Category: Saanich – Urban Forest
-
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…
-
Could Saanich Become Canada’s Next Municipality to Recognize the Rights of Trees?
By Squirrel For Mayor 🐿 Squirrel For Mayor will be watching with interest to see how the Saanich Mayor and Council respond to this council member’s motion. On Monday, July 20, 2026, Saanich Council will…
-
Urban Forest Myths: Debunking the Debunkers
Summary: This article reviews common claims about urban trees and compares them with current urban forestry research. Topics include replacement planting, mature tree value, biodiversity, and the ecological role of urban forests in climate resilience.…
-
Garry Oak Ecosystem: What the Songhees Nation Is Asking Us to See with the Quadra McKenzie Plan (QMP)
The Quadra McKenzie Plan (QMP) in Saanich is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. The plan proposes significant growth over the next 20 years, concentrating housing and mixed-use development along the…
-
Bill 16: An Untapped Opportunity for Victoria’s Urban Forest
Much of the public discussion about housing legislation has focused on what municipalities can no longer do. Bills 44, 46, and 47 reduced local control over density and removed public hearings for many residential developments.…
-
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…
-
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.…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
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…