ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY AND TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL COMMUNITY LEARNING PARTNERSHIP – VIEW ROYAL PUBLIC MARKET STUDY

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report dated July 6, 2026, from the Director of Development Services titled “Royal Roads University and Town of View Royal Partnership – View Royal Public Market Study” be received for information.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to introduce Council to a potential partnership between Royal Roads University and Town of View Royal to undertake a View Royal Public Market Study.

BACKGROUND:

At the Council meeting on July 2, 2025, the Director of Community Learning Partnerships at Royal Roads University’s (RRU) presented on the Community Learning Partnerships program (refer to Attachment 1) that provides opportunities for collaboration between academia and municipalities. Following the presentation, RRU faculty invited staff to participate in a discovery workshop to identify potential project types that may benefit the Town and be of interest to faculty and students to take on as a course project. Undertaking a View Royal public market feasibility study was a project that was discussed at the workshop.

RRU and Town staff recently met to discuss an opportunity to engage senior Bachelor of Business Administration students specializing in innovation and sustainability to undertake a public market options study as a project in the Spring 2027.

ANALYSIS:

The Town has an opportunity to expand its partnership with RRU by engaging in a project linked to the 2023 – 2026 Strategic Plan, current (2011) and new draft (2026) Official Community Plan and the Parks Master Plan with the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Innovation and Sustainability program. The project will focus on researching options for a public outdoor market in View Royal and include a Cost-Benefit Analysis, What We Heard Report and Options Report for the Town.

The project would occur over a four-week period between March 15 and April 9, 2027, where a class of 12 – 15 undergraduate students will work in teams to undertake the following key activities:

• Analyze community survey results.
• Research and interview market operators and subject matter experts to identify gaps and best practices.
• Evaluation of potential sites using defined criteria and on-site observations.

It would require approximately 8 - 10 hrs of staff time to support the project. Given the condense timeline, staff would create and launch a community survey to identify needs, preferences and opportunities in January 2027. There are no other costs to the Town for this consulting work. A project summary is attached to this report as Attachment 3.

The outcome of this project would provide the Town with an evidence-based analysis, innovative ideas and actionable recommendations to inform decision-making on a potential public market. Due to other competing Council priorities, staff have not had the time or capacity to undertake this project. If this project is successful, then there may be opportunities for ongoing partnerships and consulting opportunities with RRU in the future.

Impacts and implications can be summarized as follows:

Community Impact: During engagement on the 2011 OCP, Parks Master Plan and the draft 2026 OCP, residents have indicated a desire and support for a farmer’s market in the town.

Financial Implication: Other than approximately 7 – 8hrs of staff time, there are no other costs to the Town to partner with RRU on this project.

Inter-governmental Relations Impact: N/A

ALIGNMENT:

The recommended option aligns with the Town’s following core guiding documents as follows:

Strategic Plan:

Strategic Priority A: Enhance Livability

Goal 5: Build strong relationships and engagement through community events and celebrations

5c | Explore bylaws to allow food trucks, entertainment, and commercial activities in public spaces

Official Community Plan:

Policy LU5.9 Urban Agriculture Promote urban farming and agriculture, community gardens, edible landscaping and farmers markets as ways to access and celebrate local food and healthy lifestyles.

Objective PR4 Identify and develop spaces for large, outdoor events, festivals, farmers markets and other community gatherings.

Policy PR4.2 Social Gathering Places Support the development of social gathering places in larger parks and public areas, and as part of large development proposals, including Thetis Cove and the future Town Centre.

Other Policy Documents: Parks Master Plan, 2018

Goal Two: Provide Diverse & Inclusive Opportunities

Strategy 7. Design a food security strategy that would encourage the development of community gardens, urban farming, and farmer’s markets in appropriate parks.

7. Explore the feasibility of a weekly farmer’s market in View Royal Park

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION GOAL:

The desired level of public participation for the recommended option is:

• Inform
• Consult
• Involve
• Collaborate
• Empower
• N/A

TIME CRITICAL:

This report is not time critical.

CONCURRENCE:

REVIEWED BY:

ATTACHMENTS:

1. Community Partnership Learning Presentation
2. Letter to Mayor and Council
3. Project Summary