate with 2/3rds of its candidates having worked or continuing to work in real estate or development – in only one year? – CRD Watch Homepage

Grassroots or Astroturfing? A comparison of the Save Our Saanich EO Code of Conduct, and that of the BC Conservatives. – CRD Watch Homepage

Too much heat: The UDI pulls down its list of backroom committees that meet with the Government of British Columbia and Local Governments – CRD Watch Homepage

Index of articles regarding lobby events and other meetings between government and lobbyists. – CRD Watch Homepage

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