Anne Marie Dryden—Candidate for Nanaimo Mayor · REAL Nanaimo Team
Anne Marie Dryden has been an active member of the Nanaimo community since 1984 and brings more than 35 years of professional and community experience to her candidacy for Mayor. A longtime resident, business owner, and community volunteer, Anne Marie raised her two children in Nanaimo as a single parent while building a successful financial services practice from the ground up.
Her professional background is in financial services, where she worked as a self-employed, independent financial advisor for over three and a half decades. Anne Marie earned her Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation in 1998 and later her Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. Throughout her career, she helped hundreds of families, individuals, and business owners improve their financial circumstances, reduce tax exposure, plan for the future, and build long-term financial security.
Anne Marie chose to remain independent throughout her career to avoid product bias and ensure her advice was always driven by the best interests of her clients—not outside institutions or agendas.
Why Anne Marie's Running
Anne Marie is running for Mayor of Nanaimo because she believes the city needs experienced, principled leadership focused on fiscal responsibility, public safety, and accountability to residents. She does not take lightly the responsibility of the mayor’s office and is committed to serving the city ethically, selflessly, and with full dedication.
To ensure she could give her undivided attention to this role, Anne Marie relinquished her professional financial licence as of December 31, 2025, choosing to run unencumbered by outside professional demands or restrictions.
She believes Nanaimo must chart its own course—free from interference by unelected external entities or agendas that do not reflect the will or priorities of local residents. Anne Marie is prepared to make difficult decisions and stand firmly on behalf of the people of Nanaimo when their interests are at stake.
Key Priorities
Fiscal Responsibility & Tax Stabilization—Restoring sound financial management at City Hall with a focus on stabilizing and reducing taxes, eliminating wasteful spending, and protecting residents from misuse of taxpayer dollars.
Public Safety & Community Protection—Making Nanaimo safer by prioritizing core municipal responsibilities and restoring public confidence in how safety issues are addressed.
Ethical & Accountable Leadership—Ensuring transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making in all aspects of municipal governance.
Independent Local Decision-Making—Protecting Nanaimo’s autonomy by ensuring decisions are made in the best interest of residents, not driven by outside agendas or unelected influences.
Economic Stability & Business Confidence—Supporting local businesses and fostering an environment where entrepreneurship, investment, and job creation can thrive.
What Anne Marie Brings to the REAL Slate
Anne Marie brings deep financial expertise, business acumen, and decades of real-world leadership experience. Her career required strategic thinking, long-term planning, and responsible stewardship of other people’s livelihoods—skills directly transferable to overseeing a municipal budget and guiding citywide priorities.
She has advised business owners across British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and New Brunswick, including serving as a strategic advisor to store owners within a major national Canadian retail chain, as well as many local entrepreneurs. Her specialization in estate planning, corporate restructuring, and tax efficiency gives her a strong foundation for understanding how municipal decisions impact families, businesses, and future generations.
Anne Marie is not afraid of hard work or hard decisions and brings the strength of character needed to lead during challenging times.
Commitment to REAL Nanaimo
Anne Marie is proud to represent REAL Nanaimo—Responsible, Ethical, Accountable Leadership. She believes municipal government must serve residents first, operate transparently, and remain focused on core priorities rather than ideology, special interests, or unnecessary expansion of government scope.
Her leadership philosophy is rooted in service, accountability, and respect for the people who fund the city through their tax dollars.
What REAL Stands For
- Responsible decision-making
- Ethical leadership
- Accountability to residents
- Team-based governance
REAL focuses on practical solutions rather than ideology, outside agendas, or special interests. The team supports responsible growth that respects neighbourhoods, prioritizes infrastructure, and avoids legacy projects that burden future generations with unnecessary debt.
Closing Statement
Anne Marie Dryden is ready to lead Nanaimo with experience, integrity, and unwavering commitment to the people who call this city home. With decades of financial expertise, deep community involvement, and a clear focus on fiscal responsibility and public safety, she is prepared to serve as Mayor with dedication and resolve.
On election day, Anne Marie asks for your support and your vote for Mayor of Nanaimo, and for the REAL Nanaimo team—so together we can restore accountability, strengthen our community, and put Nanaimo back on a responsible path forward.