Electronic
Newsletter
January 2007
In this issue:
• Information from the Rockland Neighbourhood Association
• Annual General Meeting: Monday, February 12, 2007
• Renewal of Memberships
• Treasures of Rockland
• Land Use Update
• Our Urban Forest
• Rockland Neighbourhood Boundaries
• Information about Rockland
• News from Craigdarroch Castle: How does your garden grow?
• Coming Events
• Neighbourhood Workshop Series
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Annual General Meeting: Monday,
February 12, 2007
The RNA Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday, February 12,
2007 at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7 pm) at the Victoria Truth Centre, 1201
Fort Street.
Kevin Key of KeyPlan is our keynote speaker. Kevin has
provided land-use planning and community building services on
Vancouver Island for almost two decades, and does so with a high
conservation ethic. As a former Commissioner of the City of Victoria‚s
Advisory Planning Commission and a member of the RNA‚s Land Use
Strategy Committee, Kevin is experienced in the multitude of planning
issues faced by community associations. At the AGM, Kevin will speak
about the past and the future, on several trends and recent initiatives
that directly affect Rockland, as well as some of the exciting projects
taking place this year, all accompanied
by impressive photos and plans. If you missed his
presentation to the community last September, don't miss this one!
One of the key agenda items at the AGM is the election of the new
Directors and Executive for the forthcoming year. The Nominating
Committee is presently seeking members who are willing to stand for
election to the Board of Directors in 2007. Please let the
Committee Chair, Mrs. C. Spencer (382-6340), know if you are interested
in serving on the Board -- the more nominees we have the better!
. Deadline January 28, 2007 And please come out and vote on
February 12!
Renewal of Memberships
It is now time to renew your membership to the RNA. Benefits of
membership include supporting the purpose of the RNA to enhance the
quality of life and environment of the Rockland neighbourhood and to
provide a vehicle for public participation in the preservation and
enhancement of Rockland‚s unique qualities. Membership allows you to
vote for (and run for) the RNA Board. As well, membership includes a
complimentary pass to Craigdarroch Castle. The RNA supports volunteer
opportunities and promotes community spirit. It also informs residents
about events of interest and provides advice to City Hall on policy and
land use.
The RNA has strengthened its commitment to protect your personal
information, consistent with British Columbia‚s Personal Information
Protection Act (PIPA) which came into effect in 2004. The Act
sets out the ground rules for how organizations may collect, use and
disclose personal information. This year, the RNA is asking members if
they wish to consent to disclosure of their personal information for
electioneering by candidates for RNA elections and/or to convene an
extraordinary general meeting.
Treasures of Rockland
The twin oaks on Terrace Avenue that are at the edge of the road so
that you have to squeeze your car through. Rockland‚s pathways.
Craigdarroch Castle. The winding country lane known as Lotbiniere
Avenue. The hitching post. Government House. The overarching canopy of
Garry oaks and other trees. Maclure mansions. The Gisburn granite wall
and iron fence.
The RNA is identifying Rockland's assets, featuring the treasures on
the RNA website and in the Newsletter. The project recognizes
residents‚ pride in their neighbourhood. The list of treasures could
lead to a community mapping project, identifying Rockland‚s physical,
environmental, cultural and social assets, including people,
institutions, businesses and informal organizations. Please let
us know what assets in Rockland you treasure.
Our Urban Forest
In the last few months, we all have experienced the loss or substantial
damage of some of our cherished trees in parks, on boulevards or on
private properties. We all have witnessed the piles of branches in
front of our homes and some of us have pondered on how to transport the
debris to the designated areas in Beacon Hill Park, Oaklands Park and
Garbally Public Works Yard.
Rockland has been blessed with a beautiful canopy of native trees
and non-native trees which were planted at about the same time, thus
reaching maturity about the same time. We can ensure continuity of our
wonderful canopy in the future by providing quality maintenance for our
beloved public and private trees as evolving natural and land use
events require.
The RNA has been in contact with Mr. Cory Manton, City Arborist, and
discussed the status of our urban forest in Rockland. The city is in
the process of completing an inventory of all trees on public land. An
inventory of all Rockland boulevard trees should be available in the
near future. Mr. Manton discussed the possibility that we will need to
consider major replacement of trees for some entire streets in the near
future due to disease or age. In some cases, replacement will consist
of different species since the existing species have become disease
prone or may not be suitable due to climate changes.
The RNA will arrange for a presentation to the community as soon
as the inventory is complete. We will work with Mr. Manton to develop a
plan for the replacement and maintenance of our boulevard trees.
- Doreen Mueller, Chair, Land Use Strategy Committee
Rockland Neighbourhood Boundaries
In 2006, the City of Victoria embarked on a project to evaluate the
boundaries of all communities within the city limits with a view
towards enlarging downtown. A number of public workshops were
undertaken, followed by discussions with community association
representatives.
The visioning exercises conducted during the public workshops
suggested, among other things, that downtown boundaries may be expanded
as far as Linden Avenue.
The RNA struck a project to evaluate suitable demarcations for entering
our Rockland neighbourhood from the west boundary. We are currently
examining the possibility of underground wiring and suitable gateways
to Rockland. This project is a long-term undertaking. We will keep you
informed of progress. - Doreen Mueller, Chair, Land Use Strategy
Committee
News from Craigdarroch Castle:
How does your garden grow?
Over the past year, we have spent many hours with our landscape
designers, developing plans for the restoration of the Castle grounds,
striving to get it just right.
Considerable research preceded this, with Œas found‚ and archeological
studies completed a few years ago. We hope to replicate the original
simple beauty and quiet elegance of the property.
Once a private estate, it spanned 28 acres from Fort Street to Rockland
Avenue. It included a small lake across Joan Crescent, horse and
carriage stables, a tennis court near the Craigmyle Guest House
location with a possible summer house just beyond. There were lawns
beyond the south wall and many Garry Oaks. We have a wonderful
photo of the gracious entrance to the Castle, leading up from Fort
Street, with the original sandstone gates.
Most of the estate was sold off after Joan Dunsmuir died in 1908 and
Rockland began to take shape. The Castle Society currently owns about 3
acres, including the south lawn, the Castle and parking lot and the
three properties on the north, west and east sides of the Castle.
The planning process includes ensuring the public‚s continuing
enjoyment of the property and the related protection from wear and
tear. There are myriad things to consider. Thick gravel pathways were
fine then, but do they make sense now, given our foot traffic.
Consideration has to be given to irrigation and drainage systems; grass
consistency and hardiness; lighting of the grounds, Castle, parking lot
and pathways; bench design and placement; parking lot regrading,
resurfacing, colour, demarcation and drainage; pedestrian safety;
restoration and creation of pathways and stairs; embankments need to be
rebuilt and landscaped; shrubbery and garden beds need to be
envisioned; viewscapes need to be developed and protected; signage and
interpretation has to be developed, and of course cost is always a huge
consideration. It all has to be decided on, piece-by-piece while
striving for historical accuracy within practical confines.
We will soon be ready to share draft designs with our neighbours
and stakeholders and respond to any enquiries that come forward.
Following that, our consultants will provide advice as to how best to
stage the work over the next few years within our budget restraints.
As our garden grows, we‚ll bring forward memories of the wealthy
young Dunsmuir girls, WW I veterans back from the war, Victoria College
students, Conservatory of Music students, our own delightful
neighbours, and our worldwide visitors. It will be green again and a
place where history is always being made. - Kathy Summers,
Executive Director, Craigdarroch Castle
Neighbourhood Workshop Series
A series of (free) workshops presented by the City of Victoria in
conjunction with the University of Victoria, LifeCycles and Vancity
will take place in 2007. With their overall "neighbourhood"
theme, some or all of these workshops should be
of interest to Rockland residents. The titles, dates,
times and venues of the workshops are as follows:
Neighbourhood Mapping &
Planning Monday, 29 January, 7 pm - 9 pm
City
Hall Ante Chamber
Gathering
neighbourhood assets and visions: Learn about community vision and
mapping projects in the City and CRD region. Share your own ideas
about how best to reach your neighbours to create a more vibrant
neighbourhood, and how to involve people in the planning process.
Greenways:
"The Walkable, Bikeable City" Monday, 19 February, 7 pm - 9 pm
City
Hall Ante Chamber
How do we
create pedestrian-friendly (walking, biking and non-motorised
transport) neighbourhoods connected to each other and to
downtown? Hear from Joe Daly, Manager of Research, Planning &
Design, with the City of Victoria, other local organisations and
other project administrators who are making
this happen. Share your ideas.
Community Connection &
Creativity Wednesday, 14 March, 7 pm - 9 pm
Cedar
Hill Golf Course Clubhouse
Hear Jill P.
Weaving from Vancouver discuss their community-based public art
highlighting neighbourhood art projects, where artist and community
have worked together to create unique projects that express
neighbourhood identity. Glen Anderson, mosaic artist, will demonstrate
his community-based approach.
Heritage: A Downtown Walkabout
Monday, 16 April, meet at 7 pm
City
Hall Ante Chamber
Join others for
a walk through Victoria's downtown core with John Adams, local
historian. This is a great opportunity to view Victoria differently and
learn about its secrets. Dessert afterwards at City Hall.
Village Centres: "The City of
Villages" Monday, 14 May, 7 pm - 9 pm
City
Hall Ante Chamber
How do we
design and create liveable neighbourhoods with a village
feel? Share ideas, hear stories and experiences from
neighbourhoods including Hillside/Quadra, James Bay, Fernwood, Cook
Street Village and others.
Sharing Homegrown Food in Your
Neighbourhood Monday, 11 June, 7 pm - 9 pm
City
Hall Ante Chamber
How do we grow,
share and support local food access in the neighbourhood? How do
we connect and support our local farms? Hear from Capital Food and
Agriculture Roundtable, LifeCycles School and Community First Nations
Garden Products and the new innovative Food Action Planning Projects in
Victoria West.
FREE ADMISSION Everyone is welcome
If you wish to
find out more information about these workshops, please contact Gail
Price-Douglas, City of Victoria Community Development Planning at
361-0358.
Contact Us
For more information, visit the RNA website at http://www.rockland.bc.ca/.
Email links to the Board members are available on the website.
If you wish to contribute an article to the RNA Newsletter, please
contact the editor newsletter@rockland.bc.ca
Back issues archive: September 2006
ROCKLAND NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 5276, Station B, Victoria, BC V8R 6N2