Watershed and East Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park Threatened

More than 20 years ago a huge tract of forest just outside the Greater Victoria area was protected after a spirited and hard-fought campaign – the Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park. 
 
But now this forest is threatened again – this time by short-sighted highway infrastructure.

The coming weeks and months will be a critical time to raise our voices and demand the Capital Regional District (CRD) reject the construction of a new highway through the Sooke Hills, to serve as an alternative to the Malahat.
 
Please attend the upcoming public meetings and, if you’re comfortable, to register to speak in opposition plans to open Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park to development.

CRD Meetings:

City of Victoria Needs To Hear From Tree Lovers Now!

If you value our urban forest, please let City of Victoria Mayor and Council know.
 
The reason for this urgent request is that Victoria City Council met again about the 2019 budget yesterday. They allocated new spending, but approved no new staff to implement the 2013 Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP).
 
At the start of Tuesday’s meeting, there was $1 million in unallocated revenue from new assessment. At the end of the meeting, there was still $907K unallocated.
 
Council decided to postpone a thorough debate on funding for the UFMP until after considering increases to police budget on Thursday. The police request is over $700K. Funding options for the UFMP appear to be contingent on whether Council increases the police budget and how much support they hear from Victoria’s tree-lovers. 
 
The public record in the recent steps leading up to this Thursday’s vote include Council approving $110K to strengthen the tree protection bylaw in 2019. This is about half the amount staff estimated it would take. Mayor Help’s also made a bold motion to promote a 5-year dedicated 1.25% tax levy for the UFMP but she couldn't get a seconder. Councillor Collins attempted to bring UFMP funding into Tuesday’s debate but she couldn't get a seconder for her motion. 
 
Please let the mayor and councillors know that trees matter. To make it super easy, here is a list of emails, and if you are friends on Facebook with them, share it there too. 
 
Lisa Helps, Mayor. mayor@victoria.ca
Marianne Alto malto@victoria.ca
Laurel Collins lcollins@victoria.ca
Sharmarke Dubow,sdubow@victoria.ca
Ben Isitt, bisitt@victoria.ca
Jeremy Loveday jloveday@victoria.ca
Sarah Potts spotts@victoria.ca
Charlayne Thornton-Joe cthornton-joe@victoria.ca
Geoff Young gyoung@victoria.ca

February Upcoming Events:

Youth Rising for Climate Justice, Friday, Feb.15th, 11 am – noon, Victoria Legislature

Inspired by waves of students all over the world rallying for real political action for creating a sustainable future, this open demonstration is going to take place in front of the legislature building in Victoria.

Conversations for a One Planet Region, Thursday, Feb. 21st, 5 - 7 pm, Greater Victoria Public Library, meeting room, 735 Broughton St.

Eating With Our Ocean Ecosystem: Fisheries In A One Planet Region with speakers Jim McIsaac and T Buck Suzuki. Free admission.

Community Trees Matter Network Information and Inspiration Night

Wednesday, Feb. 27th, 7:30-9 pm, at the Church of Truth, 111 Superior St.

Featuring a talk and photography by Frances Litman, local author Jane Warren Campbell reading from her book Conversations with a Tree, a meditation and sharing. Free admission.

Thank you for your interest in our community!

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