Gung hay fat choy Chinese New Year slithers into Greater Victoria Page A3
NEWS: Family Day not all it’s cracked up to be /A4 ARTS: Swingin’ good time promised for Sunday /A11 SPORTS: Competitive pool party comes to UVic /A13
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Esquimalt Legion project hits snag But delay no major stumbling block Daniel Palmer News staff
Sharon Tiffin/News
Members of a committee that assembled the first Street Survival Guide check out the finished product Tuesday at the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness office on Pandora Avenue. Seated from left are Nate Moss, Coalition social inclusion co-ordinator Hannah Rabinovitch and David Small; standing are Doug Fraser, left, Jerry M. and Diane Clarke.
Street life made a little easier Victoria’s first Street Survival Guide unveiled Daniel Palmer News staff
When Jerry M. was evicted from a recovery house in the early months of 2010, he had only three thoughts on his mind: food, shelter and storage. “I had to then start tapping into where I was going to sleep for the day, where I could eat,” he said. “The only thing that was available were the places to get food and that was it. That’s all I could access easily.”
He’s since found his way back from surviving on the streets of Victoria, but many of those hard-learned lessons and services discovered through word-of-mouth are now being put to good use. On Thursday, Jerry and his colleagues unveiled Victoria’s first Street Survival Guide, a single resource for the plethora of services available to the estimated 1,600 homeless people in the region. “We put together a team of people who were homeless at some point or currently homeless, and they laid out the guide,” said Andrew Wynn-Williams, executive director of the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness. “It has been designed by those on the
street, for those on the street.” The guide is the result of six months of weekly meetings between the 10-person team. It breaks down the availability of shelters, meal service and even hygienic services such as haircuts and foot care around the downtown core. “Showers, Internet and access to phones are a little further along (in the guide),” Jerry said. The booklet also includes a walking map and operating hours for each service, as well as legal information on police authority and camping. PLEASE SEE: Resources spelled out, Page A4
The long-awaited redevelopment of Esquimalt’s Royal Canadian Legion building hit one more speed bump in its quest for redevelopment. Councillors delayed approving the development permits this week to allow the To w n s h i p ’s legal team to weigh in on the unique project at 622 Admirals Rd. “This is a Desjardins very unique situation in terms of amenity bylaws. This is a first for Esquimalt,” said Mayor Barb Desjardins. If approved, the project will include a mix of independent living seniors condos, commercial space and a rebuilt Legion. “It should be back on the docket on (Feb. 18),” said Coun. Meagan Brame. “Staff weren’t quite comfortable with all the wording and they’re doing their due diligence.” Once council approves the permits, the proposed development will still be subject to a formal public input process. dpalmer@vicnews.com
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