City of Victoria

The City of Victoria will be presenting 2020 initiatives and engagement opportunities about the City's Housing Strategy at the March board meeting. Please join us on March 9, 2020 at 7:00pm at 2629 Victor Street to learn about the city's plans for making housing more affordable and accessible in Victoria. 

For some background on the City's current initiatives see here. 

Council has prioritized the following actions for 2020:

• City-Owned Sites for Affordable Housing: The City of Victoria is actively contributing land to affordable housing, including:
• Family Housing Strategy to encourage the development of more two-and three-bedroom units and to ensure new housing meets the needs of families
• Missing Middle Housing Project to create more housing choice by making it easier to build diverse ground-oriented housing like duplexes, houseplexes and townhouses, that fit well within neighbourhoods and support citywide liveability and sustainability goals
• Secured Rental Housing Project to incentivize new market and affordable rental housing development, while preserving and enhancing Victoria's existing purpose-built rental housing stock
• Residential Rental Tenure Zoning implementation to preserve existing and future rental housing in Victoria
• Market Rental Protection and Revitalization Project that includes a new Renoviction Bylaw to protect tenancies and a Residential Standards of Maintenance Bylaw to establish a basic standard of repair for rental properties
• Market Rental Energy Upgrades Pilot Program that uses municipal tax incentives to encourage the rehabilitation of existing rental buildings to achieve seismic resiliency and energy efficiencies with limited tenant displacement 
• House Conversion Regulation Updates that will make it easier to convert houses to multiple units in order to create more rental, affordable rental and affordable homeownership units, while incentivising heritage designation

A full list of all 44 housing actions for 2019-2025 are listed in the Victoria Housing Strategy (2019-2022) [PDF - 3 MB]

See the article here by Nina Grossman at Victoria News:

 https://www.vicnews.com/news/organizers-seek-input-for-long-awaited-oaklands-community-garden/ 

 On Saturday, December 7 from 9am-12:30pmthe City of Victoria will be at the Oaklands Community Centre (2827 Belmont Ave) to present the emerging designs for Government Street North, Kimta Road, Richardson Street, and the Kings-Haultain corridor.

Over the Past six weeks, City staff have been gathering feedback and ideas on how to improve road safety for people riding bikes as part of the 2020 Bicycle Network Improvements. Corridor designs have been developed for public comment and input. Join us at one of the upcoming Open House events to learn more about the proposed changes and to weigh in on emerging concepts. After this final round of public engagement, staff will bring forward recommendations to Council for their consideration in early 2020. 

See all engagement opportunities here.

See details for December 7, 2019 event here

🥦🍅🍊 This just in!! Residents on Roseberry Ave have organized a fundraising campaign for the The Gift of Good Food and they want you and the neighbours on your street to get involved!!

Read on to learn how to donate to the Neighbours of Roseberry Ave campaign, or to organize your own campaign!

"Neighbours on Roseberry Ave. in Oaklands have committed to give the gift of Good Food and support a family in need in our community with fresh fruit and vegetables for one year!If you have not yet heard of the Good Food Box, it is a  non-profit fruit and vegetable distribution program that provides affordable boxes of produce through large group buying power. The Gift of Good Food is Fernwood NRG’s annual holiday fundraiser, which runs from November 18 to December 31. Every $500 raised provides a family in need with a Good Food Box every two weeks for a whole year! Check it out here. 

If you would like to participate and support Roseberry Avenue’s goal, we would love to have you! 

Or, you can contribute to the Oaklands Community Association's fundraising campaign here!

If you would like to challenge Roseberry Avenue by starting a team for your own street, we would very much welcome this challenge! Sign up here or contact melissa@fernwoodnrg.ca (250) 381-1552 ext.118

We are grateful for any support that you can provide to help this program help families in need access consistent, healthy produce all year long!"
🥦🍅🍊

 Local Champions is a new community- based leadership development program for Victoria residents to gain foundational skills, confidence and relationships to become more active and engaged “local champions” in their neighbourhood or community.

Through developing collaborative grassroots leadership skills, local champions can apply their learnings to initiate community-building activities or projects, become “connectors” in their neighbourhoods, and engage in community life through local initiatives or groups.

As part of Local Champions, you will join a diverse group of participants from across Victoria for a series of fun and interactive learning workshops between January- June 2019. Participants are supported by community mentors and apply their learning through a community-based practicum such as hosting a neighbourhood learning event.

Find out more and apply now to become a Local Champion in your neighbourhood!

Is becoming a Local Champion for you? Check out the Local Champions Course Overview to see if this program is right for you.

Fill out a Local Champion Application Form

The City of Victoria begins 2020 budget discussions on Thursday with the introduction of its Draft 2020 Financial Plan. The proposed plan allocates $258.7 million to operate the City’s more than 200 programs and services and invests $42.1 million in capital infrastructure projects. The budget is the mechanism for enhancing community well-being and delivering on Council’s 2019-2022 Strategic Plan objectives including Affordable Housing, Economic Prosperity and Inclusion, Climate Leadership and Environmental Stewardship, and more.

The City of Victoria - Local Government is seeking your feedback on the 2020 Budget. There are so many ways to make your voice heard:
- Attend the Town Hall on Thursday, November 21 (6:30pm at City Hall)
- Or watch the Live Stream - https://bit.ly/2O1NCjn
- Submit a question for the Town Hall online https://bit.ly/37k0dpF or by calling 250.361.0327
- Submit a question by Twitter using the hashtag #victownhall
- Complete the survey by November 24 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/draft2020budget

See the draft financial plan here: https://bit.ly/342xFix

My Great Neighbourhood Grant Program

The fall application intake for neighbourhood grants is now closed.  Thirty-four applications in total were received with two Placemaking and five Activity grant applications submitted from Oaklands residents.  Neighbourhood staff will be taking the report to Committee of the Whole for November 28 for approval. This fall $63,000 of funding is available. 

Roundtable Series to Inform Cities Economic Plan

This fall, the City of Victoria is hosting a series of roundtable discussions with people who do business in the community to inform its next Economic Action Plan, Victoria 3.0 – Pivoting to a Higher Value Economy.

The Plan will position Victoria as an attractive place to invest and to start and grow a business over the next five to 20 years. The goal is for Victoria to become a small powerhouse that creates high-value jobs and builds a high-value economy that meets current, and anticipates future, needs.

The City has been reaching out to local stakeholders, inviting them to participate in the series. Each roundtable contains two topics to allow for the cross-pollination of ideas. Most roundtables are open to the public and the City hopes to attract a diversity of people to provide input and ideas. Input from the roundtable discussions will inform the draft plan that will be presented to City Council for consideration in January 2020.

Register for the Roundtables you'd like to participate in:

Neighbourhood Business and Social Enterprise Roundtable
Tuesday, November 5, 2019 from 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m., Victoria City Hall Antechamber
This roundtable is for people who run businesses in the City’s neighbourhoods and includes people who work from home in these neighbourhoods. It is also for everyone working in the social enterprise sector.

Small Business and Finance Roundtable
Wednesday, November 20, 2019 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Victoria City Hall Antechamber
This roundtable is for anyone who runs a small business in Victoria, with a focus on downtown businesses. It is also for everyone working in the financial sector.

Youth Economic Roundtable
Monday, November 25, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Victoria City Hall Antechamber
This roundtable is for youth! According to a recent report, “Humans Wanted: How Canadian Youth Can Thrive in an Age of Disruption” there will be 2.5 million more jobs created in Canada over the next five years; a technology revolution always results in more jobs not less. Youth are well-positioned to lead in this new economy. We are holding this roundtable to make sure that the City does what it can to help prepare youth for the economy of the future.

Official Community Plan Annual Review

Council received an Official Community Plan Annual Report for information and directed staff to undertake an updated housing demand forecast and OCP capacity assessment, and report back with recommendations for using the contributions accrued in the Downtown Heritage Seismic Upgrade Reserve Fund. 

Read the Annual Review

Tenant Assistance Policy Review and Enhancements

Council has directed staff to amend the Tenant Assistance Policy to update the compensation structure for both market and non-market or social housing for tenants being displaced based on a renovation or redevelopment of a rental property, as well as allowing for moving expenses of $1000 for 3 + bedroom units. Council will also consider an additional 1 FTE for the Tenant Ambassador Position as part of the 2020 Financial Plan process, and staff will undertake further engagement with the Renters Advisory Committee. Read the report

Victoria Reconciliation Dialogues

Join us for the Victoria Reconciliation Dialogues, a six-part series of conversations to enable the community to explore together what Reconciliation could look like on Lekwungen Territory. Dialogue #1 - Lekwungen Knowledge and the Land can now be viewed online. Dialogue #2 - The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) and the City will take place on November 18. Learn more and register to attend some or all of these free events at victoria.ca/ReconciliationDialogues. 

Leaf Collection 2019 

The leaves are starting to fall – please do your part to prevent flooding by keeping them out of storm sewers. You have three option for leaf collection: leaf drop-off, leaf pick-up and call for services.  See what works for you! It all starts up in the coming weeks. Learn more

Tree Appreciation Day: Sunday, Nov. 3
Cameron Bandshell, Beacon Hill Park

Join us for some fun, education, tree plantings and time to enjoy trees and all they provide for us in our urban forest. Over the three hours there will be activities near or at the Cameron Bandshell including:

• Tree tours (between      10:30-1 p.m.); on pathways, flat lawn areas with no stairs
• Several      stations/activities set up at the Cameron Bandshell:
  • Children’s art station
  • “Match the Leaves  with the Seeds” activity
  • Ask an Arborist station
  • Tree banding workshop/demo
  • Information about Tanglefoot
  • Tree rings activity
• Garry Oak tree planting on the north side of Goodacre Lake
• Native plantings including small trees and shrub, just east of the main washroom building
• No cost for attendees

In addition to the ceremonial tree planting there will be a few Garry Oaks planted to the north of the bandshell and several shrubs and native species planted over by the washroom building near the playground.  

Rain or shine!

Council Meetings

Committee of the Whole meets on November 7, 14, 21 and 28 at 9am. Council meets on November 14 and 28 beginning at 6:30pm. Residents can watch recordings of the meetings here. 

What will Oaklands be like in 50 years? How do you want your neighbourhood to develop with sustainability and quality of life in mind? 

Join us for the FORWARD 50 Speaker Night on October 30th to hear local experts speak about their vision for Oaklands over the next five decades. You will hear inspirational, innovative ideas for how Oaklands, as a neighbourhood, can make tangible, meaningful changes to address the climate crisis, social inclusion, affordability, emergency preparedness, and more. 

Tickets: This is a free, all ages, public event. The speaker night will be live streamed and recorded.  

Topics: urban planning and design, housing, transportation, greenspace, building community, local economies, food systems, and social connections. 

Speakers: Check back here for speaker bios and topics. 

Location: The FORWARD 50 Speaker Night is held at the David Lam Auditorium at the University of Victoria. The auditirium is located in the MacLaurin Music Building. See a map here for the closest on campus parking options. Buses 4, 14, 9 all arrive at the UVIC bus hub, nearby the auditorium. 

For more information see here.

"WANTED: Individuals and families to portray “Evacuees” who have been displaced from their homes due to a major fire. Break out your acting skills and volunteer to participate in Emergency Management Victoria’s emergency reception centre exercise on Saturday, October 26 from 12:30 – 2 p.m. at the Oaklands Community Centre, 2827 Belmont Avenue. " 

Have you ever wanted to see what's inside those big shipping containers? This is your chance! Drop in between 12:30-2pm on Saturday, October 26th and see the Oaklands Community Centre transformed into an emergency reception centre. Trained Victoria Red Cross Emergency Support Services (ESS) will take the opportunity to put their training to use. 

For more details visit Victoria Ready.

Facebook event here.

"The My Great Neighbourhood Grant program is all about community.

The program helps residents animate public space, develop and enhance a sense of community and leave a positive legacy in our neighbourhoods. 

You are invited to apply! If you are interested in applying for a My Great Neighbourhood Grant, consider the grant policy to get a good understanding of the program.  Here is a tip sheet which you may find helpful. If you are interested in a community art project, please look at the guidelinesthat apply to those types of projects. You can then review the checklist as you develop your project idea to make sure that you are considering everything. Once you have developed a concept for a project, you should schedule a meeting to discuss the idea with the Neighbourhood Advisor for the location. You must meet with staff before you submit your application. Once you have met with staff and confirmed that your idea is ready to submit, please complete the application form."

SD61 has submitted an application for two childcare learning studios to be located in Belmont Park (corner of Belmont Ave and Hamilton Rd). These learning studios will be operated by the Oaklands Community Association and will include infant & toddler, preschool and out of school care spaces, with priority given to families living within the future September 2020 Oaklands Elementary School catchment . There is no set opening date as of this time however as soon as the application has been approved, we will have an anticipated opening date. To be eligible for upcoming infant, toddler and preschool spaces, please complete the Little Acorn waitlist application For out of school spaces, please contact Cindy Allen (250) 370 – 9101 ext.1  . 

Read the full article here

"Residents in the 1400 block of Lang Street in Victoria’s Oaklands will be out today planning their boulevard gardens that together will create a series of habitats for pollinators along the street. They’re still waiting to hear whether there are any underground lines below the boulevard before they start digging, so today they will likely be out with rope and string, planning their plots and creating preliminary designs for the gardens.

Batory’s goal for the project is two-fold. She hopes the gardens will create a greater sense of community for residents, while providing food and shelter for pollinating insects."

Watch the clip here

“The next 50 years are going to see unprecedented changes.  Environmentally, socially…all the pressures that are coming down, so we need to have people stand up and say ‘ok, these are the values we want to have moving forward.’ ”

The delivery date to the City of Victoria for the Oaklands Neighbourhood Plan is December 2020."

Link to Vic News article: here 

"“We really want to have a mix of plots and commons so it feels like a welcoming pace people can walk though, pick some berries, enjoy the benches and kids play areas…it has so much potential for bringing communities together, and beauty and pollinators.”

See the clip here

“We really value all the things that a close neighbourhood and a close community has to offer,” says Davies, “and so this project has just been another one of those opportunities for our kids to feel what it’s like to be part of a community.”

Mack estimates that more than 100 kids and parents have hopped on board the Oaklands Walking School Bus.

“To see the pride in the eyes of the kids,” says Mack, “to really see that they can contribute to the community while having fun and getting exercise, and keeping some cars off the road…it is a big success!”

Watch the clip here

"The Society for Kids at Tennis, better known as KATS, was founded by one man, a doctor, looking for something to fill his days in retirement.  KATS offers free tennis lessons to children who might not otherwise have access to the sport.

“It got started about five years ago,” says Silverberg.  “Being retired, and having had a wonderful life, I was looking for someway to give back.”