Delegates to the BC’s Urban Mayor’s Caucus this week “adopted the report, ‘Ensuring Local Government Financial Resiliency: Today’s Recovery and Tomorrow’s New Economy’. This report makes 20 recommendations on reforming local government financing that, when implemented, will create positive outcomes for the provincial government and local governments, and strong, resilient communities across BC.” Recommendations cover areas such as “Better mental health supports so that police aren’t left to fill in the gaps,
increased funding for housing for working people, and reforming the antiquated property tax system . . . ” To read the full news release, go to https://qchca.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BCUMC-Release_Financial-Resiliency.pdf
News
Abstract proposal for 3839/51/61 Quadra goes to Public Hearing September 21, 7pm
QCHCA has received notice that Abstract Development’s rezoning and development application for 3839, 3851 and 3861 Quadra Street at Palmer will go to Public Hearing on Tuesday, September 21 at 7pm
The agenda package for the meeting, which includes Saanich Planning’s report on the application, can be found at Saanich.ca/agendas
Please email council@saanich.ca if you wish to present verbal input. Many of you have already written to Planning and/or to Council and your letters will be included in the agenda package. You can write again and, if you wish to do so, it must be received by noon on September 21. Correspondence should be sent to council@saanich.ca.
QCHCA has already submitted two letters to Saanich Planning re the proposal – one after Abstract’s first submission QCHCA submitted letter and a second letter
after their resubmission following their receipt of Saanich’s deficiencies letter. The plans are on Saanich’s website under https://www.saanich.ca/
If you have any questions, please email us at qchca3003@gmail.com.
Free Zoom talk by Cara Gibson, PhD, Executive Director of Swan Lake
Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association’s next speaker evening will feature the new Executive Director of Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, Cara Gibson, speaking on “Connecting Community to a Critical Urban Wild Space”. Following her talk, we will provide updates on things going on in the community and take any of your questions. Everyone is welcome to this free Zoom event so please feel free to pass the invitation on to friends and neighbours.
DATE: Tuesday, September 28, 2021
TIME: 7 – 8:30 pm
LOCATION: VIA ZOOM
RSVP: qchca3003@gmail.com
Dr. Gibson has a BSc in Biology and a Master’s and PhD in Entomology. She has taught in higher education for over 20 years and her background spans biodiversity monitoring, science research and management, instructional design, fundraising, community organizing and scientific illustration. She joined the Board of the Nature Sanctuary in 2019 and assumed the role of ED in 2020. We are delighted to be offering everyone this opportunity.
To register, please email qchca3003@gmail.com and you will be sent the Zoom link and login details.
Thanks and we hope to see you on the 28th!
Saanich Rec Centres open for those looking to beat the heat . . .
A message from Mayor Haynes . . .
“Members of the public may visit G.R. Pearkes Recreation Centre, Cedar Hill Recreation Centre or Gordon Head Recreation Centre to take a break from the sun and record breaking temperatures. Remember to bring your mask as COVID-19 safety protocols are still in place.
Not near any of those three spaces? Check out local businesses in the neighbourhood, such as malls and retail spaces, and cool down while you shop!
If you don’t have access to air conditioning, stay in the shade and stay hydrated. Keep water on you and don’t forget to check on friends, family and neighbours. Small children and the elderly are especially vulnerable in this heat.
Our four-legged friends can’t speak for themselves, but leaving dogs outside unattended or for ‘just a minute’ in a parked car could bring about disastrous results. Remember, the concrete is hot too!
Hats, sunscreen, water, all of these will make a tremendous difference in how we react to the heat.
Stay safe,
Fred”
Free Sundae Sunday, June 27 from 1 – 4 pm!
Join others in the community for a free sundae this Sunday, June 27 from 1 – 4 pm in the parking lot of the Salvation Army Citadel, 4030 Douglas Street.
The Next Steps Resource Centre is hosting a Free Ice-Cream Drive in/Walk in that for families to come and enjoy a free ice cream Sundae or Novelty from the Softies Ice Cream Truck in the parking lot. Due to Covid regulations, people need to pre-register. Just a quick phone call or email to let them know you are coming, and your choice of time slot would be great! They can accommodate 20-25 cars an hour and there are 3 time slots to choose from 1 – 2, 2 – 3, 3 – 4 (in order to control traffic). The Ice Cream Sundae Sunday runs from 1-4pm, Sunday, June 27.
A great way to celebrate the end of the school year and the easing of Covid19 restrictions . . . hope to see you there!
Message from BC Housing re Mount Tolmie
Mayor Haynes has asked us to share this message and Q&A from BC Housing about the use of Mount Tolmie Hospital as a temporary shelter.
“People living at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre arena have been moved to Mount Tolmie Hospital and other housing sites. BC Housingʼs lease of the Save-On- Foods Memorial Centre temporary shelter could not be extended.
To ensure no one was displaced and ended up back out on the streets, BC Housing will be using the Mount Tolmie Hospital in Saanich as a temporary shelter until the end of the year.”
Click on the link to read the full message from BC Housing
Proposed rezoning and development application on Quadra at Palmer going to Council June 21
QCHCA has been advised that the Rezoning and Development Permit application for 3839, 3851 and 3861 Quadra Street will be considered by Saanich Council at a Special Council meeting to be held on Monday, 21 June, 2021, in Council Chambers, Saanich Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue, commencing at 7:00 p.m.
The report and agenda package will not be available until Thursday morning, June 17 at:
Please email council@saanich.ca to indicate if you wish to present verbal input.
Written correspondence received up to 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting will be copied to Council for their consideration. Correspondence should be sent to council@saanich.ca. All correspondence submitted to the District of Saanich in response to our notification of meeting, will form part of the public record.
QCHCA submitted two letters to Saanich Planning re the proposal – one after their first submission QCHCA submitted letter and a second letter after their resubmission following the deficiencies letter. We will be drafting and forwarding another letter prior to June 21 based on Abstract’s final submission. If you write to Council prior to the meeting, please cc qchca3003@gmail.com so we can incorporate your thoughts into our letter.
Thank you.
Presentation by Glenys Verhulst, Saanich Sustainability Planner
QCHCA members and friends were treated to an excellent presentation by Saanich’s Sustainability Planner, Glenys Verhulst, on May 25. The presentation was recorded and you can watch it at https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/
You can also click here to see her slides.
Your input sought re changes to Galloping Goose, Lochside
The CRD is seeking your input on Galloping Goose, Lochside trail-widening and lighting plan
Your input is being sought on the idea of widening and adding lighting to sections of the Galloping Goose and Lochside regional trails. The section being considered on the Galloping Goose is a 6.6-kilometre stretch between the Selkirk Trestle and Grange Road adjacent to McKenzie Avenue, while the Lochside section is also a 6.6-km stretch, between the Switch Bridge and McKenzie/Borden streets.
The trails attract about three million visitors a year and numbers are expected to climb. The proposed changes are intended to “improve safety for various users on the busiest sections”.
You are invited to fill out a survey about the proposals at crd.bc.ca/trailsproject The survey is open until midnight on June 13. There will also be two virtual open houses, on June 4 from 7 to 8 p.m. and on June 7 from noon to 1 p.m. Advance registration for the virtual open houses is required via crd.bc.ca.
Uptown’s Phase IV design feedback requested
Shape Living, the architects for Phase IV of Uptown, have asked QCHCA to share a link to their website, with:
- Updated project information (design rationale)
- Link to survey
- Link to a feedback form
- Direct email address
- Mailing address
https://shopuptown.ca/development/
