Dylan Willows was born in Yellowknife and lived in Vancouver during the early part of his broadcast career, but Victoria is where his passion for people and commitment to community has  flourished. The connection he has to Victoria is rare, considering he has lived in multiple cities and worked for three different radio stations. But it never wavered. 

When Rolling Stone magazine wrote a story on arts and culture in Victoria, it was Willows they interviewed in 2018. “The music scene here is so alive,” The Zone's morning show host said. 

He would know. The graduate of Claremont Secondary returned to his childhood home in 2005 for an on-air position with The Q, before moving to The Zone one year later. It was the beginning of a 17-year friendship Willows cultivated with his listeners and his on-air partner, Jason Lamb.

Willows remained with the station until just recently, when a battle with cancer prompted him to sign-off. But his legacy in the community is evergreen, from co-founding V.I.C. Fest in 2011 to co-owning the Capital Ballroom up until 2019. 

Equal parts big brother and booster, he promoted countless Victoria acts during his decade as the director of The Zone’s Band of the Month program, many of which owe him debt. If he liked your band, the man known to many as Big D - his on-air persona at The Beat 94.5 FM in Vancouver - you were golden.

It could be hip-hop, rock, or electronic music. Willows has been an advocate for it all, when it comes to Victoria.  He could have moved elsewhere at any point, had he wanted to continue his career under brighter lights in a bigger city. But that would have taken him away from his family, which moved to Victoria when he was in elementary school. He stayed, and in the process re-upped his commitment to the city. He traded upward mobility for places he could reach on motorcycle during trips with his wife, Sam, to whom he was married one year ago. 

Willows gives back whenever and wherever possible, from toy drives for children and Canadian Cancer Society fundraisers (he rode in Victoria's Tour De Rock in 2008) to juror duty for the Juno Awards and Western Canadian Music Awards. He always re-invests his time and energy.

Now, it's time for Greater Victoria to return the favour.