187 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

Sure, the letter is fine. But has it set back plans 7 years or more?

[dasmo]

That’s what is needed on all fronts. Set back their plans as best we can.

[Victoria Watcher]

E is for Etiquette: CRD park rangers, police to patrol regional trails this summer

 

Basic trail etiquette includes keeping to the right except to pass, controlling speed (especially on e-bikes), yielding to pedestrians, horse riders and farm equipment, and alerting other users when passing

https://www.timescol...-summer-8992369

 

 

 

 

N is for nanny state.

[Victoria Watcher]

The Capital Regional District has approved the plan for how it will run the former Royal Oak Golf Course lands on an interim basis.

The CRD board on Sept. 11 adopted the interim management guidelines for the property, which will guide the operation of the acquired land as several local First Nations are consulted to understand their interest in the site.

The CRD bought the 27-acre property that's adjacent to Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park in 2023.

https://www.vicnews....e-lands-7538231

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 17 September 2024 - 05:42 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Some of the last old-growth stands of Douglas fir and Garry oak on the Peninsula are part of a 15-acre parcel of land added to the border of John Dean Provincial Park on Tuesday, after being acquired by the B.C. Parks Foundation from a private landowner for $1.63 million.

 

Andy Day, chief executive of the B.C. Parks Foundation, said the addition expands the park on Mount Newton to more than 450 acres.

 

John Dean was a noted naturalist and former mayor of Rossland who built a cabin in the woods on the Peninsula. He originally donated 80 acres to the province to be preserved as a refuge for people and animals in 1921, making it the first provincial park in Canada donated by an individual.

 

Dean’s philosophy of preserving natural landscapes for future generations convinced other landowners to follow his lead.

 

 

https://www.timescol...an-park-9869455

[Mike K.]

The CRD has closed Sooke’s Skate Park:

In early 2024, the Capital Regional District's SEAPARC Commission started completing a concept design project for Sooke Skate Park, as the park has reached its end of life. After thorough review of the project findings, it has been determined that current condition of the park is unsafe for continued use and as such will be closed to the public until the spring of 2025 when the renewal project is anticipated to begin.

The Sooke Skate Park was built in 1997 by the Rotary Club of Sooke and since that time, the park has been an integral recreation amenity in the community. The concept design project provided SEAPARC with a plan that represents the community's desire for creating a unique park with elements suitable for all ages and stages on the existing park site. SEAPARC is committed to seeing the renewal project through to completion to ensure this much loved and well used park can be enjoyed for many years to come. "While we are disappointed that the park must temporarily close, our number one priority is having safe facilities, and revitalizing the skate park is a high priority" said SEAPARC Manager, Melanie Alsdorf.

The Sooke Skate Park renewal project will be supported through an alternative approval process in the spring of 2025. If approval is received, then SEAPARC can proceed with the technical design and build, with the potential for some fundraising opportunities to enhance the features of the park.

The final concept design with 3D renderings will be available soon.

[Victoria Watcher]

CRD announces East Sooke park upgrades to meet heavy boot and tire traffic

 

https://cheknews.ca/...raffic-1227931/

[Victoria Watcher]

Parking rates set to rise in View Royal, Sooke regional sites

Parking rate rise to ultimately generate $400,000 in additional annual revenue

https://www.vicnews....l-sites-7710399

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 December 2024 - 01:10 PM.

[Mike K.]

CRD Parks survey results released: https://www.crd.bc.c...s-plans-reports

7600 households reached, only 23% of those households responded.

The results are fairly predictable: https://www.crd.bc.c...s-plans-reports

[aastra]

Heckuva large broken branch down on the ground near the play equipment in Redfern Park.

[dasmo]

Park is unsafe. People should probably shelter in place.

[aastra]

No, it's okay. Whatever happened there, it looks like the tree lost.

[Victoria Watcher]

A new community park is underway for public use on Salt Spring Island after a 1.5 acre oceanfront property was recently donated to the Capital Regional District.

 

Located at 215 Morningside Drive, the property was donated by the family of Ruth Baldwin to use for a community park. 

 

“Ruth loved the property and would be thrilled to see it being used as a community park for all to enjoy,” states the family of Ruth, who passed away in 2009. 

 

 

https://cheknews.ca/...y-park-1280724/

 

 

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 27 September 2025 - 10:10 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

CRD land purchase makes way for 21-hectare regional park on Pender Island

The purchase of two properties and transfer of a former community park had a price tag of $1.8 million


https://www.vicnews....-island-8282142

[Victoria Watcher]

Nature lovers across Greater Victoria are mourning the loss of a charming, yet slippery, diva. After over two decades as one of the ambassadors for parks across the Capital Regional District (CRD), rough-skinned newt, Newton, has crossed the rainbow bridge.

“It is with heavy hearts that CRD parks staff share the news of the passing of one of the rough-skinned newts at the Francis/King Nature Centre,” reads a CRD social media post Friday (Jan. 30).

Read more at: https://vicnews.com/...r-saanich-newt/

[Mike K.]

This is quite the thing.

A bushcraft survival training centre has been proposed for East Sooke Park: https://comment.nrs....6XRlBTbhwoGjG6Q

Additional info: https://comment.nrs....1fdfb19#details

[Victoria Watcher]

This is quite the thing.

A bushcraft survival training centre has been proposed for East Sooke Park: https://comment.nrs....6XRlBTbhwoGjG6Q

Additional info: https://comment.nrs....1fdfb19#details

 

A lot of people dislike this idea.   

 

 

Proposed improvements for the Primary Intensive Use Site: 1. Cabins (10 m x 8.5 m): There will be 5 cabins to allow clients to stay overnight. Most of our programs for adults as well as our private and custom programs for families and adults require overnight stays. 2. Learning Centre (20 m x 15 m): This is our outdoor classroom and where all our theoretical learning will occur. All our programs require a lot of theory and safety knowledge before practical skills can be applied. 3. Carving Shop (20 m x 10 m): The workshop will be used for wood crafting, bow making as well as bushcraft tools storage. 4. Bushcraft Practice Area (70 m x 35 m): This is not a structure, but an area where clients can learn and practice the practical aspects of bushcrafting including fire craft safety. 5. Kayak Storage (7 m x 15 m): Kayaks and all kayaking gear will be stored here as we plan on offering kayaking lessons. 6. Changing Room and Storage (15.5 m x 10.5 m): This is where clients can get changed for their outdoor activities, including aquatic activities. We will also be able to store all our equipment, tools and gear for the day to day running of our business. 7. Animal Processing Shop (15.5 m x 10.5 m): As we teach clients self-reliance skills, learning how to process animals is essential training. The shop allows us to do so in a clean and safe environment. This is a demonstration shop so no actual animals are processed. 8. Food Preservation Shop (15.5 m x 10.5 m): Continuing with being self-reliant, here is where clients can learn and understand best practices and techniques to preserve food. This is also a demonstration shop. 9. Bow Shooting Range (30 m x 70 m): This area is for bow target shooting practice. 10. Survival Shelter Demonstration and Practice Area: (147 m x 67 m): This area is where we will have different types of survival shelters for demonstration. Clients will be able to practice and develop necessary skills for effective shelter building. 11. Tent Camping Area: This open area will be for clients to rest and/or stay overnight in an outdoor environment. 12. Solid Waste (2 m x 2 m): There will be 7 washrooms for use. 5 near the cabins and 2 within the Tent Camping Area.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 30 March 2026 - 12:08 AM.

[Blair M.]

Bushcrafting skills are important, especially for folks who live in, travel through, or recreate in any of the non-urban areas of Canada.

It was a Canadian after all, Mors Kochanski, who invented the word "bushcrafting".

 

But cabins, kayaks, change rooms, archery, and washrooms orient more towards glamping - not bushcrafting.

[Mike K.]

It does give off the impression that they’re wanting to create a little odd grid eco resort, for sure.

Well, whatever the case, it’ll get the ball rolling on new uses for our parks.

Although, while we are focused on other things, more and more gates are going up in the rural resource lands, and more existing gates are being locked. The Fairy Creek protests really did a number on gate closures.

[Blair M.]

It appears that this fellow has zero support for his proposed endeavour. 

 

https://www.timescol...onents-12077147

 

Some of what he proposes doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, and it also seems that people are picking up on that disconnect.

For example - he proposes having an abattoir on the site, in order to teach how to dress road-kill for consumption - which begs the question as to where one would get road-kill out in the bush while in a survival situation?

 

Looking at his current website, it does appear that his current school is indeed teaching classic bushcraft skills (in the spirit of Mors Kochanski) - as opposed to his proposal, which more closely resembles a glamping resort located in a public park.