What is happening? What can happen? What should be happening?

Sometimes things happen that could change the way our city feels -- that could change the very nature of Victoria. Recently our city council was approached by folk music enthusiasts who wanted to hold a major folk music concert in Beacon Hill Park. These people were local people, with a very genuine love of their favourite music, not "entrepreneurs" after a few quick bucks.

For it to happen, they had to deal with other local people, with an equal love of the natural features of our public parks, with the city council and also with the Supreme Court of British Columbia. The Friends of Beacon Hill Park regard the "folk concert proposal" as a very genuine threat to the plant life and ambiance of their favourite park. The city council appeared to be in favour of the concert. Councillor Friedland, however, thought it should face a decision of the Supreme Court, as previous ideas on the use of the park -- going back to Judge Matthew Baillie Begbie (...the "hanging judge" of gold rush fame) -- appeared to favour strong restrictions on the commercial use of our public parks. The Court decided against the use of the park for commercial purposes. City Council has requested an appeal be filed. Neither the grounds for the appeal nor its date have, so far, been given.

Why should all of this be of concern to people in the Jubilee Community? This issue is typical of many issues faced by those we elect -- where good people hold conflicting ideas. Some of these people are reading this newsletter. Each of us, as citizens, have the choice of ignoring important issues or contacting our elected representatives to let them know what we want. This is an important way for each of us to help build the kind of city we want.

Neighbourhood Emergency Program

As much as I question expecting the worst to happen, rather than the best, I do not question the wisdom in being prepared for the worst, as long as one doesn’t become overwhelmed by the expectation.

With that in mind, I’d like you to know what the City of Victoria has to offer its citizens.

The Victoria Neighbourhood Emergency Program has a very simple mission: to provide emergency preparedness information, training and support to our neighbourhoods. Experience from previous disasters clearly illustrate that one’s best source of immediate assistance will come from a neighbour or volunteer. If individuals and families are prepared and trained beforehand, the assistance provided can save lives, reduce injuries and lessen the amount of property damage our neighbourhood may sustain.

Training sessions for the Jubilee Neighbourhoods will take place at Begbie Hall, from 7-9 PM, beginning on Mon. Jan, 18, 1999. There are a total of 10 2 hour sessions scheduled between January and June. Topics covered are First Aid (sessions 1-6), Personal Preparedness, Basic Search and Rescue, Damage Assessment, and Fire Extinguisher Training. All training will be provided at NO COST -- please wear comfortable clothing.

If you are interested in any or all of these sessions, I encourage you to pre-register by contacting the Victoria Emergency Program at 920-3373.

Neighbourhood Computer Access

A computer lab has been created at Sundance School with the cooperation of the Greater Victoria School District, the City of Victoria and the South Jubilee Neighbourhood Association. As a result of the neighbourhood association’s assistance, we now have the potential to make use of the computers.

Does anyone want to learn how to use the internet? Would you like access to the computers for word processing or internet surfing?

We have a neighbourhood account already set up for accessing the web. In fact, we have a South Jubilee Neighbourhood Association home page, http://www.s-jubilee.city.victoria.bc.ca/, where you can find a map of the neighbourhood, a copy of our mission statement, the most recent newsletter and newsletters past and much more.

Please contact your block rep (see list in this newsletter) if you have an interest in either learning about or using the computer lab at Sundance School.

Infill Development Proposal

A property owner in our neighbourhood is proposing what seems to be an appropriate infill development at 1745 Davie St. The proposal is to revitalize the existing house and add a second narrow house on the presently empty portion of the lot. Preliminary drawings have been shown to all the residents of that block of Davie and they apparently have no objections. Our Block Rep network will consider the proposal once final drawings are completed but if you need any further information you are invited to call the developer, Stacey Dewhurst at 370-9010.

Block Rep Bio: Tory Stevens

Tory is the Fell St. block rep. She has lived in the neighbourhood for 9 years and plans to stay on Fell Street indefinitely. She and her family moved to the neighbourhood to be near Sundance School which has been attended by all three of her daughters. Tory is a consultant in wildlife biology when she is not digging in her garden, helping Sundance with their Garry Oak Meadow restoration, being Mom, playing string quartets or walking in local wild areas with her husband, Alan Drengson, and their dog, Hazel.