Did you know that buskers who make downtown Victoria vibrant are regulated by the City of Victoria? Ensuring street performers are talented and entertaining is a great way to encourage people to go downtown, which benefits businesses in the area.
To make sure the plan is working as intended, the city is undergoing a review of its Street Entertainment Bylaw to improve the busking experience. If you've been downtown this summer, you might have noticed buskers in several new locations. By taking part in an online survey, you can share your opinion on the "specific types of busking locations, sound-amplification at specific sites and strategies to enhance busking downtown, as well as the types of busking and related amenities buskers and the public would like to see, such as covered spaces with comfortable seating, accessible parking and food trucks nearby to create a dynamic downtown experience." The survey closes at noon on Aug. 31. Feeling safe at home and at work is a fundamental requirement for good business and great community. The Chamber supports initiatives such as two recent announcements about investments in housing and support programs to help people reintegrate into society.
Access Hub for Street Community The City of Victoria has agreed to provide up to $1.8 million for the operations of a new access hub facility at 2155 Dowler Pl. that reduces the risk and impacts of homelessness. Funds come from the Financial Stability Reserve, which can be used in situations related to public safety. The 5,264 square-foot property will include community space for people to have immediate access to supports aimed at breaking the cycle of homelessness. The property will be fenced and security will be on site to address any impacts on neighbouring properties Transitional Housing for Fresh Start On Tuesday, the province announced plans for 28 transitional homes with supports for people leaving the correctional system. Located at 736 Princess Ave., the six-storey building will be owned and operated by the John Howard Society of Victoria, which is dedicated to helping people with programs and services focused on employment, housing, mentorship and restorative justice. The building will be the John Howard Society’s new headquarters. The upper floors of the building will have 28 studio apartments, each with a private washroom and kitchenette. The District of Oak Bay is among nine Island municipalities that are getting grants from the provincial government to help streamline their housing approval processes.
In fall 2023, the province made legislative changes to try and reduce red tape at the municipal level. Better planning and improved zoning rules are part of the process. The province also developed a reporting schedule to track progress to getting houses built. All local governments must complete an interim housing needs report by Jan. 1, and then municipalities must update their official community plans and zoning bylaws by Dec. 31, 2025. There are two stories being told about downtown Victoria, says a new analysis released this morning by the Downtown Victoria Business Association.
With 5% more business licences issued, and tourism and industry thriving, the DVBA's 2024 Annual Report says the numbers show the region's downtown is enjoying economic growth. However, there is also a growing sense of unease — a survey found almost 20% of businesses believe downtown is failing. "That is the highest percentage since we began surveying members," the DVBA report states. "It is alarming." More than two thirds of all people who patronize downtown come from within Greater Victoria, which means that the entire region has a role to play in the narrative of this important neighbourhood. "The Chamber strongly supports downtown and the work of the DVBA and the City of Victoria to make the area vibrant and safe," Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. "We are a regional chamber but we will continue to call on all levels of government to invest in the infrastructure and services needed in downtown Victoria." A new tower that will create a notable landmark for people entering Greater Victoria's core has been approved by District of Saanich council.
The 24-storey apartment building will house 318 rental units on the corner of Carey Road and Ravine Way. A residential building on the site was part of the original proposal for Uptown. The new building will also include commercial space and cycling amenities. Saanch has a long-range vision for transforming the neighbourhood into a central hub that will become the heart of the municipality. Last summer, the City of Victoria convened a panel of community leaders to create a plan for making the city safer and healthier.
Starting this summer, the city is hosting a series of open houses and pop-up events for business owners and community members to learn about the state of the project and share their concerns and experiences. Once complete, the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan will identify how businesses and community partners can work together to make the community safer and more inclusive. On Monday, the federal government announced $530 million to help Canadian municipalities adapt to the changing climate. The money will help cities and towns prepare for flooding, heat domes and other impacts on residents and infrastruture caused by weather events.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities will administer the fund, which is a fraction of the $10 billion the FCM estimated is needed. "In all, there are three funding streams that will provide substantial support for municipalities to carry out climate adaptation projects. In addition to support for climate adaptation planning, municipalities can apply for up to $1 million for implementation projects and up to $70,000 for feasibility studies," the media release said. "Municipalities that have completed climate adaptation plans and/or risk assessments are eligible to apply. The deadline for applications is Aug. 14, 2024." Few experiences top going to the ballpark to watch a game in-person.
Fans of the Victoria HarbourCats get their first chance to cheer on the home team next week at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. The H'Cats play the Wenatchee Applesox at 6:30 pm and the early forecast calls for sunny skies and a warm evening. The team is hoping supporters take advantage of every opportunity to enjoy the home stadium as a scheduling issue will prevent the HarbourCats from playing in Victoria if they make the playoffs. "As you may be aware, the City of Victoria and the Canadian Football League have agreed to host a regular season football game at Royal Athletic Park on Aug. 31, featuring the BC Lions," stated an email from the HarbourCats this morning. "Due to the apparent requirements for the stadium set-up (e.g., adding additional bleachers and grassing over the baseball infield), the HarbourCats have been advised we must end our use of Royal Athletic Park this summer following our final regular season game on Aug.7." This timing means no home playoff games later this summer. The HarbourCats, who support the CFL playing in Victoria, said they are disappointed with the timing and hope to rally the community to sellout the stadium during the regular season. For more information, go to harbourcats.com. The Chamber is hosting an Emerge Connector at Wilson's Group Stadium on June 27, as part of the HarbourCats game against the Port Angeles Lefties. More homes.
That's the simple answer to so many of the complex challenges affecting our economy — from attracting and keeping workers to providing shelter for people camping on city streets. The Chamber consistently advocates for policy changes and investment that will boost our housing supply. And we applaud the latest announcement this week that sees a pilot Building Permit Hub begin operations in select regions of the province, including in the City of Victoria and the District of Saanich. The online tool is expected to be available at the local level this summer. The goal is to streamline and standardize local permitting processes that can be complicated and delay home construction. "This new one-stop shop for local building permits will reduce red tape for homebuilders, local governments and First Nations, and ultimately save money, speed up construction and help people get into homes faster,” BC Premier David Eby said in a news release. The new hubs:
The Chamber is working to engage with members and our partner organizations to make sure the voice of business is heard on proposals that will impact traffic in downtown Victoria.
The City of Victoria is looking at extending dedicated bus lanes along Douglas Street, potentially reworking the busy corridor to focus on transit. The idea would take more than a year of study before returning to council. Chamber CEO Bruce Williams told the Times Colonist that making transit more convenient is a good thing. Giving commuters an option other than single occupancy vehicles will help with congestion and emissions. However, changing downtown streetscapes will require consultation with businesses that could be impacted by changes to traffic patterns and potential loss of parking spaces. "We don't want to deter people from going downtown to shop, enjoy a meal or have some fun in the city," Williams said, noting that any transportation plan for the city needs to consider how convenient it is for people travelling from neighbourhoods outside downtown Victoria. One proposal — also in the early stages — is to look at developing a new parkade near north Douglas to allow people to park close to downtown and then walk into the compact central core. The CEO of Our Place Society announced yesterday that he hopes to find homes by the end of the year for people living on the street in the 900-block of Pandora Ave.
“It distresses me to see so many displaced people,” Our Place CEO Julian Daly said in a media release. “No one should be consigned to living on the pavement in our city. It’s a crying shame. All people deserve so much better.” Our Place, located in the middle of the Pandora encampments, recently surveyed people living on the street. Not surprisingly, all of them hoped for a better life. “Each person told us they wanted housing, and what supports they needed to be successful once housed,” Daly said, noting the survey showed people need help with addiction and mental health as much as they do with housing. “There is no one-size-fits-all solution,” Daly says. “Instead, we have to tailor our supports to the individual.” Some of the highlights of the survey were:
On Tuesday, the provincial government released the next round of municipalities facing scrutiny to ensure they are helping increase BC's housing supply.
The next 20 priority municipalities include the following in Greater Victoria:
The first list, released last spring, included the City of Victoria, the District of Saanich and the District of Oak Bay. Each community receives a target number of total units that are expected to be built within a specific time-frame. The targets for the latest communities will be made public this summer. "The Chamber supports efforts to increase housing supply and we continue to advocate for all levels of government to smooth the process for builders so the construction work needed can be done," Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. "I'm looking forward to speaking with Premier Eby next week at the Chamber breakfast to hear firsthand how the province is advocating for support from the federal government." The Chamber hosts Premier Eby on April 30. Register now to reserve your seat at the table. Talk is turning to action on the latest attempt to pursue municipal amalgamation. Invitations to serve on the Victoria-Saanich Citizens' Assembly have been sent to 10,000 residents in the two communities. They have until May 30 to confirm whether they will participate.
From there, 48 people will be selected through a randomized lottery process that fairly represents the population of both municipalities. Finally, the committee will come together over eight Saturdays starting in September and wrapping up in April. At that point, they will produce a report outlining the pros and cons of merging Greater Victoria's two largest municipalities. A new hub close to the "heart of Saanich" was given a key stamp of approval on Monday.
The District of Saanich has an extensive plan for the Uptown-Douglas area, which is at the crossroads of Greater Victoria's core municipalities. The area will be zoned to shape new development designed to grow the neighbourhood as a major hub north of downtown Victoria and between the West Shore and Saanich Peninsula. The plan includes turning Oak Street into a vibrant commercial district that creates a walkable boulevard between Uptown Mall and Mayfair Shopping Centre. The City of Victoria is updating its Official Community Plan this year. The province requires all BC municipalities to update their OCP every five years with a vision for the next 20 years. Victoria — facing a changing climate, growing population and a profound shortage of housing — is looking for input from the public and business community to help shape the next plan.
"Decisions on where housing, businesses and parks should go, how we move around the city and ways Victoria can respond to the climate crisis are all determined by the OCP," states the city's website. "If the City was a train, the OCP would be its conductor leading the way." Community engagement will continue until September and plans currently include an open house, a survey, pop-up events in the city and an online information session. Learn more at engage.victoria.ca/ocp. As part of the plan for transforming the Uptown corridor, the province is proposing changes to Ravine Way to accommodate new bus stops and expanded trails in the area.
An information session is scheduled for May 1, from 3-7 pm at Cedar Hill Golf Course, to review design concepts, get feedback and discuss how to improve the area for people travelling by bus, foot, bicycle, wheelchair or scooter. A new waterfront neighbourhood has been proposed for the area around the Capital Iron District. In an article in the Times Colonist, Reliance Properties CEO Jon Stovell said its plan for an arts and innovation district will go before City of Victoria council on April 18.
The proposal includes preservation of heritage buildings along Store Street and 12 new buildings over two city blocks adjacent to the Upper Harbour. The area known as the Capital Iron lands is bordered by Chatham, Discovery and Government streets. If the proposal is approved, the area will be home to 500 new housing units and provide working space for 1,800 people. It will also serve as a new home for the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. What would you do to make Victoria feel safer? Have your say by participating in the City of Victoria's Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan
“This public engagement will help us understand people’s thoughts, feelings, perceptions and opinions about wellbeing and safety, and encourage them to share their ideas on possible solutions,” Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto said in a news release. “Our Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan will include strategies to enhance the quality of life for our community — residents housed and unhoused, businesses, non-profits, workers of all kinds — to create a community that is safe and inclusive for everyone. The Plan will tackle a range of social issues, embracing an array of solutions.” The survey is available online until May 12. A draft of recommended actions will go to City Council in September. A longstanding concern has been addressed by proposed changes to the Police Act. Under the current rules, the chair of the local police board is automatically the person serving as mayor of the local municipality. That can create an appearance of conflict as councils must approve budgets recommended by the police board.
The new rule will allow local governments to determine who their representative will be on their police board and will allow members of the police board to elect their chair and vice-chair. "This is an important update as it will remove politics from the important decisions around ensuring police are adequately funded," Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. "Having appropriate resources is fundamental for police so they can continue to keep our communities safe." The District of Saanich's plan for the area around Uptown received a boost on Monday as the province announced it has secured land for a new transit-oriented development.
“Our communities are growing quickly, and people need affordable homes close to public transit, so they can get to where they need to go – and get ahead in life,” said BC Premier David Eby, who will be speaking to Chamber members on April 30. “This new development in Saanich will create a vibrant, connected community where people can find everything they need at their doorstep.” The land was bought by the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s $394-million property acquisition fund. Early plans for the area in Saanich include hundreds of new homes, public spaces and active-transportation connections. There will also be new retail and commercial spaces. Other suggested services include child care, community health and educational facilities. The development will integrate the Lochside and Galloping Goose regional trails to make it a hub for active transportation and BC Transit services, with connections to downtown Victoria, the University of Victoria, the Westshore and the Saanich Peninsula. “The Uptown-Douglas area is the perfect location for a high-density, transit-oriented development and regional transit hub that will no doubt be transformative for this community," Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock said in the news release. Luke Mari, principal of Aryze Developments commented on the announcement, saying “The best transportation plan is a land-use plan. When we put the right homes in the right places – near existing services amenities and transit – we can reduce our dependence on private car use.” The Chamber has kept a watchful eye on the promise of better governance from fewer governments in our region. We're pleased to see the City of Victoria and the District of Saanich have taken the next step to explore the pros and cons of merging municipalities. A Toronto-based agency has been hired to create a Citizens' Assembly, and has launched a new website at victoriasaanich.ca. The website highlights the following steps:
Fentanyl abuse is wreaking havoc in many cities, including Greater Victoria. The Chamber advocates for safe communities for all, though there is no simple solution to addiction and the health challenges that are at the root of the issue.
Earlier today, BC's Minister of Mental Health and Addictions issued a statement marking the one-year anniversary of drug decriminalization in BC. “This past year has seen a concerning increase in toxic drug deaths in provinces across the country, and British Columbia was no exception. Ending this measure will not save a single life. As the toxicity of illicit street drugs continues to increase, more people are at serious risk. There is no single solution to this complex and unrelenting public-health emergency, and we will continue to use every tool available to save lives and connect people to care," Minister Jennifer Whiteside said, promising to invest in early intervention and prevention services, expanded access to harm-reduction supports, increased medication-assisted treatments, and expanded treatment and recovery services. The statement comes in the wake of recent comments by former Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe, who criticized the government for not providing better access to help while making the case for an ongoing pragmatic approach to decriminalization. Lapointe spoke with CBC Radio about her experience and what she believes is needed to address this crisis. The Chamber continues to call for better access to treatment and care, and applauds the recent funding for Our Place Society's New Roads Recovery Community Centre. The province is providing $9 million to fund 20 beds for women to try and replicate the success the men's program has had at the View Royal facility. They're a common sight in many cities around the world, but will e-scooters find their niche as part of the transportation puzzle facing many BC communities? The province announced today that it will begin a new safety review in April to continue the work of a pilot program that started back in 2021.
In places where motorized scooters are available, they have been shown to reduce the use of larger vehicles while supporting other modes of public transportation. The pilot project was done in 13 BC communities, with Nanaimo the only Island city. The next phase will run for four-years in any BC community that authorizes their use. Those communities will be able to prescribe where electric scooters can be used, subject to new regulations. "During the next phase of examination, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will lead an ongoing safety evaluation, together with government partners, ICBC and the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit," the ministry stated in a media release. "This work will complement safety evaluations supplied by communities participating in the review." Housing supply is at the core of Chamber advocacy. Greater Victoria, like much of North America, is facing a crunch — not enough homes are being built to meet demand. This affects the cost of living for employees, delays people from starting a family and impacts the availability of shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
A group of Canadian housing sector organizations recently released the National Housing Accord: A Multi-Sector Approach to Ending Canada’s Rental Housing Crisis. The report offers 10 solutions that aim to focus the efforts of all levels of government and industry on policies to support more building. "It's a bit of a Catch 22 in that we need skilled tradespeople to build homes so that the market has enough supply for skilled tradespeople to be able to afford to live here," Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. "The lack of housing affects people at all income levels but is particularly concerning for people early in their careers and those who have the added costs that come with raising kids." The City of Victoria has added an electric fire truck to its growing fleet of electric vehicles. The Rosenbauer Revolutionary Technology pumper fire engine, currently being assembled, is expected to arrive by the end of the year. Funding from the provincial government allowed the city to purchase the electric fire engine for about the same cost as a typical fire engine.
Vancouver and Brampton are the only other fire departments in Canada that have ordered RT electric fire engines, which are in use in Los Angeles, Berlin, Amsterdam and Dubai. |
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