Sunday February 20
Protecting Nature by Building Community
Bob Peart, the Coordinator of the Saanich Peninsula Environmental Coalition, provides an update on the efforts to facilitate the development of a bioregional planning framework for the Saanich Peninsula. The Coalition is a collection of independent groups and organizations that have come together to promote ecological and economic sustainability here where we live. In particular, the Coalition is focusing on the need to include these fundamental principles in the renewed Official Community Plan that is presently being discussed here in Sidney, and with North and Central Saanich as well.
Here is a link to the recording of the ZOOM Webinar:
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Tuesday February 22
Illegal Moorage and Abandoned Boats in our Harbours: An Update
Gillian Oliver (Canadian Coast Guard) and Jody Watson (Capital Region District) provide an update on their efforts to address the challenges of abandoned boats and illegal moorage in the waters surrounding the Saanich Peninsula. Their updates will be followed by a question and discussion period. We hope that this webinar will inform the participants of the resources assisting and the obstacles opposing the resolution of these long-standing and complicated challenges..
Here is a link to the February 22, 2022 webinar:
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Thursday February 24
At Home on the Saanich Peninsula
Farrell Boyce (retired scientist, environmental activist), Reverend Shana Lyngood (co minister of the First Unitarian Church of Victoria), Tiffany Joseph (member of the WSANEC Leadership Council) and Jacklynn Barrs (environmental scientist and activist) discuss what it means to be fully at home on the Saanich Peninsula. This discussion can be viewed as a an extension of the February 20 webinar “Protecting Nature by Building Community”
Here is a link to the recording of the ZOOM webinar:
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Friends of Shoal Harbour 
From two long-time North Saanich residents
We enjoyed the thoughtful presentations by all of the speakers regarding home on the peninsula and would enjoy seeing a summary of the other presentations.
It’s a challenging task to define what is home on the peninsula for us. When we moved here over thirty years ago, we were drawn to the blend of rural and natural environments. We set down roots, raised our family, and became involved in our community.
The rural/natural environment continues to define this place for us however we have seen changes and stresses to our natural spaces. We have appreciated our local government’s efforts to maintain the balance by setting aside green spaces for a network of trails, beach accesses, and parks. We hope this balance continues to be a priority.
While these are our thoughts on what makes the peninsula home, we feel the conversation needs to be broadened considerably to include new residents in order to incorporate their views about what would make this region home to them.
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