Community Virtuals – February’s Lunch & Learn
The Power of Community Art
Wednesday , February 17, noon- 1:30
Join our Arts, Culture and Event team and community art organizations to learn about what’s possible when thinking about more art in your neighbourhood.
Register for your free ticket and learn more about grants: victoria.ca/neighbourhoods
Info: e-mail to neighbourhoods@victoria.ca
New Youth Poet Laureate
James Summer is Victoria’s new Youth Poet Laureate. The Youth Poet Laureate serves as Victoria’s champion for youth and the literary arts, seeking to inspire and engage local youth to share their stories through both written and spoken word, and serves a one-year honorary term. James Summer began writing poetry in his junior year of high school when he joined Vic High School’s slam poetry club. Over the years he participated and competed in Vic Voices, Hullabaloo and various open mics, and became president of the slam poetry club in his senior year. As the next Youth Poet Laureate, he hopes to connect with other youth in Victoria and share his love of poetry. He finds that poetry is a medium that can express growth, pain and love through self- expression in a safe space, and wants to be able to help create that safe space for others. Visit the City’s Webpage for more information.
New Emergency Notification System
The City of Victoria is now using Alertable to send Vic-Alert emergency notifications for incidents such as tsunamis and gas leaks.
In order for current subscribers to continue receiving emergency notifications, they must resubscribe to Vic-Alert. Signing up is easy and free at Victoria.ca/VicAlert.
You can choose to receive emergency notifications by text message, phone, email, and/or Alertable app alert.
Residential Branch Pick-Up Begins Feb. 22
The City of Victoria provides a branch chipping service to help residents remove tree branches from their yard. Please have tree branches on the boulevard for chipping by Monday, Feb. 22 at 7 a.m.
Each household is allowed one branch pile up to 1.2 x 1.2 x 1.8 metres, which is about what a half-ton pickup truck can hold
Loosely stack tree branches between 2.5 cm (1") to 25 cm (10") in diameter only, with cut ends together
Trucks will make one pass down each street
Residents can also drop off branches, leaves and garden waste year-round at the City of Victoria
Public Works Yard on Garbally Rd.Learn more: victoria.ca/branch
All Ages and Abilities Cycling Network
On February 5, the City will be launching online engagement for new cycling routes in the James Bay neighbourhood as part of the ongoing work on the All Ages and Abilities cycling network.
Two north-south routes and one east-west route will be pursued as part of the priority 32km AAA network. You are invited to provide feedback on full-length design concepts and weigh in on route preference.
Watch the virtual corridor tour, complete the survey,provide detailed feedback on the route map tool, or ask questions in the Q&A forum.
Investments in James Bay will be implemented as part of the final phase of the priority cycling network, in 2022. Visit the City’s webpage to take part.
Do you live, spend time in or care about the future of Fernwood, North Park and Hillside-Quadra?
The City is looking for your feedback to guide growth and change in our community over the next 20 years.
It’s important that we hear from people of diverse backgrounds, ages and incomes, including renters, youth, and families with young children. You told us what’s important … Last spring we heard about opportunities, concerns and big ideas from you and your neighbours.
Now help us plan a future that includes everyone! We want to hear from you on how we can bring forward more housing choices, better transportation options, and improved public spaces for people of different incomes, household types, ages and lifestyles. Visit engage.victoria.ca to share your feedback through February!
Fire Services Align Across Victoria, Saanich and Oak Bay
The Victoria, Saanich and Oak Bay fire departments have updated their mutual and automatic aid firefighting agreement, ensuring continued cooperation and alignment of fire services across the three core municipalities.
The new agreement increases resource capacity, inter-municipal firefighter training opportunities and professional cooperation through operational response planning and coordinated responses to high-risk events. This more modern, all-encompassing agreement aligns with expectations of collaboration, streamlined services, and leveraging economies of scale, resulting in cost effective service delivery and best use of tax dollars.
A cost recovery process is also in place to ensure that municipalities are reimbursed for the service they provide beyond their borders. The original agreement between the three municipalities was implemented in 1980, at a time when emergency service requests were significantly lower. Calls for service are now upwards of 7,000 calls a year for Victoria; 6500 for Saanich; and 1300 for Oak Bay.
Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre Opens on Feb. 1
The City is looking forward to welcoming the community back to Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre on February 1. Registration opens on January 28 at 9 a.m. to book a swim visit, a fitness visit, or register for an upcoming recreation program, such as swim lessons and fitness classes.
The City’s priority is safety and all required COVID-19 protocols are in place to create a safe environment for visitors and staff. Due to public health requirements and capacity limits, unscheduled drop-ins at this time are not allowed, so please register in advance.
Registration will be available at victoria.ca/crystalpool or by calling 250.361.0732. We look forward to seeing many familiar faces and welcoming new ones!
Emergency Social Services Grant - Meegan Community Care Tent
Council has allocated an Emergency Social Services Grant of $6,500 for “Meegan Community Care Tent” to the Red Cedar Café Association as the grant recipient and permit holder. The temporary site is now operational and providing outreach services on Cook Street near Dallas Road.
The association has worked through the permit process with city staff and are required to implement all the necessary safety, fire prevention and COVID measures. Community outreach workers will provide humanitarian relief to people sheltering in Beacon Hill Park by offering a dry space to get warm, where people can connect with health workers, have a bite to eat and a coffee, and get a little respite from sheltering outside in the cold and wet.
What’s Up at Council?
Decisions made at Council can be found on our Council Highlights page.
If you are interested in knowing how the councillors voted on anything, you can now see and track Council voting records with the City Council Meeting Dashboard.
Committee of the Whole (COTW) 9:00 a.m.
(Closed) Council Meeting After COTW meetings
as required
Council Meeting 6:30 p.m.
February
4th, 11th, 18th, & 25th
4th, 11th, 18th, & 25th
11th & 25th
Neighbourhood Staff Contact: Kimberley Stratford kstratford@victoria.ca