Resilient Saanich Updates

The Resilient Saanich process began in 2020 to develop an Environmental Policy Framework, a Climate Plan (2020), a Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, and an Enhanced Stewardship Program. 

A Draft State of Biodiversity report was received and discussed by Saanich Council on March 13, 2023 and the final Biodiversity Conservation Strategy was approved in June 2024. 

Council accepted the report for information and look forward to receiving a final draft Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, an Environmental Policy Framework, and enhanced Stewardship opportunities report before the end of June of 2023.  Diamond Head Consulting from Vancouver has been working on a Draft Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for review.

Public Engagement

Milestone 1 Phase: A public engagement process closed on March 15, 2021. You can still read the engagement information on the Resilient Saanich Virtual Open House.

Milestone 2 Phase: A Community StoryMap was launched to provide information for the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy. A Milestone 2 progress report was approved by Council on August 22, 2022, including Resilient Saanich Principles and Goals and an updated workplan for Milestone 3.  

Milestone 3 Phase: Community meetings were held with the W’SANEC Leadership Council members in January and May of 2023, to discuss both the BCS and the Urban Forest Strategy (UFS). A presentation was made to the W’SANEC Leadership Council Technical Advisory Committee in September of 2023, regarding both the BCS and the UFS.

Engagement opportunities were provided at Public Open Houses on the BCS and the UFS in April of 2023. A technical experts’ workshop was held in September 2023 to gather information for draft recommendations for the BCS. 

The Stewardship Committee of the Resilient Saanich Technical Committee drafted an Enhanced Stewardship discussion paper [PDF - 256 KB] that was provided to Diamond Head Consulting for consideration. Environmental Policy Framework Draft to be completed by staff. 

Resilient Saanich e-Bulletins

To keep informed of project updates and participation opportunities, Resilient Saanich e-Bulletins were provided. The following are e-Bulletins (in PDF format) that have been sent out since the start of the project:

Resilient Saanich Factsheets
(PDF Documents)

Factsheet #1: FAQs [887 KB]
Factsheet #2: Biodiversity Conservation Strategy Examples [3 MB] 
Factsheet #3: Biodiversity Targets [509 KB]
Factsheet #4: Biodiversity Conservation Resources [526 KB]
Factsheet #5: Biodiversity Related Saanich Reports [2 MB]
Factsheet #6: Biodiversity and Protected Areas in Saanich [535 KB]
Factsheet #7: Environmental Stewardship Examples [556 KB]