ENVIRONMENT & PARKS

I’m pleased to say that Saanich has developed and adopted many tools to reduce and prevent potential negative impacts on our natural environment, and to address those impacts when they do occur. We need to keep our focus on this work, and make sure that we elect Councillors who will continue to make it one of our priorities.

Addressing Biodiversity

Maintaining and conserving biodiversity is critical to a healthy environment and a healthy world. Biodiversity refers to and encompasses all living species and their relationship to each other. It incorporates differences in genetic makeup as well as differences in ecosystems and species. Here in Saanich, we have adopted our “Biodiversity Conservation Strategy”. Our goal is to address the management of biodiversity within our jurisdiction, including an assessment of the effectiveness of actions we are already taking, and setting out new strategies that we need to adopt.

Restoration Activities

Working often with local groups of residents, Saanich is very active in ecosystem restoration projects, addressing areas where environmental degradation has occurred, and bringing back the natural, sustainable health of the ecosystem .

The Colquitz Watershed, for example, has seen significant improvements to the river health and re-establishment of spawning beds for coho salmon and cutthroat trout. Cuthbert Holmes Park, as well, has seen restoration work on the river habitat, enhancement of wetland areas and removal of invasive species. And the Garry Oak habitat at Hyacinth Park is being restored with structural protections and additional plantings to boost the naturalization of the meadow.

This work, and many other projects are ongoing, and we need to make sure we continue to support it - not just at Council, and working to make this a priority for District staff, but also by continuing to support and assist the community initiatives that help make it a reality.

Parks

Saanich has over 171 parks, of all kinds, but we need to look more closely at creating parks in areas where we are creating higher density. The Covid pandemic showed so clearly just how important accessible parks are to our residents – they were used significantly and were really “life savers” for many. Some used to think that parks were “nice to have” but I believe we need to look at them as “need to have”, and that our investments in parks should be equitable and balanced throughout the whole of Saanich including in high density centers or corridors.

Landfill, Waste and Re-thinking our Buying

Our landfill in this region is rapidly getting closer to capacity, and we must seriously reduce the amount of waste we produce. Waste reduction works at many levels, but a good place to start is to re-think our purchasing habits – do we really need more and more products, or can we get by with less, re-use what we have and of course, recycle what we can. Let’s start thinking in terms of a “Circular Economy” that will serve us all, and the planet, so much better.