The petition to save Victoria's mighty sequoia has already garnered approaching 1600 signatures in only just over a week; showing how concerned the public is about this giant oxygen producing canary of the urban coal mine, standing strong in the heart of Centennial Square.
There was a great turnout yesterday, by concerned citizens and with excellent response at the rally to save the majestic sequoia at Victoria's Centennial Square.
Thank you to everyone who took part - from everyone who were either there in present, or in spirit; speakers, organizers, and everyone who made the event such a success.
An article about the event with photos, can be viewed here:
https://crdwatch.ca/2024/09/08/great-turnout-by-concerned-citizens-and-response-at-rally-to-save-the-majestic-sequoia-at-victoria-centennial-square
Adrianne Raeside illustrated a very funny cartoon about the issue.
Much organizational credit goes to Creatively United and to the Community Trees Matter Network. If you haven't signed up to the Community Trees Matter Network email list, it is highly recommended to stay informed about events concerning the disappearing tree canopy in the Greater Victoria region and beyond, and also about methods of which the public can be involved in civic engagement to preserve the forests we live in and are surrounded by and as a means of educating each other about the forest environment and human impacts on it.
If you would like to join the Community Trees Matter Network mailing list, please email Grace with your name and email address at: treesmatternetwork@gmail.com
On a side note, I mentioned during the rally that the District of Saanich is proposing to eliminate Open Forum tomorrow (Monday September 9, 2024). This is the last forum for the general public to speak publicly and openly on a broad range of issues affecting Saanich to the Mayor and Council.
I realized afterward however, that I had not left instructions on how the public can speak up on the issue, so I have added these here:
The following is the agenda package for the Saanich Council meeting which begins tomorrow at 7pm and opens with a discussion appropriately regarding Saanich's proposed URBAN FOREST STRATEGY UPDATE (although note unfortunately that they closed public input on the issue).
Council Meeting (granicus.com)
The issue regarding the proposal to eliminate Open Forum (Democracy) is suspiciously hidden under item H6. in the report on proposed bi-annual town hall meetings and under that title. It looks as if they were hoping for the public to not notice the detail that senior staff are proposing to eliminate Open Forum under the guise of bi-annual town hall meetings.
The ominous report reads:
"That Council direct staff to remove “Open Forum” from its Council Procedure Bylaw.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to present Council with additional opportunities for meaningful public engagement in the form of town hall meetings which in turn will eliminate open forum as a business item from Committee of the Whole meeting agendas."
The public will be able to speak on the issue tomorrow night both by either being in-person or by calling online. Instructions on how to take part are at the top of the agenda in the link posted previously here.
How does this relate to our forest canopy? It relates in the sense that without regular genuine opportunities for public democratic input to government on the record, what other way can we make officials hear our message during civic engagement with the government?
Civic engagement was curtailed heavily during the pandemic in local government and the Province's recent Bill-44 simultaneously reduced mass amounts of public hearings on development projects that are likely to deforest much of what is left of the urban forest in Greater Victoria, while passing massive upzoning across the province.
A Narwhal Article by Sarah Cox has explored this pressing issue.
Also, there is a petition to repeal, or amend Bill-44 with over 4000 signatures.
The City of Victoria itself has cracked down on public engagement significantly by seeking to reduce the number of possible speakers during a night in regular Council Meetings to a mere handful.
We must stand up for our right to speak publicly and openly to government wherever we can, if we are to have the ability to have the civic impact that we will need to turn the tide to something sensible, sustainable and seeking long-term balance with and within the environment.
Thank you again to everyone who has taken part in this crucial issue affecting everyone and all living beings in the environment we share!
- Sasha Izard