‘Nothing about us, without us’: West Shore accessibility committee breaks down barriers

ADMINISTRATION

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:

• In February, Council Size Increase Bylaw No. 1086, 2022 was adopted, increasing the number of councillors from four to six. Planning work began on modifications to Council Chambers to ensure there would be a welcoming space with integrated technology to deliver a smooth business meeting experience for Council, staff, and the public after the October 2022 elections.
• The Checkout Bag Regulation Bylaw came into effect on Earth Day – April 22, 2022. The new Bylaw prohibits the distribution of most single-use plastic bags in businesses and requires retailers to charge for new checkout bags. To create consistency for businesses and customers, the Bylaw essentially mirrors other checkout bag bylaws from the Township of Esquimalt, the District of Saanich, and the City of Victoria. To raise awareness about the Bylaw, staff spent time in March developing and distributing an information package for pertinent businesses that included a detailed “frequently asked questions” document specific to businesses, a poster, cash register “toppers”, and a promotional cotton bag. As well, information for the public was created and made available through social media.
• In April 2022, Administration staff launched an alternative approval process (AAP) for the disposition of two pieces of undeveloped park land to the Capital Regional District (CRD) for incorporation into their Mill Hill Regional Park. Following the conclusion of the AAP, an agreement was finalized that saw the CRD acquire these two pieces plus an additional two properties totaling 9.8 hectares from the Town for $927,500. The sale ensures continued public ownership of open space and the long-term management and maintenance by an organization that is well-equipped to take on the responsibility.
• The Town’s annual United Way campaign finished in November with a generous total of $8,025.00 in staff donations earmarked for giving in 2023.
• View Royal Archives worked with Artefactual Systems to host the Archives’ repository on the Access to Memory (AtoM) website at https://viewroyalarchives.accesstomemory.org/ beginning in April. Photographs and documents from the physical collections have been digitized and published online. Users can browse through the material using subject, place name, or description filters. This is an ongoing project with items being added as they are processed. There is no charge or account required to access the site.
• With construction in full swing at the Craigflower Manor site where previous Canada Day celebrations were held plus ongoing COVID-19 concerns with public gatherings, in the lead up to Canada Day, Town staff handed out View Royal cotton bags, and Canada Day pins and buttons to residents who came in to pay their taxes as well as after hours outside the Town Hall main entrance.
• Administration staff coordinated a school tour in November for students from Eagle View Elementary School. Students from grades four and five received a presentation about municipal services, elections, discussed future potential career options, and then toured the Town Hall building and grounds.

ADMINISTRATION (CON’T)

• The 2022 local government election was held on Saturday, October 15 with two advance polling days held on October 5 (Province-wide advance voting day) and October 11 (the Town’s additional advance voting opportunity). During the thirty-six hours of voting available in the Town, 2,382 ballots were cast with voting location details as follows:
  • 708 electors voted during the two advance polling days at Town Hall (in Council Chambers);
  • 41 electors voted using mail-in ballot packages from the 63 requested packages;
  • 1,035 electors voted at View Royal Elementary School on general voting day; and
  • 598 electors voted at Eagle View Elementary School on general voting day.
• On December 12, Town Hall welcomed kindergarten students from View Royal Elementary School for their annual appreciation visit. The children presented the Town with handmade holiday cards from each class and expressed their gratitude for all the work the Town does including keeping people safe, building the bike park they enjoy, putting up festive lights, and making the Town a wonderful place to live. The children left Town Hall with candy canes and mandarin oranges.
• Staff assisted members of Council with the third annual ‘Light Up View Royal’ contest in December. A total of 24 nominations were received and three addresses were selected by Council to receive prizes for best holiday light displays in Town.
• The Archives received a donation of framed artwork of the Six Mile Pub done in 1956 by artist David Laing, a former art teacher at Esquimalt High School. The piece, kept by the family for over 65 years, will continue its life in the View Royal Archives and be available for visitors to see.

Six Mile Pub Artwork by David Laing