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Park Info & Services RAEving about Parks Blog Saanich Parks Manager Rae S. Roer and his monthly feature: RAEving about Parks January 2012 Happy New Year!
New Years Day, like it seemed many others, was spent in Mount Douglas Park. It was such a beautiful day and of course all those resolutions to walk more, get fit etc. The parking lot was over flowing. The trails were filled with many happy smiling faces greeting us a Happy New Year. My wife and I choose to take the Whittaker Trail that loops the entire park. It was a terrific hike. We took the fork in the trail going up Little Mt Doug to get a great view of the valley. As proof, I took the attached self photo of us. I am sure my wife will be pleased I posted this. As always though, she looks way better than me. The hike took us just under an hour and we really enjoyed it. Saanich Parks is planning some trail improvements in the park this year. We will complete the work on the Norn Trail that we started last year. Come summer our focus will be on portions of the Whittaker Trail. We looking into the expansion of the way finding signs we have been piloting on the Irvine Trail. We are also looking at the use of technology in signs and QR codes. We may even explore some other ‘low tech’ ideas too. So here’s to 2012 and all that it will bring. Someone in our office said ‘it will be better; every year is better’. I thought this was an interesting thought. So with that in mind that is my resolution ‘Be better’.
This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca , call 250 475 5522 or leave a comment on our Facebook page. December, 2011 'TIS THE SEASON
Like most everyone else, I find myself saying ‘where did the year go’? Last time I wrote for this feature was summer now we are less than 2 weeks until Christmas. I’d like to believe it’s that I have been too busy but it really is just about making the time. Saanich Parks has been busy and I’d like to celebrate some of the things we have done this year. When we started the year we had identified a number of initiatives including:
Concept Plans - Mt View Carey Park plans was completed and the park opened in late Nov. It will take some time for the grass to catch but the playground is open & being enjoyed by the community. We also have made great progress on the Cuthbert Holmes & Cadboro-Gyro parks. Natural Area Management - We have completed Natural Area Guidelines. We are nearing completion of the Invasive Species Strategy. Urban Forestry - The major initiative was canopy cover analysis which is nearing completion. RInC – We completed 21 various park/playground projects. Park Signage – We have reviewed park signage with an emphasis on Interpretive & Way Finding. Install new signs. We have 27 interpretive sign in our current inventory. We also have over 20 maps or directional signs. We have installed new signs this year in Mt Douglas Park (Salmon Life Cycle & Trail Markers), Baxter Park (ecosystems), Knockan Hill Park (information) & Prospect Lake (lake access info). We also have 9 other sign projects nearing completion. Mt Douglas – We completed creek work, in partnership with the Friends of Mt Douglas during the summer. We also have a creek/weir study underway that will help guide future work in the creek & the watershed. We have completed the environmental assessments to support the parking area & trail access off 4439 Blenkinsop Rd. This will provide safer & better trailhead access to the park from the west side of the park. Park Development – This fall we completed park development of Harvest Lane & Fairburn. Parks & Recreation Master Plan – Over the past year the Department has been seeking community input on the futre direction for the Department. The opportunity to provide final comment is open until Jan 8, 2012. Follow the link: http://www.saanich.ca/parkrec/masterplan.html. A few other highlights include:
2012 will be another busy year and some of the more notable projects will include: Concept Plans – completing Cuthbert Holmes and Cadboro-Gyro but also starting on the recent acquisitions of Panama Flats & Haro. Urban Forestry – continued implementation of the Strategy including tree planting plans & bylaw review Invasive Specie Strategy – completion & implementation of the Strategy Park/Playgrounds – repair/replacement of various playgrounds & structures including Cadboro-Gyro, Majestic, Beckwith, McMorran’s & Prospect lake Parks. I closing I want to thank all the staff who do so much for us everyday, the volunteers who give of their time freely & all our park visitors for enjoying our parks & keeping us informed on what you feel is important to your park system. Have a safe & happy holiday season. I’ll be back next year with my Saanich Parks New Years Resolutions. This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca , call 250 475 5522 or leave a comment on our Facebook page. Rae S. Roer Parks Manager July 28, 2011 SUMMER FUN
It took until mid-July but we finally got a taste of summer. I hope you have all had a chance to get out & enjoy it. I recently took a great bike ride around using our Saanich trails. I want to share the route & few highlights along the way. We live in the Marigold area so we started at Hyacinth Park.
All told we were out for about an hour. We observed that within the first few minutes on the Lochside we’d already encountered the same number of people we’d seen on the entire first half of the loop. The riding is just as easy, there is plenty to see & actually more parkland to explore on this part of the loop. Click here to view the map that outlines the route. Get out & try it. Or share with me your favorite route. I also just returned from a visit to Beckwith Park. Summer fun was in full swing. Tennis Courts in use as a coach was preparing some youth lads for a tennis event. The playground was full & the Frog Pond was teeming with children. The parents were all sitting back soaking the sun & their children’s delight. There were also at least three day camps there, two were Saanich Parks & Recreation programs plus one from a neighbouring community. What a hub of summer fun. So I hope you are all getting some summer fun in. Our parks system has lots to offer. Share some of your summer fun; we’d love to hear about it. This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca , call 250 475 5522 or leave a comment on our Facebook page.. Rae S. Roer Parks Manager June 27, 2011 Best of Saanich Parks Recently the News Group published their annual Best of the City awards. As we enter the second week of summer (yes it did arrive on June 21) I thought I’d produce my own ‘best of’ list. But these are the Best of Saanich Parks. Best Views – Many of our parks offer great vistas & views of the City/Region, the San Juan Islands or the Olympic Peninsula. We all know Mt Douglas & Mt Tolmie but try Peacock Hill, Knockan Hill or Sayward Hill for a change. Beach Beaches – For a family time you can’t beat Cadboro-Gyro Park. If you are into skim board Arbutus Cove is the place. But Mt Douglas Park & Cordova Bay offer great summer time beach fun too. Secret getaway – Outerbridge Park was created out of the vision of Mrs. Outerbridge’ Shangri-la. We have partnered with her & the Glendale gardens & it’s a hidden gem worth the visit. A small parking lot is accessible off of Royal Oak Dr. near Lochside School Best Trails – With nearly 100kms of trails in Saanich it’s hard to say what’s best. Best depends on what you want to do or where you live. One of the best trails is always the closest one for me. But a great summer adventures is to get on the Interurban Rail Trail & ride out to the Red Barn. When you get there have a cold drink, coffee or ice cream & then come back to town. It’s a great ride through rural Saanich. Best Playgrounds – We have 54 to choose from with 2 new ones coming this summer at Harvest Lane & Mt View Parks. But with the Federal Recreational Infrastructure Canada grant we updated 10 playgrounds last year. Try out Browning, Copley, Glanford or Layritz to name a few.
Best Frog Pond – The water park at Beckwith Park is called the Frog Pond. It’s open daily July 1 to Labour Day 10 am – 6 pm; June & Sept noon – 4pm daily. Largest Heron Colony – Cuthbert Holmes Park supports the largest breeding colony on Vancouver Island for the Great Blue Heron. There were 66 nest recorded in 2010. The Great Blue Heron is a protected species provincially. Therefore, care must be taken in the development & maintenance of the Park. But they are a sight to see & make for a highlight of your visit to the park. What’s your best? – I hope that you will take a few minutes & share with me what is on your ‘Best of Saanich Parks’ list. Email us or comment using our Facebook page This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca , call 250 475 5522 or leave a comment on our Facebook page.. Rae S. Roer Parks Manager May 17, 2011 Partnerships
Working in partnership with our community, our mission is to create a quality of life that supports healthy lifestyles and preserves and protects our natural environment. When this Mission statement was developed the cornerstone is based on PARTNERSHIPS. Over the past few weeks I have been witnessed some of the recent successes based on this mission. On May 11 we gathered at the summit of Mt Tolmie to unveil a geographic marker. This marker was a partnership with the Mt Tolmie Community Association, Saanich Rotary & Saanich Parks. It is also the final piece of the Phase 1 Summit improvements that we undertook with help from a Provincial Tourism Grant. For many years Mt Tolmie won the News Groups Best View of the City. Thanks to our partners this marker makes one more reason to visit. Until you can get there in person, check out the A Channel news story.
This is only 2 examples of ‘working in partnership’. We have many more; from the day to day relationships with all our Sports Groups, Community Associations & Friends of Groups to special capital improvement projects; we are proud of them all. Later this year watch for other partnered projects such as:
This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca or call 250 475 5522. Rae S. Roer Parks Manager April 28, 2011 Share the Trail Saanich Over the Easter Weekend I got out with family & friends to enjoy some of our fantastic parks & trails. I was not alone. With the sun finally shining the trails were full of people making great use of the over 95 km of trails we have in Saanich. Trails in Saanich serve many needs and must respond to a wide range of conditions. We have guidelines for their development & maintenance. We also have developed the Share the Trail Saanich program to encourage safe enjoyable use by all.
The Goal of our system is: To provide a network of interconnected trails that offers a range of opportunities for recreational activities, transportation, and is respectful to the environment. Trails are seen to contribute to:
Saanich will be guided by these principles when developing and upgrading trails:
Share the Trail Saanich A few simple, common-sense considerations will make your trail-travel safer and more enjoyable for everyone:
Look for us spreading the work with our partners. Saanich Police will help us in the upcoming School Bike Rodeos. We will also be back at the Celebration Station at Saanich Hall along the Lochside Trail during Bike to Work Week May 30 – June 5 I hope you have found this information valuable & please get out & enjoy our trails but remember to Share the Trail Saanich. This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca or call 250 475 5522. Rae S. Roer Parks Manager April 12, 2011 Who Cares? In 1978 I switched my University program into Parks & Recreation. I took a first year class called Foundations in Recreation from Dr. Howard Nixon. Howie had a profound influence on me & I like to tell people the one thing I learned in university was from Howie. I now realize he taught me more than one thing and so did a few other key professors, bosses, Mayors and citizens along the way. But lately that so called 1 thing Howie taught me has been haunting me. One day, all us young bright but maybe a bit blurry eyed or naïve student we asked to tell Howie what he’d drawn on the chalk board. It was a half moon divided into 3 pieces. 2 small pieces one marked + the other marked – sign. The big piece in the middle had the letters WC’s. After a few minutes of letting us flounder; he put us out of our misery. He announced ‘it’s the public on any given issue’.
He explained that on any issue 10% will love it; you’d be lucky to hear from them. 10% will hate it; they will make themselves heard. The rest, 80% Who Cares. But they, Howie explained are the Who we need to hear from & why we do what we do. Remember this was 1978. In the 1979 Federal Election the voter turnout was 76%. It had been that way from 1867 until 1980 when it dipped below the 70% mark. In 2008 it was 59%. In 2008, municipal elections Vancouver had 31% while here in Saanich we had only 20% voter turnout.. On March 2, we hosted a public open house on the future of Cadboro-Gyro Park. It is a 6 Ha waterfront park. It is one of our only true waterfront parks for the whole of Saanich’s 110,000+ residents. One would argue its may also be regional in nature. We advertised in the Saanich News, sent out 310 letters to the immediate neighbourhood yet only 95 turned out for the meeting. To-date we have received 62 comments on the plan. Last week, April 4-7, each evening we hosted open houses to discuss the Saanich Parks & Recreation Master Plan. Over the 4 nights we had 54 people in total. The best turn out was the Tuesday night at Gordon Head Rec Centre with 16. We received 21 comments sheets to-date. This meeting was well advertised & promoted in a variety of ways. Is it apathy, indifference or disenchantment with government? Is it that we are all too busy? We see issues becoming more & more polarized. The media is full of negativity. So 30 years later, Howie’s words are still true. Who Cares? But we know you do! Saanich is a proud community. Civic minded. We have active Community Associations, many sports groups. Plus we know you love your parks. We care too. Our challenge is to find a way to get your feedback. We still use public meetings and open houses. We do letters to neighbours. We use the Web & are now experimenting with social media to link into people. But back to Howie. I have lost touch with him but I think of him occasionally. He set a foundation in parks & recreation that has followed me from the dry land prairies to the wet coast. So please let your voice be heard. Particularly if you like what we are doing. Don’t assume we know or that others will tell us. We need to hear it. But if you don’t like what we are doing or something have done or not done. If you have a question or concern we want to hear about that too. In the meantime, feels a bit more like spring get out & enjoy our parks! This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca or call 250 475 5522. Rae S. Roer Parks Manager Feb 25, 2011 Who ever said time is continuous. We all know about time flying or coming to a stand still. In my case; where did the time go? Last time I posted it was Movember now it’s almost March. Just as we were ready to enjoy some of the early spring flowers THE SNOW COMES. It has been a long winter although it could be worse. The rest of ‘winter’ Canada has been experiencing a tough winter too. As I grew up in a traditional prairie winter climate by best advice is; enjoy it. Build a snow man, make snow angels, take a walk in the snow. Better yet dig out those X-C Skis & go for it. Once the snow melts, spring will be around the corner. We will have a shorter than normal turn around for spring clean up & before we know it ball season will be here. We also have a number of projects planned this year. Stay tuned for information about:
This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca or call 250 475 5522. Rae S. Roer Parks Manager
Movember 2, 2010 The Forest & the Trees
Saanich has a new Urban Forest Strategy. Last night Council unanimously approved it. “IT” was 18 months in the making. But some might say it’s been nearly 2 decades in the making. Saanich was one of the first municipalities to adopt a Tree Preservation Bylaw in 1993. Now we are taking the next step to create a sustainable, healthy community with the Urban Forest Strategy. We have engaged the community in a discussion to develop a long-term plan to achieve a sustainable urban forest. We define the Urban Forest as: “the sum total of all trees & their related ecosystems within the municipality.” Urban forests play an important role in contributing to the environmental integrity and climate change resiliency of Saanich. They filter air and water, create shade, provide habitat and slow wind and storm water. Urban forests contribute to the social well-being of Saanich by providing healthy and enjoyable recreation opportunities, moderating local climate, shading homes and businesses to conserve energy, and are critical in mitigating the urban heat island effect. Urban forests contribute to the economic vibrancy of Saanich through increased property values and encouraging business on tree-lined streets.
The Saanich Urban Forest Vision is: “The urban forest in Saanich is a highly valued asset comprised of a rich and diverse forest that is widely recognized and appreciated for the contribution that it makes to our community and to our sustainable environment.”
The goal is: “Protect and Enhance the Urban Forest” The seven Strategies are:
There are several actions that support each of the strategy statements & over the next few years Parks staff along with other internal stakeholders will continue to work with the community to implant the vision of a rich, diverse & appreciated sustainable urban forest. I want to thank the community, staff & our consultants for participating in the process. This process has reminded us all that Saanich is a community that cares & is passionate about their community & it’s Urban Forest. It’s also Movember. Over 30 men in Saanich Parks are participating with the League of Municipal Gentleman from Saanich that are all growing a ‘mo’ as part of the Movember for men’s health & prostate cancer awareness. To learn more click on the link http://ca.movemberfoundation.com/
This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca or call 250 475 5522. Rae S. Roer Parks Manager October 1, 2010 - Building Community Without sounding like ‘crying the blues’ at times we only hear about something we have done wrong. In the middle of this week we received some feedback that truly resonated with me. It reminded why we do what we do & specifically why I choose a career in parks/recreation. In this blog I have written about $3M RinC program & the 21 parks we are upgrading with the help of the Federal grant. The focus was on upgrading existing infrascturre & in some case where we had previously approved park concept plans we have been able to expand the assets within the park. Glanford Park is an example of this. It has been home to football, soccer, horseshoe, community gardens & of course neighbourhood playground. In fact, the original development pre-dated the dedication as park that first occurred in 1981. But since the late 80’s the park has remained relatively unchanged. But with the RinC funding we have installed the new playground, sport court and associated trail work has been installed in accordance with the December 2009 Council approved concept plan. Minor improvements to the Agnes Street Allotment gardens have also been completed. But the reminder came in the form of an unsolicited comment from a park neighbour. Her comments are as follows:
This is it. We made a difference. We have built community. We enrich people’s lives. It is the embodiment of our mission that states: We create opportunities that enrich the community, sustain quality environments and support healthy lifestyles. To Melanie I say thank you for sharing your comments with us. We are pleased with the results, your satisfaction & the reminder it has provided me
This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca or call 250 475 5522. Rae S. Roer Parks Manager August 24, 2010 - Summer Flies & Winters Walk! I recall this as the title of a Peanuts Collection by Charles Shultz. As a kid, I remember thinking it funny then as it related to summer vacation from school & while it’s been a long 30+ years since school this summer has taken flight. I know, technically we are still in summer until Sept 21 but as August comes to a close, the Back to School ads on everywhere I am left wondering where it went. Over this spring/summer, time has flown by with our crews & contractors busy with the RinC park/playground program. We have completed projects at Marigold, Rudd, Lochside & Braefoot parks. We are nearly completed with the resurfacing of the 8 tennis courts. The Lambrick Tennis Court replacement is underway & should re-open later this fall. Other projects that will be finished this fall include: Browning, Falaise, Glanford, Hampton, Layritz & Playfair parks. Thanks to the Federal Infrastructure Program over 20 parks are being upgraded this year. But there is still time for you or me for that matter to get out & enjoy summer in our parks. This weekend I plan to head to the beach with my teenage sons for some skim boarding. It’s all they could talk about after our annual summer trip back to the Prairies to see family. Or better yet a bike ride & some badly needed exercise. Or maybe both. With 165 parks in Saanich there is so much to do. This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca or call 250 475 5522. Rae S. Roer Parks Manager May 2010 - When the winds blow…our phones ring April brought some unseasonable wind events and when the winds are like they have been we suffer tree failures. Over the Easter weekend we had a major event and we received over 20 calls about partial or complete tree failures. As of noon April 27th, we had over 35. Our trained professional staff is responding and will continue for the next few days. When it’s not blowing we can occasionally plant a few trees Last year was a record year for tree planting but none more significant that the 3 London Plane trees that were replaced on Shelbourne last week on Earth Day. 30 Grade 7 students of Mr. Alex de Medeiros Gordon Head Middle School took quite an interest in the significance of these trees and noticed that 3 were missing. They work with staff from Saanich Parks and Engineering and we are pleased to have helped replace the missing trees. The trees were originally planted at end of WW1 to honor the fallen BC/Victoria soldiers. The students also wanted to bring the honor forward to the present and we recognized Bombardier Mansell and Lieutenant Nuttall who lost their lives serving in Afghanistan.
If you are interested we have other public art installations along the Lochside Trail (Centennial Rings & Roy) and in Rutledge Park the Stone Poems. We also partnered with Colquitz Middle School and the Garth Homer Society as part of River Song to install and raise awareness of the Colquitz Creek as part of BC Rivers Day. So more & more reasons to enjoy our parks (when the wind isn’t blowing) This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca or call 250 475 5522. Rae S. Roer April 2010 - Spring has arrived…. It sure feels like it. Flowers are out, trees are not only leafing out but blossoms have formed, the grass is growing & the phone is ringing. But who expected a November type wind storm in April. We received over 100 tree related calls & our crews have been out to all the highest priority calls. The remainder we are working on it as quickly as possible. The maintenance crews have completed the first cutting of all our parks & boulevards. Baseball is in full swing. Next month the new Pesticide Bylaw comes into affect. Many alternatives to control weeds exist & we will in fact just need to be more tolerate of them. There is some good information about what we do on our site as well as at www.pesticide.saanich.ca Take care & get out & enjoy a new park or trail soon. This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca or call 250 475 5522. Rae S. Roer March 2010 - The Canada We Once Were My last entry was about the excitement and pride I was feeling about the Games. I wrote about the value of sport and recreation in our society. Now that the games are over, my feelings have not changed. The opening ceremonies and the poem by Shane Koyczan, We Are More, captures many feelings we have about who we are but have never put into words. In John Forlong’s speech during the closing ceremonies he states ‘the Canada that was with the Canada that now is. I believe we Canadians tonight are stronger, more united, more in love with our country and more connected with each other than ever before’. Never before have we seen so my pride in the True North Strong and Free. I was lucky enough to travel over to take in the middle weekend of the Games. I got to see first hand the spirit. We watch live with 22,000 others in BC Place as Jon Montgomery received his Gold Medal. As we all sang ‘Oh Canada’ loud and proud. W watched the hockey game on the ferry and shared in the disappointment in our loss to the USA. But later we were standing along with many others to clap for our amazing Ice Dancers. Of course both went on to win Gold. These are wonderful memories to share with my family for years to come. A lot has been said about “Owning the Podium’. It is an expression, a mantra to focus on excellence to achieve. Let’s stay the course. So the Canada we once were. We now do BELIEVE! Oh yeah, this is supposed to be about Parks. Maybe next time, I am still on an Olympic high, bring on the Paralympic Games. ….with glowing hearts…. This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca or call 250 475 5522. Rae S. Roer February 2010 - Let The Games BeginI must admit, I have a fever. The only cure is to tune into the Olympics. I remember the gathering to watch the bid announcement, I read lots of articles, I've heard all the criticism, I saw the torch go by the park offices, I have friends who are volunteers & we are going over next weekend but today as I write this, opening day, I am really excited.
Politics & sport have gone hand in hand since the beginning of time and from the origins of the Olympic movement. I recall at University in an introductory recreation class learning about & debating the issue. But let's face it. National pride & community pride does come out of our sports. Ask any one born in Saskatchewan (like me) about football & they will start singing 'Green is the color'. Edmonton is the City of Champions. But we also see politics & sport mixing in local community sport. As I am writing this CBC is reporting on protestors blocking the torch run. I also saw on TV this morning the young Victoria student from St Andrews whose run in Victoria on day 1 of the relay got another chance on the Sea Wall today. Good for her. I have heard lots of complaints about the cost & expense of security. I was in Medicine Hat AB in 1988 when the Calgary Olympics were held. I recall the torch run. I looked down the street, saw the torch, it stopped at City Hall & then it went. In 2010, I saw cops cars, security details, sponsors then finally the torch then more cops & security. Apparently warranted as later that day marbles are thrown into the road & ultimately interrupted & rerouted stealing their Olympic Spirit & moment. Does the cost of Olympics bother me; yes. Do we have social issues that need attention; yes. But sport does build community; yes. Now Rugby 7's is now an Olympic sport & many young Canadians (including my son) now have an Olympic Dream to complete for their Country. As a professional parks & recreation administrator our movement believes that healthy communities benefit from recreation & sport. I say GO CANDA GO! Put it behind us & let the games begin peacefully & may the best rise to the top! This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca or call 250 475 5522.
Rae S. Roer January 2010Happy New Year & Spring is Near! As everyone returns to work & the regular retinue after the holidays we at Saanich Parks are already seeing the signs of spring. Our terrific administrative support team are getting all sorts of spring like calls & parks bookings. Every year more & more residents want to book their favourite family event, school function or wedding in one of our parks. As people also get out into the parks & trails we are getting reports of items that need our attention. Our staff does a great job of anticipating needs but we always appreciate a call if you think we need to know about something. The contact info at the bottom is a quick & easy way to report a problem. But the sure sign of spring is our vegetation. The tree buds are swelling & we even have some early daffodils up. I saw them this week at the Quadra/Chatterton intersection. Our Horticulture staff tells me these are called February Gold but they are a month early, We won't complain, we'll take this January Gold anytime. This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca or call 250 475 5522.
Rae S. Roer December 2009
Over the past year our Saanich Parks elves have been busy maintaining our over 165 parks & 750 Ha of park land. They cut the grass, pick up the litter, line the sport fields, tend the trails, maintain the urban forest, beautify the community & of course are stewards to the environment. Most of this work is recognized & I am always amazed at how appreciative our community is for the work we do. But believe me, I have had the pleasure of working in 3 provinces & in 5 different municipalities & without a doubt Saanich folks are the most thankful. However, some of the more 'unglamorous' does go unnoticed. These activities include:
Some of our notable successes this year include:
So our elves have been busy all year long. I know that Santa will be good to all of them. So from all of us in Saanich Parks we wish all of you a merry & happy holiday season. See you in 2010! This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca or call 250 475 5522.
Rae S. Roer November 2009Ch Ch Changes David Bowie wrote about Ch Ch Change in 1971, Bob Dylan had already written about 'the times they are a- changin' back in 1964, Blind melon wrote Change in 1992. I am sure if I was to research artist, philosophers alike have written, talked or thought about CHANGE. In Saanich Parks, we are talking and living change. Over the past few months Saanich has had 3 significant members of our management team retire. The first was our Planner extraordinaire, Russ Fuoco at the end of September. Saanich Parks will miss Russ as he was a tremendous support of parks and guided us through change with our role in the development process. However, we look forward to a continued great relationship with his successor, Sharon Hvodanski. Next in October, our own Ken Kreiger, Director of Parks & Recreation retired after 19 years with Saanich Parks & Recreation. Ken is tremendously well respected professional and a great believer in community development and partnerships. Then before Ken's successor could even be named; Gerald Fleming, Parks Planning & Design Manager retired on Nov 25/09 after nearly 23 years with Saanich Parks. Gerald arrived in 1987 and at that time we had less than 90 parks. Over the next 23 years Gerald has had a hand in the development of nearly 80% of the current park system. We are now over 165 parks & 750 Ha of land. Under his guidance many new parks or existing parks were constructed or redeveloped. The list includes: McMinn, Beckwith, Brydon, Sierra, Rutledge and Gorge Waterway. He was also very involved in Natural Park/environmental projects such as Quick's Bottom, Glencoe Cove-Kwatsech, & Rithet's Bog. He also over saw Sport Park and facility improvements with soccer fields, the skate park & the redevelopment of the 2 lacrosse boxes. He was also instrumental in the development of the Galloping Goose, Lochside Trails, the Blenkinsop Trestle and Centennial Trails. His contribution to the positive change in our community is evident through the park system. The sharing of stories and the genuine appreciation from many of our park "Friends of" and Community Associations is a tribute to the respect he has from the community, staff and industry professionals. So we are in the middle of change with staff as well as social, economic and environmental considerations we face as we approach 2010. Our park infrastructure will be changing thanks to Federal funding though the Recreation Infrastructure Canada program. The focus of the program will be on our Playgrounds, Sport Courts, Sports fields & Tennis Courts. Council will be soon considering a Bylaw to Regulate the Non-Essential Use of Pesticides along with a revision to the Council Policy on Integrated Pesticide Management. All the while we have continued to completed improvements along the Colquitz River, Mt. Douglas and Mt. Tolmie Parks as well as the Lake Hill Lawn Bowling Clubhouse project has begun. So CHANGE is all around us, it's always easier when you initiate it but it's inevitable as the song says 'you got to change'. I am pleased for Russ, Ken and Gerald and miss them all greatly. However, I am excited about the future very much looking forward to working with our talented team of park staff to keep meeting the changing needs of our community. October 2009Where has the time gone? Its been too long since I have Raeved about our parks. Over the summer I did the 'Chevy Chase' vacation, we drove over 6800 km taking in Western Canada back to Saskatchewan, then south through Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nevada & California. Then home through Oregon & Washington. We saw lots of countryside, communities & of course parks along the way. It was a great but even better to be home. Returning I am proud to boast about our parks & the work our staff do day in day out.
We have also been working on the lower Churchill Drive Parking Lot in Mount Douglas Park. Once complete, the lot will be better organized for parking and pedestrian use, while reducing encroachment and dumping into the natural areas of the park. In Browning Park two bridges are scheduled for replacement and a multi-use trail will be built connecting Knight Street to Wordsworth through Browning Park. This project is supported through a LocalMotion grant, and is a step toward the vision of the Bowker Creek Greenway. Its so good to be HOME!
Rae S. Roer July 6 2009 - Beach Season is here!It's a great time to get out & enjoy one of our many waterfront parks, beaches or beach accesses. In a recent article in the TC Jack Knox lists some of the well known favourites & of course some of the hidden gems. The Frog Park (Beckwith Water Park) is also now open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. It's another great place to enjoy some family fun & keep cool. I also want to thank the Gorge Tillicum Community Association for having us as part of their 10th Annual Canada Celebration. We participated in the Parade & our staff we on hand answering questions & meeting many happy people. It is always rewarding to get such great positive feedback as well as many great suggestions on things people would like to see. This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca
Rae S. Roer June 1, 2009Feels like summer. June is here. Baseball season is in full swing. Trail and beach use is up. We have over 44 beach accesses that call on days like these. But the best sign of summer is June 1 when the water gets turned on at the Beckwith Frog Pond water park. The waterpark operates noon - 4:00 pm daily in June/September and 10:00 am - 6:00 pm July - August. Another sign of summer is park bookings. Over the next month Cadboro-Gyro Park, Mount Douglas and Beckwith are popular destinations for dozens of schools and thousands of students who use our parks for year end celebration. On Saturday May 30, I attended the release of 50,000 Chum Salmon Fry into Douglas Creek on Saturday. Bob Bridgeman, Streamkeeper with the Friends of Mount Douglas (FOMD) has been working to restore salmon to the creek for the past 10 years. Recently, an oil spill into the watershed delayed the planned release. And now, 24 hours after the chum fry release we have experienced another. This is very frustrating for all involved. We all have a role to play in protecting our watersheds. We are working on watershed planning for Douglas Creek and it now seems a broader approach with more education may also be required. We will be working with Saanich Engineering to follow up on the immediate concerns and the rest of these other efforts will take time and resources. The Rhododendrons are peaking in Playfair Park. The late spring seems to have brought them all to bloom at once. Get out to see them while the show is still on. Garlic Mustard is the latest invasive plant that is challenging us. We are working with many to launch an early Detection Rapid Response. Follow the link below to find out more on this new invader. This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any\ comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca
Rae S. Roer April 22, 2009Happy Earth Day! What better day to rave about Saanich Parks than the annual Earth Day. The annual celebration is 39 years old this year. It was intended to bring attention to environmental degradation by staging an environmental teach-in. Today it is celebrated in over 170 countries in the world. Today we are planting trees in Gordon Head, we are supporting some stewardship activities at Glendale Gardens and this weekend more community stewardship activities will take place in Cuthbert Holmes Park in conjunction with the Gorge-Tillicum Community Association. Everyday, we work to preserve, protect and enhance the over 700 Ha of parkland in Saanich. In addition, we look after boulevards and administer the Tree Preservation Bylaw. We have also been working hard to find ways to re-green Saanich Parks. Over the past few years efforts have been made to preserve/protect the environment by making changes in the following areas: Irrigation, Fertilizer, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Buildings, Parks Maintenance, Natural Area Mgt, Storm Water management, Hybrid vehicles, Tree Planting, Native planting, Stream keepers and Trails. We are also currently undertaking the development of an Urban Forest Strategy. The Urban Forest Strategy will recommend direction and actions that will allow Saanich to optimize the benefits of it urban forest by envisioning and enabling an integrated and sustainable approach to preserving trees and enhancing Saanich's Urban Forest. You can participate by taking the on-line survey on our web site or plan to attend the Open House June 11. This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any\ comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca
Rae S. Roer March 5, 2009Saanich, the community, its people, our politicians and our staff care deeply about our Parks. For over 50 years Saanich Parks has been committed to 'greening' our community. Our mandate is to work in partnership with the community to create a quality of life that supports healthy lifestyles and preserves/protects our natural environment. I am reminded of the value and regard placed on parks by the community and our elected officials weekly, often daily. These beliefs are matched with a similar dedication and professionalism in the way the staff approach their daily work. Recently, I enjoyed an all too rare, 'walk in the park' with our Construction Foreman, Larry Middleton. Larry has been with Saanich over 35 years and is a testament to this approach. With great pride Larry walked me around Outerbridge Park (formerly Shangri-La). Our crews have been working on a restoration plan for the site and have recently completed the pond loop trail. It is now accessible to the community off Royal Oak Drive. No off street parking exists at this time. It is a wonderful oasis. Mrs. Outerbridge spent over 20 years to create her bird and nature sanctuary and we are proud to now be the caretakers of this legacy. We have worked with her trustee to develop the current state of redevelopment. Over time we will continue this work, expanding the input into the community for any future phases of work. In the meantime, I encourage you to explore this gem. If you ever wonder what one person can do, while you walk the site think of Mrs. O. As well, I hope you notice the quality of work and care taken by our staff in the restoration of this phase of the project. I am very proud of the work done by our planning/design, arboriculture, horticulture and construction crews. This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any\ comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca
Rae S. Roer February 2009Over the past few years Saanich Parks has been working to improve communications with the community. One of the ideas our group came up with was the Blog, specifically the Managers Blog. We thought it was a great idea, a 21st Century idea, a new e-connected way to reach the community. The only hang up was writing it. So here is the first, maybe it's a New Years resolution but I really think it's motivated by the recent loss of a great community builder Frank Leversedge. He seemed to always have time for community, soccer, youth, & his family; surely if he could do it I have time to write a Blog. I met Frank when I arrived in Saanich in 2003. He was a part of the Cordova Bay Soccer Club. I soon learned he was tiger, passionate about his game (soccer), his club, the players (young & old) & the community. We began to work on ways to meet the needs of the Club as they had lost the Trio fields. We were working on some ideas with the ultimate solution being the artificial turf field that is now in use in Lochside Park. FELPS was Frank's baby. It's said without him it would not have happened. I agree. For more about Frank follow the link to the CBSC web site www.cordovabaysoccer.org I have been in the Parks & Recreation business over 25+ years in 3 different Provinces & in 5 different communities. I have made many mistakes but I learned a few things along the way too. One of the things I have learned is that its people like Frank that build community. Every community has them & in Saanich we are lucky to have many such folks. Community partnerships have built most if not all of our parks. From the 4 artificial turf fields we now have (a 5th on the way this summer), the lacrosse boxes, the ball fields including the Lambrick Park dugout project this year. But it's not just the sport clubs we have many active Community Associations & 'Friends of" organizations that are passionate about their community. They work with our staff on many projects often challenging us in many ways but in the end we all must remember we are building community. Frank's celebration of life at Lochside Park Jan 16 reminded me on this & much more. So to all those who help make Saanich a Healthy Community thank you; I look forward to continuing to build safe, healthy & sustainable Saanich Parks with you all. This Blog will be updated to share our successes, some ideas & hidden gems. If you have any\ comments, questions or suggestions please feel free to email us at parks@saanich.ca
Rae S. Roer
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We did it a new year; we made it through the holidays. We survived the food, the drink, the socializing with friends and family. Now it’s back to everyday realities. 
Last night, May 16 Council adopted the concept plan & name for the new Mount View Park. This culminates over 2 years of community consultation & partnerships with the Mt View Carey Colquitz Community Association (MVCCA) along with the CRD & Mourgard. We were pleased to work with the MVCCA through the planning of this park. We now look forward to the partnership evolving as we enter the construction & ultimately the operational phases. We share in their excitement & look forward to the sod turning in late June. A copy of the approved concept plan is available by 
I also had the opportunity to attend the public unveiling of the new Public Art installation in Gorge Waterway Park. Saturday April 24, Camossung by Fred Dobbs is tremendous contribution to the park. It tells an ancient Songhees story of a young girl of a young girl turned to stone and is believed to have spirit powers to help protect local food sources. The piece is within sight and only a few meters of the original sacred stone located below the Tillicum Bridge. 
Happy Holidays! 'tis the season they say.
Recently BC Rivers Day was celebrated & we were pleased to support RiverSong. The event will
included a celebration of pebble mosaics created by the students of Colquitz Middle School. It
also marks the reopening of the boardwalk. This section features a new curved concrete
platform with wood handrails. Parks have worked closely with Public Works and Environmental
Services in building this structure in a sensitive riparian area that was completed as part of
our capital program this year.
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District of Saanich - 770 Vernon Ave Victoria, BC, Canada V8X 2W7 Tel: 250.475.1775 (8:30am - 4:30pm) Copyright 2010 |
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