CRD takes on Bowker Creek Blueprint 2.0

Posted on May 28, 2025 by ccacomm

The Capital Regional District (CRD) has started to work on the next iteration of the Bowker Creek Blueprint.

Considerable progress has been achieved in the more than ten years since the development of the Bowker Creek Blueprint. Meanwhile, new information, studies, and plans have emerged that the update aims to capture while engaging with the public, partners, and First Nations.

The updated Blueprint will guide Bowker Creek Initiative member municipalities (District of Saanich, District of Oak Bay, and City of Victoria), School District #61, the Capital Regional District, the community and other land stewards as they work to manage and restore the Bowker Creek Watershed and creek corridor into the future.

Check out the ways in which you may learn about this effort and have your input:

EventDate & TimeInfo
in-person Open HouseTuesday, June 10, Drop-in between 3:00 pm – 7:00 pmNa’tsa’maht, Camosun College Landsdowne campus, 3100 Foul Bay Road, Victoria, BC
online Information SessionThursday, June 12 at 7:00 pmRegister online for the Zoom meeting.
Watershed Walking Tour: Lower watershed walkSunday, June 15 at 10:30 am – 12:00 pmA 1.5 km route upstream along the creek connecting parks and trails from Oak Bay into South-east Saanich and Victoria. Register online at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/bowker-creek-blueprint-watershed-walking-tour-lower-watershed-tickets-1378045965579
Watershed Walking Tour: Upper watershed walkTuesday, June 17 at 6:30 pm – 8:00 pmRegister online at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/bowker-creek-blueprint-watershed-walking-tour-upper-watershed-tickets-1378177468909
online surveycloses at 11:59 pm on June 27, 2025Learn more about the initiative and participate in the survey at https://getinvolved.crd.bc.ca/bowker-creek-initiative.
Na’tsa’maht, Camosun College Landsdowne campus.
Bowker Creek, image courtesy of CRD.
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Ryan Senechal: A look at his message and our role in the UFS

Posted on May 27, 2025 by ccacomm

As a followup to Ryan Senechal’s presentation on Saanich’s Urban Forest Strategy, we provide below the slides that backed up his presentation.

Ryan has packed a lot of information into this presentation, and it’s worth more than a quick read to understand the active role that we, as Saanich residents, need to take on if we’d like Saanich to attain the goals of the UFS.

Camosun_Mt_Tolmie_Ryan_Senechal_2025Download
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Towards Watershed Sustainability: A Cowichan Story

Posted on May 22, 2025 by ccacomm

The Friends of Bowker Creek will be hosting the subject presentation on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 from 7 – 9 pm at Windsor Park Pavillion in Oak Bay. The presentation will be followed by their Annual General Meeting – a great opportunity for you step forward and become more involved in caring for the Bowker Creek watershed!

From their events page:

When: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 (7:00 – 9:00 pm)

Presentation 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. followed by AGM
Where: Windsor Park Pavilion, 2451 Windsor Rd, Victoria
Speaker: Tom Rutherford, Strategic Priorities Director, Cowichan Watershed Board.

Tom Rutherford has been involved in building partnerships to support community empowerment and salmon and watershed sustainability for almost 45 years. Tom had a long career with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and has working with Living Rivers/British Columbia Conservation Foundation as well as the First Nations Fisheries Council and the Pacific Salmon Foundation in their efforts to craft a made in BC Salmon Recovery Strategy. He has experience planning and implementing technical processes and partnerships with First Nations, providing scientific direction and guidance for program delivery activities, and successful development of strategies to meet Sr. Government resource management objectives.

All are welcome.

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Saanich Operations Centre Redevelopment Project: Funding via AAP

Posted on May 17, 2025 by ccacomm

Saanich is undertaking an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) to obtain electoral approval for “Saanich Operations Centre Redevelopment Project Loan Authorization Bylaw, 2024, No. 10105”.

From May 21 to June 25, the District is seeking approval to borrow up to $150 million to fund the redevelopment of the Saanich Operations Centre (SOC) through the Alternate Approval Process (AAP). The borrowing will occur over several years and mirror the construction timelines.

If you approve of Saanich’s approach to funding this project, you need do nothing, and you are encouraged to remain informed about the current state of the project as it moves forward.

If you disapprove of Saanich’s approach to funding this project, and are an eligible AAP elector, then during the term of the process,

You may also download the PDF version below of a blank elector response form.

Elector Response Form – Bylaw 10105.docx – Elector Response Form – Bylaw 10105Download

Elector Response Forms may only be returned in one of the following ways:

  • Delivered in person at the District of Saanich Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Ave, Victoria BC, V8X 2W7, Attn: Corporate Officer, during regular office hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. excluding statutory holidays), or after hours if deposited into the 24-hour secure drop box at the entrance of the Municipal Hall
  • By mail: District of Saanich, 770 Vernon Ave, Victoria BC, V8X 2W7, Attn: Corporate Officer
  • By emailing a legible copy to: aap@saanich.ca, as per the Alternative Approval Process Policy

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Reminder: Speak to Saanich Council at the May 6th Town Hall – Register and attend!

Posted on May 5, 2025 by ccacomm

The District of Saanich invites you to a Town Hall meeting, part of Council’s commitment to meaningful public engagement as outlined in the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan.

The Town Hall will be an informal open mic session with no set agenda. Residents are welcome to speak on topics of importance, with a limit of three minutes per speaker, following the guidelines set out in the Council Procedure Bylaw.

Please note: Webcasting and MS Teams participation will not be available for this off-site meeting.

To register to participate, please email council@saanich.ca or call 250-475-5501. You will also be able to register to speak at the Town Hall meeting.

Meeting Information:

Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Hellenic Community Centre, 4648 Elk Lake Drive

For questions, please contact the Legislative Services Division at 250-475-5501 or by email at council@saanich.ca.

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May 7: Hear Ryan Senechal speak on “The Urban Forest in Saanich: Strategy & Stewardship”

Posted on May 2, 2025 by ccacomm

Together with the Mount Tolmie Community Association, the CCA presents a lecture by Ryan Senechal titled, “The Urban Forest in Saanich: Strategy & Stewardship”.

ItemDetails
WhatA lecture by Ryan Senechal titled, “The Urban Forest in Saanich: Strategy & Stewardship”
WhenWednesday May 7th, 2025, 7 pm – 9 pm
WhereBroad View United Church, 3703 St. Aidan’s Street, lower level back entrance.
CCA MAY 7th URBAN FOREST LECTURE FLYER FINALDownload

You may read online about Ryan to get a notion of what keeps him active locally using these links:

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May 5: Saanich hears about Annual Housing Progress Report

Posted on May 1, 2025 by ccacomm

On the agenda for the May 5th council meeting is a report from the Director of Planning: the Annual Housing Progress Report that reviews this topic looking at 2024 figures. Attend the meeting virtually or in person for a full explanation, or enjoy perusing the report below.

20250505AnnualHousingProgressReportDownload
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Jane’s Walk along Bowker Creek

Posted on April 28, 2025 by ccacomm

The Friends of Bowker Creek are hosting a Jane’s Walk that will take you along a stretch of Bowker Creek, starting at Oak Bay High School and ending at the Lansdowne South School field.

Jane’s Walk is an annual festival of free, citizen-led walking conversations inspired by Jane Jacobs.

WhatWhenWhere
Jane’s Walk along Bowker Creek, led by a Friends of Bowker Creek directorSunday, May 4, 2025 at 10:30 am to noonStart at the Oak Bay High School outdooor classroom; stops of interest below.
  1. START – Bowker Creek at Oak Bay High School’s Glen Atkinson outdoor classroom
  2. Bowker at Bee Street – Oak Bay Rec parking lot
  3. Metal tree sculpture – Bowker Creek fountain feature
  4. Trent Street rain gardens and riparian restoration at St. Patrick’s School
  5. Riparian restoration at Kings Community Green Space
  6. North Jubilee Spirit Garden – Bowker Creek Blueprint daylighting potential at Reach 8
  7. END – Lansdowne South School field – Bring a picnic lunch, stay and chat.

Further Details

Accessibility: Curbs and steps, Sidewalks, Busy or noisy vehicle traffic, Dirt paths

Seniors welcome, children welcome, people with bicycles welcome, people with wheelchairs or walking aids welcome.

Duration: 90 minutes.

Walk Leader: Soren Henrich, Friends of Bowker Creek Director
contact: friendsofbowkercreek+janeswalk@gmail.com

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1899 Cochrane St. re-development: Invitation to SEBA Open House

Posted on April 23, 2025 by ccacomm

SEBA Construction has issued an invitation to community members to attend an open house and information meeting for the 8-unit townhouse proposed development at 1899 Cochrane Street. 

WhatWhereWhen
SEBA Construction hosted Open House & Information Meeting re: 1899 Cochrane St. development proposalKnox Presbyterian Church, 2964 Richmond Rd.May 8, 2025 at 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
04-22-2025 Invitation to open house 1899 Cochrane StreetDownload

You may review the development permit details on Saanich’s application tracker site. For convenience, the application latest set of SEBA provided documents are also available below.

REVISED LANDSCAPE PLAN_MAR 20 2025Download
REVISED_ELEVATION PLANS_MAR 20 2025_CompressedDownload
REVIED_SITE PLAN_MAR 20 2025_NFPDownload
REVISED_TREE REPORT_MAR 20 2025_COMPRESSEDDownload
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CRD “Live Green” Learning Series of Webinars

Posted on April 9, 2025 by ccacomm

The CRD is hosting a series of free webinars to help you “Live Green”.

This spring, learn how to support a healthy and natural yard and garden through these online educational opportunities! Sign up on crd.ca/events or through the links below.

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