The CRD will be hosting an open house so that the public can learn more about their rezoning and OCP amendment application for McLoughlin Point. What I find interesting is that the CRD has nothing about it on their website or on the website for their consultant City Spaces. There is nothing on their beyond the February 21st open house being postponed.
This event will take place on Thursday, May 23, 2013, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Esquimalt Legion – 622 Admirals Road.
Details of the application are at this link.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
2013 Peninsula Coop Elections
If you are a member you get to vote.
You should have recieved your ballot if one of the following applies
You voted in either the 2011 or 2012 elections
People that joined between April 1st 2012 and March 31st 2013
Members that spent more than $100 on food store purchases between April 3rd 2011 and March 31st 2012
Members that spent more than $1,000 on petroleum and convenience store purchases between April 3rd 2011 and March 31st 2012
Four people are being elected, the top three will serve for a full three year term and the four place finisher who will complete a two year term created by the resignation of Cathie Ounsted in February 2013.
There are eight candidates in total
I honestly do not know enough about all the candidates to know who will make for a good board and who would not. I would like it if the Coop hosted a couple of evening events for people to come out and meet the candidates.
At the moment I am leaning towards voting for Roger Hart, Christopher Causton and Jeanette Sheehy
You should have recieved your ballot if one of the following applies
You voted in either the 2011 or 2012 elections
People that joined between April 1st 2012 and March 31st 2013
Members that spent more than $100 on food store purchases between April 3rd 2011 and March 31st 2012
Members that spent more than $1,000 on petroleum and convenience store purchases between April 3rd 2011 and March 31st 2012
Four people are being elected, the top three will serve for a full three year term and the four place finisher who will complete a two year term created by the resignation of Cathie Ounsted in February 2013.
There are eight candidates in total
- Norman Arden - an accountant
- Christopher Causton - former mayor Oak Bay
- Pat Fafard - former General Manager and CEO of Peninsula Coop for 31 years before retiring this year
- Gordon Griffiths - has served on the board since 2000
- Paul Hames - has served on the board since 2003
- Roger Hart - he is involved with cooperatives in the Cowichan Valley
- Doug Potentier - has served on the board since 2001
- Jeanette Sheehy - she is the only candidate not endorsed by the Nominations Committee. She is director of the Lifestyles Project and that alone I think would make her an interesting addition to the Coop Board
I honestly do not know enough about all the candidates to know who will make for a good board and who would not. I would like it if the Coop hosted a couple of evening events for people to come out and meet the candidates.
At the moment I am leaning towards voting for Roger Hart, Christopher Causton and Jeanette Sheehy
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Swimming in the Gorge on May 7th 2013?!?!
The Gorge warms up very quickly because the tides move a lot of water in and out twice a day. It means that even two to three days of hot weather bring the temperature up ot 22 to 23 degrees. With the water this warm we have been in the water twice this week already.
I have been very happy to see more swimming in the Gorge over the last few years. It is good to see the people in this city rediscover on of the jewels of the region. Here is a short video of Stephen and Max on the Tillicum Dock and Stephen going into the water.
While it is wonderful to have the water warm enough to swim in so early, we should be concerned. We had temperatures of over 28 degrees on Sunday in Victoria. A one off high temperature is weather, a pattern of warmer weather in successive years is a change in climate. We set records all over southwest BC on Sunday, we had 100 year record high temperatures. The trend seems clearer and clearer to me that we are altering the climate.
While it is wonderful to have mid summer weather at the start of May, the danger in our region is that we are not set up to deal with four months of warm or hot weather. Our soils on the south end of Vancouver Island do not tend to run deep and consistent long hot summers with droughts will kill off many of our trees among other things. Forest fires to the west of the city will be coming.
We are lucky in many respects in Victoria because climate change is likely to make life a bit more pleasant in the summers but we are not in isolation in the world. In BC we are in the middle of an election and climate change is not an issue. Other than the Greens no other party considers the issue one that matters to us.
I have been very happy to see more swimming in the Gorge over the last few years. It is good to see the people in this city rediscover on of the jewels of the region. Here is a short video of Stephen and Max on the Tillicum Dock and Stephen going into the water.
While it is wonderful to have the water warm enough to swim in so early, we should be concerned. We had temperatures of over 28 degrees on Sunday in Victoria. A one off high temperature is weather, a pattern of warmer weather in successive years is a change in climate. We set records all over southwest BC on Sunday, we had 100 year record high temperatures. The trend seems clearer and clearer to me that we are altering the climate.
While it is wonderful to have mid summer weather at the start of May, the danger in our region is that we are not set up to deal with four months of warm or hot weather. Our soils on the south end of Vancouver Island do not tend to run deep and consistent long hot summers with droughts will kill off many of our trees among other things. Forest fires to the west of the city will be coming.
We are lucky in many respects in Victoria because climate change is likely to make life a bit more pleasant in the summers but we are not in isolation in the world. In BC we are in the middle of an election and climate change is not an issue. Other than the Greens no other party considers the issue one that matters to us.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
All Candidates Meeting for Victoria Swan Lake - May 9th at 6:30 pm to 9 pm
VICTORIA SWAN LAKE ALL CANDIDATES MEETING
For the May 14th B.C. Provincial election
Thursday, May 9th, 6:30 – 9pm
Garth Homer Society, 813 Darwin Avenue, Victoria BC
Moderated by: Stephen Andrew, Legislature Reporter- Anchor | CTV News Vancouver Island
6:30-7:00 pm candidates meet and greet
7:00 – 9:00 pm moderated debate:
Co-Sponsored by: Hillside Quadra Neighborhood Action Group, Camosun Community Association, Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association
Hosted by: Garth Homer Society
Contact: John Schmuck email johnschmuck@shaw.ca
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
May 11th 9:30 am to 1:00 pm Quadra Village Day
This is a great community event and you should check it out. Everything is free, no vending or selling
JOIN US SATURDAY, MAY 11, 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
FOR QUADRA VILLAGE DAY 2013!
Drop by Kings Rd between Quadra and Dowler, and enjoy fun, free, all-ages activities.
Begin with the Pancake Breakfast and Healthy Start Breakfast at 9:30am.
Stay for musical performances from 9:30 -1:00 by West My Friend, The Grass Tracks and Towers and Trees.
Watch for dance performances on the second stage.
Parents, kids and teens: check out all the fun activities, including: face painting, Bouncy Castle, an obstacle course, games, and Mother's Day crafts.
New this year! A climbing wall for teens.
And don't forget to visit the informative folks from community groups such as: Blanshard Community Centre, Child Find BC, Cloverdale Traditional School Parent Advisory Council, George Jay Elementary School Parent Advisory Council, Inter - Cultural Association of Greater Victoria, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Oak and Orca Bioregional School, Kiwanis Club of Victoria, L'Ecole Quadra School Parent Advisory Council, Hillside Quadra Neighbourhood Action Group, Capital Region Beekeepers, United Way, Sons of Norway, Hulitan Community and Family Services Society, Angel Choppers Bike Club and the Salvation Army.
There will be demonstrations by the Angel Choppers Bicycle Club and an instrument petting zoo too!
Interested in finding out more? Or wanting to know if there's still time to volunteer for this fun event?
CONTACT US:
Quadra Village Day Planning Committee
c/o Blanshard Community Centre
901 Kings Rd. Victoria
250-388-7696
Thank you to major sponsors:
The Times Colonist, 100.3 The Q!, 91.3 The Zone, CHEK News, Play in Victoria, Island Farms, Fairway Market, Caffè Fantastico, Cascadia Liquor Store, 5th Street Bar and Woodfired Grill, Il Terrazzo, Blanshard Community Centre, CDI College, City of Victoria, Long and McQuade, C.E. Craig & Associates, Simply Computing and Island Tent & Events
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Why not 25 or more municipalities in the CRD?
If the current 13 municipalities make sense, why not increase the number? There are two directions from which we could have more local governments, one is to split up the two large municipalities and the other is incorporate the unincorporated areas.
The arguments for the status quo of 13 municipalities naturally make the case for the creation of another 10 to 16 more municipalities in our region. All the justifications I hear for the existence of View Royal, North Saanich and other smaller municipalities are ones that logically demand the creation of Vic West and Tillicum/Gorge as municipalities as well.
Broadmead
The area and population of Broadmead make it well within the norm of municipalities in this region. It is by many definitions a more complete community than various existing municipalities that already exist like North Saanich, Metchosin or even Oak Bay. At least in Broadmead you could buy gas for your car.
Splitting off from an existing municipality is not unheard of in BC. Central Saanich itself was created by leaving Saanich.
Broadmead, along with with other neighbourhoods in Victoria and Saanich, makes sense in terms of scale when compared to other municipalities in this region. If we are to have Oak Bay, Central Saanich, View Royal and Esquimalt it only makes sense to aim for 10,000 to 20,000 people in municipalities. Saanich should be split into six to eight new municipalities and Victoria into five to seven.
Otter Point/Shirley
The population is small, only about 375 people but we have municipalities than that in BC. Certainly their future development is currently not really under their own control and that alone makes for a very good case to create a new municipality west of Sooke.
The population of Highlands is closer to Otter Point/Shirley than any other existing municipality in this region. If Highlands makes sense as a local government then Otter Point/Shirley does.
Other unincorporated areas that could form municipalities are East Sooke and Port Renfrew.
The idea of even more local governments will make many people shake their heads but it is inevitable there will be more in the future if we do not move towards amalgamating local governments. No boundaries will exist forever we do not live in a static world.
The arguments for the status quo of 13 municipalities naturally make the case for the creation of another 10 to 16 more municipalities in our region. All the justifications I hear for the existence of View Royal, North Saanich and other smaller municipalities are ones that logically demand the creation of Vic West and Tillicum/Gorge as municipalities as well.
 |
| Boundaries for a proposed Broadmead municipality |
Broadmead
The area and population of Broadmead make it well within the norm of municipalities in this region. It is by many definitions a more complete community than various existing municipalities that already exist like North Saanich, Metchosin or even Oak Bay. At least in Broadmead you could buy gas for your car.
Splitting off from an existing municipality is not unheard of in BC. Central Saanich itself was created by leaving Saanich.
Broadmead, along with with other neighbourhoods in Victoria and Saanich, makes sense in terms of scale when compared to other municipalities in this region. If we are to have Oak Bay, Central Saanich, View Royal and Esquimalt it only makes sense to aim for 10,000 to 20,000 people in municipalities. Saanich should be split into six to eight new municipalities and Victoria into five to seven.
Otter Point/Shirley
The population is small, only about 375 people but we have municipalities than that in BC. Certainly their future development is currently not really under their own control and that alone makes for a very good case to create a new municipality west of Sooke.
The population of Highlands is closer to Otter Point/Shirley than any other existing municipality in this region. If Highlands makes sense as a local government then Otter Point/Shirley does.
Other unincorporated areas that could form municipalities are East Sooke and Port Renfrew.
The idea of even more local governments will make many people shake their heads but it is inevitable there will be more in the future if we do not move towards amalgamating local governments. No boundaries will exist forever we do not live in a static world.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
2013 Central Saanich By-Election Results
Resutls for the April 13th 2013 Central Saanich by-election - 2 to be elected
- Alicia Cormier 872 elected
- Ryan Windsor 859 elected
- Bob Thompson 827
- John Hannam 813
- Chris Graham 745
- James McNulty 682
- Susan Mason 526
- Bernie Struck 361
The turn out seems to only have been about 2,900 people, that is down from 4,580 in the last municipal elections. (I will change this when I confirmation of the turnout)
That is really not the result I expected. I am surprised Susan Mason did as badly as she did. I had honestly thought the top two would be Chris Graham and Bob Thompson with Susan Mason coming a close third.
One of the councilors that stepped down was a Green, Adam Olsen. Ryan Windsor is also a Green.
Thursday, April 04, 2013
We have 20 Official Community Plans for one City - Time to Amalgamate
We have things like Saanich plans for Foul Bay Road in 2008, Victoria adopted a new plan in June 2012 that is written as if Saanich had no plans for the road and now Oak Bay will have new plan in 2014. One street with three different OCPs created over more than five years.
Our OCPs in the region are not as good as they could be because they plan for the arbitrary borders that exist and not for the communities that really do exist. We have neighbourhoods split up by the planning process and not being allowed to holistically work as a single community.
The OCP process is also very exclusionary. Just because someone lives on one side of the street their opinion on the other side of the street does not get counted as an equal voice. It is also exclusionary because there are so many planning processes. There is no way anyone can keep on top of any of them. It also means the media does not pay attention to them either. We end up with much less input and from a narrow segment of the city's population.
We need amalgamation simply so that we can plan properly for the whole city.
List of Current OCPs
- 1995 - November Metchosin
- 1997 - April Colwood
- 1997 - June Oak Bay - starting their OCP process again
- 2003 - July Willis Point
- 2003 - August CRD Regional Growth Strategy
- 2004 - August Port Renfrew
- 2006 - February Malahat
- 2007 - March Esquimalt
- 2007 - May Sidney
- 2007 - May North Saanich
- 2007 - May East Sooke
- 2007 - July Shirley/Jordan River
- 2007 - September Highlands
- 2008 - June Langford
- 2008 - July Saanich
- 2008 - October Central Saanich
- 2009 - November Sooke
- 2010 - March CRD Rural Resource Lands
- 2010 - March Otter Point
- 2011 - April View Royal
- 2012 - June Victoria
- Draft Otter Point - this is the third major review of the OCP in the last decade
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