84 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Great photos, Sparky.

And yes. It has been very tough to book a little getaway this summer. Every place I’ve looked at that I’ve booked before is crazy busy.

[LJ]

^A friend of mine went up to Courtenay for a weekend stay, only place he could find was the grungy old Travelodge, $400 a night.

 

A bunch of us are going up to Courtenay this weekend, staying at Crown Isle, we got a much better rate, $149 nightly.

[Victoria Watcher]

New dock proposed for swimmers and boaters on the Gorge

 

Esquimalt and Victoria are both in support of building a new dock on the Gorge Waterway at Arm Street Park, which lies on the border of the two municipalities. 

The idea was brought up by Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins at council’s last meeting on Dec. 19, after she received an email about it from Victoria councillor Jeremy Cardonna. 

“I did have a meeting with the Selkirk area community, and…one of the things that came up very strongly is that the community would really value a dock down at the Arm Street Park,” Desjardins said.

Any dock that is built there would have to be constructed on Esquimalt’s land and extend out into Victoria’s waters, Caradonna explained in the email to Desjardins and Rick Daykin, the township’s manager of parks and recreation. So, the municipalities must coordinate. 

“This email is to signal Victoria’s interest in considering this proposed park upgrade, should there be interest from Esquimalt,” Caradonna wrote. 

“I have confirmed that this idea has been considered before, in Victoria, and generally aligns with our Parks Master Plan and immediate focus on improving Gorge water access.”

 

https://www.capitald...rs-on-the-gorge

 

 

 

The water part is in Victoria.  That might take 18 years or more for approval.

[Sparky]

^ I don’t think this is correct. The municipal boundary between Esquimalt and Victoria runs down the middle of Arm street and then divides the Arm Street Park into 2 sections with the larger part in Victoria. The boundary then continues out onto the “Upper Arm” AKA “The Gorge” where it meets with Saanich’s boundary heading down from the north.

If Esquimalt plans on anchoring the dock to land in Esquimalt, then it would appear that you would have to go out of your way to place the sticky out part in Victoria’s waters.

Zoom in on this CRD map and you will see what I am on about.

https://maps.crd.bc....?viewer=public

[AllseeingEye]

^ I don’t think this is correct. The municipal boundary between Esquimalt and Victoria runs down the middle of Arm street and then divides the Arm Street Park into 2 sections with the larger part in Victoria. The boundary then continues out onto the “Upper Arm” AKA “The Gorge” where it meets with Saanich’s boundary heading down from the north.

If Esquimalt plans on anchoring the dock to land in Esquimalt, then it would appear that you would have to go out of your way to place the sticky out part in Victoria’s waters.

Zoom in on this CRD map and you will see what I am on about.

https://maps.crd.bc....?viewer=public

 

 

Not sure I follow you Sparky: isn't that what Caradonna is saying? 

 

"Any dock that is built there would have to be constructed on Esquimalt’s land and extend out into Victoria’s waters, Caradonna explained..."

 

Interesting story; many Selkirk area residents aren't even aware of the Arm St Park including me up until about 2 years ago. It's tucked away at the end of the street right down on the waterway and tends to be overshadowed naturally by the much larger much better known and very heavily used Banfield Park at the end of Selkirk Street.

[Sparky]

Ya there are some gems on the Gorge for sure. We used to have the 4 story building west of the Kinsman Park.

If you zoom into that CRD map you will see the municipal borders. It’s almost impossible to attach a dock or a pier to Esquimalt land and have the pier extend to Victoria’s water. Victoria has water but it is not adjacent to Esquimalt land, it’s adjacent to Victoria land. No?

[AllseeingEye]

Ah I see now; couldn't load that CRD map on my Chromebook (which is a POS machine!) so I looked at a municipal map via Google Maps instead but couldn't see that level of detail. Yeah as kids and later teens we had a certain perception of the "Gorge" generally in the 70's for sure - but that was 50 years ago - and things change. Today I wouldn't trade Selkirk for my old digs in the CSV for anything.

[Sparky]

We had one of only two private foreshore leases in Esquimalt. The other was over by Plaskett Place. The municipality pouted a little when they found out that they couldn’t make me remove the houseboat I built.

[Mike K.]

New renderings of the upcoming swim dock have been released.

 

 

 

 

[Victoria Watcher]

The City of Victoria is officially unveiling its latest expansion to the Banfield Park dock, located in the Gorge Waterway.

 

The expansion triples the size of the dock, which was last updated in 2022.

 

The additions include a new swim platform and several safety features, including “swim steps” to make it easier to enter and exit the water, a new children’s lifejacket loaner station, and anchored buoys that mark the boundary of the swimming area.

 

 

https://www.cheknews...ansion-1210710/

 

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 22 June 2024 - 01:25 AM.

[aastra]

Has anybody done the floating hot tub?

Edited by aastra, 22 June 2024 - 09:22 AM.

[Nparker]

You mean that ominous, hulking, thing in the Inner Harbour that looks like it was designed by Stephen King while he was being attacked in his sleep by Freddy Krueger?

[aastra]

Um, that's the floating spa? Sounds like you need a basic refresher re: floating attractions.

[AllseeingEye]

Checked out the expanded dock this morning it looks fantastic. Judging by the numbers of people down there it's already a big hit. Now if only the city would spring for some lighting along the path that leads from where Selkirk Rd deadends, through Banfield park along the water to where it terminates at the Goose near the Selkirk trestle, that would be a great finishing touch to the area.

[LJ]

I think the dock looks great, Gorge has always been my favourite park, but I never noticed a lot of folks swimming there. Is that relatively new?

[Matt R.]

Yes it is relatively new.

[Mike K.]

We used to swim there off Bamfield in the 90s and into the 2000s. I recall there being a Gorge Swimfest, maybe as far back as 15 years ago? Their Facebook page was created in 2012.

In elementary school we’d go to the Esquimalt portion of the Gorge, at Gorge Park and swim there. It was great.

[m3m]

The hot tub boats are so much fun. I prefer going on rainy and cloudy days. On hot summer afternoons it can be a bit hot (although you can adjust the water temps)

Ive occasionally smuggled in a couple beers.

[Matt R.]

We used to swim there off Bamfield in the 90s and into the 2000s. I recall there being a Gorge Swimfest, maybe as far back as 15 years ago? Their Facebook page was created in 2012.

In elementary school we’d go to the Esquimalt portion of the Gorge, at Gorge Park and swim there. It was great.

This is what I mean by relatively new. Guess the water used to be much more polluted. Last 10-15 years it’s gotten popular.

[LJ]

We used to swim there off Bamfield in the 90s and into the 2000s. I recall there being a Gorge Swimfest, maybe as far back as 15 years ago? Their Facebook page was created in 2012.

In elementary school we’d go to the Esquimalt portion of the Gorge, at Gorge Park and swim there. It was great.

Don't think it was Bamfield.