Good evening ladies and gentlemen, friends and families.

Thank you from all members of Council for joining us on this special occasion. We wish to thank the Honourable Mr. Justice Geoffrey R. J. Gaul for conducting our swearing-in ceremony.

And a special thanks to Freeman Curtis and Lou Poy, MLA Chong and Coell and former Mayors Curtis, Sturrock and Coell for attending and bringing best wishes to our new Council.

This is a special event for all of us, including the return to Saanich Council of Nichola Wade. Nichola brings her passion for rural Saanich, community engagement and for our library system back onto Council. We know that the people of Saanich will immediately benefit from your seven years of Councillor experience.

We want to extend our thanks to Wayne Hunter for his years of service on Council and previously on the Saanich Police Board. We commend Wayne for his commitment to our community and know the Saanich School Board is very fortunate to have him as a new Trustee.

Once again this year, the voters of Saanich have returned all the incumbents to Council. This is a vote of confidence in each of us individually and as a group. It speaks well of our ability to work together on important issues once the ballots are cast. I know we are all honoured to once again have the opportunity to serve such a great community.

The appendices attached to this address list 2011 Accomplishments and 2012 Goals consistent with our Strategic Plan. They are grouped according to our strategic themes and reflect the progressive agenda that this Council has a mandate to fulfill. Tonight’s Address will focus on a few highlights.

The Financial Plan review process for 2012 will no doubt be challenging for Council. While all of us want to be optimistic about our economy, we will need to be realistic in our budget meetings. Continuing the focus on infrastructure replacement will mean striking a balance between the need to continue increasing capital spending while keeping operating costs and service levels in check. I am confident Council will continue to make good fiscal choices in this difficult economic climate that reflect community priorities and the ability to pay.

Council has remained firm in its commitment to infrastructure replacement in order to become a sustainable community. Achieving sustainable levels of infrastructure replacement is possible in the next nine years but will require a disciplined, policy-based approach.

By focusing this allocation-based federal funding and our own annual incremental increases, spending on infrastructure for a sustainable community has increased from $3.5 million in 1997 to $23.1 million in 2011 while infrastructure spending for a healthy community has increased from $640,000 to $4.9 million.

Infrastructure Spending for a Sustainable Community

Infrastructure Spending for a Healthy Community

While I know we will all be keen to ensure sufficient funds are allocated to sidewalks, trails and other community mobility projects, the largest single project to commence in 2012 will be the $10.8 million replacement of the Craigflower Bridge.

Infrastructure spending is a "generation-transfer" issue - when we invest in infrastructure we provide future generations with an asset rather than a liability. We are leading the province by eliminating our infrastructure deficit so it is vital that our commitment to protecting future generations through prudent asset management continues.

The pursuit of a sustainable transportation system will keep high profile and big budget transit issues on our agenda during this next term; however, I am pleased to report on one of the most basic yet essential improvements.

Three years ago, we committed to accelerating upgrades at the 717 transit stops in Saanich. Upgrades include making the stops accessible, ensuring sufficient lighting and installing shelters where ridership warrants. We are pleased to report that there were 45 upgrades this year - up from 12 in 2008; and 31 new bus shelters this year - up from only 4 in 2008.

Saanich leads the region in climate change initiatives, from energy efficiency incentives to an urban forest program. This term, we will implement an Electric Vehicle Strategy, a Climate Smart Training Program and the Carbon Champions Program Network. In addition, we will encourage residential use of rain barrels, rain gardens, downspout disconnections and bioswales.

The appendices include a list of the parkland that has been acquired in recent years. One thing that is certain, future Councils will be hard pressed to match our accomplishments last year - preserving Panama Flats and saving Haro Woods - adding 32 hectares of green space. In fact, park acquisitions in 2011 added a total of 82 acres - a four percent increase in just one year.

The Panama Flats purchase has many community benefits including storm water management, habitat protection, recreation, and food security. Preserving flood storage on the Flats will result in less flooding on adjacent or downstream private properties and prevent possible upstream flooding.

Owning the Flats affords a great opportunity to optimize environmental values on the Colquitz such as protecting overwintering Coho salmon, abundant waterfowl and rare and endangered plant and bird species. Restoring watercourses and vegetation will enhance fish, bird, and plant habitat.

Less seasonal trail flooding and more park land will allow us to turn an informal perimeter trail into a looped trail system for community use. In terms of food security, the Flats preserves farmland and opens up the possibility of community allotment gardens and commercial farming sensitive to its neighbours.

Through 2012 we will be working with stakeholders and the public to determine the future uses that will help meet the many interests that exist in the community.

Saved from residential development, Haro Woods is a 10.5 acre second growth forest with high ecological values. The purchase results in 94% of the forest protected as park thereby advancing the Municipality’s urban forest strategy and climate action goals.

Haro Woods will also be the subject of consultation in relation to how best to use and preserve this model urban forest. Work on this planning process will likely start in late 2012.

Public safety has always been a high priority and we continue to ensure our Police and Fire Departments are fully staffed, equipped and trained. We have the second largest Traffic Safety Unit in B.C. and their work has been based on crash location research. We are pleased to report a decrease in crashes and will continue to monitor this over the long term.

New initiatives include the Police Department’s program to reduce the victimization of seniors, such as by internet fraud and identity theft; the Fire Department has developed a Seniors Fire Safety campaign; and Fire Prevention Week will see the launch of "Children First" - a home escape planning program. We are also pleased to announce that the District of Saanich has achieved "role model city" status under the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction - Disaster Resilient Cities Campaign. With this designation, we commit to being a role model for community disaster risk reduction.

Saanich continues to create a healthy community by pursuing initiatives to encourage active living for both adults and children. Working with a volunteer facilitator, the "Big Wellness" program has created a secure and supportive environment for obese adults to learn how to fit active living and healthy eating into their lives. While looking at the range of services by all providers in our community, the recently completed "Early Childhood Development Strategy" and the "Childhood Obesity Initiative" have lead to enhanced after school programming with both the Saanich and Greater Victoria School Districts.

Among other projects, we completed a major refurbishment of 21 parks this past year. With funding support from the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program, new playground equipment went into Whitehead and nine other parks; the sport courts in Browning Park and five other locations were upgraded; various tennis courts, including a complete renovation of the courts in Lambrick Park, were resurfaced; and drainage and irrigation improvements were made to the field at Lochside Park.

Many of you use or know someone who makes use of the commuter trail system within our community. You will also know that use of these trails has increased and we want this to continue. Recognizing this, I will be asking staff to work with our partners and stakeholders to explore options for increasing the capacity of our main commuter trails so that we can welcome commuter cyclists, hikers and casual walkers on these trails.

Accessing our parks is something that many of us may take for granted. There are however, members of our community that find stairs or natural terrain to be a major challenge and this limits their ability to enjoy the many wonderful parks and playgrounds we have in Saanich. Through this next term I will be looking for ways to reduce the barriers that may limit access so that residents of all abilities will be able to experience our parks and open spaces.

We have now opened the region’s only dedicated community arts facility - the Arts Centre at Cedar Hill - making Saanich a more vibrant community. From the glass art to the state of the art ceramics studio, to the increased gallery space, this LEED Silver (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) facility has been extremely well received and well used since being officially opened in September. While staff are involved in various direct programming, they have also created strong partnerships within the arts community as evidenced by the Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria taking up residence and the establishment of an arts focused day care operated by the Arts Calibre Academy.

A vibrant Saanich must continue to address affordability. We are proud to have attracted and approved the Mount View Heights Campus of Care which is home for families, seniors and those who had been homeless. Cool Aid, CRD Housing and Baptist Housing have joined Pacifica Housing and Habitat for Humanity in adding affordable housing in Saanich this past term. As this next term begins, we will address significant policy initiatives on housing affordability and pursue new opportunities with Habitat, Baptist Housing and St. Vincent de Paul.

The two issues which dominated my first annual address in 1996 were the loss of provincial government grants and high unemployment. In 2005, the issues were managing new provincial and federal grants and transfers, and managing the growth fuelled by a very strong economy.

Today, the global economy is worrisome and government balance sheets are in crisis. So more than ever I believe we need focus and perspective. Our vision is set out in an excellent Official Community Plan; our priorities are established in a progressive Strategic Plan; and our timelines will become reality with our Financial Plan.

Councillors - you and I are fortunate to be served by professional and dedicated staff and to lead a community whose citizens share a common vision for our future. Together, we can continue to make Saanich one of Canada’s most sustainable, healthy and vibrant communities.