Dr. Seuss returns
Health centre for kids gets back beloved long lost book Page A3
COMMUNITY: Dad-in-a-box for Father’s Day /A5 ARTS: A vexing marathon session on the piano /A10 SPORTS: Triathalon weekend at Elk Lake /A19
SAANICHNEWS Friday, June 14, 2013
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Victoria job market expected to improve Daniel Palmer News staff
A new survey suggests more than a quarter of Greater Victoria employers plan to hire more staff this summer, largely thanks to an upswing in the construction and tourism sectors. The Manpower employment outlook survey found 27 per cent of surveyed employers in the region plan to hire in the upcoming quarter (from July to September), while only three per cent of employers are planning cutbacks. Removing seasonal hiring data, the survey shows an 11 per cent increase in planned hiring from the same time in 2012, said Jeff Polkinghorne, Manpower spokesman. The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce is tracking a similar trend, said chief executive officer Bruce Carter. “We’re certainly seeing increased activity, really, across all sectors,” he said. Tech manufacturing, knowledge-based service providers and the marine sectors have never been stronger in Victoria, Carter said. “The anecdotal evidence I’m hearing is there’s a lot more U.S. cash in the local system, which would indicate there are more U.S. tourists returning, and that there’s more disposable income from those tourists.” dpalmer@vicnews.com
Jillian McCue, 9, is surrounded by a curious herd of pygmy goats at the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm. McCue is championing a bylaw change in Saanich to allow small goats on residential properties. Kyle Slavin/News staff
Animal advocate goes for the goat Grade 4 student organizes lobby effort to allow goats in residential Saanich Kyle Slavin News staff
Residents in suburban Saanich can raise chickens on their property, and in one case, even cattle. A nine-year-old girl is petitioning the municipality to add goats to the list of allowable residential farm animals. Jillian McCue says there are a slew of benefits to owning a goat – something she hopes to be able to do at her Gordon Head home in the near future, if she can garner support from Saanich. “One of the reasons is they eat grass, so the
air- and sound-polluting lawn mowers wouldn’t have to be used as frequently. “Also goats aren’t too noisy if you give them enough attention, and their manure is a great garden fertilizer, and it isn’t too smelly,” she said. “Also they give milk.” The Grade 4 student at Hillcrest elementary has collected 132 signatures from neighbours supporting her initiative, and mailed it, along with an information package, to municipal hall last week. “I’m very impressed with what she’s doing. She’s quite passionate about this, and she’s done a great job” said Rich McCue, her dad. Currently Saanich’s animals bylaw, as it relates to goats on residential properties, allows for a maximum of two goats on a parcel of land with an area of at least 1.6 acres. Coun. Dean Murdock, who helped champion
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a bylaw change to allow backyard chickens in Saanich, commended McCue for her endeavour. “We know there is a move toward local food production and people growing their own veggies and raising their own chickens. That’s a concept that Saanich supports, and we want to advocate for solutions and initiatives that encourage food security and promote local food production,” Murdock said. “I think chickens was a good step forward. Goats takes that to the next level.” Even before council makes a decision, if backyard goats are something it or a committee wanted to consider, staff would explore the concept and would need to get input from Saanich residents.
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