Shaping the Capital Region Over 50 Years
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Shaping the Capital Region Over 50 Years Territorial Acknowledgement The Capital Regional District (CRD) recognizes the Indigenous peoples who have had connections to this land for thousands of years. When the CRD was incorporated 50 years ago, it allowed for a new relationship between the provincial government, municipalities, electoral areas and residents of the region. Today, the Board of the CRD has proclaimed that it is a priority to build positive working relationships with First Nations governments in the region to recognize a common future for the next 50 years and beyond. The CRD acknowledges and respects that its jurisdictional boundaries span the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Nuu-chah-nulth peoples: on the Peninsula and Southern Gulf Islands, the W̱ SÁNEĆ peoples, known today as W̱ JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout), W̱ SIKEM (Tseycum) and MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) First Nations and Pune’laxutth’ (Penelakut Tribe); in the core area, the Lkwungen people, known today as Esquimalt and Songhees Nations; and to the west, Scia’new (Beecher Bay), T’Sou-ke and Pacheedaht First Nations. The CRD also recognizes the many other First Nations who have ties to this region stretching back long before the European settlers arrived. They include: Stz’uminus (Chemainus), Quw’utsun (Cowichan), Halalt, Lake Cowichan, Lyackson, Tsawwassen and SEMYOME (Semiahmoo). Appreciation The CRD would like to thank all of the elected representatives who have served on the CRD Board over the years as well as the staff and volunteers who have supported their vision. Through 50 years, there have been 22 Board Chairs, some of whom served multiple years as Chair. In addition to this, the CRD would like to thank the people of the communities they represent. Design by Chris Paul, Coast Salish (Tsartip) artist Acknowledgement 3 Shaping the Capital Region Over 50 Years This commemorative book takes the reader on a journey from the Capital Regional District’s (CRD) incorporation in 1966 to the celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2016. Travelling through time over five decades, featuring key milestones that defined the role of the CRD, events that led to lasting partnerships and the scope of services, programs and initiatives of the CRD, this book looks at the positive contribution the CRD has made to the quality of life for the residents of the region. A view of the beach at Point No Point in Shirley, located in the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area. Photo: Timothy Neesam goo.gl/qMbCAS 5 Published by: Capital Regional District (CRD) in association with Blue Beetle Books Inc. 625 Fisgard Street Victoria, BC V8W 1R7 250.360.3000 www.crd.bc.ca ISBN: 978-1-895051-30-8 Shaping the Capital Region Over 50 Years Copyright © 2016 Capital Regional District First published in 2016 - all rights reserved This book was produced in collaboration with Blue Beetle Books Inc. Every effort has been made to ensure the information in this book is up to date and accurate; however, the authors, contributing writers and editors cannot guarantee all information provided to them is without errors or omissions. Readers are advised to contact the CRD for further information or to confirm the accuracy of statements and statistics contained in this publication. Cover design and book layout by Tom Spetter (Integral Creative) © All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval system without the prior consent of the publisher. Reviewers may quote brief passages in conjunction with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper or broadcast. Printed and bound in Canada by Friesens C016245 Table of Contents Territorial Acknowledgement ............3 CHAPTER TWO: Investing in Community – 1976-1985 ....49 Introduction.........................11 1979 – Animal Control ........................49 Regional Districts – A Short History ..............14 1980 – Transportation Planning .................51 Capital Regional District Governance .............17 1982 – Volunteers in Parks Program..............52 1982 – Capital Region Housing Corporation ........54 CHAPTER ONE: 1983 – Fire Protection & Regulation ..............55 The Early Years – 1966-1975 ...........23 1983 – Stormwater & Watershed Management .....57 1966 – Capital Regional District Formed ..........23 1983 – Regional Information Services ............58 1966 – Sewers & Disposal .....................24 1984 – Smoking Bylaw .......................59 1966 – City of Victoria .......................26 1984 – District of Metchosin ...................60 1966 – District of Saanich .....................27 1985 – City of Colwood .......................60 1966 – District of Oak Bay.....................28 1966 – Township of Esquimalt .................29 CHAPTER THREE: 1966 – District of Central Saanich ...............30 A Busy Decade – 1986-1995 ...........65 1966 – District of North Saanich ................31 1987 – Official Regional Parks Plan ..............65 1966 – Town of Sidney .......................32 1987 – Galloping Goose Regional Trail ............67 1967 – Hospital District Act ....................35 1987 – 911 Service...........................68 1967 – Salt Spring Island Electoral Area ..........36 1987 – Libraries & Museums ...................70 1967 – Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area.......37 1988 – Town of View Royal ...................73 1970 – Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre ...........38 1988 – Harbour Authority ......................74 1973 – Solid Waste Management Planning ........40 1989 – Blue Box Curbside Recycling Program.......79 1974 – Royal Theatre .........................42 1990 – Rethinking Health .....................81 1974 – Community Health .....................43 1992 – Core Area Wastewater Treatment Planning ..82 1976 – Saanich Peninsula Water Supply ...........45 1992 – Trans Canada Trail......................85 8 Shaping the Capital Region Over 50 Years 1992 – City of Langford .......................86 CHAPTER FIVE: 1993 – District of Highlands ...................87 A Sustainable Future – 2006-2015 ......121 1993 – Regional Emergency Response ...........89 2006 – Capital Regional District Goes 1994 – Water Conservation ....................90 International ..............................122 CHAPTER FOUR: 2007 – Organics Management & Kitchen Regional Growth – 1996-2005 ..........95 Scraps Diversion Strategy .....................123 2007 – Purchase of Leech River Watershed .......125 1996 – Regional Drinking Water System 2008 – Climate Action Service .................127 for Greater Victoria ...........................95 2008 – Salt Spring Island Transit ...............129 1996 – Saanich Peninsula Wastewater 2009 – E&N Rail Trail-Humpback Connector .......131 Treatment Plant .............................99 2011 – Pedestrian & Cycling Master Plan .........133 1998 – Water Testing Laboratory ...............101 2013 – Aboriginal Initiatives Division Established ...134 1999 – District of Sooke .....................102 2014 – Regional Transportation Plan ............135 1999 – Juan de Fuca Electoral Area.............103 2014 – First Nation Task Force Established ........137 2000 – Arts Development.....................105 2000 – Parks Land Acquisition Fund .............106 CHAPTER SIX: 2000 – Sea to Sea Regional Park Reserve Core Services Today, Looking & Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt..................107 to the Future.......................141 2001 – Lochside Regional Trail .................109 Looking Forward............................144 2002 – Sooke Lake Reservoir Raised ............110 2003 – Regional Growth Strategy...............111 2004 – Ultraviolet Water Disinfection System......112 2004 – Hartland Landfill Gas Utilization ..........114 2006 – Sooke Potholes.......................115 2006 – Hazardous Materials Response System.....116 Introduction he capital region is a vibrant, diverse and beautiful place to live, work, play and visit. Tourists flock There from all over the world, travel magazines praise its virtues, residents enjoy a high standard of living and the business community enjoys continual growth and increasing diversity. The region enjoys a temperate climate, a rich ecology, stunning landscapes and a proud history as it encompasses the provincial capital, the Maritime Forces Pacific, the birthplace of Emily Carr, Canada’s oldest Chinatown and First Nations communities dating back for millenia. Residents and visitors enjoy spectacular natural scenery, clean and plentiful drinking water, a number of public parks, hundreds of kilometres of trails, world-class recreational facilities, state-of-the-art hospitals, two acclaimed universities and more. Field in North Saanich at sunset. Photo: iStock.com/David Bukach 11 In 2015, 535,000 passengers from 227 cruise ships docked at • 618 structures covering over 92,000 square metres, Victoria’s Ogden Point, 2.4 million people in 740,000 vehicles including bridges, dams, docks and Capital Region travelled aboard BC Ferries and 1.6 million passengers flew Housing Corporation complexes and buildings that in and out of the Victoria International Airport, making the provide 1,314 residences capital region one of the most visited locations in Canada. • eight wastewater systems processing 100 million litres of wastewater daily Over the past 50 years, the Capital Regional District has worked with its municipal partners to serve the public and • 30 regional parks covering 130