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#1 amor de cosmos

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Posted 14 September 2013 - 02:19 PM

time for its own thread?

Update on Pioneer Square Improvements
September 13, 2013

Update:

Improvements underway at Pioneer Square, a City park and cemetery located adjacent to Christ Church Cathedral, were halted earlier this week when human remains were unearthed near the corner of Meares and Quadra. Asphalt was being removed to make way for a new pathway when human remains were identified at a very shallow depth of 46 centimetres (18 inches). It is unexpected to find remains at such a shallow depth.

Under the guidance of an archaeologist, crews are able to continue to remove asphalt, provided there is no disturbance of the base soil underneath. The archaeologist has also indicated that trench work can continue along Quadra Street without risk of impacting the larger site. An archaeologist will remain on site during the work.



The plan's primary vision is to preserve and enhance the rich historic value of the park's cemetery while maintaining a park space that suits the needs of the surrounding community. Known as the "old burying ground", Pioneer Square served as a cemetery from 1855 to 1873 and as a City park since 1908. It features mature trees and plantings and is home to close to 1,300 interments, marked by a number of heritage gravestones and bench tombs.

Improvements will include the repair and preservation of eight tombstones situated throughout the park, in addition to the group of tombstones located at the back of the park. As these stones have been identified to be in better condition than others, they will be easier to preserve. The remaining tombstones and bench tombs in the park will be preserved as joint fundraising efforts with community partners arise.

The park's cracked asphalt pathways will be replaced and widened where needed to increase accessibility for wheelchairs, strollers and scooters. The pathways will also be lifted in areas to minimize root damage to surrounding trees. Existing benches, lighting and garbage bins will be replaced with new stylized furnishings that better reflect the park's history.

An arborist's report identified five, high-maintenance, invasive Holly trees located at the back of the park that required removal. One English yew situated at the rear of the park also needed to be removed to address the community's safety concerns. These trees were removed earlier this week and will be replaced with a new evergreen hedge by the end of the year.

http://www.victoria....provements.html

#2 amor de cosmos

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Posted 28 September 2013 - 07:33 AM

More human remains unearthed at Victoria's Pioneer Square
By Daniel Palmer - Victoria News
Published: September 27, 2013 7:00 AM
Updated: September 27, 2013 9:47 PM

Ongoing work at Pioneer Square Park has unearthed human remains in four areas of the park, and City of Victoria officials have confirmed the resulting archeological work will delay park upgrades.

"Human remains have been removed and are now under care under the care of the on-site archeologist," said Katie Hamilton, the city's communications director. "They will be re-buried on-site under the direction of the archeologist."

http://www.vicnews.c.../225264791.html

#3 HB

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Posted 28 September 2013 - 08:52 AM

Why is this even news?

Is Victoria and this site so hurting for things to talk about that they need to sensationalise the finding of human remains in a Cemetary

Wow!!! Amazing!!!!...... they found some skeletons in a Cemetary while they are digging there.

They should not be digging there in the first place it is a well known fact that there are 1300 persons buried there.

You wouldnt go into a native burial site and start digging it up so why are they doing it here?

The familys of these 1300 people should have been informed that this place was going to be desecrated before they started the work.

#4 Bingo

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Posted 28 September 2013 - 11:41 AM

Why is this even news?


I agree.

#5 Hotel Mike

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Posted 28 September 2013 - 03:34 PM

Shocking! Stop the presses! Bones found in a cemetery!
Don't be so sure.:cool:

#6 wisevictoria

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Posted 02 October 2013 - 06:22 AM

We are not unique in finding archaeological artifacts beneath our city.

"Since Crossrail construction began in 2009, more than 10,000 archaeology items, spanning more than 55 million years of London’s history, have been found across over 40 construction sites."

That is over 5 artifacts / day for the past 5 years.

http://www.crossrail...iverpool-street

#7 HB

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Posted 02 October 2013 - 08:09 AM

Compariing a European site with 2000+ years of human habitation to pioneer square is bizarre

Pioneer square was used as a cemetary for a few years starting in the 19th century

They should not be digging there and should have instead ..installed a retaining wall around the north,south and west perimeter to bring it up to grade with the east portion. Then they should have backfilled it instead of disturing the site then phoning the museum every time they find bone.

#8 Hotel Mike

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Posted 02 October 2013 - 11:42 AM

HB, it's "cemetery".
Don't be so sure.:cool:

#9 Old Esquimalt

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Posted 02 December 2013 - 04:58 PM

What amazes me is how our forefathers casually removed all the headstones and paved the place over.  How did they get away with that?  There is a house in Victoria that has a back patio paved with some of the old headstones too.  That would be a bid too morbid for me!


Edited by Old Esquimalt, 02 December 2013 - 04:59 PM.


#10 Holden West

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Posted 02 December 2013 - 07:37 PM

What amazes me is how our forefathers casually removed all the headstones and paved the place over.  How did they get away with that?  There is a house in Victoria that has a back patio paved with some of the old headstones too.  That would be a bid too morbid for me!

Recent articles said it was the work of one rogue manager. By the time people realized it the damage had been done. Sometimes bureaucracy and management oversight is a good thing.


Edited by Holden West, 02 December 2013 - 07:38 PM.

"Beaver, ahoy!""The bridge is like a magnet, attracting both pedestrians and over 30,000 vehicles daily who enjoy the views of Victoria's harbour. The skyline may change, but "Big Blue" as some call it, will always be there."
-City of Victoria website, 2009

#11 amor de cosmos

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Posted 10 January 2014 - 10:15 AM

Rockland Avenue block set to close for a year
Times Colonist
January 9, 2014 08:39 PM

A section of Rockland Avenue between Quadra and Vancouver streets will be closed to motorists for a year beginning the end of this month as part of Victoria’s Pioneer Square rehabilitation project.

The $700,000 rehabilitation project includes grave preservation, new walkways and lighting.

City staff say that in addition to increasing Victoria’s walkability and improving this cycling corridor, the road will connect Christ Church Cathedral to Pioneer Square, creating an improved greenspace downtown.

It is also hoped the change will guide vehicle traffic onto main roads such as Fort and Fairfield. Local vehicle traffic will still be able to access Rockland Avenue from Vancouver Street, but there will be no exit to Quadra Street.

http://www.timescolo...a-year-1.784410



#12 Nparker

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Posted 10 January 2014 - 11:01 AM

http://www.timescolo...a-year-1.784410 
It is also hoped the change will guide vehicle traffic onto main roads such as Fort and Fairfield. Local vehicle traffic will still be able to access Rockland Avenue from Vancouver Street, but there will be no exit to Quadra Street.

Ahh more social engineering on the part of our local government.



#13 wisevictoria

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Posted 10 January 2014 - 11:10 AM

$700,000? for pathways and lighting?


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#14 Mike K.

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Posted 10 January 2014 - 11:19 AM

I guess we got a deal on the $500,000 Pandora upgrade and $500,000 Beacon Hill Park road closures.


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#15 gumgum

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Posted 10 January 2014 - 12:40 PM

The BH road closures never cost and never will cost $500k. The closures never went beyond a trial. The final cost would have meant more permanant alterations to the parks which would have meant $500k. None of this now will come to fruition because of the scaling back of the closures.

Edited by gumgum, 10 January 2014 - 12:40 PM.


#16 Mike K.

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Posted 10 January 2014 - 01:29 PM

Ah, gotcha.


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#17 HB

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Posted 29 January 2014 - 11:35 PM

.

 


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#18 D.L.

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Posted 30 January 2014 - 03:56 AM

Could maybe fit a Smart car between those



#19 Bingo

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Posted 30 January 2014 - 09:21 AM

Could maybe fit a Smart car between those

 

Just drive over the corner of the sidewalk.


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#20 Holden West

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Posted 22 July 2014 - 10:40 PM

I saw the craziest thing today. I was on the corner of Meares and Quadra when I heard this "CROKKKCrashhh". I looked over and a massive Garry Oak limb broke off a tree in Pioneer Square and fell to the ground. The limb was as big as a tree--it was over a foot in diameter. Anyone resting underneath would have been crushed.


"Beaver, ahoy!""The bridge is like a magnet, attracting both pedestrians and over 30,000 vehicles daily who enjoy the views of Victoria's harbour. The skyline may change, but "Big Blue" as some call it, will always be there."
-City of Victoria website, 2009

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