Rockland Neighbourhood Association: Minutes & Reports of the 2005 AGMThese minutes were approved by the membership at the February 6, 2006 meeting of the RNA
Annual General Meeting
February 2nd, 2005
Victoria Truth CentreMeeting called to order at 7:46 PM
President Catherine Spencer welcomed the members in attendance and then introduced the Board members in attendance:
Helmut Hissen, Dave Clark, Doris Schuh, Leida Marie Grant, Giorgio Amarilli, Susan Bartol-Drinker, Linda Foubister, Jane Lunt, Ethelyn McInnes-Rankin, Mary Picard.1. Messages from Guests:
- Government House Herb LeRoy - projects, events and quiet leafblowers
- Councillor Chris Coleman - City Council liaison for Rockland
- City Planner Brian Sikstrom
- Community Development Planner Karen Ramsay
- School Board Chair Michael McEvoy
- Library Board Don Hamilton
- Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Dan Cochran
- Friends of Government House Nigel Godfrey
- Craigdarroch Castle Board Chair Kathy Summers - Completed the wall; and outlined development plans for the grounds.
- Police Chief Geoff Varley, Inspector Phyllis Senay and Constable Rick Anthony: Crime statistics and trends for the Rockland neighbourhood and the City; amalgamated force, "bait cars". In response to questions from the floor, Police will schedule a special meeting with interested residents on "target hardening" - crime prevention tips.
2. Minutes of the Annual General Meeting February 3, 2004
Motion to accept the minutes (Susan Bartol-Drinker); Carried3. President’s Report
4. Financial Report: Motion to accept the financial report (Doris Schuh); Carried
5. Committee Reports: Motions to accept the following committee reports:
- Community Association Network (SBD/DS); Carried
- Electronic communications (SBD/HH); Carried
- Environment (LF/SBD); Carried
- Garden (JS/EMR); Carried
- History (LMG/LF); Carried
- Land Use (LMG/HH); Carried
- Newsletter (HH/DC); Carried
- Social (SBD/LF); Carried
- Traffic and Safety (LF/LMG); Carried
- Rockland Heritage Walking Tour (LF/LMG); Carried
- Land Use Co-ordination Committee (for information)6. Members' concerns (none put forward)
7. Leida Marie Grant, chair of the nominating committee, that included Ethelyn McInnes-Rankin and Walter Yeo, presented the slate of officers and directors.
Elections:
for President: Linda Foubister (by acclamation).for Vice President: Janet Simpson, (by acclamation).
for Secretary: Dave Clark (by acclamation).
for Treasurer: Doris Schuh (by acclamation).
Directors (all by acclamation): Brian Allen, Giorgio Amarilli, Susan Bartol-Drinker,
Yule Heibel, Helmut Hissen, Ethelyn McInnes-Rankin, Henry Phillips.Thanks were expressed to outgoing directors Jane Lunt, Mary Picard and Past President Leida Marie Grant for their service. A special presentation was made to Past Presidents Leida Marie Grant and Catherine Spencer for their exemplary service to the Association over the last several years.
8. Motion to adjourn at 10:07 PM (DH/HH) Carried
REPORTS
President’s Report
During 2005, the Rockland Neighbourhood Association has continued to work towards our vision of promoting Rockland’s unique heritage. We focused on the following key activities:
Planning: We developed a Board Strategic Plan for 2005, based on the 2004 plan and noted the need to work with the City to update the Rockland Neighbourhood Plan, which was adopted in 1987.
Advocacy: We developed positions on emerging civic policy issues, which included endorsing the Spaxman review of the Planning Division (the City approved this review), recommending changes to the Tree Preservation Bylaw (the City approved a new bylaw), expressing reservations about density bonus for areas outside the downtown (the City suspended its use) and recommending increased access for disposal of garden waste.
Land Use: We worked with the City and other neighbourhood associations to develop a new process to review land use proposals. The Board responded to proposals for rezoning and development, including holding a public meeting on the proposal to rezone 1322 Rockland Avenue (February 22, 2005), as well as site visits and letters to Mayor and Council with respect to several other proposals.
Consultations: We sought community views by asking residents about issues such as secondary suites and provided the response to the City. Directors participated in the consultation process for the Victoria Urban Development Agreement, attending workshops held in April and October to identify priorities.
Membership: To increase membership, we continued the new Resident Welcome Program, published articles on benefits of membership in the RNA in the Rockland Review and held workshops on crime prevention and safety.
Community Support: We followed up on neighbours’ concerns ranging from water pressure to overgrown shrubs. The neighbourhood faces several challenging issues, such as crime and safety, land use and graffiti. The Board is planning workshops in 2006 with respect to crime and safety.
I want to thank Councillor Chris Coleman for his hard work and commitment to the neighbourhood as City liaison to the Rockland Neighbourhood Association and wish him every success with his new responsibilities. The new City liaison is Councillor Bea Holland. We welcome her and look forward to working with her over the coming years.
Finally, I would like to thank all our members and, in particular, the 2005 Board of Directors, for their hard work and dedication to the neighbourhood.
Linda Foubister
TREASURER'S REPORT
To be published later...
Committee Reports
Community Association Network (CAN)
As the representative from the Board of Directors of the Rockland Neighbourhood Association, I attended meetings of CAN in 2005. The issues discussed included:
Canadian Cultural Capital Grants
Citizen's Assembly Single Transferable Vote
Graffiti Removal
Secure Food Source for Vancouver Island
Recreation Renewal
Safe Infection Sites
Harm Reduction Project - Downtown
Roundtable reports from community associations in Victoria
Crime in Communities
Crime, Prostitution and Safe Street Issues
Nuisance (Business Regulation) Bylaw - buildings of illicit use
The Role of CAN
Development concerns
Land Use
Density Bonus
Secondary Suites
Spaxman Report
Victoria Urban Development Agreement
Susan H. Bartol-Drinker
Electronic Communications
Electronic Communications comprises two distinct services: WebPage and Neighbours - our listserv connection.
WEB PAGE http://www.rockland.bc.ca
These are the statistics for activity on the website for the period December 31, 2004 to December 31, 2005:
3019 page loads (number of times the page was accessed)
1707 unique visitors (actual number of people who used the site)
1386 first time visitors (number who had never visited before)
321 returning visitors (regular visitors).
There has been an increase in activity over 2004 of over 50%, but returning visitors remains quite constant. I believe that the Web Page is a useful part of communication for the Association.
NEIGHBOURS
The email listserv continues to deliver timely information to the whole neighbourhood. Over 190 people currently receive the messages. Last year, I noted that it was unfortunate that many residents of the area are not aware that inclusion on this list does not require membership in the Association. I hope that the Executive would take steps to reach more members of the community. I would also recommend that the Association consider developing a regular e-Newsletter delivered through this medium.
The cost of maintaining these services is not high - about $150 per year.
Donald Hamilton
Environment and Graffiti
The Board undertook the following activities related to the environment and eliminating graffiti in 2005:
Recommended changes to the existing Tree Protection Bylaw, including more public involvement. (Note: the City approved a new Tree Preservation Bylaw in December, 2005, together with a public awareness program)
Supported in principle the Pemberton Trail, with recognition of private property rights (Note: the Pemberton Trail was added to the Greenways Plan)
Contacted the CRD about people scavenging from blue boxes
Recommended that the CRD consider exempting noxious and diseased plants from the ban on yard and garden material from the Hartland landfill
Requested that the City consider extending hours at Garbally Road for disposal of garden waste and start residential compost pickup, in view of the CRD ban on dumping garden waste.
Launched the “Adopt-a-Pole” program in August, 2005 to address graffiti on hydro poles
Provided advice on reporting graffiti and on BC Hydro policy in September edition of the Rockland Review
Partnered with the City of Victoria on a design template to reduce graffiti on hydro poles (Examples at the corner of Rockland and St. Charles Street) as part of the “Adopt-a-Pole” program.
Linda Foubister
History
The History Committee invites your contribution of stories, anecdotes and photos of Rockland people and places. We are still eagerly awaiting the next version of Rockland history/ architecture being prepared in collaboration with the City of Victoria Archives. Please keep in touch - and keep Rockland history alive. Please contact Bev Paterson (work) 952-7786 or bpaterson@odlumbrown.com.
Beverly Paterson
Land Use
1. 1322 Rockland (the Caroline Macklem property)
The development proposal by the owner to construct a 40-suite apartment building, 6 townhouses and restore the existing mansion and coach house to single family dwellings was presented to a public meeting on February 24th. 2005. Over 100 people attended the meeting. Many participants spoke against the proposal but a number of residents who supported the proposal would like to see this issue resolved. A letter was sent to Council summarizing the opinions given at the meeting. It was presented to the Council Committee of the Whole in April 2005. The City Planning Department recommended that Council decline the application as too dense and contrary to the Rockland Plan. The
application was tabled and has not been lifted from the table to date.
A modified proposal with a reduction in the size of the apartment complex to 22 units and six townhouses was presented to the Land Use Committee in December 2005. The committee felt that it was still too dense and again contrary to the Rockland Plan. The Land Use Committee decided to await the decision of the Committee of the Whole before
making any further moves such as calling another public meeting.
2. Secondary Suites
The proposal by the City to initiate changes to the regulations covering secondary suites was eventually dropped. A request was sent out to the members on our e-mail list soliciting their opinions on the proposed changes. The committee drafted a letter for the RNA Board to forward to the City, outlining our concerns regarding the changes.
3. 1501 Laurel Lane
The owners of 1501 Laurel Lane met with the committee to discuss their plan to increase the number of suites in the building from seven to nine. The committee was not opposed to this proposal as it has been operating as a nine-suite apartment complex for a number of years and we have not been aware of any complaints.
4. Zoning
The committee had a number of discussions on the R1A and R1B zoning. This arose as a result of neighbours' concerns over some of the recent construction in Rockland. Massive houses are being built on standard sized City lots. The committee has raised a number of issues with the City Planning Department which include:
The recent trend to build large houses on regular sized lots;
Situations where 'renovations' turn out to be new construction on an original foundation;
Situations where strata houses can be built with little or no physical contact between the houses.
Before the Rockland Plan is revised, these issues need to be addressed.
5. Public Meeting Procedures
The committee has modified the way it conducts public meetings in accordance with recommendations from Community Association Land Use Committee (CALUC). In future, developers will be able to attend the whole meeting and not asked to leave for a
portion of the meeting.
6. Planning Meetings
Committee members participated in a number of planning meetings
hosted by the City Planning Department.
Brian Allen, Chair
LUC Members: Giorgio Amarilli, Linda Foubister, Yule Heibel, Helmut Hissen, Catherine Spencer.Newsletter
In 2005, The Rockland Review appeared three times: January, September and Winter 2005-2006. The first two issues of 2005 were edited/ produced by Helmut Hissen, our longtime editor. Helmut stepped aside in the fall; Yule Heibel took over as new editor and shepherded the Winter 2006 issue into production. All three issues appeared within
the Fairfield Community Association's newsletter The Fairfield Observer, a working arrangement that suited both associations. At present, however, The Rockland Review is faced with new opportunities once again. We are currently investigating a new publishing opportunity to provide both targeted and expanded neighbourhood coverage. We are looking forward to a year filled with new opportunities, and look forward to providing articles of interest to our neighbourhood and RNA members.
We welcome articles from our membership and neighbours, especially articles that bring wider community interests into focus for our neighbourhood. Our current issue includes an article on Victoria City Council's formalization of neighbourhood involvement in land use approvals, as well as articles on traffic safety and Block Watch, architectural history; the Rockland Walking Tour, the Woodland Garden, and Rockland's newest neighbour, Ballet Victoria.
If you wish to contribute an article, please contact the association via mail or send email to HYPERLINK "mailto:editor@rockland.ca" editor@rockland.ca.
Helmut Hissen and Yule Heibel
Rockland Woodland Garden
Vision: An attractive, low-maintenance, water-efficient landscape that features species native to the Garry oak ecosystem.
Activities in 2005
The stone steps leading to the Garden were repaired and low rock walls bordering the steps were constructed. In addition, there is now a bench set into the lower east end of the wall.
We now have a compost bin, tucked away in the Snowberry bushes.
The path through the Garden has been extended to the sidewalk near the northwest corner.
The City donated 9 cubic yards of wood chips, and two high school boys carried them up into the Garden and distributed them along the path which winds from the top east end of the Garden to the lower northwest corner.
Craigdarroch Castle installed a stone and cement bench in front of the wall to the west of the steps.
Father Anthony’s devoted attention to an Arbutus seedling at the far west end has resulted in amazing new growth on an endangered species specimen which appears to be thriving!
Goldenrod donated by Giorgio Amarilli was so successful in the upper border along the fence line that it out competed the Mock Orange, Goat’s Beard, and Indian Plum.
During December, we rescued approximately 1000 wildflower bulbs (mostly Camas, Nodding Onion, Shooting Star, and Chocolate Lily) from a development site in Saanich.
What’s Next?
We need to plant all of those bulbs! Please consider joining us in this endeavour! I also plan to rescue more bulbs, as the site opening was just extended to include the month of January.
We plan to research signage options so that the public will be aware of the variety of native species in the Garden.
We’d like to encourage more volunteers and visitors to come out to the Garden. I’m there on alternate Sundays from 2-4 (starting Jan. 8th).
Janet Simpson
Welcome
Rockland Neighbourhood Association Welcoming Packets have been delivered to the following addresses:
1337 Rockland Avenue: new tenant
1318 Richardson Street
961 Joan Crescent
969 Joan Crescent
1032 Craigdarroch Road
730 Pemberton Road
1021 Pentrelew Place
#3-1462 Rockland Avenue
1711 Patly Place
921 Royal Terrace
617 St Charles Street
1041 St Charles Street
*1011 Moss Street: house sold again
*1277 Rockland Ave: house sold again
1335 Rockland Ave. - 3 new tenants
1522 Despard Avenue
815 Pemberton
1325 Rockland Avenue
917 Royal Terrace
504-1035 Belmont Avenue - mailed
1-1002 Carberry Gardens
1520 Bywood Place
1270 Rockland Avenue
703 Moss Street
2006 Deliveries:
1347 Craigdarroch Road
1587 Rockland Avenue
952 Richmond Avenue
Susan Bartol-Drinker
Traffic and Safety
In 2005, there has been growing awareness amongst Rockland residents of the issue of property crime and the ongoing nuisance of graffiti on public and private property. The following data shows that the year-over-year trend is flat, but significant under-reporting to the police is possible:
2004
2005
Break and enter 26
27
Theft from autos (under $5,000) 132
130
The following public safety and traffic activities were noted or initiated:
In cooperation with the Victoria Police Department, the RNA jointly sponsored the 2nd annual Block Watch public information event on October 4th. Following the event, 3 new Block Watches were established in Rockland, bringing the total to 6 watches (or 90 homes).
2005 saw heightened community awareness of our collective vulnerability to man-made and natural disasters. The RNA advised neighbours through the email list about neighbourhood emergency program workshops.
The City Engineering staff hosted a public information session to seek input from Rockland residents prior to implementing traffic improvements, as described in the 1999 Neighbourhood Transportation Management Plan.
RNA wishes to thank City Police and bylaw staff and Councillor Coleman for patiently addressing the Rockland's ongoing concerns on a variety of traffic matters, including oversized vehicles (i.e. tour buses) using residential streets, speeding on Rockland Avenue, etc.
Henry Phillips
Rockland Heritage Walking Tour
The Rockland Neighbourhood Association continued to promote the Rockland Heritage Walking Tour, which was developed in 2004 with the support of a matching grant from the City of Victoria. The objectives of the project are:
to educate the public about the unique nature and history of the Rockland area;
to celebrate the heritage of the area;
to foster community pride in the area; and
to encourage recreational and environment-friendly walking.
The Rockland Heritage Walking Tour is available online at the RNA website ( HYPERLINK "http://www.rockland.bc.ca/" http://www.rockland.bc.ca/) and can be downloaded for residents and visitors to take on the walk. The Tour is also available in a condensed form in two brochures, Rockland East and Rockland West. Nearly 1,000 copies of each brochure were distributed in 2005 to venues such as the City of Victoria and main branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library.
Linda Foubister
Victoria Urban Development Agreement
In February 2005, the federal and provincial governments, together with the City of Victoria, announced the start of an Urban Development Agreement process for Victoria. There are currently three Agreements in Canada: Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Vancouver. Roundtables were initiated to help shape a Victoria Urban Development Agreement (VUDA). At present, there is a Draft Strategic Plan (Fall 2005), which focuses on the downtown core. VUDA organizers sought input from neighbourhood and community groups, government sectors, and interested individuals.
RNA sent three Board members (Susan Bartol-Drinker, Helmut Hissen, Yule Heibel) to VUDA's June 2005 "focus group" sessions and one Board member (Yule Heibel) to the "action tables" session on October 31. At the June meetings, participants did "visioning" exercises to help define some consensus around what Victoria's citizens want their city to be. The October meeting focused on defining specific "actions" to address more immediate problem areas.
VUDA's primary mandate revolves around downtown, and our Rockland neighbourhood is not immediately affected by the policies and remedies that will eventually be worked out. It is in our self-interest to support efforts that work toward a vibrant, healthy downtown, since many downtown social problems eventually spill into our backyards.
VUDA information is online:
About: http://www.victoriaagreement.ca/en/about.php
Draft Strategic Plan (PDF): http://www.victoriaagreement.ca/en/_pdfs/process_draft_plan.pdf
FAQs: http://www.victoriaagreement.ca/en/faq.php
Yule Heibel
Community Association Land Use Committee (CALUC)
In response to requests from neighbourhood groups including the RNA, the City of Victoria formed a working group in the fall of 2004 consisting of representatives from Victoria's neighbourhood associations plus representatives from the Advisory Planning Commission, the Urban Design Institute, planning staff, and Council. The mandate of this group was to review and document the roles and relationships of neighbourhood associations in the city's planning processes, in particular, their Land Use Committee’s (LUC) roles with respect to property rezonings. Along the way, the working group came up with a few minor improvements to make rezoning processes more manageable and consistent, less burdensome for the associations, and more predictable all around. A few loopholes were closed as well by cleaning up the information and workflow. As a result, associations and developers now have a much better idea of what is expected from them.
The group completed its work a year later and our newly elected city council has recently given the planning staff the green light to set up the documentation and internal procedures necessary to implement the new and improved procedures this spring (2006).
Many of the representatives still believe that streamlining the property rezoning processes is not necessarily a good thing (in fact, some have a strong and unwavering intuitive dislike for the underlying philosophy), but having a system not everybody likes with fewer loopholes is a big step up from having no system at all. So, post-CALUC, the average neighbour is better off than before, plus we have a somewhat solid starting point to work from. The work has only begun. In fact, the work is guaranteed to continue. Part of the CALUC process is a review after the first year of working with the new procedures.
Another interesting thing was that a number of groups within city government including the Parks Department and the VUDA group noticed, with some enthusiasm, that there was a working group made up of people representing all of the neighbourhoods who were willing to read, listen, learn, think, and then come up with a somewhat coherent response to relatively early-stage ideas.
At the time, CALUC stayed focused on its (planning work flow) mandate, but a clear need was identified and we are now starting to see complicated and important planning and social planning policy issues being sent out for consultation with the neighbourhoods via the association's CALUC contacts (usually the LUC chairs). These include issues such as how the downtown boundary is defined, legalization of secondary suites, and bylaws governing the construction of duplexes.
The city and the associations are still feeling their way into this new level of collaboration, with some amount of suspicion and unease, but there is tremendous potential here for our future. If you are interested in getting involved either as a director or as a member of the LUC, don’t be shy! This is a truly interesting time (in a good way) to be involved.
Helmut Hissen
NOMINATIONS
Annual General Meeting
February 6, 2006
In compliance with Bylaw IV, Section 4.06 of the Bylaws of the Rockland Neighbourhood Association, the Nominating Committee presents the following slate of nominees. All candidates have given their written consent.
Attached please find a short profile of each candidate for your information.
PRESIDENT PHILLIPS, Henry
VICE-PRESIDENT SIMPSON, Janet
SECRETARY CLARK, David
TREASURER SCHUH, Doris
DIRECTORS AMARILLI, Giorgio
BARTOL-DRINKER, Susan
GLEN, Jane
KIDD, Patricia
MCINNES-RANKIN, Ethelyn
WEAVER, John
WILSON, Suzanne
Respectfully submitted,
Your Nominating Committee: Catherine Spencer, Chair
Susan Bartol-Drinker, Member
Gillian Young, Member
HENRY PHILLIPS
Nominee for President
Henry is a medical consultant and civil servant employed by the BC Medical Services Plan. He and his wife Karen moved to Victoria 11 years ago from Kingston Ontario.
He was educated at Royal Roads Military College and the Royal Military College, graduating in 1974 as a mechanical engineer. He subsequently received a M.Sc. in aeronautical engineering, with Air Force postings to Nova Scotia, England, Alberta and Ottawa. He later attended the University of Manitoba's School of Medicine and served as a flight surgeon in Manitoba and B.C. before retiring at CFB Comox, then moving to Kingston to work for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan. Henry's interests include hiking, canoeing, birding, orienteering and participation in the Army Reserve's 11th (Victoria) Field Ambulance. Henry and Karen are “empty nesters”, with two adult children living in Ontario.
JANET SIMPSON
Nominee for Vice-President
I was born and raised in Vancouver, where I eventually earned a Bachelor's Degree in Education at U.B.C. After teaching secondary school in Prince Rupert for ten years (with two years out to travel throughout Southeast Asia and to complete a Master's Degree at the University of Toronto), I moved to Victoria with my husband, Bill. We lived at the corner of Linden and Fairfield until purchasing our own home in Rockland in 1991. For the past seventeen years, I have been teaching at Mount Douglas Secondary School.
In Prince Rupert, I served on the executive of the Women's Transition House. While in Victoria, I have been a member of the Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society, the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition, and the Rockland Neighbourhood Association. In the RNA, I have contributed as a member of the Zoning Committee, chaired the Traffic Committee, represented Rockland on the Community Association Network, and served as Vice President. I am currently active in developing and maintaining the Rockland Woodland Garden.
The protection of natural features and greenspace, the preservation of architectural integrity, and the need for streets which are safe and pleasant for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists are issues that concern me greatly. I am committed to enhancing the quality of life in Rockland, and I believe that my involvement in the neighbourhood association is a way of achieving worthy goals that provide residents with some control over their immediate environment.
DAVID CLARK
Nominee for Secretary
A biologist and forester with an interest in wildlife habitat, Dave has lived in the neighbourhood for the past 14 years, and for another period of six years through high school. He has been a Board member for the past 4 years, serving as Secretary and as Secretary/Treasurer as well as Chair of the Garden Committee.
DORIS SCHUH
Nominee for Treasurer
resident (Pemberton Road) for over 15 years
hobby gardener (member B.C. Fruit Testers Association)
interested in preserving the quality of life that residents of Rockland enjoy:
safety, security, privacy and the natural environment - trees, flowers, birds
Rockland Board member 2002 (participated Constitution/Bylaw Amendment Committee); Treasurer – 2003, 2004 and 2005.
education: B.Sc., M.Sc.
retired (mainly public sector management and staff positions) U.B.C., Seattle School District, University of Victoria, B.C. Ministry of Attorney General, Royal Jubilee Hospital, B.C. Ministry of Health
skills: general management (planning, organizing, personnel management, control)
resource analysis, project coordination and evaluation
technical writing (regulations, standards, policies and procedures)
experience specific to treasurer position: budget preparation, financial control
previous treasurer experience in three other small organizations
GIORGIO AMARILLI
Nominee for Director
My parents and I first moved into this neighbourhood in the mid sixties. My wife and I have raised our family here. Now we look at the area as how it can provide for us in our retirement as well as providing future homes for our children’s families.
Although we live in a 1959 single family home, my wife and I are the proud “custodians” of a manor house. Because of this, I have the greatest affinity for the estate homes of our neighbourhood. In part, it is the grandeur of these homes and gardens that help elevate our community from just another walking distance bedroom community of downtown Victoria. Their maintenance, long term longevity and position in our community are some of my concerns. Many have been lost already. Although some are in exceptional condition, too many show the ravages of time, over use and ambivalence. From my perspective, it is important that we recognize their fragile tenure, identify steps that reaffirm the integral contributions they have made to the community presently and insure they have a place in the future.
My forty year association with the neighbourhood not only provides me with a long term perspective that appreciates where we have been but also what needs to be preserved. With an open mind, I hope to influence the evolution of our neighbourhood so that what is held dear is not only retained but enhanced.
In spirit of consensus building, I wish to work openly and creatively in approaching the challenges that face our community.
SUSAN BARTOL-DRINKER
Nominee for Director
Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, where I taught kindergarten for ten years, then shifted to computer programming and data base administration.
I moved to Victoria in 1989, and became a citizen of Canada in 1997. My husband and I owned and ran an inspected and licensed Bed and Breakfast on Portage Inlet in Saanich for ten years.
I served on the executive of the community association there for three years, and of a smaller group that is focused on the protection of the fragile environment of the Inlet and contributory rivers for three years. I was their representative to SCAN (Saanich Community Association Network) for about four years.
We then wanted a smaller house closer to downtown, in a compatible neighbourhood. We liked the character of the Rockland area. We read The Rockland Neighbourhood Plan, agreed with the principles, and were fortunate to find a house here.
I have served on the Board of Directors of the Rockland Neighbourhood Association for three years, with the responsibilities of representative to the Community Associations Network and deliverer of Welcome Packages.
I feel very strongly that it is the responsibility of the residents of a special area in a special city to cooperatively work with the Community Association and the officials of the city to ensure the protection of the characteristics which create that ambience.
I think it is important to be aware of the impending changes in one’s neighbourhood and help guide those changes in positive ways. In a city the size of Victoria, which is facing impending change, I think it is crucial to guide in proactive rather than reactive processes.
Jane Glen
Nominee for Director
Residence
Born and raised in Nova Scotia
Lived in Victoria for over 30 years
Renter in a beautiful manor at 1337 Rockland Avenue for over 5 years
Education
BA Psychology, Mount Allison University
Bachelor of Physical Education, University of Waterloo
Sprott Shaw Community College - Diploma in Innovative Office Concepts
Business Computer Education Program -The Reger Group
Career Path
Community recreational professional with over 25 years experience in the not-for-profit and local government sector.
In the field of recreation administration, I specialized in volunteer management, arts development, special event co-ordination, fundraising and community development initiatives.
Capital Regional District-Arts Development Office
I developed linkages with a range of arts organizations in Greater Victoria
Constituency Assistant for Sheila Orr's Community Office
A primary focus of the position included the liaison role with not- for- profit organizations in both the Municipality of Saanich and the City of Victoria. Through this role, I became aware of many challenging issues facing local neighborhood associations. I recognize the importance and believe in building positive partnerships with city staff and elected officials.
Community Volunteer Experience
Saanich United Way of Greater Victoria- Corporation of Saanich Chair for 5 years
United Way of Greater Victoria- Local Government Chair
Kids Sport- Communications and Media Relations
Board Member Victoria YM-YWCA
I am willing to serve as Director because of my interest in the Rockland neighborhood and more specifically my beliefs/values in the following areas that contribute to a healthy community:
Promoting wellness and public health by providing residents to be physically, socially and culturally active
Managing growth
Enhancing public safety
Increasing emergency preparedness
Promoting transportation alternatives
Preserving and protecting Rockland's environment and architectural heritage
Building open positive relationships with city staff and elected officials so that creative solutions can be found to challenges facing the Rockland neighborhood
Taking a proactive approach and being aware of available grant monies that are available to undertake specific projects in the Rockland neighborhood related to heritage, active living, beautification, and other environmental initiatives
Being elected to the Board of the Rockland Community Association, I believe I can make a valuable contribution to the Rockland neighborhood.
PATRICIA C. KIDD
Nominee for Director
My parents and I moved to Victoria in 1973, and apart from a brief stay in Toronto, I have lived here ever since. Twenty-one of those years have been spent resident in our wonderful Maclure home opposite the Art Gallery. Though we put a suite in the basement in 1991, we consider ourselves a single family dwelling, and are determined to remain as such as long as humanly possible. My husband has developed our large garden into a haven for rhododendrons and azaleas, and that sums our attitude to the neighbourhood; it should be kept as green as possible and as family-oriented as possible.
Many writers to the Times-Colonist have stressed that we need to move on towards a Vancouver pattern of housing. I couldn’t disagree more. Victoria is a city of charming diversity. When friends visit from England, or other parts of Canada, they gasp at the variety of housing there is, especially within reach of the downtown core. Rockland must be allowed, and indeed encouraged, to remain as it is in order to maintain this diversity.
As a historian, and a cultural historian at that, I am all too aware of the damage inflicted by one generation on those succeeding when the long-term consequences of actions are not considered. We could allow the development of the neighbourhood to admit a far greater population, but the loss of the history we live with daily and take for granted is a terrible act of theft on our part. We are guardians of this area and its diversity but our tenure is short. We must consider the rights of those who will come after. A roof and four walls can be put up anywhere. Victoria has room to spread in outlying communities. We must resist the greed of entrepreneurs who see a way of making a killing by putting four families where previously there had been one. Quite apart from the devastation aesthetically to a beautiful community, the stress on services which already face overload is punishment we should avoid inflicting on ourselves.
Although I embrace the opportunity to help the city deal with the infinite number of people who wish to share our privileged Victoria lifestyle, I don’t believe in cow-towing to developers and those in search of the almighty dollar. I value the needs and desires of future generations too much. I will stand firm for the healthy maintenance of Rockland’s character.
Ethelyn McInnes-Rankin
Nominee for Director
Residence: 1521 Montgomery Avenue, owned since 1993.
Education: B.A. Psychology; M.A. (UBC) Counselling Psychology
Occupation: College counsellor in the post-secondary educational system
Volunteer activities:
Present: Director on the Board of the Rockland Neighbourhood Association;
Volunteer for Seniors Helping Seniors organization;
Volunteer for Friends of Government House Garden
and Vancouver Island Master Gardeners Association
Past: President of Interaction: an Association for International Educators;
Executive positions on the B.C. College and Institute Counsellors Assoc.
Administrative and management experience within employer organizations.
I am willing to serve as Director because of my ongoing interest and commitment to the Rockland neighbourhood. I feel that I can offer the following:
previous experience on both the Rockland Board and the Land Use Committee;
commitment to fair process and a fair hearing for all members of the Board and interested groups;
an interest and desire to protect and enhance the Rockland neighbourhood environment;
liaison to the Board for the volunteer group that maintains the Rockland Neighbourhood Woodland Garden.
active contributor to the RNA. newsletter on gardening issues;
an ongoing interest in heritage issues;
available time to devote to the Association, as I am now retired.
JOHN WEAVER
Nominee for Director
My wife and I have lived in the same home on St. Francis Wood for the past 37 years. We have raised a family of three children there, all of whom attended Margaret Jenkins and Oak Bay High School. We feel privileged to live in a neighbourhood that possesses such elegance and semi-rural charm and yet is within walking distance of downtown Victoria. Over the years, I have witnessed many changes in Rockland, not all of them for the better, so that as a strong supporter of maintaining Rockland's unique character, I believe that the Rockland Neighbourhood Association must continue to play its vital role in monitoring future developments, and in advancing innovative proposals for improving the area. I am willing to contribute, to the best of my ability, in helping to achieve this aim.
I was born and raised in England and came to Canada as a post-graduate student. For 32 years I was a professor at the University of Victoria where I served as Chair of the Department of Physics & Astronomy and later as Dean of the Faculty of Science. Prior to that I was a research scientist at the Defence Research Establishment Pacific in Esquimalt. Although now retired, I am still occasionally involved in research at the University.
For the past two years, I have served on the CRD Water Advisory Committee, and its associated Inundation Scientific Advisory Group. I am a member of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs and I have been a member of the Rockland Association for many years. I have considerable international experience, having lived for extended periods in the Britain, Germany, Switzerland and Australia, and I have travelled extensively in many other parts of the world.
I strongly support the aims of the Association; I applaud such initiatives as the Rockland woodland garden, the heritage walking tour and the Rockland cairn; I am in favour of sensible traffic management but believe that an overly zealous imposition of unrealistic speed limits may be counter-productive; I am disturbed by the apparent decline of Garry Oaks, which do so much to define the character of Rockland; I am dismayed that the City planners show so little interest in relocating underground the unsightly hydro cables, and all the ugly paraphernalia that goes with them, in sensitive areas like Rockland; and I was an outspoken critic of the Jubilee road closures which effectively cut off ready access to Shelbourne St. for Rockland residents.
SUZANNE WILSON
Nominee for Director
Info to be included.