Community Stories
The Garry Oak in Autumn: Foliage, Acorns, and Conservation
Recognized as the only oak species native to British Columbia, the Garry oak is soon to make its mark on the beauty of autumn.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Nature
There’s something quite satisfying about restoring nature and making a very tiny part of the world better. I suppose I’ve always known that, but it really struck home when we purchased the place we were going to retire to 15-years ago. We were still working fulltime,…
Learn About People’s Action for US Issues
The news is heavy, and that’s intentional. The US regime is trying to inundate us with chaos so we become overwhelmed, tune out, and stop paying attention. Instead of turning away, we’re turning to each other. The People’s Tea , a biweekly, hour-long, virtual…
Share what’s meaningful to you and your community
Presentation to Esquimalt Council
Thank you mayor and council for your service to our community and the opportunity to address you. I’m here on behalf of the Community Trees Matter Network and the Creatively United for the Planet Society. We’d like to thank the Township and staff for being proactive…
Letter to share re: Finnerty Road Trees
Your support is requested to save trees slated for removal on Finnerty Road. These tree are in the median (which would be removed as part of the project) and adjacent to the southbound lane (opposite side of the road from the UVic Child Care Centre, under the Hydro…
26 Garry Oaks Form Vital Green Space
Currently, the board of the South Jubilee Neighborhood Association is in the process of preserving one of the last remaining urban Garry Oak ecosystems in our area. The area in question is located on the corner or Bank Street and Leighton street, across the road from…
Victories To Celebrate!
Thank you to all the people and groups taking a stand for our community trees. The Community Trees Matter Network came together out of a desire to bring more voices together in support for our urban trees and forests and to find out what resources and information we…
Increasing Benefits of Trees
According to i-Tree, this Western Red Cedar recently cut down at 600 Foul Bay Road in Victoria, measured five feet in diameter, would have provided the following benefits this year (and each year this tree survived the benefits would have increased):
A Plan to Keep Trees Standing and Speaking for the Sequoia
Council already understands the many reasons to increase the urban forest in Victoria. City staff are already protecting public trees as well as they can with the budget they have. My focus is on protecting trees on private land. So far, my family and friends in…
Promising Start to 2019
I am happy to report we had positive results in Saanich Chambers this past week. Council accepted the new management plan for Haro Woods that supports the natural designation it was given in 2013. Yesterday I was looking through websites and came upon the…
Tree Huggers Spotted in Oak Bay
Vijaya Taylor hugs a mature Garry Oak tree in Oak Bay. She is a member of Community Trees Matter Network, which advocates for retaining mature trees, as well as increasing municipal canopies to 30 to 40 per cent. (Photo: John Taylor)
Recommendations To Make Trees Matter
Members of the Community Trees Matter Network and the Creatively United for the Planet Society have enthusiastically encouraged the City of Victoria to strengthen its tree preservation bylaws and adopt the strategic plan and budget that will see the Urban Forest…
Art, Poetry & Prose Exposed
Eileen Curteis, a Sister of Saint Ann and Victoria resident, has just released her 12th book, Exposed, featuring 58 original works of art and divinely inspired poetry and prose addressing a journey of spiritual healing and enlightenment for our time. Sister Eileen has…
Hardest Working Community Members
At the last council meeting I brought my shovel. Tonight I have my bell, to sound the alarm. We are in a climate crisis! And yet engineers and planners working for the city continue to destroy and remove trees to make sidewalks, sewer pipe lines, roads and other infrastructure. Why is so little value put on trees, our hardest working community members?
Remembering City of Victoria Election Promises
With mayors and councils making important budget decisions now, these questions are more relevant now than ever. For example, Lisa Helps sent out a campaign news release saying we could celebrate Tree Appreciation Day by planting trees in neighbourhoods all over the city, up to 1000. However, only four were planted this year, about a quarter of the number that was planted last year.
