I am re-posting this article because in the last few weeks, I have had many Oak Bay residents talk to me about their concerns at the rate of small house demolitions occurring in Oak Bay. Even a well known mortgage broker friend of ours raised this issue in a conversation this week. “Have you driven around the Uplands lately?” she asked. “It’s unbelievable.” Yes, the number of demolitions of smaller and older homes is worrying, threatening green space and accessible…
Monthly Archives: January 2015
The Politics of Deer
It is unfortunate that this issue continues to grind on in Oak Bay and the following “Letter to the Editor” expresses my ongoing concerns about how this deer management pilot strategy is being handled and how it’s affecting our community. Letter to the Editor, Oak Bay News: As a veteran municipal Councillor who served nine years in two different communities, I’ve never seen such a divisive community issue as urban deer management in Oak Bay. The topic continues to…
Be Part of The Conversation
Be a part of the conversation with local MLA Andrew Weaver. His Town Hall Forum will tackle the issue of Poverty and Homelessness, Wednesday, Feb. 4 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the David Turpin Building, Room A120 – University of Victoria. You can get more information on this important topic here: http://bit.ly/1wtiTYZ
The Art of Possibility
“Standard and social business practices are built on certain assumptions — shared understandings that have evolved from older beliefs and conditions. And while circumstances may have changed since the start of these practices, their continued use tends to reconfirm the old beliefs. For this reason, our daily practices feel right and true to us, regardless of whether they have evolved to keep up with the pace of change. In just such a way, a business culture arises and perpetuates itself,…
A Hand Written Letter – A Fading Art?
When was the last time that you sat down, picked up your favourite pen and took the time to hand write a letter to someone? In this new age of instant communication, mass media and the electronic device, is letter writing becoming a lost art? I was pleasantly surprised on a recent visit to the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, to find in a lobby upstairs, a table where a museum volunteer encouraged visitors to sit and compose a…
Recent Study Released on Gender Equality
CBC News covered a new study released by the non-profit group Catalyst Canada (promoting women in business), that shows that gender equality on corporate boards in Canada puts us in the “middle of the pack.” As of October 2014, the study reveals that 20.8% of seats at the Board table of companies listed on the S&P and TSX 60 market index were filled by women. This adds to gender diversity statistics I shared in my earlier blog article, from the…
Mark Your Calendars
Oak Bay Heritage has been going strong since the mid-1970’s in Oak Bay. The Oak Bay Heritage Foundation and Municipal Heritage Commission work together to promote heritage and history every year through a wonderful lecture series organized by the Foundation and promoted across the community and region. These lectures are always well attended, donations are taken at the door to support Oak Bay Heritage and facilities at Windsor Park Pavilion provide a great venue for audiences and speakers alike. Please…
Gender Politics — Making a Difference
Women seem to be making a breakthrough in local politics in the Capital Regional District (CRD), especially during the 2014 municipal election cycle. Two new female faces in the City of Victoria and in Sooke (Mayors Lisa Helps and Maja Tait) join other CRD women Mayors Barb Desjardins, Carol Hamilton and Alice Finall. While this may not reflect a big gain in numbers for women over time at the Mayor level, it suggests to me a trend by women towards…
Boosting Local Business Women
Thanks to the Oak Bay News, a division of Black Press, helping local women in business make a bigger local impact in this community and across our region. Watch for the feature in the Oak Bay News on Jan 30th.
Oak Bay’s Advisory Commissions/Committees Under Review
The new Oak Bay Council announced that over the next three months, it will review roles and responsibilities of its advisory commissions and committees, avenues for meaningful volunteer involvement that signifies a commitment to citizen engagement. A priority of mine during the last municipal election, it makes good sense to review, from time to time, the work of volunteer groups to make sure that they are still effective, efficient and relevant. It’s gratifying to see that this Council will also…