Residents of the neighbourhood and community near to the Lansdowne school south campus have started a petition to reinforce what we’ve heard from many people at SD61 board meetings: Please do NOT sell this school land.
From the petitioners:
Dear friends, neighbours, Lansdowne neighbours, Bower Creek neighbours, fellow concerned citizens, Please sign this petition to communicate to SD61 Trustees your opposition to the sale of school land at Lansdowne Middle School south campus. This land is needed to support the educational needs of students as well as the recreational, flood mitigation, and climate action needs of the general public in this rapidly densifying urban area.
The Greater Victoria School District (SD61) Board of Education passed the first two readings of a bylaw to sell 1.9 acres of Lansdowne Middle School south campus school land (next to and including a portion of Bowker Creek) on January 24th. The Board has set the third reading for February 28th. If approved this public land would be permanently lost to our community.
For full background regarding our concerns, please see the petition.
Issues include:
- The rapid disposal of school land
- Enrolment projections
- Loss of green space
- Bowker Creek flood prevention and restoration
- Lack of consultation
- Climate emergency
Additional actions you may take to support this “stop the sale” effort include:
- Write to SD61 School Board Trustees at trustees@sd61.bc.ca
- Write letters to the editor
- Attend or speak at the Special Board meeting (online) on February 23rd (see instructions to register)
- Attend the family-friendly rally at Lansdowne south campus on Sunday, February 27th at 1 pm.
- Watch the February 28th Board meeting, with third bylaw reading, at 7 pm (SD61 livestream channel here)
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION and SHARE WIDELY!