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Posts Tagged ‘community’

Minister Fassbender sends invite to local mayors

by Roger Stonebanks, citizen journalist

Community Minister Peter Fassbender has invited Greater Victoria mayors to meet him “on the topic of service and governance integration in the Capital region” later in November/early December.

Significantly, in a letter dated Nov. 5 to area mayors that was made public today (Nov. 16), there is no mention of “amalgamation” or a study of it.

Fassbender has already met area mayors and councillors at the Union of BC Municipalities last September. The previous community minister, Coralee Oakes, met local leaders in Victoria last summer.

“While individual interests and perspectives are diverse, there have been shared views on the common thread from the 2014 referenda results – namely, that there may be benefit to the region from local governments exploring further the question of how to better integrate services and governance,” Fassbender said in his letter.

“I know that informing the public and others about the current governance and services profile of the Capital region will be of continuing interest to many of you, especially respecting the number of services already undertaken in a shared or integrated way.

“Recognizing the range of ideas we have heard, I propose that we continue our conversation, with all local governments at the table, to consider how the region might wish to move forward and how the Province of British Columbia could support these efforts.”

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Fassbender invited the mayors to the meeting and ” . . . we will build in future opportunities to engage your Councillors and Chief Administrative Officers.” He hoped that “you find this a reasonable path forward.”

Fassbender will speak Nov. 17 to the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce about “CRD Governance – the way forward.”

For the most recent news stories by Saanich Voice Online, see Facts are Sacred (Nov. 7) and Amalgamation Revisioning? (Nov.2).  

UPDATE: Here a recording of the Minister’s Nov 17th speaking event.

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Repair Café comes to Saanich

A small group of Saanichites are adding Repair as the fourth R of the Environment

The traditional three R’s of the environment are reduce, reuse/re-purpose, and recycle. A small group of enthusiastic citizens are planning to add another R to that list – repair.

This Fall Repair Café Saanich will be added to the growing list of Repair Cafés happening throughout the world. The morning repair workshop is part of a movement that sees neighbours working together in new ways. The idea is to connect people that are able to make small repairs of household items with people that have items that need to be repaired. They broken item owner can either learn how to make the repair, or have it done for them.

“The idea is nothing new,” says one of the Saanich event organizers Marsha Henderson, “Repair Cafés began in Amsterdam in 2010, and have been gaining in popularity ever since. Victoria has just had their third successful event. What is new is that it’s happening in Saanich,” she adds.

The small team of organizers includes Henderson, Saanich farmer Shellie MacDonald, Saanich small business owner Michele Murphy, and Colwood resident, and experienced Repair Café volunteer repairer, Emmet McCusker. “A few of us were talking online about going downtown to the Repair Café Victoria’s Spring event when I suggested that Saanich needs one of their own. Marsha immediately said yes, and before we knew it we were meeting in my garden over the complete do-it-yourself kit that Emmet had downloaded from the RepairCafe.org website,” recalls Murphy.

The group’s vision for the project is pretty simple, “We want to connect with our neighbours over shared values and experiences, keep stuff out of the landfill, and teach each other new skills,” explains Henderson. “I contacted Saanich asking for a free space and they were really supportive,” she adds.

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The first event will take place on Oct. 17th from 10:30-1:30 pm at the Saanich Commonwealth Place in the Douglas Fir Room.

Organizers would like to have as many talented volunteer repairers on hand as possible to work on whatever broken household items people might bring in. Using Victoria’s recent event as an indicator, they are expecting to see a lot of small appliances, maybe some toys or small furniture that could use a spot of glue, maybe a bicycle or two, lamps in need of re-wiring, and maybe even a teddy bear needing a patch.

The repairs are done free of charge. Tools and some materials will also be on hand. Donations for, or of supplies are gratefully accepted. People are asked to email the organizers to let them know what kind of repairs you’ll be bringing, but drop-ins are welcome too.

If you are able to volunteer your talents as a repairer, or are willing to help out another way – or have something that needs repairing – please email the organizers at: Saanich [email protected]

Saanich Repair Café organizers will be presenting at the Wednesday October 7th RON Talks, 7 pm at Crumbsies Café in Royal Oak. See their Facebook page for updates.

 

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