Category: News Stories
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Would the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights Improve Municipal Urban Forest Governance?
On July 20, 2026, Saanich Councillor Nathalie Chambers brought forward a motion asking Council to consider the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights as a framework for informing the District’s Tree Protection Bylaw, Urban Forest Strategy and broader municipal planning. The motion was defeated 8–1 following a lengthy discussion about municipal authority, legal implications and implementation. Questions from the debate Would the Universal… Read more
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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 3:1, the proposed Tree Protection Bylaw would require developments to achieve minimum tree canopy targets. Existing trees would have their canopy… Read more
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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 22 mature Garry oaks, for a six-storey, 60-unit development at McKenzie and Saanich Road. Coun. Judy Brownoff and I opposed… Read more
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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 Highway through Goldstream Park, citing the need for more environmental review. The $162 million set aside for the project in… Read more
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Comment: Garry oak ecosystem is under great threat in Saanich, Times Colonist, Feb 03, 2026.
Times Colonist, OpinionFebruary 3, 2026Ryan Senechal https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/comment-garry-oak-ecosystem-is-under-great-threat-in-saanich-11824300 The dominant species in this area is Garry oak, and casual observations confirm that dozens of other species that co-evolved with this tree species are also present. A commentary by a Saanich resident. Buried on page 135 of Saanich’s Quadra-McKenzie Plan are clues of what is in store… Read more
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Panama Flats: When Biodiversity and Dog Access Collide — and What Council Decided
By Squirrel for Mayor Panama Flats—a 26-hectare wetland and meadow system in Saanich between Interurban and Carey—has been at the centre of a region-wide conversation about how we share urban nature. On January 12, Saanich Council made an important move by rezoning the Flats as a bird and nature sanctuary, formally recognizing one of the region’s… Read more
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Oak Bay – Carrick Trail trail saved: ‘When neighbours come together, good things happen’
Read more at: https://vicnews.com/2025/10/29/oak-bay-trail-saved-when-neighbours-come-together-good-things-happen/ When the District of Oak Bay proposed to put a 15-foot-wide paved bike path over a small natural corridor back in 2024, a group in the community spoke out. Soon, these members banded together to not only protect that little corridor that had come to mean so much to them – they… Read more
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Saanich – Parts of Panama Flats to be designated as park to protect birds, off-limits for dogs
Times Colonist, October 22, 2025 by Michael John Lo Starting next year, staff is set to begin updating trails, fencing and signage in the area to create a dedicated area for migratory birds, waterfowl and rare plants.z Large parts of Panama Flats will eventually become off-limits to dogs, after Saanich council agreed to designate the… Read more
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First Nations-led rally at B.C. Legislature opposes $162 million highway expansion threatening Goldstream River – SELE₭TEȽ.
………………………….. Save Selektl Listen to the videos. Join Carl Olsen and friends @ 10:00 am every Tuesday on the side of the highway infront of Goldstream Park! Write a letter to Premier Eby enough is enough. Do not cut down 700 trees to add barrier to highway. Instead change the speed limit here. How about… Read more
