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Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps is adamant. “I am definitely not running again.” That leads to the obvious question: Who will try to take her place? B.C.’s next local elections won’t be held until a . . .
VICTORIA -- Two historic farm buildings in Central Saanich are coming down, including a barn built over 130 years ago. Central Saanich council has approved the demolition of two barns and five other structures on the former Woodwynn Farms property located on West Saanich Road. One of the structures to come down is commonly referred to as the Woodwynn Farms Barn, and was built in 1887 by William Thomson. Another building, a historic hay barn, will be dismantled. Both are on the municipality’s heritage inventory list but do not have heritage designation. After an assessment was done i...
A group of neighbours living around a planned supportive housing project in Central Saanich briefly blocked workers from accessing the site Monday, saying they want answers on who will be living there and the services it will provide. Steve Manchur, who lives near the 39-unit development at 1909 Prosser Rd. with his wife and seven-month-old child, is concerned the province will move people directly from hotels and city parks into the new building. He fears that without proper levels of supports for addictions, the housing development will bring increased crime and drug use into the neighbourh...
Importantly, this enjoyment can be found daily without the barrier of parking fees. Parking is free in most of our regional parks, with the exception of Sooke Potholes and Thetis Lake during the summer season when tourists (who don’t pay taxes for park use) are amongst the visitors. The CRD’s parks committee, which I do not sit on, began looking at new funding streams for parks in 2019, including potentially introducing parking fees. Residents already pay for our regional park system through a levy to the CRD. In Central Saanich, the oldest regional park, Island View, is mentioned in...
A staff report recommends adding paid seasonal parking in 2022 to nine parks, with a gradual implementation over three years. This, along with existing fees, would generate $1.9 million annually. The parks are Devonian, East Sooke, Elk/Beaver Lake, Francis/King, Horth Hill, Matheson Lake, Mill Hill, Mount Work and Witty’s Lagoon. Saanich Coun. Rebecca Mersereau, the parks committee chairwoman, said the parks were chosen largely based on the number of visitors they get. Not on the list is Island View Beach Regional Park, even though Mersereau said a lot of people seem to think it is. “I wo...