community
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The Failures Behind the City’s $175,000 Victoria Curling Club Grant, by Arthur McInnis
The Failures Behind the City’s $175,000 Victoria Curling Club Grant By Arthur McInnis May 2, 2026 ————————————————————————————————— On Thursday, April 2, 2026, during a COTW meeting, Council debated a Member Motion brought forward by Councillors Matt Dell and Krista Loughton.… Continue reading
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Vancouver Proves Exactly What Happens When A Council Abandons Its Legal Tools, by Arthur McInnis
Vancouver Proves Exactly What Happens When A Council Abandons Its Legal Tools When councils stop using and enforcing their legal tools, public input quietly disappears. Vancouver shows the endgame; Victoria is on the same path unless voters step up. .… Continue reading
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Destruction of Esquimalt’s Natural Assets, by Frances Litman
Destruction of Esquimalt’s Natural Assets Article and photos by Frances LitmanApril 6, 2026 It appears that due to approved development, the Township of Esquimalt and the Department of National Defence continue to add to the senseless destruction of natural habitat… Continue reading
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Experience: Amalgamation in Toronto Hurt Local Democracy, by Elizabeth Borek
Experience: Amalgamation in Toronto Hurt Local Democracy Saanich should avoid the same fate. Elizabeth BorekFeb 15, 2026 I was a resident of the City of Toronto when the various surrounding municipalities amalgamated with Toronto in the late 1990’s. There was… Continue reading
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After much pressure from the public, Victoria City Council finally decided to end the Centennial Square redevelopment project. The Sequoia, Morioka cherry, other trees, the fountain, and monolith have all been saved.
After much pressure from the public, Victoria City Council finally decided to end the Centennial Square redevelopment project. The Sequoia, Morioka cherry, other trees, the fountain, and monolith have all been saved. The City has also saved, as a result,… Continue reading
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Oak Bay Council Narrowly Rejects Six-Unit Uplands Development at 2830/2850 Lansdowne Rd.
Oak Bay Council Narrowly Rejects Six-Unit Uplands Development at 2830/2850 Lansdowne Rd. Photo: A Garry Oak Meadow in Uplands Park CRD WatchNov 25, 2025 Oak Bay, BC — In a close and highly watched vote, Oak Bay Council have denied an approval for… Continue reading
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The Vanquishing of the Public Hearing: how a single rezoning exposed the quiet dismantling of the public’s voice in Victoria’s planning process, by Arthur McInnis.
The Vanquishing of the Public Hearing: how a single rezoning exposed the quiet dismantling of the public’s voice in Victoria’s planning process. By Arthur McInnisOct 18, 2025 Victoria’s new Official Community Plan was meant to guide growth. Instead, it has… Continue reading
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Snapshot of Deanmurdock.ca in Aug 2020: “Facilitation and engagement specialist”, leads to questions about the focus of Murdock’s consultation business, prior to his becoming the Mayor of Saanich.
Snapshot of Deanmurdock.ca in Aug 2020: “Facilitation and engagement specialist”, leads to questions about the focus of Murdock’s consultation business, prior to his becoming the Mayor of Saanich. By Sasha IzardOct 2, 2025 An Archive.org Waybackmachine snapshot of Deanmurdock.ca 2… Continue reading
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Silent Erosion: How Densification Undermines Community and Climate
Silent Erosion: How Densification Undermines Community and Climate By Christy Daibert,Sept 30, 2025 Those advocating for the densification and transformation of established neighbourhoods should seriously consider alternative locations, areas where new development can be planned from the ground up, without… Continue reading
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“Informal feedback” was used as justification to eliminate off-site Saanich Council Town Hall meetings. I made an FOI request to locate the “informal feedback”. The only feedback in this direction, that showed up in the FOI response, regarding the May 6, 2025 Town Hall meeting, was from Councillor Bondaroff.
“Informal feedback” was used as justification to eliminate off-site Saanich Council Town Hall meetings. I made an FOI request to locate the “informal feedback”. The only feedback in this direction, that showed up in the FOI response, regarding the May… Continue reading
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