Passive aggressive
Saanich home builders get serious about energy efficiency. Page A3
NEWS: Wi-Fi debate radiates through SD61 /A5 ARTS: Literacy lives at the Belfry Theatre /A16 SPORTS: Jr. B Cougars on the big screen /A19
SAANICHNEWS Friday, May 24, 2013
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Little support for public garden at Commonwealth Survey outcomes mixed for expanded allotment gardens Kyle Slavin News staff
Saanich may have its work cut out for itself after open houses found mixed public reaction to two proposed community allotment gardens in the municipality. The first, planned for Gorge Park, received 77.3 per cent support, according to survey results. While 116 of the 151 respondents said they supported a garden in Gorge Park, 134 respondents backed Saanich’s plan to put more allotment gardens in the municipality. The second proposed garden, currently slated for a parcel of grass behind Saanich Commonwealth Place, received far less support. Out of 340 survey respondents, 201 – or 59 per cent – opposed the location. Earlier this year, residents living near the Commonwealth plot of land expressed concern about losing part of a large field that is regularly used by sports and fitness groups to a small number of gardeners. Doug Henderson, Saanich’s director of parks and recreation, said the land, since it was donated to Saanich in 2002, was always identified as being transformed into something other than a grass field. “Certainly, we can be optimistic about the Gorge Park proposal,” said Mayor Frank Leonard, acknowledging the garden proposals will have to come through advisory committee and committee of the whole meetings. “Maybe there’s a compromise at Royal Oak, I don’t know. But it’s either no or compromise – I don’t think (a community garden is) going to fly there the way it is now.” kslavin@saanichnews.com
Kyle Slavin/News staff
Saanich deputy fire chief Frank Macdonald and his golden lab ‘Casey’ show off a newly acquired animal oxygen mask the department was gifted this week, courtesy of Canine Benefactors society.
Pets in Saanich now a little safer Charity group donates animal oxygen masks to Saanich FD Kyle Slavin News staff
Saving the lives of every member of the family got a little easier this week for Saanich firefighters, who were given sets of oxygen masks designed to help resuscitate Fido and Fluffy. The six oxygen masks fit over the snout, nose or beak of pets of all sizes, and can
be hooked up to an oxygen tank like a mask designed for humans. “Over the years we have come across dogs, cats, birds, after a house fire, and we’ve tried to utilize equipment that’s designed for people to help resuscitate the animals,” said deputy fire chief Frank Macdonald. “This gives us the ability to provide a higher level of care to any animal that we come across.” Glenn Sergius, president of Canine Benefactors Society, which gifted the oxygen masks, says the devices are identical to the ones used by veterinarians when an animal goes in for surgery. “Our organization tries to raise money
to buy these veterinary oxygen masks and we hope to be able to equip all fire and rescue departments, so they can use them to rescue all animals: dogs, cats, birds, snakes, gerbils.” Even before putting the masks into practice, Macdonald said the department will buy another couple sets, as they will be a valuable tool on the job. Saanich is believed to be the first fire department in Greater Victoria to be using the animal oxygen masks. For more information on Canine Benefactors or to donate to their cause, visit caninebenefactors.com. kslavin@saanichnews.com
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