Blog
Research, news & community stories
Explore urban forests, neighbourhood planning, and the many species that share our city—with updates from community events and a squirrel’s perspective on civic life.
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Even Supporters of Housing Reform Are Calling for a Review of Bill 44
By Squirrel For Mayor 🐿 One of the most persistent myths surrounding criticism of Bill 44 is that it comes only from people who oppose new housing. That simply isn’t true. In a June 1,…
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Saanich Is Rethinking How Tree Protection Is Measured: From Tree Counts to Canopy Cover
Article by Squirrel for Mayor 🐿 Saanich is proposing one of the most significant changes to urban tree protection in decades. Instead of requiring developers to replace removed trees at ratios such as 2:1 or…
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How We Learned to Talk Ourselves Out of Ecology
While having lunch with a longtime friend recently, our conversation turned to housing. He had just finished reading Gregor Craigie’s book and, before long, we were discussing density, zoning, and the future of our cities.…
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BC NIMBY Toolkit (Housing / Development Guidelines) and No Public Hearings
🐿️ Squirrel for Mayor Unearthed documents show the use of the word “NIMBY” in BC government publications. Development Approvals Process Review (DAPR, 2019) Direct quote: “Public hearings can enable NIMBY (an acronym for ‘not in…
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LETTER: Stronger safeguards needed to protect Saanich’s Garry oak ecosystemsPublished 5:30 pm Sunday, March 29, 2026 https://vicnews.com/2026/03/29/letter-stronger-safeguards-needed-to-protect-saanichs-garry-oak-ecosystems/ By Nathalie Chambers On March 16, a majority of Saanich council approved the removal of 28 trees, including…
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Demand more Garry oaks and their ecosystem are saved on this 903 Admirals Road development
The petition has been started, which calls for stronger protection of Garry oak ecosystems in the proposed 903 Admirals Road development in Esquimalt, highlighting significant ecological loss and insufficient replacement planning. Squirrel for Mayor notes…
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When Climate Action Loses the Plot: Saanich at McKenzie Roads and the Consequences of Not Thinking with Place
By Squirrel For Mayor At the March 17, 2026 Saanich Council decision approving a rezoning application and development permit for a six-storey condo proposed for the corner of 961 McKenzie and 3986, 3990 Saanich Road,…
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When Housing Debates Erase Ecology: The Story of 4015 Braefoot Rd. and the Garry Oak Ecosystem
By Squirrel for Mayor A petition has been created by local resident Yves Parizeau to save numerous Garry Oaks at 4015 Braefoot Rd. in Saanich. The petition has already garnered 1,233 signatures. Sign the Petition…
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What Does It Mean to Live in an Urban Forest?
By Squirrel For Mayor Living in an urban forest isn’t just about having trees nearby or pockets of green space stitched between streets and buildings. It’s about place—and the many spaces required for life to unfold across species,…
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Province nixes Malahat widening through Goldstream Park
The Ministry of Highways and Transportation says additional analysis is required to “understand the potential environmental impacts of the project.” The province said Thursday it will not proceed with a project to widen the Trans-Canada…