Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association

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Message from Mayor Haynes

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Hello Community Associations,

As we are about to go into the amazingly sunny celebratory weekend I wanted to touch base and say hi. As you can see from the various communications coming out of Saanich there have been numerous essential changes as we adjust to the reality of COVID-19. The number one job of Saanich right now is to ensure we’re doing all we can to keep our residents and our staff as safe as possible while maintaining the core essential services you need from the municipality.

You’ve seen a lot of our messaging on that so I won’t repeat it here. As we go into this celebratory weekend I would like to ask your help to message out this weekend to ensure we observe physical distancing, stay safe, stay local, and look out for each other.

The Province has concluded it needs to close the provincial parks. Some of the issues they have faced are overcrowding at car parks and trails, insufficient number of staff available to monitor and educate, and thirdly, the need to encourage people not to travel out of region, out of neighbourhoods, because of health and safety risks.

In Saanich we are keeping our parks open because of the benefits they bring to mental and physical health. We have 170 parks and 100’s of kilometers of trails and beaches. We hope very much to maintain access to all of these. Our ability to do that rests on us. How Saanich residents use the “behavioural vaccines” of social distancing and healthy behaviours to stay well.

Current information, including news releases and updates, service disruptions, and financial and community resources can be found on our website here: https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/news-events/covid-19-information.html.

On behalf of all our Council and our Staff, have a wonderful, sunny, healthy weekend.

Fred

 Fred Haynes, Mayor

Covid-related changes at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary

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Kathleen Burton, Executive Director of the Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary, has asked us to pass on information related to changes at the sanctuary necessitated by the Covid pandemic:
  • PLEASE do not come to the Sanctuary if you are sick.
  • The Nature House is CLOSED so there is NO access to washrooms.
  • The parking lot is closed.  PLEASE do NOT park on neighbouring streets as this is creating difficulties and unsafe situations for them and their families.  If you can’t walk or cycle, consider getting your exercise in a park nearer your home.
  • Please stay on the trails, allowing others to pass at a safe distance (6.5 ft minimum) where the trails narrow.  Proceed in the direction indicated by trail signage
  • Please do not bring your dog. Dogs are not permitted on Sanctuary grounds as per Saanich Bylaw No.8556.

 

Kathleen says staff are doing their best to try to keep the Sanctuary trails available as a place to spend time in nature during COVID-19 but they can only do so if people follow the Public Health Officers orders and respect the neighbours in and around the Sanctuary. 
 
“Without the support of the community, she says, “the Sanctuary may have to close to all visitors, including our neighbours.  Thank you and stay safe.”

UVic seeking feedback re expanding Engineering and Computer Science facilities

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The university in continuing to develop plans for expanded Engineering and Computer Science facilities on campus. Following the advice and recommendation of BC’s top health officials to support social distancing, community engagement for the project has shifted from an in person event to an online survey. The survey will be available online until Friday April 10th. Please find the survey at the following link: https://www.uvic.ca/engineeringexpansionsurvey. Additional project details can also be found on the project website: www.uvic.ca/engineeringexpansion

Cedar Hill Rec Centre and Covid

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The District of Saanich closed all Rec. Centres including Cedar Hill Arts and Rec Centre as announced on the Saanich website on March 23rd, 2020 to reduce the transmission of Coronavirus. More recently, people walking in the Park will have noticed closure of all access to the building and parking lot including the lower pedestrian bridge. One can still walk past the back of the Rec Centre on the Chip Trail.

As reported in Saanich News on April 8th, Island Health has taken over the CH Rec Centre as an ‘assessment clinic’ for people who have been referred by Island Health “for people who have more mild COVID symptoms but are not sick enough to attend the emergency department”. The facility is one of a number of assessment clinics in Victoria that operate as referral-only facilities. For information as to how to care for yourself if you develop symptoms visit Healthlinkbc.ca or to self access go to bc.thrive.health.

April 1st Covid update

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According to a CBC update at 5 am April 1, 2020, “B.C.’s provincial state of emergency has been extended until April 14 after 1,013 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 24 deaths.

On Tuesday night, Premier John Horgan used a province-wide address to urge British Columbians to do their part by staying home whenever possible and keeping a two-metre distance from other people outside the home.

“What we do today will affect what our doctors, nurses and first responders face in the days and weeks ahead. It will determine how many of us stay healthy, and how much we can do to flatten the curve,” he said.

“You might not feel it in your living room, but everyone in B.C. is pulling together and there are early signs that our actions are making a difference. But we can’t stop now.”By Tuesday afternoon, 128 people were in hospital as a result of the virus, with 61 patients in intensive care. Just over half of all confirmed cases — 507 in total — have fully recovered.

According to Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, the peak of the outbreak is still to come in B.C., and it’s crucial that people continue to keep their distance from others to minimize its impact.

“We know that, right now, it is still dangerous for us to be gathering in groups because that’s where transmission can happen. We need to keep that firewall between us for the next couple weeks until we have a better idea of how this virus is moving through our community,” Henry told the CBC.

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Saanich council approved a core budget aimed at allowing municipal operations to continue without burdening residents with high property tax increase in light of COVID-19.

The District of Saanich is facing unusual circumstances that require different approaches to financial matters. Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic and recognizing these extraordinary times, Council has directed staff to create a budget that allows the municipality to continue base operations.

“The COVID-19 pandemic affects each and every one of us and it’s so important that we do our part now,” said Mayor Fred Haynes. “We will concentrate on continuing our current service levels and we also recognize that expanding our services is not realistic right now. Saanich is committed to protecting our residents, both owners and renters, as well as businesses from financial impacts wherever possible, and that’s why we will limit the property tax increase to only support the basic municipal services.”

Read the full news release here.

 

 

https://qchca.org/2733-2/

The Cecelia Creek Falls Park Project Moves Forward

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After a long journey that began in 2006, we are delighted that on February 3rd 2020 Saanich Council directed staff to report how to achieve Cecelia Creek Falls Park as envisioned in the concept plan. The project supports Saanich’s OCP vision for Environmental Integrity “Saanich restores and protects air, land and water quality, the biodiversity of existing natural areas and eco-systems, the network of natural areas, open spaces and urban forests.”

The Park Design

After the Cecelia Creek Falls Park was chosen as a legacy project to celebrate Saanich’s Centennial Year, a design concept was created and presented to the community in 2008 at a Saanich Parks’ open house. The design provides for a safe outdoor educational site for school children by allowing a natural flow rate of water to pass through the park to eliminate hazards caused by high flow rates. The creek’s banks are designed with maximum 2:1 slope. A 5% grade to the main pipe was accommodated by creating a small waterfall with a sitting area and a trail planned to allow visitors to enjoy the creek. Native plants will be used throughout the area and interpretive signage provided.

For further information about the  Legacy Project  and the history of the Cecelia Creek Watershed click here. With many thanks to Ken Whitcroft for this update and information.

All Saanich Public Hearings cancelled until further notice

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We have been advised by Tara DaSilva, Saanich’s Senior Committee Clerk, that all Saanich Public Hearings have been cancelled until further notice due to cautionary measures regarding COVID-19.  This includes the Public Hearing scheduled for tonight, March 17.

QCHCA’s March 24 AGM postponed

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Dear members and friends of Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association,
Given the current situation around COVID-19 and encouragement for us all to exercise social distancing measures to help ‘flatten the curve’ to slow the spread, we have decided to postpone our March 24 AGM.
We are tentatively rescheduling it for May 26 and will confirm plans as the situation unfolds.
On behalf of the Board, thank you for your understanding.  Take care of yourselves and each other.  
Susan

 

Community planning presentation by Cam Scott, January 28

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Cam Scott, Manager of Community Planning, was the guest speaker at our January 28 meeting.  His presentation on Saanich’s community planning process included demographic and housing profiles, a housing needs report, plans and policies to guide decision-making and future local area planning work.

The audience found the presentation very informative, especially some of the statistics comparing Saanich with the CRD in terms of demographics and trends as they relate to housing and housing affordability.

Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association

Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association