Minutes of the Council meeting held June 20, 2023
Formal record of the proceedings, motions, and decisions from the View Royal Council meeting conducted on June 20, 2023.
COMMUNITY PROFILE
The Town of View Royal is located on southern Vancouver Island, approximately six kilometers west of Victoria, British Columbia. On December 5, 1988 – with a population of less than 5,000 – the Town of View Royal was incorporated and became its own distinct municipality comprising approximately 2,500 hectares of land. Since that time, the community has experienced significant growth and development while still maintaining much of its small town character.
The Town of View Royal acknowledges with respect that it is within the unceded traditional territories of the Lekwungen peoples, known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations, and that their historic connections to these lands continue to this day.
- INCORPORATED DECEMBER 5, 1988
- 11,575 POPULATION*
- 14.33KM² LAND AREA
- 5,175 HOUSEHOLDS
- 72 MUNICIPAL PARKS & 2 REGIONAL PARKS
- 30.5KM BIKE LANES
- 27.3KM TRAILS
*as per Statistics Canada, 2021 Census
Shoreline at Portage Inlet Linear Park
View Royal is divided into eight distinct precincts based on such factors as topography, major transportation corridors, natural environment and the age of housing stock. These precincts are:
- Craigflower
- Harbour
- Helmcken
- Hospital
- Thetis
- Burnside
- Atkins
- Wilfert
The municipality encompasses McKenzie, Pike, Prior and Thetis Lakes and portions of Esquimalt Harbour and Portage Inlet and is situated adjacent to the established jurisdictions of the City of Colwood, Township of Esquimalt, Esquimalt First Nation, District of Highlands, City of Langford, District of Saanich and Songhees First Nation.
Stone wall on Island Highway
SUMMARY OF SERVICES & OPERATIONS
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL SERVICES
The Town of View Royal is responsible for the provision of a wide variety of local services and programs. These include:
- Transportation network (e.g. roads, bridges, street cleaning, sidewalks)*
- Stormwater management
- Garbage/household food waste collection
- Sanitary sewer collection system
- Parks, recreation and cultural facilities
- West Shore Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
- Fire protection and inspection
- Emergency preparedness planning
- Land use planning
- Building permits
- Business licensing
- Bylaw establishment and enforcement
- Economic development
- Heritage and revitalization
*excludes Admirals Road, Six Mile Road and the Trans Canada Highway (Highway 1) which are controlled by the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure.
TOWN SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT
- Animal control
- Sewer system management
- Water management
- Recycling & Blue Box Program
Parks Crew Mowing at Helmcken Centennial Park
Victoria General Hospital
TOWN SERVICES PROVIDED BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
- School system (Provincial Government and Local School Boards)
- Social and health programs (Provincial Government)
- Hospital care system (Provincial Government)
- Real property assessments (B.C. Assessment)
- Library collection and distribution system (Greater Victoria Public Library; Town is a part owner of the Downtown Branch)
- View Royal Reading Centre (Town provides partial support through a grant-in-aid)
- Planning and the management of public transit (Victoria Regional Transit System)
BC Transit Bus Crossing Craigflower Bridge
MAYOR & COUNCIL
The Town of View Royal is governed by an elected mayor and six councillors for a four-year term (2022-2026). Each member of Council is also appointed to serve on various Town and Regional committees. Council meets regularly and the public is welcome to attend any open meeting or provide feedback in writing via mail or email. Learn more at viewroyal.ca/mayor-council.html.
Mayor Sid Tobias (November 1, 2022 - present)
- Committee of the Whole - Finance & Administration Chair
- CRD Board/Committee of the Whole
- CRD Housing Trust Fund Commission
- Capital Regional Hospital District Board
- Capital Region Housing Corporation Board
- Police Building Liaison Committee
- West Shore Parks and Recreation Owners
- Te’Mexw Treaty Advisory Committee
- Westshore Chamber of Commerce
- Westshore Community Policing Advisory Committee
Councillor Don Brown (November 1, 2022 - present)
- Committee of the Whole - Protective Services Chair
- Capital Region Emergency Service Telecommunications Inc. (CREST)
- Municipal Insurance Association
- South Island Prosperity Association
Councillor Damian Kowalewich (December 5, 2017 - present)
- Committee of the Whole - Parks & Recreation Chair
- Community Development Advisory Committee - Liaison
- Joint School District / Municipal Committee
- West Shore Parks & Recreation Board - Chair