Damian Kowalewich to step down from View Royal council
Published 10:10 am Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Come April, View Royal’s council table will be short one member.
On March 17, the town announced that Coun. Damian Kowalewich, who is also an inspector with the Saanich Police Department (SPD), will step down from council at the end of this month.
“Serving as a councillor … has been a true privilege, one I never took lightly, and a responsibility I approached with deep respect for the rights and trust of residents,” he said.
This comes as Kowalewich prepares to take on a new role as SPD’s deputy chief, effective March 31.
“Taking on the deputy chief role is both humbling and energizing, and I’m grateful for the chance to serve in this capacity,” he said. “My priority will be to support our people, work collaboratively, and help ensure we continue to meet the needs of the community now and into the future.”
Kowalewich began his policing career with SPD in 2005 as a recruit constable. Throughout his 21-year career, he has led high‑profile investigations, built strong working relationships with national and international law enforcement partners, and played a key role in mentoring and developing junior officers.
“Councillor Kowalewich is simply irreplaceable on council,” said Mayor Sid Tobias. “His dedication, integrity, and leadership have set a very high bar for service to the Town of View Royal. His passion for recreation and youth development across the West Shore will be reflected in the generations that follow, leaving a lasting legacy of teamwork and community building.”
First elected in a 2017 by-election, Kowalewich was re-elected in both the 2018 and 2022.
Looking ahead, Kowalewich explained he hopes to see continued community leadership in View Royal.
“My hope is that View Royal keeps growing in a way that reflects the people who live here; thoughtful, inclusive, and grounded,” he said. “As the next election approaches, I’m hopeful we’ll see lots of folks step up, bringing fresh ideas and energy into local leadership.”
Under the local government act, council may decide not to hold a by-election if a vacancy occurs after January 1 in the year of a general local election, and other conditions are met.
Kowalewich’s council seat will likely remain vacant until the next local general election on Oct. 17.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source vicnews.com ’
