2023 Municipal Highlights - ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT

ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT

The Administration Department provides operational support through customer service, meeting management, communications, web and social media, archives and records management, information and privacy compliance, legal and risk management, and elections administration. This division plays a key role in strategic planning and community engagement.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Administration staff spent time developing content to promote the Town’s involvement once again as a municipal partner in Earth Day (April 22, 2023). The day was marked by tree planting with registrants picking up their pre-ordered trees for planting – made available through the Resident Tree Planting Program.
• The annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner was held at the Victoria Scottish Community Centre at the end of May and was attended by approximately 110 volunteers and their guests.
• Canada Day was marked with a renewal of the pre-COVID event held at the Craigflower Manor site. The Town of View Royal and the Victoria Highland Games Association co-hosted the event which had both indoor and outdoor performance stages for music and dance, community booths (the Town’s Archives and Habitat Restoration programs were each represented in a community booth), Manor house tours, a face painter, a balloon clown, and even some traditional heavy games.
• In July, Council decided to proceed with a joint intermunicipal staff accessibility advisory committee, partnering with six other municipalities to develop an Accessibility Plan in response to the new Accessible BC Act. By the end of August, staff had developed webpage content and established a feedback tool. The Capital West Accessibility Advisory Committee held its first meeting in November and staff undertook training (Accessible Spaces 101) through both Athabasca University and Laurentian University (Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification Training).
• October saw the retirement of the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer. Mr. Kim Anema, who joined the Town in 2010, was acknowledged at the October 17 Council meeting for his many years of municipal service both to the Town of View Royal and local governments throughout British Columbia.
• The Microsoft 365 Records and Information Management Project has begun with departmental interviews to document the current state of business systems and procedures. Identifying efficiencies, inefficiencies, and opportunities, these discovery sessions will be key to the design of the new Microsoft environment and customization of the final product to the Town’s administrative and operational needs.
• Council hosted a public meeting on November 23, 2023 at the Victoria Scottish Cultural Centre to hear from members of the public about proposed new legislation, Bill 44-2023, Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act, 2023.

NEW HELMCKEN ROAD TRESTLE MURAL

A poll conducted in May 2023 helped narrow down the theme for the Helmcken Road Trestle Mural project. The Town received 771 responses and the “trees/forest” theme received the highest ranking. Council selected the proposal by artist Collin Elder at its July 18 meeting and work began in August. The mural is a botanical representation of Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar, important tree species in this eco-region, and are mirrored on either side of Helmcken Road. The photos below show the completed mural on the west side and east side of the Helmcken Road trestle abutment and wing walls. To mark completion of the mural, Genera, a celebration event, including representation from the Island Corridor Foundation, took place with the school community at View Royal Elementary School on September 25. After the morning assembly, the artist met with students to answer questions about public art.