Events
RJH Patient Care Open House
Posted August 11, 2008 by David Ross, CCA
Drop by and learn about the innovative new hospital facility that is currently under construction at Royal Jubilee Hospital. A short panel presentation will be held at 7 pm.
Free Parking will be available in the lot immediately adjacent to Begbie Hall from 5 pm to 8pm, for those who are unable to walk to this event.
| When | Wednesday, August 13th, 2008 from 5 pm to 8 pm |
| Where | Woodward Room RJH's Begbie Hall |
For more information, phone 250 370-8378.
Saanich Emergency Program Information Session
Posted August 11, 2008 by Tom Celuszak, CCA
The Saanich Emergency Program is recruiting for positions in Emergency Social Services (ESS) and Emergency Communications Services (COMMS), and is hosting an Information Session
| When | Thursday, September 11 at 7:00 pm |
| Where | Colquitz Middle School 505 Dumeresq Street |
For more information, please view these details, or contact Maegan Thompson by email or phone at 250.475.7145.
Cadboro Bay Sewage Treatment Forum
Posted May 27, 2008 by Sheila Critch, President, CCA
Cadboro Bay Sewage Treatment Forum
| When | Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 at at 7 pm |
| Where | 2494 Arbutus Road in the Chapel Room at Queenswood House |
The Guest speakers will provide you with an Economic and Environmental review. The Cadboro Residents Action Planners invite you to attend so you may have an opportunity to present your concerns and/or ask your questions.
The meeting is intended to provide Residents with information regarding the proposed Sewage Treatment Plant scheduled for this area of Saanich in 20l1 - the first of the four facilities currently planned.
There is concern that Haro Woods is the only location identified for the Sewage Treatment Plant.
For more info contact Deborah at 477-0525.
Celebrate Richmond School and Bowker Creek!
Posted May 14, 2008 by Sheila Critch, President, CCA
| When | Saturday, June 14th, 2008 at 11 am - 4:00 pm |
| Where | the former Richmond Elementary School |
Just look at all these features and events!
- Majala Drummers lead a creekside parade to the the BC Hydro Field.
- Guest Speaker - Briony Penn, speaking on "Nature in the City".
- Enter the Great Lawn Mower Challenge (see details below).
- View displays of eco-friendly cylinder push mowers
- Free food!
Who can resist a free meal? The barbeque will be smokin'!
- Free wild salmon burgers (50 only! no rainchecks)
- Free hamburgers
- Free hot dogs
- Cake and local strawberries (ok, we don't bbq these)
- Come fly a kite
- Listen to storytelling
- Make salmon crafts
- Interact with a watershed model
- Participate in Watershed tours
- Discover live sea creatures with Seaquaria
- Enter the Bowker Pledge Draw
- Enter a draw for a kayak tour for two on the Gorge.
- Free Kites to the first 40 to complete their pledge!
- RiverSong Singers and Ghost Salmon Run
Thank you to sponsors, community partners, neighbour volunteers, and supporters.
Prizes will be offered in two classes of Competition:
- The Victoria Open - a mad 100 meter dash from goal post to goal post using your push lawn mower or ours, and
- The Team Challenge - organize your own neighbourhood team or join a "pick-up" team. Each team will consist of six members pushing over a 200 meters long course (34 meters push per contestant).
Prizes will also be offered for the most outrageous personal costume and team costumes.
Rules for Participants:
- Have amateur lawn mower pushing status.
- Be at least as tall as the handle bars of your machine.
- No plastic or piston powered jobbies permitted.
- Be in acceptable physical condition (sober and not on steroids).
- Must not wear clothing such as togas or burkas that might tangle in mowers' blades.
- High heels permitted only if equipped with steel toes.
Note: If residents bring enough push lawn mowers we might even challenge the Guiness Book of World Records for lawn mowers cutting grass at one time - without running over anybody!
If you're up to the Challenge, and/or wish to bring a push lawn mower, please call Al Lubkowski at 598-7778.
Community Forum on Sale of School Lands
Posted May 10, 2008 by Sheila Critch, President, CCA
We received this recently from Judy Brownoff:
I wanted to invite you to a community forum, hosted by David Cubberley MLA and Education Critic, and myself, Saanich's School Board Liaison.
The forum is "School Lands, Public Lands?"
May 14, 2008
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm ... and some socializing!!
Reynolds Secondary, 3963 Borden
Speakers:
MLA David Cubberley, MC & the Provincial Context
Councillor Judy Brownoff, Saanich's concept
Councillor Pam Copley, the Oak Bay experience
Brenda McBain, Former School Trustee
"In 2003, Ministerial Order 16/03 decreed that when school districts sell extra land, they must do so at "fair market value". In many places around BC, land prices are at an all time high. In effect this means that community groups and municipalities simply find it too expensive to purchase the land from districts."
Columbia Institute, "A Perfect Storm" fact sheet
Please join us and let's have a community dialogue. Is there a better way? School lands are public lands, but provincial policies are impacting how Districts deal with their lands. Should there not be a "community planning process" to help shape public lands in the context of our Official Community Plan and the Regional Growth Strategy?
Come and Join us.
Judy Brownoff
Returning Home - Stepping Stone Mosaics
Posted April 24, 2008 by Andrea Gleichauf, Environment Director
A Community Arts Project sponsored by City of Victoria Artist First Grant
Program with additional support from Municipality of Saanich and Saanich
Legacy Foundation and Bowker Creek Initiative.
Join community artist Carolyn Knight and friends for pebble mosaic workshops. We'll make stepping-stones to mark places important to us, remembering the importance of home and clean water to every one. A nest is a home for a bird, a creek is home for many creatures, and a watershed is a home for each of us. Come help renew the health of Bowker Creek watershed while we make mosaics in these friendly workshops.
Workshop at Oaklands Community Centre
| When | Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm |
| Where | Oaklands Community Centre |
We will make some neighbourhood beauty, a pebble mosaic stepping stone to share some creative neighbourliness. We'll share ideas for where stepping-stones can be installed in Oaklands area to link us to Bowker Creek Watershed. Children with grandparents, mums and aunties, dads and grandpas - everyone is welcome. Free!
Workshop at Cedar Hill Recreation Centre
| When | Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 11 am - 3 pm |
| Where | Cedar Hill Recreation Centre (Seniors Wing) |
Bowker Creek has a tributary running from Cedar Hill Golf Course, flowing south to its estuary at Oak Bay. Link the waterway to our need for 'natural' urban places and take part in linking a dream for a green corridor park along the creek. Make a stepping-stone to mark this connection to the Creek. Bring friends, neighbours, grandchildren - All are welcome. Free. Donations appreciated.
Workshop at North Jubilee Spirit Garden
| When | Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 12 noon -4 pm |
| Where | North Jubilee Spirit Garden |
There's a creek beneath our feet! Literally, Bowker Creek flows under the Garden. A pocket jewel of a special place to be in spring. Be outdoors, hear the birds, enjoy the flowers and make a mosaic stepping-stone for the garden and one each for our municipal neighbours. Come enjoy friendly conversations and visit this special, healing urban garden created and cared for by our North Jubilee neighbours. Donations appreciated.
The Spirit Garden is located between Kings Rd and Newton Street. Parking is limited. Please plan to walk or cycle or travel via public transit - Number 14 UVIC.
Workshop at 1st Bowker Creek Celebration
| When | Saturday June 14, 2008
Time to be determined |
| Where | Place to be determined |
Come celebrate urban watershed renewal at the 1st Bowker Creek Celebration. Free! All kinds of friendly ways to appreciate and celebrate life upon the Bowker Creek Watershed at this neighbourly event. Entertainment, refreshments and more including presentation of gift mosaic Returning Home stepping stones to Oak Bay Municipality and to Municipality of Saanich to connote good stewardship of Bowker Creek and importance of our homes along this shared waterway. Everyone welcome.
To learn more and to volunteer for this event, please contact Carolyn or Tanis Douglas, BCI Coordinator, tdouglas@crd.bc.ca
For more information about Returning Home Mosaics please contact Carolyn Knight at cjdknight@shaw.ca.
Saanich Emergency Program Open House
Posted April 17, 2008 by Tom Celuszak, web admin
From Maegan Thompson, Emergency Social Services Coordinator, Saanich Emergency Program comes this invitation:
Open House
Sunday May 4
12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
#1 Fire Hall
760 Vernon Avenue
Follow the yellow balloons!
There will be demonstrations, fun interactive stations, jumping
castle, face painting and displays. Knot tying, Roman the Search and Rescue dog,
GPS education and vehicle display and free door prize draws. Bring your family
to learn more about emergency preparedness planning and the Saanich Emergency Program.
More details at www.sep.saanich.ca
Native Plant Sale at Swan Lake
Posted April 6, 2008 by Andrea Gleichauf, Environment Director
The Native Plant Sale at Swan Lake is almost here! It will occur on Saturday, April 19th and Sunday, April 20th from 10am - 3pm both days. It happens at the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary at 3873 Swan Lake Road. Check out the plant list and workshop schedule at www.swanlake.bc.ca.
Bowker Creek Communi-Tea Celebration
Posted March 16, 2008 by Andrea Gleichauf, Environment Director
From Tanis Douglas, Bowker Creek Initiative Coordinator, comes this invitation:
You're invited to our party on Saturday March 29th.
Saturday March 29th, 1:00 - 3:30. Bowker Creek Communi-Tea Celebration
Family friendly, free event to celebrate urban watershed revival: make mosaics to mark the lost creek, share creek stories, and listen to presentations about creek daylighting. Oaklands Community Centre 2827 Belmont Ave.
Urban Watershed Revival Talks
The following talks will be given at 2:00 p.m. and again at 3:00 p.m.
John Sansom, retired City of Victoria Engineer, supervised the project that put Bowker Creek underground in the Oaklands neighbourhood in 1964. He will give a brief presentation about why the creek was seen as a nuisance best put underground.
Tanis Douglas, Bowker Creek Initiative Coordinator, will speak briefly about the current movement to 'daylight' and restore buried creeks. She will discuss the changes in values that are driving these actions, and how daylighting can also help us adapt to and mitigate climate change.
Mosaic Stepping-Stone Workshop
Work with a community artist to craft mosaic stepping stones that will mark an underground section of Bowker Creek. One stone at a time we build community.
Displays, food and fun
We'll have the fun and interactive watershed model on hand, as well as plenty of information about what's going on with Bowker Creek. We'll also be videotaping creek stories, so bring your memories and ideas. If that's not enough, come for the delicious home made food and to mingle with neighbours and interested citizens.
If you are able to put up a poster(s) in your neighborhood or distribute handbills to your neighbours and friends, please let me know and I will provide and deliver them. A lower resolution poster is attached to this note for your interest.
CCA Public Meeting: April 17
Updated April 6, 2008 by Tom Celuszak, web admin
The next CCA Public Meeting is:
| When | Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 7:00 to 9:30 pm |
| Where | Fisher 100
Camosun College, Landsdowne campus |
- We're hosting a panel / community discussion on "Affordable Housing in our
Community." The panellists are:
- Henry Kamphof, currently Senior Manager, CRD Housing Secretariat. Henry has been active in promoting affordable housing programs. He is familiar with the secondary suites issue in the Greater Victoria region.
- Vicki Sanders, Saanich Councillor, familiar with the politics of Affordable Housing issues.
- Brenda McBain, Social Planner with City Spaces Consulting. Brenda has worked on Affordable Housing projects for many municipalities in western Canada.
- Sharon Hvozdznski, Saanich Planner who recently conducted the survey on secondary suites for Saanich's Official Community Plan (OCP) review.
- Ian Graeme, President of the Friends of Bowker Creek Society and community activist.
- We'll be discussing the future of the Richmond School lands. If you want to hear about the currrent status of this school, prospects for the future and we as residents might do to protect these lands for future community uses, then make sure to attend!
1979 Watson St Subdivision: Rezoning Hearing
Posted February 28, 2008 by David Ross, VIHA Liaison
The following notice was placed in the Saanich News:
THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF SAANICH
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON
ZONING BYLAW
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a PUBLIC HEARING will be held in the SAANICH MUNICIPAL HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 770 Vernon Avenue, on MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2008 at 7:30 p.m., to allow the public to make verbal or written representation to Council with respect to the following proposed bylaw.
A) "ZONING BYLAW, 2003, AMENDMENT BYLAW, 2007, NO. 8914"
PROPOSED TWO LOT RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION ON WATSON STREET
To rezone a portion of Lot 5, Block 10, Section 27, Victoria District, Plan 1107 (1979 WATSON STREET) from zone RS-6 (Single Family Dwelling - minimum lot size 560 m2) to zone RS-4 (Single Family Dwelling - minimum lot size 460 m2) for a proposed two lot residential subdivision.
Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness - Workshop #2
Posted February 12, 2008
This workshop is free but registration through the Recreation Centre is required.
| When | Saturday, April 5, 2008 at 1 pm - 2:30 pm |
| Where | Commonwealth Place (475-7600) |
Once you are prepared at the individual and family level, take the next step in emergency preparedness. You may be on your own for approximately 7 days following a disaster, learn how neighbours working together can reduce the impact on your family and property.
See more details here (PDF 100 KB).
Emergency Preparedness Begins With You - Workshop #1
Posted February 12, 2008
This workshop is free but registration through the Recreation Centre is required.
| When | Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 1 pm - 3 pm |
| Where | Pearkes Rec. Centre (475-5400) |
Emergency preparedness in Saanich is about people helping people. We would like to invite to you to our workshop on individual and family emergency preparedness. Learn the basic skills of preparedness and survival to care for your needs for a minimum of 3 to 7 days after a disaster.
Our workshop, Emergency Preparedness Begins With You, is a two-hour workshop that provides indepth information and practical application to individual and family emergency preparedness.
See more details here (PDF 100 KB).
Bowker Creek Cleanup
Posted January 21, 2008 by Andrea Gleichauf, Environment Director
| When | Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 9:30 am - 11:30 am |
| Where | Bowker Creek at Haultain St. one block east of Richmond Rd. (the "Hydro Lands") |
| Bring | work gloves, and work boots or gumboots |
| More info | Phone 598-9837 |
We, the Camosun Community Association, will provide garbage bags.
Hope to see you on Saturday!
1979 Watson St Update
Posted January 21, 2008 by David Ross, VIHA Liaison
See our News page for an update on the 1979 Watson St. subdivision.
RJH PCC Update
Posted January 21, 2008 by David Ross, VIHA Liaison
There will be a Public Hearing
| When | Tuesday January 29th at 7:30 pm |
| Where | Victoria City Hall #1 Centennial Square Council Chambers (Council Chambers is in the 60's style Annex at the top of the stairs) |
VIHA is pushing this forward at an accelerated rate stating rising construction costs as the reason and it has also been reported in the media that VIHA wishes to have the zoning in place prior to the P3 construction management proposals deadline on January 30th.
If you wish to address council please do so as this will be your only opportunity. Your feedback and suggestions are welcome to Victoria City Council, either at the meeting, or by email correspondence prior to Jan 29th at this link.
RJH Neighbourhood Meeting Update
Posted November 27, 2007 by David Ross, VIHA Liaison
On November 7th there was a neighbourhood meeting held in regards to the proposed new Patient Care Centre as part of the City of Victoria re-zoning process. About 50 people attended from the North and South Jubilee Neighbourhood Associations and about 7 people from the CCA.
Kathrynn from NJNA opened the meeting with Tom from SJNA and gave some background info on where we are in terms of community involvement with the rezoning and design in the new Patient Care Centre. VIHA then did a PowerPoint presentation on why the PCC is needed and provided some more background info on the project. We learned that the project is now going for LEED Gold instead of Silver.
During the meeting these issues were raised by residents:
- EMP: What are the future uses?
- VIHA has no long term vision, even with the promise of a site plan. There is no evidence that they will follow through with it.
- Why should VIHA move forward with the PCC if the site plan is not done yet? Building the PCC without the plan first seems backwards.
- Where is the traffic plan? Specifically with regard to the Richmond, Bay and Fort corridors.
- Emergency preparedness plan: what about traffic to the hospital in a regional emergency?
- An owner on Richmond/Denman thought it was positive that the project is going for LEED Gold instead of Silver and wondered about the possibility of Platinum. We (as a neighbourhood) should follow this and try to create a LEED neighbourhood like Dockside Green as there are no others in Canada. Would like to see more Transit and green space, the hospital should be a Transit hub. More parking spaces is a non-issue since people prefer to not pay and instead park on residential streets, so increasing rates won't make a difference. There should be free shuttles for employees.
- Clarification on the specific area on the rezoning.
- Why should council approve this without a site plan?
- Can VIHA build the next facility without rezoning by using the density from the demolished buildings? Is VIHA committed to community consultation?
- One person thought the language in the "Design Requirements" sounded "weak" specifically around height. It should be stronger.
- How may staff for the PCC? Any net increase?
- Construction workers and noise levels.
- Not happy with P3 model. Why not a fixed rate contract?
- When will we know the future of the vacated buildings that will remain?
- Staff amenities: have staff and volunteers been consulted? Are there traffic studies specific to staff?
- What is the height of the D&T and EMP compared to PCC? The PCC is too tall in comparison to other buildings in the area.
- Landscaping/greenspace: where are the guarantees that those plans will happen?
- CALUC: under the rules NJNA must submit comments to the city within 30 days of this meeting or should it be after the final draft of the "Design Requirements" is completed?
- Bay/Richmond resident: will the PCC reflect traffic noise to her house and others? Will a stepped back design or landscaping make a difference? Can a noise study be done?
- Why is VIHA renovating a building that is slated for demolition in the future?
- Permit parking: how can we avoid it? It wasn't very popular during the D&T construction.
- Impermeable surfaces: much of the site is covered by conventional asphalt parking lots that contribute to increased volume of storm water runoff and pollutants. As these are turned over, VIHA should consider permeable paving systems and other techniques. The hard surfaces around the PCC should be constructed with good storm water management principles in mind.
At the end of the meeting I reminded residents of Saanich that they are welcome to attend the public hearing and to submit comments to City Councilors, same as the City of Victoria residents. You can check the City of Victoria website for meeting agendas. Also check the VIHA website for more information and updates on the project.
The questions, comments, and concerns expressed at the meeting have been brought up with VIHA and anything outstanding will be submitted to the City of Victoria when the NJNA submits comments on behalf of the community. Stay tuned for updates including the dates of the Committee of the Whole and Public Hearing.
Notable Dates
| August 13, 2008 | RJH Patient Care Open House |
| September 11, 2008 | Saanich Emergency Program Information Session |
CCA Mailing List
Links
- District of Saanich
- City of Victoria
- Corporation of the District of Oak Bay
- Corporation of the Township of Esquimalt
