Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association

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Container Gardening with Native Plants Workshop – April 28

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There’s no space too small to have a positive impact on local biodiversity.

This workshop will discuss the benefits and importance of planting native species – even at a smaller scale.  Included in the session will be a variety of examples as well as a demonstration for making your own pollinator container gardens followed by a Q&A session.

This is a FREE session, open to all and timed perfectly to help you get ready for the season.

Find more information and register at https://anc.ca.apm.activecommunities.com/saanich/activity/search/detail/147668

While no space is too small to grow native plants – there are a limited number of spaces available in this workshop.

Date:  Tuesday, April 28, 2006

Time:  7pm to 8:30pm

Venue:  Cedar Hill Rec Centre (Art Room #2)

2026-2027 CALL TO ARTISTS!

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Exhibitions at the Mac welcomes emerging and mid-career artists – both solo and groups – to exhibit their artwork within the theatre lobby of the McPherson Playhouse at 3 Centennial Square.

Exhibitions run annually throughout the programming seasons, from September– June; exhibits are available for viewing to ticket holders during show times, and other public opportunities, at the RMTS’ discretion.

Exhibitions at the Mac aims to meet the RMTS’ goal of building strong community by:
🎨 Showcasing the wealth of creative talent within the CRD
🎨 Diversifying support and opportunities for the arts and artists in the CRD
🎨 Promoting cultural awareness and dialogue

🎨 Community engagement and

Key Dates:
Applications Open: Now
Application Deadline: May 10, 2026
Exhibitions Begin: September 2026

Safe Disposal of Invasive Plants

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Careful and appropriate invasive plant disposal is very important to help reduce the further spread of invasive plants. Saanich is currently battling plants that have been spread by inappropriate or unknowing dumping.
 
What are invasive plants?
 
🌿 Have been introduced from outside of our region
🌿 Have a negative impact on us, our economy, animals and ecosystems
🌿 Can spread rapidly and become established, increasing their impacts
 

Saanich Yard and Garden Waste Drop-Off

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One of the handiest services in Saanich is the yard and garden waste drop off at the Saanich Operations Centre (aka the Saanich Yard).

Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest drop-off days. Residents may want to consider planning drop-offs during slower times such as late-morning and early-afternoon to avoid longer waiting times.

Check before you leave home on the handy Yard Webcam (refreshes every 2 minutes) at https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/utilities-garbage/garbage-organics-recycling/garden-recycling-drop-off-webcam.html

What you can and can’t drop off:

Saanich accepts:

  • leaves
  • tree needles/cones
  • grass clippings
  • plants
  • branches (no larger than 2m in length and 5cm in diameter)

Saanich does not accept:

  • soil, sod, tree root balls
  • ashes, rock, demolition wood
  • animal waste

Invasive species:  Learn which invasive species are accepted at our Garden Drop-off and about the safe handling and disposal of others.

Limits:

  • Residential use only – Proof of residency may be requested
  • Maximum vehicle size is 3/4 ton
  • One load per day

WHAT’S CHUFF – 2025 Year in Review

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2025 marked the 4th year of this kindly community of food growing friends in our Quadra Cedar Hill neighbourhood.  CHUFF – the Cedar Hill Urban Food Farmers – sprouted April 2022 as an initiative of our Community Association’s Climate Action group.  In Saanich, food and our food systems are the third greatest contributor to carbon emissions after transportation and buildings.  Food waste plays a significant role.  CHUFF’s goal is to encourage our neighbours to grow more food, consume more local foods, eat more of what’s in season, and prevent wasting food.  Luckily for us, on southern Vancouver Island we can grow and purchase good, locally grown food year round and this contributes to a climate solution.  CHUFF members gather most months of the year on Sunday mornings.  Here are some of what CHUFF offered in its 4th year of operation.  Curious about what’s coming in 2026?  New Quadra Cedar Hill members are always welcome!  Get in touch with an email to qchca.chuff@gmail.com

January 2025

Extending the variety of nutritious foods we grow in winter was our goal at this evening workshop on How to Grow Microgreens and Sprouts led by the Compost Education Centre’s delightful Kayla.  Here we are gathered in CEC’s warm ‘n cosy straw bale learning centre. Participant comments: Great workshop. Really enjoyed it. I learned lots. Will definitely try growing sprouts. Workshop was good. I'm motivated now! Kayla was lovely. Great to see CHUFF friends again.

If you are new to food growing, we heartily recommend taking one of the Compost Education Centre’s many workshops.  Or, join CHUFF!

March 2025

CHUFF-ians braved a downpour for our annual Seed Swap and tour of our host’s garden.

Lisa was looking for advice on how to maximize production in a backyard which is semi-shaded by Garry Oaks.  Getting into each other’s gardens to share members’ years of experience, in differing grow situations, is one of the benefits that keeps CHUFF growers engaged.

Lisa’s comment on the day: I feel very fortunate to have had so many lovely folks who love to grow food come to our garden.

 

May 2025

Late in May CHUFF hosted its first ever, super successful Garden Tour & Plant Giveaway.  This event was open to the public!  Dubbed ‘It’s Not Too Late to Plant’, the tour and veggie starts giveaway attracted over 50 Quadra Cedar Hill neighbours.  Karen’s Wicklow Village Plant & Seed stand overflowed with free vegetable starts and seeds, and even some native pollinators.  All thanks to CHUFF members who started way back in March seeding dozens and dozens and dozens of extra tomatoes, peas, celery, zucchini and much more – all for the giveaway.

One lovely story comes from Marian who brought her granddaughter who was visiting from out of town.  The youngster took home a cucumber seedling in a 4 inch pot, her first experience with trying to grow food.  Later that summer Marian shared this photo of her very proud granddaughter with her Gigantic Cuke.  Wow!  Congratulations to this new generation food grower.

Watch for CHUFF’s 2nd annual public Garden Tour & Giveaway coming late May 2026.

June 2025

Members returned to Jeannette and Gavin’s newly renovated food, herb, and fruit garden to learn what they’d decided to change things up after many years growing in the same location, and why.  A family of scientists who are always experimenting, these folks seek maximum calories for a vegetarian diet and have much knowledge to share.

August 2025

Each late summer or early autumn CHUFF hosts Taste Testing Our Garden’s Best. Members bring their favorite ‘fruits of the season’ for everyone to taste-test. There is usually a plethora of tomato varieties for instance, and when a particular favorite is found the grower will usually save seeds for others to plant next year. Folks share preserved foods too – we dipped into fig chutney with goat cheese, a new pesto recipe, and even a lightly-smoked tomato sauce.Eric’s biggest ever garlic was the 2025 show stopper with a circumference of 16.5cm and weighing in at 870 grams. Wow!

October 2025

October marks our annual Harvest Potluck and member garden tour.  Not all CHUFF members have expansive backyards and folks were impressed by how much food Delma grows in pots on a sunny south facing balcony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As for the potluck, urban farmers know not only how to grow good food but also how to cook it! What better dish to celebrate another great growing season than strawberry rhubarb pie?

November 2025

CHUFF closed out the 2025 season with a member survey, asking What folks want to learn and share, next year? This reflecting CHUFF’s credo: our activities will reflect what engenders the interest of members.

Highlights to watch for in 2026 include: a Beginner’s Garden “Advice Please” tour; a farm visit featuring native pollinator plants & indigenous medicinals; the ever-popular Taste-Testing, Harvest Potluck, and member Seed Swap. In the Let’s Investigate category CHUFF members hope to also tour a nearby allotment garden, potentially take a group field trip to Saltspring for its fabulous Apple Fest, learn more from each other about growing avocados, yams, ginger and mushrooms, learn how to better utilizing the winter greenhouse, and up folks’ success with winter brassicas.

We encourage our QCH Community Association neighbours to watch for CHUFF’s 2 nd annual, open to the public It’s Not Too Late to Plant Garden Tour & Veggie Starts Giveaway, in late May.

 

 

 

‘Til then, as Sarah’s T-shirt advises, we hope you can:
Romaine Calm 🌿Be Sage 🌿 Take Thyme 🌿Squash Fear 🌿 & Stay Peas-ful while growing your own good
food, and/or consuming locally grown foods to support our local farmers.

For more information – contact qchca.chuff@gmail.com

Be Bylaw Aware and Know Your Rights!

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A message from Saanich Bylaw staff about residents’ responsibilities, rights, and how Saanich Bylaw staff can help you.

Some key bylaws to be aware of:

Boulevard Maintenance

It’s the responsibility of residents with a boulevard in front of their homes to maintain that boulevard.

This includes managing weeds and invasive species. Alterations to a boulevard require a boulevard permit prior to commencing the work.

Bylaw at https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/Boulevard%20Regulation%20Bylaw,%20No.%209487.pdf

 

Parking Around Schools (especially drop-off and pick-up areas)

Saanich enforces strict parking regulations around schools to ensure safety.  Vehicles cannot park within 1.5m of a driveway, and improper parking in, or blocking drop-off lanes is prohibited.  Pull-through lanes are for active, temporary drop-off and pick-up areas and drivers must not leave vehicles unattended in these areas.

Bylaw at https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/streets-and-traffic-regulation-bylaw-2002-no-8382.pdf

 

Noise 

Noises that disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighbourhood or of persons in the vicinity.  Construction and the associated noises are permitted from Monday through Saturday – 7am to 9pm.

Bylaw at https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/noisesuppresionbylaw.pdf

 

General Parking

Vehicles cannot park on or over a sidewalk, bicycle lane or on a crosswalk.

Bylaw at https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/streets-and-traffic-regulation-bylaw-2002-no-8382.pdf

 

The Saanich Bylaw Enforcement team is available to help with any questions.  Residents who have concerns, questions or issues that involve Saanich bylaws should contact staff via the Report a Problem form at saanich.ca/report

You can also call Bylaw Enforcement at 250-475-5456

The Bylaw team will review all submissions and will reach out if they have further questions or need clarifications.   Otherwise, staff will add the reported issue to their ticketing system and take further action as necessary.

What Everyone Should Know About AI; Understanding the impact, good and bad, of this new technology on our lives

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Please join us for our March General Meeting – 31 March 2026
 
What Everyone Should Know About AI: Understanding the impact, good and bad, of this new technology on our lives
 
Our speaker is Andrew Gardner – an AI chatbot engineer, working from his home in Quadra Cedar Hill. Across his 15-year career, he has worked with web, automation, and AI technologies. He believes the role of automation in our lives is to offload the monotonous and laborious tasks, freeing up our time for creation and community.
 
Please join us to hear about what’s going on in the neighbourhood.
 
There will be time to mingle with others during the break – there will be tasty snacks.
 
Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Venue: Cedar Hill Rec Centre (3220 Cedar Hill Rd) – Activity Room
 

Fix a Leak Week – March 16 to March 20, 2026

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Drip, drip, drip …
 
As part of Fix a Leak Week, the Capital Regional District will be offering free leak detection kits at various locations across the region, including at Saanich Municipal Hall (770 Vernon Avenue).
 
Kits will be available for pickup from March 16 to 20, 2026, during regular business hours.
 
In one year, a leak of one drop per second can waste 10,000 litres of water – more than enough to supply all the water you need for cooking for one year!
 
Leak detection kits include:
 
💦 dye tablets to check for leaking toilets
💦 a drip gauge to measure how much water is being wasted from a dripping faucet
💦 a shower bag to determine shower fixture flows
💦 bathroom faucet aerator
💦 a Household Guide to Water Efficiency
💦 a water shut-off tag to help you locate your main water shut-off in case of emergency and other informational brochures.
 
If you’re interested in learning more about how to conserve water around your home, visit the CRD website for more information at https://www.crd.ca/environment/water-conservation/conserving-water-home/fix-leak

Diagnose your Soil – Before Planting

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Important information from CHUFF (Cedar Hill Urban Food Farmers).
 
Check before you do your Spring planting.
 
The weeds in your garden beds aren’t random. Every species thriving right now is a soil report you didn’t ask for.
 
Pull them if you want. But read them first.
 
Also, your soil conditions may be a combo of problems.
 
If you’re interested in urban food farming find more information here.

 

Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association