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Congratulations on your launch! Looking forward to many more articles! Ali Gaul
By: Ali Gaul on October 6, 2009
at 7:08 am
Tags and graffiti…
The beautiful and vibrant graffiti wall on the rear of the Monk Office warehouse and the Trackside Gallery have both been defaced and, in some cases, destroyed by the hyper-vigilant anti-graffiti workers.
In watching these people paint over tags and graffiti on telephone poles, rock faces and concrete structures it strikes me as indefensible, the idea that the blocks of mis-matched colour slapped over tags are ‘beautiful’ or even effective concealment.
The paint covering tags is ugly, whereas many tags are at least unique and stylish. The paint covering larger graffiti –particularly on poles and rock and concrete, is flat out nasty.
P.S. The Tag 2009 Delta Ocean Pointe event for graffiti destruction is in Victoria, not Esquimalt… how far outside Esquimalt are ‘Esquimalt Events’ going to take place? Will we have announcements for Toronto or Dubai conferences, too?
By: Linda Clement on October 6, 2009
at 8:22 am
Congratulations Tim on the launch of the Esquimalt Review. Your website looks very professional and I definitely think there is a niche for the Esquimalt Review to make up for the lack of coverage by the Victoria News and the Times-Colonist. They just don’t pay as much attention to Esquimalt as they used to.
Cheers, John McKay
By: John McKay on October 8, 2009
at 5:16 pm
Sewage treatment is not the worst idea of all time, but doing it anywhere near the shoreline is a ludicrous waste. Even landlocked cities manage sewage.
If (and I do not agree with the premise at all) we actually need to do anything different from the currently safe and healthy liquid waste disposal we have now, at least we can do it on already-contaminated land, small and local like former gas station properties…and leave out the stupid, expensive ‘obvious’ solution of centralizing in such a wacky terrain.
You realize that doing it at the waterfront means pumping a LOT of it over hills –sometimes several, just to get it ‘down’ to the water?
By: Linda Clement on October 24, 2009
at 1:10 pm
I am 100% in favour of development on private property in Esquimalt… providing there is sufficient parking required for ALL development.
Including municipal.
Including commercial.
The current state of parking in the core is atrocious, and an inexcusable oversight by previous councils.
Anyone with eyes can see that infilling and acquiescing to things like illegal suites and ‘swaps’ to add greenspace instead of the legally required parking amenities has congested streets and created tax havens for residents who think their street frontage is their property so they can control it.
Reinstate parking requirements, and remove them from ‘negotiable’ items in developments. Remove ‘resident only’ signs everywhere they appear: residents can provide their own off-street parking, or cope with the mess Esquimalt has made of the issue, perhaps to pressure Esquimalt to fix it.
By: Linda Clement on October 24, 2009
at 1:12 pm
Thanks for the update on the Admirals/Colville roads project. It’s been a long tedious process for motorists in and out of Esquimalt via Admirals road for what seems like forever. However, with the end in site, a new intersection with the necessary traffic control will be a long awaited improvement. I’m sure no one will be more happier at the completion than the residents directly affected by the never ending clouds of dust, noise and delays. We motorists only have to wait a short while to get through but for the local residents it’s been ongoing for too long, I’m sure. My hats off to residents in the immediate area for putting up with it all. John McKay
By: John McKay on October 24, 2009
at 1:20 pm
The Admirals/Colville intersection has to the most bizarre upgrade I’ve ever seen. With no less than 14 traffic lights for basically a three way intersection it makes you wonder what the designers were thinking. If you’re in the left hand lane travelling down Admirals heading out of Esquimalt a last second lane change is required and is downright dangereous. Might not be so bad if you travel this route all the time but if you don’t it’s an accident waiting to happen. The line painting is downright confusing and just wait until the winter when the lines have worn off and can’t be seen at all. Might actually be less confusing. There are going to be a lot of accidents at this intersection.
By: Briggzee on May 3, 2010
at 9:09 pm
You complain too much. I have never ever had any problem driving through this light. And I am a new driver with less than 2 years driving experience.
And to date, there has been no accident in that intersection. You just complain too much and expect everything to be perfect.
By: Marco on May 2, 2011
at 3:07 pm
The whole province of BC is full of confusing intersection markings. However, sometimes it is our preconceived ideas of where the road is going that gets us in trouble. GPS is even WORSE!!!
By: Kiki on December 3, 2011
at 3:56 pm
Let’s face the facts, Esquimalt wants to move forward in regards to development, infrastructure and the strangest tourism. But why is it when a developer wants to do something progressive it is squashed by council, there seems to be a fear of moving forward in this Township. The infrastructure is a complete joke, the roads are horrible, there is NO designated truck route, parking sucks, where are my property taxes going? And the funniest, tourism, what is there to draw tourist to Esquimalt? parks, money loan business’, booze store. How about trying to improve the facades of the business’, ever think of starting a Business Improvement Association? How does the Chamber (or lack there of) expect to draw business’ to Esquimalt? If there was any back bone in our Town Hall things would have changed years ago…… ten years of planning for a town centre, is a complete joke!!!!! There needs to be a focus on the FUTURE, we are the closest district to Victoria(progessive) and we are the furthest behind(stone ages)!!! Good Luck Esquimalt… I hope I’m still living here when things get better….. but I don’t think so.
By: Dave on October 30, 2009
at 4:58 pm
For the local residents the cross walk at Grafton & Esquimalt Road was one of the most important ones that you could have installed.This is a high traffic area for all with the base workers.
Could it be possible when doing these crosswalks with the lights a sound system be installed also for the blind.
Thank You
Mari Hall
By: Mari Hall on November 7, 2009
at 1:59 pm
Can anyone explain to me WHY Esquimalt has the highest property taxes in the CRD???? And what are we getting for our money? This is painfully frustrating.
By: dave on March 18, 2010
at 1:08 pm
Backyard garbage removal.
Amazing, how few people know about it, but one of the reasons our garbage collectors get the big bucks is because they’re required to go get the garbage wherever it is (neatly, accessibly) stored on your property.
The last referendum about this was completely clear: pay them more, we want to keep this service.
By: Linda Clement on March 18, 2010
at 3:47 pm
THANKS LINDA!!!! I had no Idea that the collectors were obligated to pick-up my garbage from the “back yard” or bottom of the driveway. And Thank you Randall for the insight to the other tax concerns, do away with the VicPD they are a sink hole for my money and patience.
By: Dave on April 8, 2010
at 4:11 pm
Interesting, as my garbage was left the one time I didn’t take it to the curb. When I called to get it picked up I was told I had to leave it at the curb or it wouldn’t be picked up. They reluctantly came ane emptied it.
By: Briggzee on May 3, 2010
at 9:14 pm
The fact that municipal staff are not aware of all, what is it, 1400? bylaws should come as a surprise to no one. But a bylaw it is, notwithstanding. I think it’s a huge improvement over the eyesore of Langford and Oak Bay with garbage cans and lids and garbage strewn across the streets after a windy night.
By: Linda Clement on May 5, 2010
at 12:57 pm
Esquimalt Council has been working hard to try to keep our tax increases as low as possible. That is hard to do so long as we are still paying more than $2 million too much every year for policing. That would be the equivalent of a 10% tax reduction on its own. Using the new arrangements recommended in the police audit we can hopefully both get better service and a more reasonable bill.
Another reason our taxes appear even higher is the fact that we don’t bill separately for things like water and garbage as other municipalities do.
By: Randall Garrison on March 22, 2010
at 9:51 am
I was wondering what’s happening with our Village Project. It has been three years since this project was contracted out to be developed. If we can’t move along on our own developments, it says a lot to developers who would like to do business here.
By: growad on March 29, 2010
at 9:56 am
I was wondering if there would be a positive response to developing the hill portion of Anderson Park to residential lots. This portion of land is wasted and not used. I think the residents around the area would be in favor of doing this if the funds gathered was used to beautify the area around the school with such things as sidewalks(Colville,Ellery and Cave) line the school fields or boulevard running down along the school fields with trees.
By: growad on March 29, 2010
at 10:08 am
Regarding the Village Project and Anderson Park:
It was embarrassing to be standing talking to the consultants of that project and not only finding out that they’re from Vancouver (yay, spending massive amounts of money on outsiders telling us what to do with our town) but also that they thought it was completely reasonable to gut municipal properties for the benefit of developers.
There is an astonishing proportion of Esquimalt held privately –if developers wish to make a profit, they will need to invest, not expect gifts from the municipality.
Moreover, that ‘Village’ plan came on the heels of the completion of the Esquimalt Community Plan, which was worked on for several years by dozens of active citizens… and then ‘filed’ as a write-only document before the ink was dry.
An expensive consultant’s report is ‘better’ at assessing the direction and atmosphere of Esquimalt than the people who live here (and who are not drooling to make a profit from gifted civic property)?
Developers need to invest their own assets if they wish to develop for profit. I see no reason to follow the folly of Victoria in over-building condo capacity when that over-stock is less than 4 miles down the road, certainly not at the cost of losing public property to private interests.
Not even if it comes with some token ‘civic’ building.
By: Linda Clement on March 30, 2010
at 8:30 am
I don’t care who drew up the plans for the Village Project.
It has been three years since they were drawn up and it’s time to start getting on with the development of some of these lands.. The old Municipal building, and the lands around that leaking mold invested building should be developed NOW.. Esquimalt is stuck in a time warp, look at the buildings and land we own they are tired and in need of development.
You do realize that developers don’t come here because of the slow process it takes to get things done. Look at the headache they(developers) went through with the Carlton Terrace development over Elevators. Anything is better than the old drug invested buildings that were there. A new building there will hopefully start a revitalization of the that whole area (Esquimalt and Head.) time to get it done.
By: growad on March 30, 2010
at 11:54 am
Dear Town Council:
Please design a better route for trucks coming into and out of the Industrial Park. I thought Transfer St.and down/up Lampson was supposed to be the route but the HUGE 18 wheeled trucks can NOT make the right turn off of Transfer onto Tillicum. All the trucks continue up the tail end of the 800 block of Lampson and turn left or turn right off/on Tillicum. These trucks literally shake my house!!! and do NOT follow the 30KM/hour speed limit, There are a tonne of kids that use this portion of Lampson to get to and from school, seems a bit dangerous to me. There could be a simple solution, I’m no engineer, but placing a stop sign on the corner of Transfer and Tillicum would allow ALL trucks to use Transfer as the OUT going route for trucks. But coming into the Industrial Parks is an other issue, maybe tearing down the rental property the Town owns on the corner of Lampson and Transfer to widen the road, this would solve the whole issue of a well established trucking route!
By: Dave on April 8, 2010
at 4:33 pm
What’s all this talk of using Anderson park for a community garden. If this land is deemed to be excess land it should, I believe be sold and developed. This community needs development and a greater tax base not gardens for renters. I believe a garden there would be nothing but a teen vandalism nightmare
By: colville resident on April 30, 2010
at 8:52 pm
RE: Victoria News newspaper article’Forging Victoria’s History’.
I am wondering just where writer Kira Curtis did the research for the article ‘Forging Victoria’s History’ (appearing in the Victoria News newspaper). May I point out that we are celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Navy.
The photo on page A13 certainly is part of CFB Esquimalt but, it is Work Point Barracks, completed in 1890, the Army Base until more recent times. The photo of the Sailors is NOT HMCS Naden but at HMC Dockyard.
Under the Naval Service Act of 1910, a Department of Naval Service under the Minister of Marine and Fisheries was created. On November 9, 1910, the Dockyard at Esquimalt was transferred to Canada and became H.M.C. [Her Majesty's Canadian] Dockyard.
The shore base establishment H.M.C.S. Naden was founded in 1922 and the first Captain of Naden was Lt. Commander C.T. Beard, R.C.N.
Paragraph No. 10 that begins “During the First World War” is the silliest piece of drivel I have seen in a long, long time. The unfortunate aftermath of this kind of article is once things have appeared in print they become gospel and before long the information is being quoted as accurate.
Excellent records are held at CFB Esquimalt Base Museum and Archives, The Maritime Museum and at The Esquimalt Municipal Archives and staff are always happy to help researchers and writers ‘get it right’.
Sherri Robinson, Archivist, Municipality of Esquimalt
http://www.esquimalt.ca/cultureHeritage/archives/
By: Sheri Robinson on May 3, 2010
at 8:20 am
Go, Sheri! I noticed those errors too, and as usual, cringed at the unpopularity of doing even rudimentary research before making confident statements.
By: Linda Clement on May 5, 2010
at 12:59 pm
I continue to be concerned that the Council sees the property of the Esquimalt Teen Centre to be ‘available’ for re-use, re-purposing, altering, adding to…which is fine as long as there is a plan to create another, larger, newer or more enriched Teen Centre somewhere else on a free-standing property.
A garden, or community garden, on the same property as teens playing slip and slide, volleyball and tag? Seriously? There are few enough places where the energy of teens is even tolerated, much less accepted. Let’s not eliminate the last one in Esquimalt.
By: Linda Clement on May 3, 2010
at 8:41 am
The teen centre does not need to be placed in a free standing building. They are not tolerated in groups, due to their language and behavior. If your willing to put up the house beside yours feel free. A municipality funded teen centre should be tied into the rec/sports centre some how.
By: colville resident on May 3, 2010
at 7:09 pm
Teens are not tolerated, period –their language, music and behaviour have nothing to do with it. They are uncivilized non-humans who we can only hope will eventually turn into people if they ever grow up… ask any of them, it is how they are perceived AND TREATED, singly and in groups.
They are not, in case you haven’t been around long, welcome in the rec centre, or the sports centre unless they can describe exactly what they’re there for, including if they’re spending money today. Because unlike anyone else drifting through, singly or in groups, they are probably only there to vandalize or steal things… obviously.
The language of teens is, I promise you, not one word worse than the municipal workers –or any other pack of adults with friends or co-workers– chatting over coffee while ‘hanging out’ in the Atrium and on the benches near wherever they’re working. No one stops 5-year-olds when they’re running around the Atrium or screeching in the pool, but teens are thrown out routinely simply because they’re not welcome –noisy or not, active or not. If they’re lounging on the couches, they’re lazy loiterers and if they’re running around they’re obnoxious brats with no clue. I tested it once: adults can sit still in the Atrium for 4 hours without once being asked why they’re still there, even if they aren’t drinking coffee, reading a paper or anything else. Do you see teens in the Atrium, ’cause I don’t.
The teen centre as it stands has outdoor space where kids can be active without interfering with sports teams, events or whoever else had to pay for the fields today. They aren’t ‘in the way’ of the little kids on the playground equipment. They can chase each other around inside and out of the building, whether playing and organized game (which is obviously the only acceptable activity apart from bible study) or goofing around. To say that they are merely not welcome to do so at the rec centre and sports centre is … inaccurate to say the least.
And yes, I am willing to have them next to my house –just as I was always willing to have them in my house. I happened to have enjoyed being a teenager (apart from the uniform disdain I received from nearly everyone in Esquimalt over the age of 24), and enjoy teens. I like their energy, I like their enthusiasm and I am mature enough to be able to ignore their language without having a case of the vapors.
I have been accused on a number of occasions by a number of people as being ‘the only adult who ever took me seriously.’ I wish there was more than me and the teen centre staff for them –there’s a lot of them and they need AND DESERVE our respect. It’s a good thing you live a long way away from them, they certainly don’t need your kind of attitude any closer.
By: Linda Clement on May 5, 2010
at 1:20 pm
I have to agree with you, Linda. It is unfortunate that some people – adults- have this negative perception of teenagers. The only reason why I think that teens ‘misbehave’ is because they do not have enough opportunities to engage in after school programs. Programs are either too expensive for parents to enroll their children, or simply unavailable. What else are they going to do if not make trouble when they are bored? They need to be kept busy. This is not any different for adults, except that they are busy working. You can’t expect teenagers to sit still, they NEED to be active, they need to run around. Because of people such as Mr. Colville Resident, more and more children become obese and more and more children are put on drugs because they are “diagnosed with ADD/ADHD” – which to me is a condition made up by pharmaceutical companies in North America to make more money. No where else, and I’ve lived around the world, is this ever mentioned or diagnosed. I really hope you do not have children, Mr. Colville Resident, because it’s children who grow up in households with negative attitudes such as yours usually grow up to be trouble makers, obnoxious and problematic. When they are young they are not given an opportunity to learn. Why won’t we just box them into a corner so the world doesn’t know of them and hear from them? Well, maybe it would be more appropriate to do it with people like yourself. It seems you hate teenagers, hate community gardens and probably hate all your neighbours and everything else around you. Perhaps this is not the neighbourhood for you.
As for Emmy Labonte, I do see Linda’s frustration and I second that. The solution is simple, and it’s a shame that it has to be said because it is so obvious. Have more affordable programs for teenagers to engage in. Have events that they can get involved in and even run those, such as holding a back yard sale, running a small concession store, have more recreational sports teams at the center, have more events, festivals.. the opportunities are endless (they’re teenagers, they’re not stupid).
No wonder they are stuck to a TV, TV games, or vandalism- the only attention they get is negative attention and that is a problem with us, adults, not with them, teenagers.
By: Esquimalt Resident on May 25, 2010
at 11:58 am
I haven’t seen this till now.
And I’ll keep my responses short as i had to pop a few Ritalin pills to get through that chaotic mess of a response.
I have never said that their shouldn’t be a teen centre or that I hate teenagers, it’s just that there shouldn’t be a free standing one. As the teen centre now sits it only encourages teens to hang out. A location that is located in the rec centre would have better access to weights, crafts, gym time, or course’s such as first aid. Kid’s without structure get the message that their parents don’t care if they are around and are happy to see them gone.
Teens are not obese because they have no place to go or things to do they are obese due to family focus and food supplied at home. I believe that there are lots of things for teens to do but they are not encouraged to do so by their parents. I have coached teens and kids for years and the ones that are uninterested in life and activities come from parents who are also uninterested in what there kids are up too. I could tell you stories about some of my sons friends that are playing the “Call of Duty” video game at 9 which was bought for them by their parents.
As for the community gardens. Ya they make sense in the right location and beside the High school isn’t a smart location. Down at Macaulay point with the other military community garden is a better spot. and If Anderson park is deemed to be excess than it should be developed with proceeds going to beautification of the area around the park such as trees lining the school fields and side walks up Ellery and with the community gardens put on lands that won’t be developed.
I love my neighbors and I hope they like me. And I love this township.
By: coville resident on June 2, 2010
at 10:00 pm
i read all comments with interest and like to thank Sheri Robinson for setting the record straight.
As for Linda Clement in all her postings i read all sorts of complaints but NO solution OR sugjestion as ,or, how to make it better.
One way of been well informed in what is going on in your Town is to assist council meetings…it is there you can address your concerns..and better yet, you know the real facts.
By: Emmy Labonte on May 5, 2010
at 12:57 pm
It seems to me that you read what you expect to read.
Just to clarify: my point is that the teen centre is best left the way it is, the backyard garbage disposal is an example to the city, that graffiti looks better than the ‘solution’, there is nothing so very wrong with the existing community plan that it needs to be ‘fixed’ by gutting municipal holdings to line developer’s pockets and the sewage treatment as it stands is safe and effective.
Which complaint would you like me to offer a solution to?
By: Linda Clement on May 5, 2010
at 2:47 pm
It seems that you read what you expect to read.
You sound full of frustation and so many things you write about in regards to our Municipality are not based on facts. Thats why i suggest that you go to council meetings.. to become informed….one little example :
the Graffity Symposium was held at the Delta Ocean Point but if you had read it more carefully you would have seen that it was put on by Esquimalt and it was very succesful. The many participating Country’s had nothing but high praise for our Municipalety, perhaps knowing that will make you a bit happy.
There has never been a REFERANDUM to keep garbage pick up as is.
I work out at the Gym and have never seen Young People been treated the way you imply.
The present O>P>C> stands till the next Public hearing and was NOT shelfed as you wrote.
As for the Consultants you wrote about..the 3 of them have each indivituall expertise on advising Council how to go forward. ON more then one occasion the told Council and the Public when ask question that it is up to Esquimalt to find the right way for us.
So go to council meetings and stand up let them know how you feel ,give them your expertise that you seem to be so full off and have a good day.
By: Emmy Labonte on May 5, 2010
at 4:06 pm
Thank you Emmy. Linda comes from a world where nothing should ever be changed. This township has lived under that umbrella for too long and needs to move forward. We have too many lands and buildings being wasted. Lets stop having studies and reports on every little thing and make a decision.
As for the teenagers being mistreated in the rec centre I have been going there for years myself, first for my enjoyment and now with my kids (who are almost teenagers) and never seen any mistreatment on them by any staff.
In my mind the teen centre needs to part of a environment where it’s not OK to just hang. being involved in swimming,weights,Basketball or crafts. But to just hang should not be tolerated.
By: colville resident on May 5, 2010
at 9:02 pm
Did anyone go to yesterday’s open house for our upcoming centenial? It was a pleasure to listen to the People. What came accross was the pride in Esquimalt and the long History.
I believe that we need to keep this in mind always. However going forward is a must . Development is good as long it is done in a responsible fashion. I dont mind height in carefully considered places and ALL Development has to be of the highest standard,Environmentaly friendly with ammeneties given that benefits all of Esquimalt.
By: Emmy Labonte on May 6, 2010
at 8:25 am
Thank you, Mayor Desjardin, for taking a stance against paying more for Victoria Policing. I feel we were “told” by Mayor Rice and had no choice in the matter of amalgamation.
We are a community that have good services, and are pleased with everything. We like living in Esquimalt.
(We are the couple who came with the tartan tie)
Lianne & John Hunter
By: LiANNE & John Hunter on May 14, 2010
at 9:17 am
Maybe our history, geography, and people give the community great value but at what cost. I cannot afford to keep paying taxes that rise faster than any wage increase. I really think that we should be seriously looking at amalgamation to help lower the costs our taxes are subsidizing. We best forget completely about a town village plan (which I never supported in the first place under Clement). I look at the crazy corner on Colville and Admirals and think of the money spent on an intersection that was never in need of having a hundred traffic lights. We seem to spend money on infrastructure which is a great thing but we need moderation and we need to lower taxes. If I were on a fixed income I would have to consider selling. This cannot continue.
By: Doug Muir on June 2, 2010
at 8:37 am
You can’t be for real on the amalgamation thing. Look at what our police budget is doing for our taxes, 6 + million dollars on what, 1/2 used office space and cops only when their is nothing happening downtown. The cost for the Victoria police to Police us is twice what we are paying our fire department, To put it another way if we hired our own police officers we would have 5 to 6 cops in ESQUIMALT FULL TIME at 1/2 the price of what it is now. If we hired Saanich or the RCMP to do our policing at a more realistic price tag of 4 to 4.5 million that would be 2 million a year off our taxes.
The intersection on Coville is a mess I agree, but Dockyard paid for most of it.
Is your solution to the town centre just to leave the run down buildings as they are (not collecting any property taxes). The town centre was and is the right idea we just need politicians to act on it and stop paying for more studies. 3 years to wait on this thing is 4 years to late, Get it started already.
I don’t like paying taxes when the money is wasted and under amalgamation we will have less say in how our money is spent. At least we have a say on how our money is spent. Under any amalgamation model Esquimalt residents wouldn’t have enough votes to impact change, and our tax money would be spent else where.
By: coville resident on June 2, 2010
at 11:36 am
If you think amalgamation is a good idea, I welcome you to talk to anyone who lived in Halifax or Dartmouth, Ottawa or the surrounding area, or Hamilton and the surrouding area for a reality check.
Taxes in all three of these ‘super-cities’ did exactly what the amalgamation of the police did for Esquimalt: increase the prices for the outlying areas (particularly, but taxes rose across the board) and services concentrated in the core. The only people who benefit from amalgamation are the people working for the bureaucracy and the people right in the centre core. Everyone else pays a whole lot more and gets a whole lot less.
By: Linda Clement on June 2, 2010
at 4:18 pm
Common sense and simple mathmatics would tell you it would be a lot cheaper to have 1 mayor, 1 fire chief, 1 police chief, 1 set of councillors etc. etc. etc. Having 13 of each one is a huge waste of taxpayers money not to mention is hugely inefficient. With amalgamation we could also scrap the CRD another huge waste of taxpayers dollars.
By: Briggzee on June 2, 2010
at 4:40 pm
Among the many fears the emigrants from the old world carried to the new corners of the earth, one was of the villain who would steal public wealth and resources which in property meant that which under Magna Carta was public land, so carefully determined by the meticulously recorded Domesday book.
A lot of misery awaited the many who attempted such theft, and public pathways are a monument to such vigilance.
Victoria’s inner harbour is centuries and many miles from that scenario. The area concerned is not land as such but there are rather similar laws protecting the waters below the tide line, so one cannot help but feel a sense of deja vu.in the many similar arguments now erupting that must have gone before
over what is and isn’t the public good.
Some students of the quaint and curious may recall the brief verse of mediaeval days.
The hang the man
And flog the woman
that steal the goose
From off the common.
But let the greater villain loose
That steals the common from the goose.
Tony Hawkins
Esquimalt
By: Tony Hawkins on June 2, 2010
at 8:40 am
I can NOT wait to move out of this backward moving township.
I can NOT wait to breath in the air of Progress.
I can NOT foresee this township getting better before it gets worse.
I can NOT understand the Chamber of Commerce purpose in this township.
I can NOT believe the irrational thinking of the residents.
I can NOT wait for change.
By: Dave on June 7, 2010
at 4:31 pm
Hey Dave, it’s not only Esquimalt, it’s also Victoria. For example we used to come home from downtown after work, down Esquimalt Road to the plaza to pick up our groceries. Now it’s such a misery driving in the single lane of traffic backed up at every light we take Tyee and shop at Westside Village or the Super Store Warehouse. Country Grocer has lost our business by short sighted traffic planners. And no, I’m not getting out of my car, I’ll just find another way around the mess they’ve made of Esquimalt Road and it will be through a residential neighbourhood just like everyone else is doing.
By: Briggzee on June 9, 2010
at 4:55 pm
Hey…. I am in the same boat as you, err I mean car. It is a total mess on Esq RD. what was once an 11 minute commute to work now is 25 minutes due to the great looking boulevard. I think that the light needs to be extended by at least 4 minutes to allow for all traffic to get through. I now use the Delta Hotel turn off on the Blue bridge to Songhees up to Cathrine then homeward bound. If I was the GM at the Delta, there would be numerous complaints to Vic Council.
By: Anonymous on June 21, 2010
at 8:52 am
June 15, 2010
Letter to Mayor and Council
Municipality of Esquimalt
When is a Gift not a Gift?
The property at 398 Fraser Street has been bequeathed to the Township of Esquimalt. If accepted, there are conditions attached which must be followed:
(a) no revenue can be received from use of the property. i.e. the house cannot be rented.
(b) the property must be rezoned to parkland within twelve months.
On the surface this does not seem unreasonable, but taking a closer look I noted the following:
• Assessed value – House $94,000; Land $365,000 = total $459,000
• Property taxes – $3,400/year (2010)
• Because of the conditions attached, the house may not be rented at a profit, but may be used by Parks or a non-profit group. If this were done the house would need to be modified at a cost in the order of $100,000-$150,000.
• If the house were found to be unusable or unsuitable for alternative use, then it would have to be demolished at a cost in the order of $10,000, then the land would need to be remediated to parkland condition, at a cost of $15,000-$20,000 and will add to the park maintenance costs each year.
• As the municipality can never sell the property, if the land is remediated for parkland, the value for the municipality’s land base is no longer $365,000, but zero, as with Bullen Park.
• The municipality will lose $3,400 in tax revenue which increases each year as taxes go up.
Looking at a ten year cost, we note the following:
Taxes lost – $3,400 compounding at 5%/year $42,765
Park maintenance $2,000/yr compounding at 2%/yr 21,899
New park signage – one time cost 5,000 $69,664
If demolished & remediated (sans annual parks cost) 25,000 $94,664
If rented after modifying $125,000 $194,664
What is its value to Saxe Point Park?
Because of the large rock remaining after the building is demolished, it is of limited value as parkland and adds minimal area to the park. If rented, it is unusable as parkland.
Some say you should not look a gift horse in the mouth. I suggest you should look a little further to see what the gift will cost.
Rodney Lavergne
By: Rodney Lavergne on June 18, 2010
at 9:21 am
Re: CRD Open House on McLoughlin Point July 6 and July 8
To all concerned
I have been following this issue with some concern for the community. I really don’t know much about the infrastructure of the design but can only assume it requires quite a bit of plumbing. This alone is going to dissrupt the lives of those who live in its path for quite some time. Not to mention, plumbing needs constant attention and survelliance. Like any pipeline that clogs or bursts the effluent rises somewhere, how much, what street or corner, if that is the route of the project? Again I don’t know. I do know this, as a building contractors for over 25 years, they will take the easiest and cheapest route, this could be down your street . So as our property taxes go up your property value goes down.
From what I have read this facility would only temporarily solve the long term problem of this city. As I can only see this city growing in the future this seems rather shortsighted. Does this facility then become a white elephant in thirty years? Or do they expand it? Again, I do not know.
I have a rather logical question as to the plumbing. Why does one put a plant in a bay on the Ocean where current is minimal, is the Esquimalt lagoon to become a cess pool when the wind is not in our favour. If I where looking for maximal effect on current and tide I would think the strait of “Juan de Fuca” would give the maximal effect for diffusing any effluent in ocean current. Further do you want trucks bringing solid waste through our community on tertiary roads not made for this.
I think the plan is very short sighted in the long term city plan. Esquimalt is the Harlem of NYC, the Cabbage Town of Toronto, it’s too close to the city to warrant this major infrastructure, not to mention the smell. I witnessed the opening of the sewage treatment plant in NYC while I lived there and the constant compliant was the smell . It was located on the Hudson River in the Midtown district of Manhattan and was considered by residents a failure from the beginning. If the wind is against us, which we all know it usually does come inland we will be smelling the methane far inland.
My question is, as this city grows and with the cost of doing this project would it not be more of a benefit to locate this plant somewhere out in William Head (Is that the point way out there on the strait, again I`m not sure of the geography or locale as I`ve only been here five years) or Dallas Road, but this seems to make sense regardless of the initial cost which I`m sure is quite a bit more but probably sensible in the long run.
Esquimalt should not be bulldozed into anything because the rest of the city does want this project. Let`s face it who wants this project, the infrastructure, the traffic, the smell, the short termed thinking. It`s going to cost us all, but in the end what`s best for the city, our growth and our children. I would rather spend more for our future than the quick politically fix. Remember the politicians will leave office in the short term.
These are my limited views on a very complex issue, a long term issue with may tertiary effects. This is something that needs to be calculated as to what are the long term effects to this community. I believe this city will become a major destination in years to come due to locale with nature and the rest of the Island, upper Island and basic climate. Long term is what we need to look at for the city. If we opt for the short term solution the inner city become the Detriot or Buffalo of Canada and that would we a travesty. I have travelled and spent a good deal of time in the cities of America and seen what becomes of poor infrastructure on the short term solution.
This is like looking at the inner habour and thinking the gravel mart will not be bought out by developers for apartments or condo`s. It will happen, it`s a matter of time and money.
Just my thoughts on this subject which I confess I do not know the details of but feel confident enough to voice an opinion at any rate.
Thanks
Tim Murphy
1210 Old Esquimalt Rd
By: Tim Murphy on July 5, 2010
at 8:55 am
RE: sewage
We are getting what we deserve.
The region see’s us as a outflow station because we portray ourselves as a dirty outhouse. What do people see when they come to Esquimalt? It’s not homes around the Saxe Park region, Rockheights or Parklands it’s not the parks we have such as Highrock, Kinsmen or Flemling. They see the junk running right up Esquimalt road. Could we not pressure these absentee land owners to develop or sell. Even with our own Municipal lands we should have developed these lots a long time ago. And maybe if we looked after our junk other land owners would look after there’s. What’s about the lands around Carlton Terrace? did we scare away the developer with the way we treated them at the open house’s.
Can someone tell me what harm (who would it impact) would have been done with redeveloping the Legion property. They do so much for our community we should finally be doing something for them.
This Township needs direction and if you want to be stop being treated like trash….. stop living in it. I love this Township but for 20 years their has been talk about cleaning up Esquimalt road and it has yet to happen. Langford has done amazing things in there region why not us? LEADERSHIP
And if anybody doesn’t like the way I describe Esquimalt looking like crap then drive up Esquimalt road starting at the 800 block and look North and South along the route and notice the buildings and the clientele that is standing in front of them. Then take a right onto Constance and tell me if that’s an area would would shop or live.
Mayor and counsel lets move on this already.
By: concerned on July 12, 2010
at 12:02 pm
I could not agree with your comments more. Esquimalt Road is an absolute embarassment to our township. At times I will drive down Lyall to avoid being disgusted by what I see on Esquimalt Road! I encourage guests to my house to drive the same way to avoid the constant barrage of comments about what they saw on their drive over. It is time that Esquimalt considered enacting bylaws that forced people to maintain their properties to an acceptable standard. Absentee and slum landlords need to be held accountable!
By: Anonymous on July 30, 2010
at 9:27 pm
Update on Esquimalt meeting from Deborah Dickson
The meeting in Esquimalt last night was well attended. Council was very receptive to the questions and concerns of their constituents and afforded them the time and courtesy to be heard. Mayor Desjardin told the attendees that Council is not ruling out litigation – one Councilor openly talked about a Class Action suit that all CRD residents would participate in – not limited to just Esquimalt.
There were two messages last night:
1. For residents to get involved – start writing letters and making phone calls to CRD and Gov’t officials … talking to friends in other communities encouraging people to start talking with friends and associates in other municipalities who will also be impacted and burdened by the huge tax increases Tillicum residents just woke up to the fact that the proposed pipe lines will run right through their neighbourhoods and are holding a special meeting next week.
2. Esquimalt Council is prepared to go the distance but need the support of the residents – it was stated that they are prepared to change bylaws to stop the construction of the plant.
John Bergbush, Frank Neate, myself gave presentations to Council as well as residents from Esquimalt. Maurine Karagianis was the only other politician in attendance. Bob Furber and Stuart Hertzog were in the audience as well.
fyi No CRD employees were spotted in the crowd – we all checked – twice.
At the end of the session Barbara told the attendees Council is prepared to go the distance to stop the project if not the whole plan from happening – Council is planning on holding more special Council meetings to discuss the issue and give and get more feedback and input. She urged residents to get vocal – that this is a regional issue that all municipalities need to get behind. We can build on the common issue that will affect us all.
The meeting wrapped up at about 10:15.
Cheers.
Deborah
By: John Newcomb on July 20, 2010
at 5:42 pm
Esquimalt does have bylaws that force people to maintain their properties to an acceptable standard. Problem is when you contact the bylaw department they don’t do anything and never reply back to the complaintant within the stated time on their website. Makes me wonder what we’re paying these people for. I live in Parklands with a dump next door and I’m tired of it and our paid bylaw office doesn’t do a damn thing about it.
By: Briggzee on July 31, 2010
at 5:14 pm
esquimalt currently has one bylaw officer employed for 21 hrs a week duties include, Building Inspections and Plan Reviews, Plumbing Inspections, Business Licensing and Bylaw Enforcement
By: Onad on September 21, 2011
at 12:53 pm
Having returned from Saxe point park the other day I noticed that the yellow house inside the park on the right is empty. This house is owned by the Township and from what I have heard is currently having problems with the septic system. I think now is a perfect time to rethink our use for the house (other than renting it out as a home). I have talked to several people who live around the park and others around Esquimalt about what use the house could have. Overwhelmingly there is support for a Tea/coffee house with potential to rent the whole thing for a wedding reception. There were even suggestions for a neighborhood pub. This property has great commercial value and to let it be rented for a residence seems like a wasted opportunity.
By: Saxe Point usage on August 3, 2010
at 2:10 pm
Mayor Desjardins:
Re: McLoughlin Point as sewage plant site.
Esquimalt Council can challenge the choice of McLoughlin Point as sewage plant site by passing a resolution demanding that Environment Minister Penner reconsider his decision to allow the project to go ahead without the benefit of a full environmental impact assessment under the BC Environmental Assessment Act.
Currently, the project falls under the BC Municipal Sewage Regulations – a VERY inadequate process given the expected environmental, social and economic impacts on our community. Also, because the project doesn’t fall under the BC Environmental Management Act, the Penner decision to allow Amendment 8 cannot be appealed to the BC Environmental Appeal Board.
However, a resolution of Esquimalt Council demanding that the CRD sewage project be “opted-in” to the more rigorous environmental assessment act would certainly show Esquimalt residents and McLoughlin Point neighbours that Esquimalt Council is leaving no stone unturned in this issue.
Thanks.
John Newcomb
By: John Newcomb on September 3, 2010
at 8:27 am
Can someone tell me what’s taking so long for the Esquimalt Village plan to start? Get on with it already. This Township needs a boost and this would be the best thing for it. Still waiting, it’s only been 4 years…
By: Saxe Point usage on September 26, 2010
at 6:22 pm
HI Saxe:
Right – last update was 8 July, so should be something happening. The website still says that timelines haven’t been established:
http://www.esquimalt.ca/municipalHall/esquimaltVillageProject/
Maybe contact Esquimalt Senior Planner Trevor Parkes
http://www.esquimalt.ca/contactForms/TParkes.aspx
and ask him where Village plan is now, after that open house effort
last summer.
Also:
June 18, 2010
Plans Continue for Esquimalt Village Core Project:
“A final report to Council on the preferred development option for the site will be going to Council this fall.”
http://esquimaltreview.wordpress.com/news-archives/
By: John Newcomb on October 5, 2010
at 4:51 pm
I was wondering what people thought of Esquimat becoming a solar community, are the incentives enough to counter the cost?
By: Jennifer M on October 5, 2010
at 3:43 pm
Hi Jennifer:
Esquimalt getting into solar initiatives is a great idea. You may have
seen the Township news release below? If you would like to be a part of
the solar community initiative, contact Marlene below to discuss what
part you might like to play in this really interesting project.
John
Esquimalt Designated as a Solar Community
News release
September 30, 2010
The Township of Esquimalt has been selected as one of BC’s newest Solar Communities. The designation comes with funding of $5000 to further develop solar hot water programs and projects in an effort to promote clean energy and reduce the community’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The Township was selected through an RFP process which recognized the leadership role the municipality has demonstrated in promoting solar initiatives. Esquimalt’s solar initiatives include a completed installation of a solar hot water system in its municipal hall, and opting-in to the Solar Hot Water Ready Regulation for all new single family homes under the BC Building Code.
“This is an important designation for the community and we are proud of it,” said Township Mayor Barb Desjardins. “We encourage local residents to take advantage of the program.” Future municipal efforts with solar technology will include looking at another potential solar installation for the recreation centre, and solar lighting for designated park trails.
Esquimalt’s Solar Community program will run from October 1st to December 31st, 2010 during which the Township will be waiving the fee for solar hot water plumbing permits. Permitted solar hot water installations—started and completed during this period—will be entered into a draw to win one of three SolarBC prizes of $1000.
The prize is an additional bonus on top of SolarBC’s $2000 incentive for residential solar hot water systems. A typical solar hot water system costs $6,900 before incentives, and is designed to last an average of 30 years. The first step for anyone considering a solar hot water installation is to visit the SolarBC website, http://www.solarbc.ca.
The SolarBC Program is funded through a partnership of the provincial and federal governments. The program’s strategic focus is to bring affordable and practical solar hot water systems to homes, schools, local government, First Nations, and Social Housing buildings, develop Solar Communities throughout the province and facilitate the development of the solar market.
For more information, please visit our solar community page.
Contact:
Marlene Lagoa, Sustainability Coordinator
Tel: 250-414-7114
Email form: http://www.esquimalt.ca/contactForms/MLagoa.aspx
By: John Newcomb on October 5, 2010
at 4:19 pm
Its a great idea, and shockingly forward thinking for Esquimalt. But I do believe that Esquimalt should consider a mandate that forces all commercial properties to clean / fix up their store fronts to give the perception that they care about Esquimalt. It’s very upsetting to see such poor property management and even poorer By-Law enforcement. Slap a fine on one of the property owners, make an example of them and the rest will follow!!!!
By: Dave on October 6, 2010
at 2:39 pm
Hi Jennifer:
Esquimalt Solar Community Quiz: Last Chance to Win a Solar Charger
December 20, 2010
As part of its designation as a Solar Community, the Township of Esquimalt
is promoting the use of solar hot water programs in the community. An easy
way to participate is to take our short solar hot water quiz. Completion
of the quiz will automatically enter you in to a draw to win a SOLIO solar
charger.
Learn more about solar hot water here:
http://www.esquimalt.ca/municipalHall/sustainabilityEnvironment/solarHotWater.aspx
The online quiz closes December 31, 2010, click here to complete the quiz
now: http://www.esquimalt.ca/surveys/solarCommunity.aspx
For more information, please contact:
Marlene Lagoa
Sustainability Coordinator
Township of Esquimalt
Phone: 1-250-414-7114
marlene.lagoa@esquimalt.ca
http://www.esquimalt.ca
By: John Newcomb on December 21, 2010
at 4:37 pm
But here is a example of a Esquimalt dump which is bringing down the look of our township.
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=48.430788,-123.400519&spn=0.003232,0.006899&z=17&layer=c&cbll=48.430634,-123.400502&panoid=Y7vEOcOY7rERQFlAUK9wCw&cbp=12,111.59,,0,5
By: esquimalt resident on October 8, 2010
at 9:51 am
Yep – it looked like a dump in 2009 when the Google Streetview image was taken, so probably hasn’t improved at all a year later. Other side of the street opposite looks pretty good, and even the neighbouring pawn broker/money mart looks better.
I wonder what threats or inducements could be made by Esquimalt bylaw/planning to get the building housing the Cashline and V&J Super Low Food Market clean up their shell?
How about sending an email to Bob Brown, Esquimalt’s bylaw officer:
http://www.esquimalt.ca/contactForms/BBrown.aspx
By: John Newcomb on October 8, 2010
at 11:53 am
That corner has been a dump for the better part of 40 years now. Hard to believe some developer hasn’t bought it and built there. What a view facing to the south. Maybe someone tried but Esquimalt has blocked it as usual. It’s no wonder this municipality is stagnant.
By: Briggzee on October 9, 2010
at 7:34 am
Subject: ESQUIMALT — Taxpayers Please take note — ACTION Needed
Having attended the Esquimalt Council meeting, Committee of the Whole, on Monday, Dec 13,2010, it was with COMPLETE SURPRISE to find the Council voting on a Living Wage policy for Esquimalt. To my knowledge, this issue was never put forward for public input, other than a brief introduction to Council in June. On Dec 13th, it was voted on and passed by 4/3 to adopt a living wage policy for Esquimalt at $17.31 an hour. There was a special council meeting immediately following the Committee of the Whole meeting that once again council members wanted to “ram rod” the final vote on this projected policy. Fortunately, one member made a motion to delay the final vote until the January 17th Council meeting in order to involve public input before the final vote. Small business owners work very hard to earn their way in life. They do not stand a chance if they have to pay such a high wage for unskilled workers. Some councilors have noted that Calgary and new Westminster have adopted this policy. How short sighted to compare our community of 4 square miles and 16,000 people with such large cities. We are a 100 year old family minded community that takes great pride on being friendly and fair to everyone. This Living Wage policy would discourage the growth of new small businesses. The cost of adopting this Living Wage policy does not include supplementary costs. For example, increasing the hourly wage on lower bands puts pressure on those non-affected salary bands immediately above the living Wage rate. This policy could also complicate the collective bargaining process. There is not a doubt, no matter what we are told, that with this policy, the cost of everything in Esquimalt, including the property Taxes will increase—this is reality. I was raised, and raised my family, to respect the fact that if you go to school, graduate, and further your skills, whether it be College, a trade, or any type of secondary learning education you will be able to achieve a higher wage with a higher standard of living. Without this, you will be at the low end of the pay scale. Once again, this is the reality of life!! With the busy Christmas season upon us, and the vote being January 17th, this does not leave much time for public input. ASAP, I urge ALL of YOU to Email Esquimalt Mayor & Council at Council@esquimalt.ca or write to Esquimalt Mayor & Council at 1229 Esquimalt Rd. Victoria, B.C. V9A3P1 to voice your opinions and concerns. As well, those that are able to do so, please come to the January 17th Council meeting. Hope to see you all get into ACTION.
By: Muriel Dunn on December 18, 2010
at 1:03 pm
Living Wage Policy: Council Requests Written Feedback
December 17, 2010
On December 13, 2010 Esquimalt Council, at a Committee of the Whole meeting, voted to support the full implementation of a complete Living Wage Policy and Program for the Township’s operations.
A Living Wage is a term used to describe the minimum hourly wage necessary for a family of four with two parents working full-time to pay for food and shelter, support the healthy development of their children, escape financial stress, and participate in their communities. A Living Wage is different than a minimum wage in that it is not legally mandated.
Living Wage policies have been passed in many American cities and interest is growing in Canada. The Living Wage for Victoria—which is referred to as an “affordability index” —is set by the Community Social Planning Council. The Living Wage for Metro Victoria as of 2010 is $17.31 per hour.
In the case of the Township’s policy, this hourly wage would be the minimum for all employees (full-time, part-time, and casual) within the Township. In addition there would be a commitment to insert a Living Wage clause within the Township’s purchasing policy, stipulating that contract workers be paid a living wage in all future contracts
For more information on the Living Wage please visit the Community Social Planning Council of Victoria’s web site http://www.communitycouncil.ca/ and click on the Quality of Life Challenge to access Living Wage information.
At the next meeting of Council on January 17, 2011, Council will be discussing the adoption of a Living Wage Policy and Program. Esquimalt Council has requested feedback, in writing, on the implementation of a Living Wage Policy. Organizations and individuals are invited to submit their comments.
Please submit your written comments to Mayor and Council at 1229 Esquimalt Road, Esquimalt, B.C. V9A 3P1 by noon Wednesday, January 12th in order to be included in the next Council Meeting on January 17, 2011.
For more information, please contact:
Carollyne Evans, Manager of Corporate Services
Tel: 250-414-7135
By: John Newcomb on December 21, 2010
at 4:29 pm
Esquimalt postpones living wage proposal
Erin McCracken
Victoria News
December 25, 2010
Esquimalt council is temporarily holding off on adopting a living wage policy for its municipal employees.
In a four to three vote at a committee of the whole meeting Dec. 13, council voted to support the implementation of a living wage for municipal workers to earn at least $17.31 an hour – well above minimum wage.
In Victoria, $17.31 is the minimum hourly wage needed for two full-time working parents with two kids at home to escape poverty and pay for basic needs such as shelter, clothing and food. That was determined in a study conducted by the Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria, which strives to improve quality of life for the disadvantaged within the Capital Region.
The proposed wage would apply to casual workers employed by Esquimalt at a cost of about $8,400.
“I think full-time work should not be a sentence to poverty,” said Coun. Randall Garrison, adding that Esquimalt would only be the second Canadian municipality after New Westminster to adopt a living wage.
But during a public comment period that same night, two residents disagreed with implementing the wage.
“I’m horrified you passed the living wage,” said longtime Esquimalt resident Muriel Dunn, adding that rewarding staff with incremental pay increases can be just as beneficial, and would mean fewer expectations for businesses that don’t provide such a wage.
In response, Coun. Alison Gaul made a motion to postpone making a final decision on the issue until a Jan. 17 council meeting.
Organizations and individuals are now being urged to submit written comments on the implementation of the living wage before the next council meeting.
“I’m very pleased there was a step back in the process,” said Mayor Barb Desjardins, adding that public feedback is needed before a final decision is reached.
It would also be naïve of council not to consider any implications the wage might have on the budget and taxation. Senior employees may, for example, ask for pay increases as a result.
To offset costs, it might become necessary to reduce the number of casual employees.
“The ones you try to help in the first place, you may end up not being able to keep them,” she said. “Those are the harsh realities, so we have to be very careful.”
emccracken@vicnews.com
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/victorianews/news/112264824.html
By: John Newcomb on December 27, 2010
at 10:29 am
Hi Muriel,
Yes, Randall Garrison did bring this to Esquimalt Council and got a rousing acclaim from everybody who seem to be in favour of such a plan. As I point out on my comments (http://esquimaltreview.wordpress.com/2010/08/20/staying-alive/#comments), an Esquimalt living wage policy may be irrelevant at $17/hour if it only applies to Esquimalt workers and to businesses wanting to contract with Esquimalt who already make more than $17/hour. However, if the idea is to push up Esquimalt wages much beyond where they are now, Esquimalt’s living wage policy will probably benefit non-Esquimalt workers and businesses who can justify paying the minimum $17/hour. So jobs and business opportunities will tend to migrate out of Esquimalt. That doesn’t seem to worry Garrison and his union cheer-leaders (http://www.livingwagebc.ca/news/why-esquimalt-needs-living-wage-policy). However, if I lived in Esquimalt, I might be concerned.
By: John Newcomb on December 18, 2010
at 1:26 pm
Well said Muriel…as usual the socialists are out of control on another issue. Don’t they think of the consequences. If they force businesses out of town because of this policy what have they gained. Nothing, as the business will be lost along with the jobs it provided. It doesn’t matter how much you pay, if the business isn’t there and no one is working, then you’ve lost everything. If it’s the municipality that wants to pay a living wage then taxes would need to be raised again…when is this going to stop as our municipal taxes are already out of control. I also get so tired of people comparing one place to another. Like comparing Canada to Europe. You could fit a lot of European countries inside of Canada many times. So to compare our highway system or rail system to theirs is just silly as is comparing the ability to pay a living wage in Esquimalt to Calgary’s ability.
By: Briggzee on December 18, 2010
at 3:36 pm
Living Living Wage Policy: Council Requests Written Feedback
On December 13, 2010 Esquimalt Council, at a Committee of the Whole meeting, voted to support the full implementation of a complete Living Wage Policy and Program for the Township’s operations.
A Living Wage is a term used to describe the minimum hourly wage necessary for a family of four with two parents working full-time to pay for food and shelter, support the healthy development of their children, escape financial stress, and participate in their communities. A Living Wage is different than a minimum wage in that it is not legally mandated.
Living Wage policies have been passed in many American cities and interest is growing in Canada. The Living Wage for Victoria—which is referred to as an “affordability index” —is set by the Community Social Planning Council. The Living Wage for Metro Victoria as of 2010 is $17.31 per hour.
In the case of the Township’s policy, this hourly wage would be the minimum for all employees (full-time, part-time, and casual) within the Township. In addition there would be a commitment to insert a Living Wage clause within the Township’s purchasing policy, stipulating that contract workers be paid a living wage in all future contracts
For more information on the Living Wage please visit the Community Social Planning Council of Victoria’s web site http://www.communitycouncil.ca/ and click on the Quality of Life Challenge to access Living Wage information.
At the next meeting of Council on January 17, 2011, Council will be discussing the adoption of a Living Wage Policy and Program. Esquimalt Council has requested feedback, in writing, on the implementation of a Living Wage Policy. Organizations and individuals are invited to submit their comments.
Please submit your written comments to Mayor and Council at 1229 Esquimalt Road, Esquimalt, B.C. V9A 3P1 by noon Wednesday, January 12th in order to be included in the next Council Meeting on January 17, 2011.
For more information, please contact:
Carollyne Evans, Manager of Corporate Services
Tel: 250-414-7135
By: John Newcomb on December 21, 2010
at 4:30 pm
Muriel:
I guess my comments are still “awaiting moderation” because I included compelte website addresses in them, so I’ll modify my comment and repost here:
Yes, Randall Garrison did bring this to Esquimalt Council and got a rousing acclaim from everybody who seem to be in favour of such a plan. As I point out on my comments (esquimaltreview.wordpress.com/2010/08/20/staying-alive/#comments), an Esquimalt living wage policy may be irrelevant at $17/hour if it only applies to Esquimalt workers and to businesses wanting to contract with Esquimalt who already make more than $17/hour.
However, if the idea is to push up Esquimalt wages much beyond where they are now, Esquimalt’s living wage policy will probably benefit non-Esquimalt workers and businesses who can justify paying the minimum $17/hour.
So jobs and business opportunities will tend to migrate out of Esquimalt. That doesn’t seem to worry Garrison and his union cheer-leaders (livingwagebc.ca/news/why-esquimalt-needs-living-wage-policy).
However, if I lived in Esquimalt, I might be concerned!
By: John Newcomb on December 18, 2010
at 3:40 pm
This really is a stupid concept.. If the NDP backed Randell garrison thinks that my tax pocket will be dug into just so the Municipality can hire people at 17.00$ an hour to load vending machines, deliver paper to the Municipal office’s or any thing along those lines he has another thing coming. I wish he would concern himself with why we have so many pizza joints, money lending offices and empty store fronts down our main strip. What he should be doing is asking questions into why hasn’t the OLD MUNICIPAL PROPERTIES redevelopment hasn’t started yet (4 years), Working on incentive’s with the land owners on Carlton Terrace. Why hasn’t the municipality started a business plan for the empty house in Saxe Point park for a tea house and wedding reception hall yet.
This just tells me that Mr. Garrison is a puppet to Provincial Party just as Maurine karagianis was and is and will sell out the municipality to make a name for himself in the party. Can’t wait for the next election
By: esquimalt resident on December 20, 2010
at 1:19 am
Living Wage: Council Requests Written Feedback
December 17, 2010
On December 13, 2010 Esquimalt Council, at a Committee of the Whole meeting, voted to support the full implementation of a complete Living Wage Policy and Program for the Township’s operations.
A Living Wage is a term used to describe the minimum hourly wage necessary for a family of four with two parents working full-time to pay for food and shelter, support the healthy development of their children, escape financial stress, and participate in their communities. A Living Wage is different than a minimum wage in that it is not legally mandated.
Living Wage policies have been passed in many American cities and interest is growing in Canada. The Living Wage for Victoria—which is referred to as an “affordability index” —is set by the Community Social Planning Council. The Living Wage for Metro Victoria as of 2010 is $17.31 per hour.
In the case of the Township’s policy, this hourly wage would be the minimum for all employees (full-time, part-time, and casual) within the Township. In addition there would be a commitment to insert a Living Wage clause within the Township’s purchasing policy, stipulating that contract workers be paid a living wage in all future contracts
For more information on the Living Wage please visit the Community Social Planning Council of Victoria’s web site http://www.communitycouncil.ca/ and click on the Quality of Life Challenge to access Living Wage information.
At the next meeting of Council on January 17, 2011, Council will be discussing the adoption of a Living Wage Policy and Program. Esquimalt Council has requested feedback, in writing, on the implementation of a Living Wage Policy. Organizations and individuals are invited to submit their comments.
Please submit your written comments to Mayor and Council at 1229 Esquimalt Road, Esquimalt, B.C. V9A 3P1 by noon Wednesday, January 12th in order to be included in the next Council Meeting on January 17, 2011.
For more information, please contact:
Carollyne Evans, Manager of Corporate Services
Tel: 250-414-7135
By: John Newcomb on December 21, 2010
at 4:30 pm
As I said, he’s off to try his hand at federal politics. Lets hope that the NDP doesn’t support another candidate for the next council elections. We’ve had our share of bleeding hearts who don’t or can’t seem to take our Municipality forward
By: esquimalt resident on January 6, 2011
at 7:43 pm
Maybe Esquimalt needs to pay MORE for police who could actually catch these criminals?
Victoria police hunt gang of teens who blazed “trail of mayhem” through Esquimalt Saturday
KATIE DEROSA,
TIMESCOLONIST.COM
FEBRUARY 8, 2011 7:02 PM
Victoria police are looking for teens involved in several violent assaults and robberies in Esquimalt after a young gang blazed a “trail of mayhem” through the municipality on Saturday night.
The department says it’s part of a concerning trend of teens in Esquimalt carrying out brazen crimes in the last month.
On Saturday, a gang of four to six teens randomly attacked five groups of people in the span of two hours, including punching a 10-year-old in the face, said Victoria police spokesman Sgt. Grant Hamilton.
The first attack was on the footpath near West Bay Marina around 9:30 p.m., when two men and a woman were accosted by a group of teens wearing bandanas on their faces, Hamilton said.
The teens demanded cash and a 55-year-old Vancouver man had his finger cut by one of the teens who was wielding a knife, Hamilton said.
Next, the group pushed a 34-year-old Esquimalt man off his bike near Dunsmuir Road and Head Street and beat him when he refused to hand over cash.
The group went on to punch a 30-year-old Esquimalt man who didn’t give them a cigarette when they asked.
There was also an unprovoked attack in which one teen punched a 10-year-old boy in the face as the boy walked home from Tim Horton’s with his mother on Esquimalt Road.
And around 11 p.m., a 14-year-old boy was sucker punched while walking home with his mother in the 800-block of Dunsmuir Road.
Police believe the same group of teens are responsible for the string of assaults.
“We were busy trying to recreate the trail of mayhem caused by these youth,” said Hamilton.
Victoria police called in several officers and a canine unit to try and find the youth gang, which resulted in the arrests of two 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old at three locations. Officers are looking for the other teens involved in the assaults, Hamilton said.
In late January, police arrested two teens after five incidents in two days where youths tried to break into two schools, set fire to a school’s boarded up window and threw a rock through someone’s bedroom window. In mid January, police arrested three youths who allegedly slashed the tires of 35 cars, including four police cruisers.
kderosa@timescolonist.com
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Victoria+police+hunt+gang+teens+blazed+trail+mayhem+through+Esquimalt/4247258/story.html
By: John Newcomb on February 8, 2011
at 8:25 pm
Did you know that we pay nearly twice as much for our policing services through Victoria than Oak Bay is paying for theirs. We are getting fleeced.
By: esquimalt resident on February 10, 2011
at 4:12 pm
I live in Parkland and I can’t remember the last time I saw a police car drive through my neighbourhood…maybe that’s a good thing but a bit of a presence would also be a good thing.
By: Briggzee on February 10, 2011
at 6:38 pm
Good policing doesn’t come at a discount
Esquimalt is doing its citizens a disservice by looking for a bargain
Commentary
RICK ANTHONY,
TIMES COLONIST
FEBRUARY 11, 2011
I am incensed at the Esquimalt council’s criticism of the recent Victoria Police budget proposal, and its stubborn reluctance to accept what is needed for the safety of Esquimalt.
As a member of the policing community, I feel it necessary to defend my fellow members, including the front-line officers, who work so tirelessly to deliver a safe community for Victoria and Esquimalt.
It sounds like he’s looking for a good car mechanic or a decent grocery store. If he is advocating paying a bargain-basement price for the safety of his community, then he should step down.
Garrison is quoted as saying “it was a highly political presentation rather than a budget presentation.” Well, it likely sounded somewhat political because Esquimalt is making it a very political issue. I understand, however, that not all Esquimalt councillors share Garrison’s criticisms, and we appreciate that they are more supportive and can view the issues and the bigger picture with a more discerning eye.
The reality is that three of the biggest files Victoria police have handled in recent months were in Esquimalt and used dozens of resources, and hundreds of hours of follow-ups, and in fact consumed the entire detective office for three weeks. I might add that these files were successfully resolved with numerous bad guys in jail, lives were saved, evidence retrieved and charges laid.
Esquimalt has complained for many months about the service that they don’t receive from the Victoria Police, and have postured in the media about perhaps getting another police agency to take over and give them the “no call too small” service they so badly want.
What never seems to get mentioned is that the reason the forced amalgamation even occurred is that after a provincial audit, the police service that was in place at that time was found to be inadequate and dysfunctional.
Nobody ever mentions, or perhaps they like to conveniently forget, that with the previous policing model in Esquimalt there was at any one time, on any shift day or night, a maximum of four officers on the road.
Four officers, in four cars. How can the current model employed by the VicPD not be seen to greatly exceed this very limited staffing?
With that said, the model seemed to work and they had a number of outstanding police officers keeping Esquimalt safe and sound.
Councillors should stop trying to delude the public through the media that Esquimalt had more resources and a higher visible police presence prior to the forced amalgamation in 2003.
It’s an insult to the hardworking police officers and support staff of the VicPD to constantly be bombarded with negative reports of how we don’t serve Esquimalt well enough, with the budgetary plan and the funding formula used as the basis for complaining.
Believe me, from where I sit, Esquimalt gets its money’s worth and more. The funding formula and council’s issues around it need to be discussed at the provincial level, not at the municipal level. It’s odd that we don’t hear the residents of Rockland, Fairfield, Oaklands or James Bay crying foul whenever the VicPD black-and-whites race toward Esquimalt on a call, which seems to be fairly frequently.
As a region, our surrounding communities and their politicians fail us on a daily basis by refusing to discuss and move toward amalgamation of police agencies. Every other progressive group of communities across Canada has gone this route, and away from the archaic, monumentally ridiculous fractured system that we still operate under.
Liberal leadership candidate Mike de Jong says he will not meddle in this issue and leave it to local politicians to solve -well, that will never happen.
Most of us who serve on the frontlines of policing don’t care about politics and boundaries, we will put ourselves in harm’s way wherever people are at risk, but there comes a time when we have to speak out and tell the politicians and the uninformed how it really is.
Well, this is how it really is. This is not some storybook village; it’s not the 1950s where all the beat cops knew all the apple-cart vendors and the truant kids.
This is a new age of policing, and with it comes many new challenges.
These changes in the way we keep our communities safe cost money.
If you don’t want to pay it, fine. Good luck trying to find an agency who will give you gold-level service when all you’re prepared to pay for is tin.
- Det. Rick Anthony is a veteran officer in the Victoria Police Department. This is the opinion of the writer, and does not reflect the position or opinion of the management team of the VicPD.
http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/Good+policing+doesn+come+discount/4263896/story.html
By: John Newcomb on February 11, 2011
at 7:29 am
Uh Duh, maybe if you spent more time and got to know the municpality, the bad asses and where the live and hang out we wouldn’t have this level of problems. I grew up in the days of Bud Burton and Frank Mitchell…they knew everyone of us teenagers by name and what we were up to, even how many goals we scored in our last hockey game…you sure couldn’t say that today.
By: Briggzee on February 11, 2011
at 8:18 pm
On February 15th the Esquimalt Village Development Committee invited residents of Carlisle and Fraser Street to watch them ramming through Phase 1 of the Esquimalt Village Plan – it’s just a formality now for Esquimalt Council to give the final vote. Now they can now go on record as saying they consulted with residents. Most Esquimalt tax payers don’t realize what may be in store here and the plan is not well thought out. In the full plan there are two condo developments one 8 storey as well as a 12 storey which will be smack dab on the current village square by Municipal Hall. They haven’t done an assessment of parking available in the core or the impact on traffic (which we already know has become a congested mess with the traffic calming). They haven’t done the research to determine whether the proposed three level underground parking is even possible and the environmental impact (there are streams running underground in the surrounding areas). They didn’t address the fact that there are hundreds of condos available for sale in Victoria and regions that just aren’t selling and will probably get worse. The Ovation still has fifteen units remaining unsold, the townhouses at the corner of Lampson and Esquimalt only sold two units and there are still condos unsold at Swallows Landing. What Esquimalt is proposing in their plan is 180 units most of which will be jammed into the current village square standing at twelve stories high. One resident described it as parking a Cruise ship in front of his house! Even worse there is the potential the Esquimalt Council would agree to partner with a developer if the developer isn’t willing to fund the project 100%. Esquimalt tax payers could find themselves in caught up with financial and legal woes if this happens. A further affront to long term residents is that the Esquimalt Municipality is eyeing the block off Fraser street between Carlisle and Lyall for further development and are planning to rezone the area to multi-level (condo) ultimately pushing residents out! Residents were devastated by the callousness of committee members and stormed out before they made the final vote as it was already clear what they intended. At least one committee member stated that the “Village” plan did not match up with expectations of something along the lines of the Cook Street developments – which are more in keeping with the concept. The committee members spent more time debating the residual value of a tiny portion of Head Street by the West Bay Marina and the impact of it’s legal transfer to the West Bay Developer than this immense project and it’s impact on all local residents.
Christine Cunningham
Angry Esquimalt Taxpayer
By: Christine Cunningham on February 16, 2011
at 11:51 pm
Can someone tell me why we need to spend 300,000 dollars on a new bridge and kayak launch at the end of Sioux plc. This is being proposed right now by the parks department. Spending money on things that don’t need to be repaired is ridiculous, no wonder our taxes are going up.
I would still like to know why we can’t put fix up the house in Saxe point park (the one at the point) and turn it into a coffee or tea house and a wedding reception hall for the summers wedding season. It would be a great fit and draw people to the area,
By: esquimalt resident on February 26, 2011
at 3:07 pm
I would encourage anyone who is concerned about taxes, spending and ideas for revenue generation to attend the Public Forum on Taxation being held at Esquimalt town hall, 6:30 pm Thursday March 31, 2011
By: Barb Desjardins on March 27, 2011
at 9:39 am
Taxes, Taxes, Taxes… two things are certain…. one is that we will have taxes… in our future, can we afford more increases or are we interested in how to get to creative / innovative decreases
Come out to the Property Tax meeting tonight atC Esquimalt City Hall to let our Council know what is important to you, your family, and your business for today … and for our future…
How much we pay for Esquimalt Property taxes is based on a number of factors. With our upcoming centennial, I would like us to focus on our Vision for 2112, our Infrastructure, Services, our Community, and our Businesses.
Other communities have gone through quite a significant revitalization and rebirth. In these communities this has been accomplished through:
* Vision – what’s possible – what do we want the same and what needs to change
* Infrastructure – concerns – who is going to pay to repair/maintain what we have and what is required going forward for our public works
* Services – how do we maintain and enhance our great parks, recreations, sports and other community services
* Communities – how to maintain and have a safe, healthy, vibrant future with appropriate combination of housing, high rises and managed urban development
* Businesses – how much is right for our community to be vibrant and flourish, do we want a bit more of Langford’s style of redevelopment or Victoria’s, or Highlands, or View Royal’s?
If we stay on our current path, we may be looking at 2-8% property tax increases over the next 10 years as our infrastructure and service costs continue to increase.
If we look at innovation and creative community & re-development, while recognizing the best elements of our past, we may be able to, like Langford, for example, reduce our taxes and have a more flourishing, vibrant community. Awesome!
We have a good start, we need to pitch in on the discussion as part of our 2012Centennial readiness to Vision for 2112 and build for 2022.
As Tim Morrison said on CFAX1070 yesterday, there is no Colwood crawl from Esquimalt. Like many other waterfront communities, we do have $Million views just like everyone else, but currently, I do not think that we leverage this incredible Esquimalt asset to the best of our advantage… but we could…
In our future, I would like to live in a safe, healthy, vibrant community, with a good balance of residential and businesses, and a good balance of local and partnerships for our municipal services that lets us flourish in 2022 through 2112.
… With affordable property taxes….
What do you want for our community for your family and/or business? Our community can only get better with our involvement…. this is our community!!
Come out to the Property Tax meeting tonight at let our Council know.
Help with today’s priorities which build to a safer, healthier vibrant tomorrow for us!!
Join in on the beginning of this conversation on Esquimalt 1912–2012–>2112
By: Bruce Cuthbert on March 31, 2011
at 12:53 pm
Dear Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca voters,
Having grown up in Nova Scotia, I witnessed first hand the privatization and demise of the East Coast cod fishery. The recent policy decision of the Conservative Government regarding West Coast halibut allocation is the start towards the end of what we consider our right to a common property resource.
Rather than receiving a fixed limit per day and a fixed season, recreational fishers have been allocated 12% of the Canadian quota. When the quota runs out, as early as August as some have forecast, the season will end. Coastal communities dependent on recreational fishing tell me they will be severely hurt and individual
recreational fishers from Prince Rupert to Esquimalt will be denied their right to fish.
The Fisheries Act implies that fishing is not a right but a privilege granted by the Minister. The Minister has decided to grant 88% of Canada’s halibut to a few individuals, many that do not actually fish themselves.
I believe that firstly, our Federal government should purchase enough quota back from the commercial sector to provide for a basic limit and season that would enhance our coastal community’s economy and re-establish our citizen’s right to a common property resource.
The recreational sector believe that limit should be 2 halibut per day and annual season excluding only the month of January.
Secondly, I believe that any quota owned in the commercial sector
should be fished by the quota owner.
Allowing halibut quota owners to lease their quota to other commercial fishers only adds to the costs of real fishers and does nothing to provide economic stability to the fishery.
I am not a halibut fisher but I do know the recreational fishers of our community are not ready to give up on their livelihoods. It is time the government changed the halibut allocation policy to reflect best interests and the common property
rights of the West Coast communities.
Sincerely,
Lillian Szpak
Federal Liberal Candidate for the Riding of Esquimalt Juan de Fuca
By: Lillian Szpak on April 7, 2011
at 11:54 pm
NONE of these Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca candidates – including Szpak will make ANY comment on the incredibly wasteful, unnecessary $3/4 billion sewage plant that is planned for McLoughlin Point!! Why?? Dr. Keith Martin had the guts to come out against it!
The federal government share is $350 million and the plant would be in the riding, a terrible black hole on the harbour. They don’t debate the sewage science because they KNOW that its a political decision, not science that has resulted in this crisis. They say “its mandated” so we can’t do anything about it they bleat – like somebody on Mars dictated it and not Parliament. What a hopeless bunch!
Esquimalt residents and other CRD residents are going to be saddled with this white elephant that will do NOTHING for the marine environment, but will spoil development on the harbour AND produce thousands of tons of sewage sludge and greenhouse gases.
For more information on the unnecessary sewage treatment plant:
aresst.ca
rstv.ca
victoriasewagetreatment.ca/ccost/
sites.google.com/site/sewageplantsvictoria/
By: John Newcomb on April 8, 2011
at 6:19 am
For starters it’s not a livelihood for recreational fishers, it’s a SPORT…and besides that, who needs two of these huge fish a day. It’s a silly quota and Lillian Szpak has no idea of how wasteful her comment is. Fishers catch these fish for sport and give the meat away to their friends or sell them in the underground market. Lillian should concentrate on the real issues like cutting our outrageous taxes.
By: Briggzee on April 8, 2011
at 6:20 pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 23, 2011
LICENSED INFANT CARE PROVIDERS IN ESQUIMALT-JUAN DE FUCA
NOT ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH COMMUNITY GROWTH ON THEIR OWN
Esquimalt – The lack of infant/toddler care spaces in Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca has reached a critical point. As of January 2011, the Child Care Information Action Project reports there are only 4178 licensed infant/toddler child care spaces for the entire Greater Victoria Area. That figure represents an increase of only 42 spaces in the regions since 2007.
In that same time, developments from Saanich to Sooke have attracted thousands of new families.
“Families buying new homes, in our safe and thriving community find out when they get here that they have to spend hours commuting their children to child care,” Says NDP candidate Randall Garrison. “And that’s if they can find child care at all.”
Meagan Brame, Esquimalt Councillor and Saxe Point Daycare owner says infant/toddler care is the most critical need. “Parents looking for infant/toddler care can be on a waitlist for four years. By the time there is a spot, their child is too old to take it,” says Brame.
Significantly higher costs for infant/toddler care providers – higher qualified staff, cribs, and safety devices – contribute to the lack of child care providers offering infant care. Even local non-profit providers charge upwards of $1200 monthly.
“Infant care providers can’t provide quality, affordable service without some form of subsidies,” says Garrison. “The NDP is committed to working with the provinces and territories to establish and fund a Canada-wide child care program.”
The NDP platform commits to establish and fund a Canada-wide child care and early learning program leading to the creation of 12,000 new child care spaces in BC over the next four years.
“It’s long past time for the federal government to invest in childcare and make services more affordable and accessible to all Canadians,” says Garrison. “I’m committed to being the voice for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca families in Ottawa, and helping them get the childcare they need.”
By: Randall Garrison NDP Campaign on April 23, 2011
at 11:44 am
As usual an NDP candidate comes out with all these great and expensive ideas but never a word on how to pay for them. Fortunately most voters understand the value of a dollar and how outrageous our taxes are cause that’s exactly how the NDP would pay for universal child care…by raising taxes.
By: Briggzee on April 24, 2011
at 7:49 am
There are a few outstanding questions that I have in regards to the work at Denniston Park. First, if the report came back from the municipal insurance holders that the park was a danger to residents in February, then why did it take untll April to do the work? Secondly, how much knowledge of this did our Mayor have?
By: esquimalt resident on April 25, 2011
at 12:21 pm
Well well, another council that reacts to public pressure. Why can’t Esquimalt get a council that makes the RIGHT decision the first time around. Maybe we need to have the same turnout at council cambers to get this mayor and council to start passing development permits. Is anyone else getting tired of the leadership from this mayor? She’s turning into a one trick pony with anti sewage campaign as her only trick, what else has she done? What major developments has passed under her leadership?
By: Esquimalt resident on May 3, 2011
at 1:21 am
Dear Friends,
I apologize for taking so long in getting back to you with information on how to help Onagawa The problem has been one of setting up a fund targeted just to help Onagawa rather than using an established fund such as the Red Cross which decides how donations will be used. Esquimalt is working to set up a such a fund but since municipal regulations do not allow for charitable operations the mayor has approached a local group of churches to administer the fund. Meanwhile, as an interim measure the Naval Officers Association of Vancouver Island (NOAVI) has agreed to administer the Onagawa Relief Fund until 15 June 2011. NOAVI has one treasurer so the additional workload will be significant ,but manageable for a limited timeframe. We expect that by 15 June long term arrangements will be in place for administering the fund.
Currently donations may be sent by cheque or money order made payable to:
NOAVI (In trust for Onagawa Relief Fund)
Mailing address
The Treasurer, Onagawa Relief Fund,
Naval Officers Association of Vancouver Island
2460 Tanner Road, Victoria B.C. V8Z 5R1
Please include your name and current address, a charity tax receipt will be sent for all contributions over fifty dollars.
Thank you again for your interest and support for Onagawa, the small town with a very special connection to Canada. Please pass this message on to all those who might be interested in helping Onagawa to recover and rebuild.
Terry Milne
Read about Esquimalt’s special relationship with Onagawa at this link:
http://esquimaltreview.wordpress.com/2010/06/23/from-only-child-to-twin-sister
By: Terry Milne on April 25, 2011
at 6:29 pm
To all residence of Esquimalt
Re: Esquimalt Village Plan (www.esquimalt.ca )
On May 16th @ 7:00 pm in the Municipal Council Chambers, 1229 Esquimalt Road, there will be a public hearing for residents concerned about the development noted above. The decision will be made by Mayor and Council that night. Don’t let this proposal slip by you. I must say this proposal will change the landscape in our community forever, this development plans to have two 8 story buildings and one12 story high rise. My family and neighbors are very concerned about the density & heights of these structures.
We need your help and support. We need your voice. You can do this by attending the public hearing listed above, or emailing your council at Council@esquimalt.ca or the Mayor@Esquimalt.ca., with your thoughts and opinions.
Listed are the Mayor and Councilors direct emails: Barb Desjarduns: bdesjadins@shaw.ca, Bruce Mclldoon: bmc40k@shaw.ca, Lynda Hundleby: Lmhundleby@shaw.ca , Meagan Brane: mbrame@islandnet.com , Don Linge: lingelaw@pacificcoast.net , Randall Garrison : rgarrison27@yahoo.ca,Ali Gaul: aligaul@shaw.ca
Thank you for your time.
Jim Hesketh
Resident of Carlise Ave. for 21 years.
By: Jim Hesketh on May 11, 2011
at 12:18 am
I fill for you Mr. Hesketh. But I’m in support of this development. Esquimalt has far two many run down buildings and most of these run right down esquimalt road. We need development and a greater tax base to move this municipality foward and ease the tax burden on the rest of use. This development has taken way too long to get to this stage and hopefully Lindhome’s development on the West Bay, And the one proposed for the Cambie, bottle depot lands near head street proceed faster. When driving west along Esquimalt your bombarded by run down buildings, drug addicts, dirt and depression. This development will hopefully start a revival along the Esquimalt stretch.
By: Esquimalt resident on May 14, 2011
at 10:28 am
RE: ESQUIMALT BUCCANEER DAYS
The first year we were in our new home on Old Esquimalt Rd, we were woken up by some dude YELLING about eggs and bakey. What? The next year, we realized something was amiss but felt comfortable knowing the wakey wakey guy was not actually one of those crazies you read about in the TC and that he wasn’t going to break our door down and make us eat breakfast. Third year, we nodded at each other and said ” Oh, it’s just the wakey wakey get your eggs and bakey” guy again. Fourth year, we sat on the sidewalk and cheered the parade. Love the event, continue the good work and good luck with this year’s fun.
Best
PAIGE AND DAVID
CAMILLE’S RESTAURANT
PROUD ESQUIMALT RESIDENTS
By: Paige and David Mincey on June 5, 2011
at 11:50 pm
Muriel Dunn
1193 Old Esquimalt Road
Victoria, B.C. V9A4X7
I want to express my complete surprise and dismay on learning that Inspector Darrell McLean, OIC Western Division of VicPd is retiring early. As of October 31, 2011 he will NO LONGER be our beloved Policeman/Friend. WE are a very proud, friendly family oriented community. We take great pride in caring for the concerns and welfare of each other. Inspector McLean “fits the bill” perfectly. He fills the grassroot needs of Esquimalt Residents. He has a warm, friendly personality and shares our same concerns. At any given time he is available and willing to help with any problem in the Community. With Law Enforcement being one of the greatest concerns of Esquimalt Residents, it will be a MUCH greater concern if we lose the unique style of service provided by Inspector McLean. We NEED police stability in our community and Inspector McLean meets this need! I strongly urge all of you that share this same opinion of Inspector McLean’s leadership to contact Victoria Police Chief Jamie Graham by email Jamie.graham@vicpd.ca letter and urge him to leave Inspector McLean in charge of our Esquimalt Office. Inspector Darrel has put Esquimalt policing back to the community style that Esquimalt residents want to keep! He has enjoyed working in the community during the past 2 years and it would be wonderful to have him continue “looking after” us. Esquimalt Residents please take action by either endorsing this email and sending it to Police Chief Jamie Graham @ Jamie.graham@vicpd.ca and Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin @ mayor@victoria.ca or sending your own thoughts.
Sincerely, Muriel Dunn
By: Muriel Dunn on September 13, 2011
at 10:10 am
I am very concerned about the direction the Esquimalt Council has taken in breaking code AND ignoring the voices of neighboring homes in their decision to crowd two homes into a space meant for one, crowding every single resident whose property borders the soon-to-be over developed property.
The councilers who voted FOR crowding them in:
Hundleby, Desjardin, Brame, Linge
By: Long Time Esquimalt Resident on September 21, 2011
at 2:20 pm
If they can’t handle the work load then they should take the service standard off the website. When someone states they can provide an answer with-in a period of time then that’s what the taxpayer expects.
By: Briggzee on September 23, 2011
at 6:33 am
I think it is completely irresponsible of the Esquimalt mayor to move from the Victoria police department to the RCMP. Right now we pay for 15% of our policing costs. Through the RCMP we will be 100%. How is this justified? Yes, there are problems with the way the Victoria police department polices Esquimalt but can those not be dealt with? I personally have lived both in town and in Esquimalt and I have found the response time of the police is far faster than downtown where we once waited nearly two hours to have the police come and deal with a man who was breaking windows and trying to force his way into our building. I have also found that despite the fact that you see “drive bys” of police cars downtown (which is something that apparently people want in Esquimalt and aren’t happy that the police are currently not providing) does not discourage crime. In fact, it does not seem to do much at all. I lived on a street where there were police cars constantly coming up and down through out the day as it was a road that connected the police and fire to most of the major roads so it was used as a means of getting to emergencies daily and on this street I had my apartment broken into in broad day light and witnessed other crimes. The only way to cut down on crime is for neighbours to become more aware of what is going on and not ignore things that don’t look or seem right. How much are our property taxes going to go up next year if we begin to pay 100% of our policing? How much would crime actually go down? I really do not agree with this decision and will not be voting for Barb Desjardins come election time.
By: Anonymous on October 19, 2011
at 9:36 am
I two have lived in Esquimalt now for thriteen years. The Vic. Pd has been much better, since Esquimalt first rised concerns about our policing. Esquimalt wants it’s fare share, I get that. While costs keep going up. Of course the real problem is seven or eight seperate police departments. There is roughly 350,000 people in Victoria, and every weekend, holiday function, concert, hockey game or whatever else happens downtown, Vic Pd is there to do their job. With no help from anybody. So of course Esquimalt takes one on the chin. Esquimalt and Victoria should tax everybody in the CRD to help lesson the burdon on both of us.
Going to another police force, RCMP (no disraspect) will COST ALL OF US LIVING IN ESQUIMALT big time and for a longtime.
The sewage treatment plant is bad ENOUGH !! Almost time to move.
Dono
By: Donovan on October 21, 2011
at 4:03 pm
Dono, I know what you mean, sewage treatment plants we don’t need, money being wasted on the E&N trail when they should tear the whole damn E&N out and turn it all into a Galloping Goose from Victoria to Courtenay, flower planters in the middle of the road that are nothing more than commuter routes etc. etc. The speed limits are down to a crawling 40K on Craigflower and other streets (What a joke that is, no one can possibly go that slow). It does make a person want to pick up and get out of here.
By: Briggzee on November 3, 2011
at 5:00 pm
There seems to be no list of progressive candidates who care about the quality (as opposed to “economic quantity”) of life in Esquimalt.
If there were, I’d vote for them in a heartbeat.
I think the “Village Plan” centred on a 14 storey monstrosity is an obscenity, and the fact that Mayor Desjardins, who’s pushing this for no discernible reason aside from ego, got in by acclamation, reflects very poorly on the general state of interest in municipal politics in Esquimalt.
I hope the “Village Plan” gets hammered in the referendum.
Otherwise, Desjardins and her dim colleagues who want to turn Esquimalt into “Vic West West” will find some way to push this very, very stupid plan through.
After all, the Legion got turned down flat for wanting to put up a similar sized building on their land not so long ago.
What suddenly makes a similarly oversized project a good idea?
As a final comment – the whole plan to bring in he RCMP and dump the VPD makes no sense economically or practically.
I see this as another example of Mayor Desjardins wanting to “make her mark” and win political points in the most destructive and pointless way possible. I consider her entirely self-interested and incompetent.
There are so many other issues facing Esquimalt where a decent council and mayor could make a difference. I just hope we get some good councillors this time who might actually do that.
Desjardins and her “sheeple” on council seem to have forgotten that they are there to serve the people of Esquimalt – not the other way around.
By: Scodder on November 9, 2011
at 1:34 pm
Bringing in the RCMP is all about money, and service!!!! And that is a good thing, their is nothing wrong with council looking after our money.
Vic PD costs us 6 million plus a year. Did you know Oak Bay pays about 3 1/2 million a year, including what they pay saanich for some services. 6 million for the service we get from Victoria is outrageous. Why wouldn’t you go to the RCMP model at a lower price for the same service
By: Anonymous on November 21, 2011
at 9:52 am
Bringing in the RCMP is all about money, and service!!!! And that is a good thing, their is nothing wrong with council looking after our money.
Vic PD costs us 6 million plus a year. Did you know Oak Bay pays about 3 1/2 million a year, including what they pay saanich for some services. 6 million for the service we get from Victoria is outrageous. Why wouldn’t you go to the RCMP at the same service model for 1/2 the price?
On development, we need to lower our taxes and that will only come by either cutting services or population growth. And I prefer development over service cuts.. And since our available land is now mostly developed it’s now time to go up. I am tired of the depressive state of Esquimalt Rd. and if a few 8-12 municipal backed buildings can spark some developmental changes else where along the road than bring it on.
By: Anonymous on November 21, 2011
at 10:04 am
12 reasons for voting NO in this referendum.
1. 12 storeys (120 feet) of wall next to a public space makes no sense.
2. Huge shadows across public space and the Municipal hall every afternoon, where are the shadow studies.
3. Where will the wind go, looks like a wind tunnel between 2 huge buildings.
4. This is public land why are huge buildings the priority.
5. The Floor Space Ratio is to far too large, much larger than the Cambi proposal, will result is huge blocky buildings.
6. Nothing in this concept to attract people to the village.
7. No programming shown for this public space, how do they expect to use this shadowy windy public space.
8. No respect for heritage, Sailors Walk will have to move as building corner is proposed for the area.
9. One or both oak trees in the way of the parking garage.
10. Esquimalt Road runs to the North, will be shadowed by 8 storey building.
11. No more space for children in this place.
12. If pre-zoned any developer will then expect to build to the maximum, there are other properties where 12 storeys are more appropriate.
By: Anonymous on November 15, 2011
at 10:01 pm
13 reasons for voting NO in this referendum.
1. 12 storeys (120 feet) of wall next to a public space makes no sense.
2. Huge shadows across public space and the Municipal hall every afternoon, where are the shadow studies.
3. Where will the wind go, looks like a wind tunnel between 2 huge buildings.
4. This is public land why are huge buildings the priority.
5. The Floor Space Ratio is to far too large, much larger than the Cambi proposal, will result is huge blocky buildings.
6. Nothing in this concept to attract people to the village.
7. No programming shown for this public space, how do they plan to use this shadowy windy public space.
8. No respect for heritage, Sailors Walk will have to move as building corner is proposed for the area.
9. One or both oak trees in the way of the parking garage.
10. Esquimalt Road runs to the North will be shadowed by 8 storey building. 11. No more space for children in this place.
12. If pre-zoned any developer will then expect to build to the maximum, there are other properties where 12 storeys are more appropriate.
13. This area should be planned by the community not the mayor and her paid consultant!
By: Anonymous on November 15, 2011
at 10:11 pm
My reasons for voting NO in this referendum.
1. 12 storeys (120 feet) of wall next to a public space makes no sense.
2. Huge shadows across public space and the Municipal hall every afternoon, where are the shadow studies.
3. Where will the wind go, looks like a wind tunnel between 2 huge buildings.
4. This is public land why are huge buildings the priority.
5. The Floor Space Ratio is to far too large, much larger than the Cambi proposal, will result is huge blocky buildings.
6. Nothing in this concept to attract people to the village.
7. No programming shown for this public space, how do the plan to use this shadowy windy public space.
8. No respect for heritage, Sailors Walk will have to move as building corner is proposed for the area.
9. One or both oak trees in the way of the parking garage.
10. Esquimalt Road runs to the North will be shadowed by 8 storey building.
11. No more space for children in this place.
12. If pre-zoned any developer will then expect to build to the maximum, there are other properties where 12 storeys are more appropriate.
13. Should be more community input not the Mayor and her consultant.
Hoping you can find enough reasons, this plan needs a rethink!
By: GoVote on November 15, 2011
at 10:19 pm
Well there’s no doubt where Craigflower Road is going between Tillicum and Admirals. It’s straight as an arrow and now after a small fortune was spent on it, single lane both ways. During the rush traffic it’s backed up from Tillicum to Admirals and that’s the only time the ridiculous speed limit of 40 kmh is being obeyed. You can easily do 70 k on this stretch without any danger. The crazy thing is the mayor and other politicians are going around blowing their horns about what a great job has been done on this joke of a thoroughfare while the masses are shaking our heads in disbelief.
By: Briggzee on December 6, 2011
at 7:29 pm
I have read the blogs about neighbours wanting others to clean up their yards and stop the eye-sores of junk and rubbish laying around. I’d love to clean up my yard and have everything put nicely away in my shed but the municipality is having me tear down the structure I just paid $1500 for because it’s within the setbacks even though the structure I removed was even closer to the property line than the new one I have put up. No problem neighbours!! I’ll just cover up my lawnmower, tools and gardening equipment, my bikes and lawn furniture with a couple of blue and green tarps. That will look sooooo much nicer now won’t it?
By: GoodNeighbourGord on December 12, 2011
at 7:25 pm
Sorry, but I can’t feel sorry for you. There are rules about putting up structures and just because someone didn’t follow them on the original structure doesn’t give you the right to also. If everyone went ahead wily nily building structures where ever they felt it would cause nothing but grief and would also be safety concern.
By: Briggzee on December 19, 2011
at 9:07 am
Don’t be sorry … I’m not looking for you to feel sorry for me. Feel sorry for my neighbours having to look at all the junk laying around in my yard covered in plastic. I’m fine with it. I tried to erect a beautiful, new shed that blended in nicely and would be painted to match the existing colour scheme. I was attempting to improve on the run down, tarped, unsafe eyesore it replaced. For over a decade the old building was apparently not an issue to anyone for any reason. I could have continued using it as it did function as a somewhat dry and secure place to store my things. I was merely attempting to pretty things up. I thought it would be appreciated. Wrong.
By: GoodNeighbourGord on January 4, 2012
at 12:23 pm
Sounds like you’re from the generation of entitlement. You’re entitled to do whatever you feel like, ignoring rules and by-laws that were democratically decided upon for the betterment of everyone. Maybe you’re not the good neighbour you think you are leaving the dumpy shed there for 10 years. Appears an inexpensive garden shed would have done the job years ago but you choose to leave your “THINGS” lying around under tarps…”REALLY”
By: Briggzee on January 9, 2012
at 7:44 am
What is this “generation of entitlement”? For the past 30 years I have lived in and paid my taxes in East Sooke, Metchosin, Colwood and now Esquimalt (since 2001). My wife and I are upstanding citizens and have contributed well to our communities through volunteer work, Block Watch, Scouting, parent advisory councils, etc. and are indeed “good neighbours”. We just purchased this home in September of 2011 and so did not “leave the dumpy shed there for 10 years” but rather were replacing the “dumpy shed” with a new and improved model. We are not looking for any kind of “special” treatment Briggzee, just basic good old logic and reasonable thinking. The fact that this situation has gotten to where it has is just silly and frustrating and THAT is where my rant comes from. I understand rules and bylaws and why they are in place and enforced. This shed is NOT unreasonable, not an eyesore, and should not be an issue with anyone. It is just weird to me is all and in looking up the Municipal bylaws and such I came across this blog and took up the invitation to vent. Now your comments are just adding more frustration to the pot so I’m thinking I shall take leave from this site and get out the crowbar and hammer and get to ripping it down. Welcome to Rockheights !! mnmn
By: GoodNeighbourGord on January 12, 2012
at 7:37 pm
On the other hand it is the town council who recently broke the rules so that a doctor and his wife could build TWO houses on a single lot. So much for the caring about being good neighbors.
As for democracy, at the Council meeting, neighbour after neighbour rose and spoke against the development, only to be treated as they were not even there. We couldn’t beleive what we were hearing when Hundlebee, Desjardin and Brame all voted to support the development.
We have lived, worked and volunteered here for many, many years – but they had absoliutely no compassion or care about us as their neighbours. Our lives were negatively impacted, and our properties will surely be devalued.
We have decided to leave our long-time, previously much loved family home to live in a community where thre Councillors don’t have their egotistical heads lodged firmly up their greedy wazoos.
Thanks for nothing Esquimalt Town Council.
You can’t fool all of the people all of the time!
By: Long Time Esquimalt Residents on January 21, 2012
at 10:14 pm
You never mentioned in your previous rant you had just bought the house in 2011…all you said was “For over a decade the old building was apparently not an issue to anyone for any reason.” Anyone reading the blog would think you had lived there for a decade, anyhow it’s great you want to replace the dumpy old shed but doesn’t change the fact you should get a permit and build within the bylaws.
Bye Bye!!
By: Anonymous on January 23, 2012
at 1:26 pm
We DID live in Esquimalt for DECADES, and liked it, until more recently, as we sadly watched the current town council make bad decision after bad decision. Desjardin, Hundlebee and Brame should be especially ashamed of their senseless ignorance towards their neighbors.
Town council broke rules to accomodate what appeared to be back room deals , while flagrantly thumbing their noses at the rash of complaints from many neighbors. People and properties were negatively impacted, but that didn’t make one iota of difference to the uncaing council.
We were one of the lucky families in that unlike many others,we could afford to move away. The rash of recent gang violence there reflects just how serious the dysfunction of leadership is in Esquimalt.
Bye Bye to you too!
By: Long Time Esquimalt Residents on March 9, 2012
at 4:01 pm
Good Conversation on Amalgamation last night. Keen to see where it goes, and to make sure the voices of Esquimalt residents continue to be heard. The implications of this Conversation for our township could be significant.
By: David on February 8, 2012
at 8:16 am