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‘Functional Zero’ – Ending Chronic Homelessness in Victoria
These buildings are samples of the types of homes under construction that will provide transitional and permanent housing for those currently experiencing homelessness or living in supportive housing, freeing up space for people experiencing homelessness to move in. There are thousands of units under construction in our region, including at least 500 with rents of…
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Statement on the Discovery of the Remains of 215 Children in a Mass Grave at the Kamloops Indian Residential School
On Monday, the City of Victoria is lowering the Xe xe Smun eem-Victoria Orange Shirt Day flag and the Canadian flag to half-mast to honour the 215 children who died at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, and whose bodies were recently found in an unmarked grave. We acknowledge the deep grief of families from the…
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City Staff Propose Bold Approach to Expediting Affordable Housing
For the past few years, Council has been hearing from many residents about the impact of the housing affordability crisis in Victoria. Seniors who live on fixed incomes have a hard time affording housing; students who pay high tuition costs and then high student loan payments are in a similar boat. And many women-led single-parent…
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City Budget 2021: Well-Being and Economic Recovery, and A Spot of Grace
This Friday, I’m speaking on the opening plenary of a conference in Montreal (virtually of course!) called Policies for Better Lives. It’s an international conference of researchers focused on well being and policy development. Most of the conversations about measuring well-being are focused at the provincial and national level. It seems I’m being brought in…
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Moving Indoors, Ending Parks Sheltering – The Next Few Weeks
I left work on Friday feeling rather hopeless. There are so many challenges still on the horizon: Our small businesses, already struggling, facing more restrictions. The variants of concern impacting young people. More than a year into a global health pandemic people still living outside. And this past week, another tragedy: a 15-year-old child living…
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Cities Need Housing for Economic Recovery
This piece was co-written by myself, Mayor Rebecca Alty, Yellowknife, Councillor Cindy Gilroy, Winnipeg, Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Kitchener and was originally published here in National Newswatch. We are members of the Right to Home Municipal Working Group, which brings together elected officials and city staff from across Canada committed to securing the right to housing. It is…
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There Is A Rape Culture in Victoria, and Everywhere
Trigger warning: This post contains discussions of rape, sexual assault, and violence against women. For those who haven’t been following social media over the past week in Victoria, this post will come as a bit of a surprise and maybe a shock. In the past few months on an Instagram account @survivorstoriesproject, women working in…
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Affordability, Housing and Homelessness, Climate Change and Sustainability, Economic Development and Prosperity, Well Being and Healthy Cities
“Community Making” Requires Housing of All Sorts – Three Big Ideas
Last Thursday, at a public hearing for a proposed new condo building on Rockland Ave near Cook Street, a neighbour spoke to Council in favour of the new housing. He listed all the types of housing in the area: he lives in a townhouse; this new condo building is proposed on the lot next door;…
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Victoria Council’s Recent Decisions: A Glimpse Of Post-Pandemic Life In Cities
I’ve spent the past eight months writing blog posts in response to emails, primarily about homelessness. Each week we’ve received an average of 100 to 150 emails on this topic, many from the same people who write regularly. Of course I love to hear from the public, and to be responsive. But this past week,…
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Recent Posts
- Thank you Victoria, and Looking Ahead
- With Housing As Key Election Issue, Here Are My Picks for Mayor and Council
- Rethinking Canada Day – and Canadian History – in a New Era of Reconciliation
- Statement on Homophobic Threats and Cancelling of Family-Friendly Drag Show
- Victoria’s Big Housing Moves – Building the Future We Need
