A visit to Newfoundland was on our bucket list for some time and in September 2017, a family wedding in Halifax was all the incentive we needed to travel to the Maritimes and then on to Newfoundland, affectionately known as “the Rock.” We enticed another couple, Victoria friends Heather Lund and Alan Breakspear, to … Read more
Environment
We are fortunate. We have traveled most of the southern half of our Province a number of times by motorcycle but I had never been north of Prince George. So this year, we began talking a lot about heading north by car this summer, to the Peace River country to see the area known as … Read more
Oak Bay resident and marine biologist Jacques Sirois will present a lecture on the history, heritage and tremendous value of Oak Bay’s unique coastline and waterfront habitats, offering his unique perspective on how we can preserve our oceanfront environments and make our foreshore more accessible and attractive as “living classrooms.” WHEN: September 16, 2015 at … Read more
Maybe it’s because we suffered a house fire in 1998. Or that we lived for 18 years on the edge of densely forested John Dean Park on Mt. Newton… Or because I was part of a North Saanich Municipal Council that took proactive steps, through the use of Development Permits, to identify and designate lands … Read more
Please mark your calendars for this important Public Meeting on Regional Sewage Treatment On June 24, 2015, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the Capital Regional District (CRD), through the Westside Solutions group and the Eastside Select Committee, will host a public meeting on regional sewage treatment and recovery, including further updates on site selection. … Read more
“Deeply moving and profoundly engaging…” (Mary Evelyn Tucker, Yale University) The film “The Wisdom to Survive: Climate Change, Capitalism and Community,” is presented on Friday, February 27, 2015 at 7:00 PM, St. John’s United Church, in Deep Cove, across from Deep Cove Elementary School. Described as compelling and thought-provoking, the film examines “the scope and … Read more
As new and returning Mayors, Councillors and Regional Directors across the Capital Regional District (CRD) sign on to a four-year term, many will be welcoming opportunities for positive change, new ideas and improvements that make a difference to their communities. After all, local government is about what’s possible, what’s new and what initiatives … Read more
I read with interest Mayor Nils Jensen’s “to do” list in the December 7th Times Colonist profile on his election win. While many of the priorities sounded familiar to me (part of my own campaign platform), the following is a more complete list of what I believe Oak Bay’s Mayor should focus on during the … Read more
As Island dwellers, we know that we live in coastal communities located on a spectacularly beautiful West Coast. But with the hurly burly of ordinary life, we sometimes take for granted the fragile balance between human activity and protection and sustainability of our marine environments. Only when we take the time to reflect on how … Read more
I wanted to re-post this article from last August 2014, given that sewage will top the CRD’s agenda as a new Board will be installed on December 10th. I believe that proactive leadership will be critical on this significant issue, making the selection of a new CRD Board Chair key to cooperation and collaboration ahead. … Read more
It’s often said that information is power and in the case of the CRD sewage issue and the Seaterra Plan, nothing could be more true. In my July 17, 2014 blog post about the CRD Seaterra Plan (which I understand was covered by CFAX radio and host Ian Jessop), I expressed my own concerns about … Read more
It has been a hot summer this year, in more ways than one. The CRD’s “failed” sewage treatment plan continues to generate a lot of heat but not the kind that powers our lights or warms our homes. It’s heat of the political kind, turned up on Esquimalt’s local Mayor and Council, as well as … Read more