Category: Well Being and Healthy Cities
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City of Victoria COVID-19 #flattenthecurve Efforts
The City of Victoria is closing the Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre and a number of its facilities to curb the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in the community. This follows today’s public health direction to cancel gatherings of 50 people or more. Federal and provincial health authorities have urged increased social distancing measures and today…
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What’s Next in the City of Victoria – COVID-19
We know Victorians are feeling anxious about the spread of COVID-19 in Canada. As a city government, we are too. We want to do everything we can to protect Victorian’s health and well being. That’s why we’re relying on the advice of Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer and Dr. Bonnie Henry, the…
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Our Local Businesses Need Us: Let’s Show Them Our Love
NB We have received new information from the federal and provincial health authorities since this was posted originally on Saturday afternoon. Extraordinary social distancing measures should be put in place. The Prime Minister is encouraging people to stay home if possible to help flatten the curve. Instead of visiting your favourite restaurant right now, considering…
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Victoria 3.0 – Pivoting to a Higher Value Economy – 2020-2041
Expedition leader Adrian Round (left) and ocean operations staff member Jonathan Miller carefully monitor remotely operated vehicle operations on the seafloor more than 2 km below the vessel. Photo by Ed McNichol. Ocean Networks Canada Today the City of Victoria released Victoria 3.0, an economic action plan that accompanies the City’s Official Community Plan to…
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Affordable Housing: Watershed Moment of Community Support
These are my closing comments from the public hearing for Fire Hall #1 and Affordable Housing. Something really remarkable happened at our City Council meeting last week. Or rather, it’s what didn’t happen that is remarkable and it gives me hope for the future of affordable housing developments in our city. Last Thursday we held…
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Victoria joins U.N. Challenge with 5,000 Tree Pledge
Today in New York City, I participated in the launch of the United Nations Trees in Cities Challenge hosted by the U.N. Executive Secretary, Under-Secretary-General Olga Algayerova. As part of this initiative, the City of Victoria will work with the community to plant 5,000 trees on public and private land by the end of 2020.…
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Victoria is a City that Looks to the Future
This blog post is short. The real meat is in this video. Please watch it! Last Thursday evening, City Council held a public hearing for a 20-unit townhouse development at 1712 and 1720 Fairfield Road. Many people who live in the neighbourhood spoke with Council and shared their perspectives on the project. While more people…
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Ambrose Place: Love and Decolonizing Housing, Health and Wellness
I had an incredible experience earlier this week that I’m really excited to share. I was in a situation where I was expecting one thing and something completely different happened. In the space between expectation and experience, there was inspiration, love and great deal of learning. I was invited by Fran Hunt-Jinnochi, Executive Director of…
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Cecelia Ravine Playground Grand Opening and How Parks Make Healthy Cities
All photos provided by Derek Ford of Derek Ford Studios Last Saturday I was so happy to stand with members of the Burnside Gorge neighbourhood and city staff as we officially opened the expanded park and new playground. It’s an amazing place and it’s been a long-time coming. A park is more than just a…
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Climate Action, Active Healthy Transportation, and the Heidelberg Challenge
I’ve recently returned from a trip to Heidelberg where I attended ICCA 2019, an international conference on Collaborative Climate Action. The conference focused on the role of cities in the lead up to UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ Climate Action Summit in New York this September. It was an honour to have been invited to Heidelberg…