Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association

Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association

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Affordable rental housing project proposed for 3861 Cedar Hill Cross Road

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M’akola Housing Services is assisting Community Living Victoria (CLV) with a proposed new affordable rental housing development on its property at 3861 Cedar Hill X Road.

M’akola has asked us to post their letter to the community providing more background on the proposed project and details on how to contact them for more information.

CLV’s goal is to ensure neighbours feel comfortable reaching out to learn more about the development as it progresses and anticipate ongoing communication over the next few years.

In considering the proposed development alongside the applicable policy framework, Community Living Victoria (CLV) are confident that this project, through careful, context-sensitive planning, is designed to contribute meaningfully to the wellbeing of future residents and the long-term vitality of the Saanich community. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about the proposed development please contact Jamie Bégin, Project Manager, M’akola Development Services at jamie.begin@makoladev.com

Proposed Quadra McKenzie Plan Going Before Council – now set for February 2, 2026

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QCHCA has been advised that Saanich Council will consider the Proposed Quadra McKenzie Plan at a Committee of the Whole meeting to be held on Monday, February 2, 2026 (had been planned for January 19th), in Council Chambers, Saanich Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue, commencing at 6:30pm. 

To speak at the meeting, you may register to speak in person or via video on MS Teams.  Please register by:

  • Emailing the meeting date, agenda item you wish to speak to, and your phone number to council@saanich.ca; or
  • By calling 250-475-5501 and specifying which meeting date and agenda item you wish to speak to.

Deadline for registration is Noon, on the day of the meeting.  An opportunity to speak during the meeting will be available, please watch the webstream for details. All meetings are streamed live on Saanich.ca

Instructions will be emailed to all registrants on the afternoon of the meeting.

Written correspondence received up to Noon, on the day of the meeting will be copied to Council for their consideration.  All correspondence submitted will form part of the public record and may be published in a meeting agenda.

  • Send your comments to Council by emailing council@saanich.ca
  • Mail your comments by post to Legislative Services, District of Saanich, 770 Vernon Avenue, Victoria, BC V8X 2W7.
  • Leave your written comments in the dropbox by the main door at Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue.

The agenda package is available online, the Thursday before the meeting at https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/mayor-council/schedule-agendas-minutes.html

If, after viewing the agenda, you have any questions concerning the report’s contents, please contact the Planning Department at 250-475-5471.

Shelbourne Valley Plan Update

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The Shelbourne Valley Plan Update is now available.

Saanich Planning is currently reviewing the draft plan with consideration of the public feedback received. A revised plan will be presented to Council for consideration in early 2026.  The project team will continue to keep everyone informed as the process moves forward.

Find the plan at https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Community/Documents/Planning/CCVs/2025-12-01-SVP-Phase-4-Engagement-Summary-Report.pdf

Find more information on the Plan at https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/community-planning/centre-corridor-and-village-plans/shelbourne-valley-action-plan.html

 

Holiday Craft Fair at Cedar Hill Recreation Centre – November 2025

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The QCHCA Climate Action Committee was pleased to be invited to participate in the Holiday Craft Fair this year!  We thought long and hard about what we could ‘sell’ on our table and promote the Association as well…. The answer was – Climate-Friendly gifting!

We stocked kits to grow microgreens as a climate-friendly gifting idea for kids or adults!  People were able to pick up an envelope of WestCoast microgreen seeds, a small bag of soil and an egg carton ‘planter’ – all free, and everything you need to sprout these
healthy greens all winter inside.

We also demonstrated many ways to wrap gifts without using commercial wrapping (did you know that in Canada we throw out over 400,000 TONS of non-recyclable gift bags/wrap every year?) Using fabric, newspaper, old maps, old music sheets and brown paper we wrapped a variety of ‘gifts’.

Here are the website resources we shared:

Never Buy Gift Paper Again: the Ultimate Guide to Zero Waste Wrapping


https://davidsuzuki.org/living-green/your-guide-green-holidays/

For those who were curious, the holiday prints on the brown paper were made using an xacto knife to carve the design on a potato which was then painted with acrylic and stamped. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting and talking with so many people and hearing of their support for QCHCA and their ideas for a climate-friendly gifting season!

 

Pollinator Garden Update

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QCHCA’s Climate Action Pollinator project update:

It has been a little over one year since we first ‘broke ground’ on the 2 boulevards on Astoria Street at Willerton Avenue. We didn’t actually ‘break ground’ as we used a ‘no dig’ method to smother the existing grass and weeds, layer goodies like alfalfa, straw and bone meal on top and cover the whole area with a generous layer of topsoil.

Before . . .                                                        Preparation of the beds

                                      

We spread seeds, planted some small seedlings, mulched and hoped for the best over the Winter!  With the support of the Saanich Parks department, we carved out some chip paths and installed log benches on both boulevards for the enjoyment of the many people who walk the street leading into the Cedar Hill Park.

Log benches courtesy of Saanich Parks

      

Spring and Summer saw the emergence of more seedlings, grasses, shrubs and, of course – weeds!  Our neighbours generously donated water during the dry summer and volunteers kept the gardens weeded and watered during the drought.

                                  

Now the gardens have been put to bed for the Winter with a fresh layer of leaf mulch as we eagerly await the arrival of Spring to see what has grown and evolved.  The gardens are approximately 60% planted and we plan to add more plants in the Spring – mostly relying on donations from fellow gardeners.

We would love to engage with a few more people to help us establish and maintain the gardens – no prior skill necessary, just a love of our natural environment and a desire to contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change!

Please contact Susan Morrow at qchca3003@gmail.com with questions, ideas, offers….Thank you!

Saanich Operations Centre Redevelopment

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QCHCA has been notified by Saanich that Council will consider the Saanich Operations Centre Redevelopment – Phased Project at a Council meeting to be held on Monday, November 17, 2025, in Council Chambers, Saanich Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue, commencing at 6:30 p.m. 

 To speak at the meeting, you may register to speak in person or via video on MS Teams.  Please register by:

  • Emailing the meeting date, agenda item you wish to speak to, and your phone number to council@saanich.ca; or
  • By calling 250-475-5501 and specifying which meeting date and agenda item you wish to speak to.

Deadline for registration is 12:00 p.m., noon, on the day of the meeting. An opportunity to speak during the meeting will be available, please watch the webstream for details. All meetings are streamed live on Saanich.ca

Instructions will be emailed to all registrants on the afternoon of the meeting.

Written correspondence received up to 12:00 p.m., noon, on the day of the meeting will be copied to Council for their consideration.  All correspondence submitted will form part of the public record and may be published in a meeting agenda.

  • Send your comments to Council by emailing council@saanich.ca
  • Mail your comments by post to Legislative Services, District of Saanich, 770 Vernon Avenue, Victoria, BC V8X 2W7.
  • Leave your written comments in the dropbox by the main door at Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue.

The agenda package is available online, the Thursday before the meeting at Saanich.ca/agenda .

New Saanich Draft Outdoor Sport Strategy

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More collaborative approach proposed for Saanich sports fields, lacrosse boxes

 

Local outdoor sports groups bring a lot of value to the Saanich community, and the District is committed to supporting active living and community sport as Saanich continues to grow. The wide range of sport participation options available to Saanich residents today is the result of the efforts of individuals, organizations, and Home User Groups (HUGs), all dedicated to promoting local sport.

After assessing current operations and future needs, and gathering feedback from local sports organisations, Saanich is suggesting a change in its strategy regarding sports fields and lacrosse boxes to continue supporting local sport groups. The proposed changes include improving processes, evolving partnership definitions, and continuing investment to sustain local sport now and into the future.

As part of a Draft Outdoor Sports Field Strategy, which is available for public review and feedback, the District would, over time, assume a larger role in sports field and lacrosse box planning, allocation, maintenance, and funding, which is a “best practice” approach used by the majority of B.C. municipalities. Sports groups could then focus on what they do best – bringing people together to enjoy the activities they love, helping them to build teamwork and camaraderie, and supporting their pursuit of excellence.

Challenges with the current model

Home User Groups were instrumental in the initial development of sports fields and associated infrastructure in Saanich and historically assumed responsibility for their maintenance. However, factors such as reduced volunteer engagement and capacity has resulted in Saanich Parks assuming more maintenance responsibilities for infrastructure initially developed by HUGs.

The strategy also notes that the fundraising and installation of infrastructure by HUGs on Saanich’s public land creates confusion around asset ownership, and may expose the District and HUGs to liability risk when accidents or injuries occur. The current model also limits equity between existing HUGs and emerging groups who are seeking more access to sports fields and lacrosse boxes.

What’s being proposed

Working with consultants LEES + Associates, the District engaged with local sports groups, municipalities, and school districts to identify current challenges and develop a draft strategy that is now available to the broader public for further feedback.

The draft strategy proposes that Saanich:

  • Transition from its current Home User Group (HUG) model to a new Collaborative Governance Model.
    • This will foster greater equity, transparency and responsible asset management, ultimately benefiting all members of the Saanich community.
    • It will enable user groups to focus their volunteer capacity on delivering high-quality community sport programs, rather than building and maintaining infrastructure – relieving them of administration and paperwork related to managing the facilities.
  • Develop a new sports field and lacrosse box allocation policy.
    • This will better balance broad community demand with access and equity, ensuring optimum use of facilities.
  • Develop a sports field classification system that defines maintenance responsibilities for the District and user groups, and establish a permit fee structure to apply uniformly across all user groups.
    • This will help to mitigate potential liability and asset management risks, enhance fairness and transparency and reflect service levels for all.
  • Continue to invest in sports fields and lacrosse boxes through asset renewals.
    • A plan will be established for sustainable, phased investment in sports fields and lacrosse boxes to be informed by data on demand and field use.

Saanich residents, sports groups, community groups, and anyone with an interest in local sport can review the Draft Outdoor Sports Strategy along with the accompanying Discussion Guide, and provide their feedback through a HelloSaanich questionnaire running through November 22, 2025.

Community input will be considered as staff refine the draft strategy before bringing it to Council for endorsement in Winter 2026.

Learn More

To read more about the Outdoor Sports Field Strategy process, including Frequently Asked Questions, please visit Saanich.ca/OSFS.

Climate Plan Update Open Houses

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Share your ideas, ask questions and contribute to Saanich’s Climate Plan update.

There are two opportunities to learn more and share your thoughts:

Open House #1

Saturday, October 18 (12:00 – 4:00 PM) at 4139 Torquay Dr.

• Climate adaptation workshops, e-bike test rides, sustainable building tours, information booths and more!

Open House #2

Wednesday, October 29 (3:00 – 7:00 PM) at 4648 Elk Lake Dr.

• Climate adaptation workshops, DIY air filtration demonstrations, information booths and more!

Free childcare and refreshments provided.

Please RSVP at saanich.ca/climateplan or call 250-812-7429

Your feedback invited on draft Shelbourne Valley Plan update

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Saanich is inviting feedback on the Shelbourne Valley Plan Update.  Community engagement will take place from August to October 2025 to obtain input on the updated draft plan.

 

Phase 4 engagement activities will include:

Sign up on HelloSaanich and follow the project to stay informed and receive updates on opportunities to participate.

Feedback on the plan and requests for interactive sessions can also be sent to svp@saanich.ca.

Draft Shelbourne Valley Plan available for review

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The Shelbourne Valley Plan is now available for review, with dates, times and locations of public engagement activities to come in August and run through into October.  Saanich staff have presented council with the draft update to the Shelbourne Valley Plan, outlining progress and key changes ahead of the next round of public consultation scheduled for fall 2025.
The updates focus on:
– aligning with the Official Community Plan, notably the updated land use framework
– integrating recently adopted Saanich plans and strategies
– reflecting up-to-date census data, community needs, and District-wide priorities
Public engagement activities includes:
– public open houses (in-person)
– webinars (online)
– community pop-ups (in-person)
– meeting with Community Associations and other stakeholder groups
– surveys
 You can find the draft plan on the July 21st Council agenda here.  Click on Attachment A under D1. Shelbourne Valley Action Plan Update to download and view the draft document.

Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association