14 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

In the past I have said there are some things we could do to step up our economy, and tourism is a good place where we have an advantage, if somewhat seasonal in most of the country.

 

A few ideas:

 

1.  Make travle to this country EASY by making sure we staff border and entry-points well  

2.  Improve airport where necessary

3.  ADD international arrival points

4.  IMPROVE our public realm everywhere, but subsidizing storefront and signage improvements and replacements

5.  Plant more trees in public areas

6.  Open more public or private campgrounds

7.  REMOVE all grafitti the day it occurs

8.  Build more parks and promote better the ones we have, from small municipla parks to huge provincial and national parks.

9.  Have more festivals or destination events - why do artists do Vegas or New York "residencies" when we could have them in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. 

10. PROMOTE and improve BC Ferries, to make them a better experience on all roues - add a second class?

11.  Make our cities SAFER, even if we probably already have a rpetty good reputation for that.

 

These are some general ideas than can be applied across the country, except the ferries stuff.

 

I will also add what we coud do locally.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 January 2026 - 01:19 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Locally:

 

1.  FUND an initiative to get the Sidney-Anacortes ferry running NOW.

2.  ADD activites to some Island signage:  ie, omstead of the sign near the exit just saying "Shawnigan Lake", you can add "pleasure boat rental - fishing - shops" or whatever.

3.  A two-week "harbour festival" in early September

4.  Beacon Hill Park improvements

5.  Fix picnic point and pit rotating food trucks up there all summer

6.  Improvments to all the big feature local parks esp. Mt. Tolmie, Mt. Doug, Goldstream, Francis etc 

7.  Improvements at all the swimming lakes

8.  New, easier trail to the top of Mt. Finlayson or even one of those inclined railway things

9.  More trails at Gowland Tod

10.  Improvements to Swan Lake

11.  A downtown native arts display and sales centre, staffed mostly by vendors and volunteers

12.  Create spaces dedicated to self-hire rental cars

13.  Remove the reversing falls in The Gorge and dedicate more space for small boat and canoe/kayak launch and rental

14.  Allow some artisan sales tables around town that meet some requirements

15.  Allow ice creams trucks or bikes into BHP

16.  Create more annual sports tournaments like the Pacific Cup, but in all sports 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 January 2026 - 01:22 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Create a Victoria Passport program.

 

Real simple, you get the "passport" for cheap or free, then collect stamps at retailers, attractions and restaurants etc. 

 

Nobody is required to give any type of discount or program, but they can if they want.

 

It's a fun keepsake.

 

 

Gulf Islands should do this too, to promote travel to all the smaller islands.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 January 2026 - 02:01 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Let's put a permanent ferris wheel at the harbour.  Or somewhere it fits.  And let's REALLY light it up at night.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 January 2026 - 02:12 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Start a San Juan - Sidney or Victoria passenger ferry.

 

[Victoria Watcher]

Improve the trail, and facilities and amenities on the JDF Trail.

 

 

Make a new park and campsite at Jordan River.  Create and opportunity for a hotel.  Improve the beach.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 January 2026 - 02:58 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

4.  Beacon Hill Park improvements

 

Put amphiteatre seating here, and the ability to put a stage down at the street.

 

 

Add a free mini-golf course, maintained and managed by volunteers.  A school program(s) can run this as part of a credit course, with student volunteers getting some work experience.  Voluntary donations can be accepted on-site and online.

 

 

Work with the Terry Fox family to make the memorial area and Mile 0 area MUCH more fiendly and awesome.

 

 

Close this area (blue hash) and add more grass and some parking.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 January 2026 - 06:07 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Add 50 significant art installations at downtown street corners.  Have corporations and/or groups and/or fundraisers or end-of-life giving sponsor (pay for) them.

 

 

3 or 4 at each intersection, but keep pushing for more and more every year.  Until downton is art awesome.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 January 2026 - 06:19 AM.

[Mike K.]

There are some good ideas in there.

[Kilo95]

Who is going to pay for all of these initiatives? Most on this site bemoan anything remotely related to raising of taxes (municipal, provincial, or federal)... which these would lead to. 

 

Not saying I am against VWs ideas... but don't complain the next time the CoV raises property taxes to pay for things like this

[Mike K.]

How about diverting existing tax revenues?

[dasmo]

Defund the misting stations!

[Victoria Watcher]

Who is going to pay for all of these initiatives? Most on this site bemoan anything remotely related to raising of taxes (municipal, provincial, or federal)... which these would lead to.

Not saying I am against VWs ideas... but don't complain the next time the CoV raises property taxes to pay for things like this

We are spending an extra $10 million just to arrest and release the same 22 guys this year.

Let’s execute or deport these guys now we have lots of extra money.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 January 2026 - 12:02 PM.

[lanforod]

Perhaps the First Nations can do much of this with all the reconciliation funds they have, and all the land they keep getting? Is that not why we have this fancy lookout tower on the Malahat now?

[Blair M.]

Some solid ideas as presented here.
Many easily funded through reallocation of otherwise poorly planned expenditures.

 

Bottom line is something has to change - something has to be done.