PENINSULA MANAGER’S
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Saanich Pioneer Society is having a big party this Saturday at their museum, page 11
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Digging up the dirt on Reay Pond
NEWS REVIEW
Ride, captain, ride
The RCMP’s Musical Rides will be in Central Saanich this year, page 13 Watch for breaking news at www.vicnews.com
Peninsula Streams plans to sample and study the sediment in Reay Pond Steven Heywood News staff
Sediment in Reay Creek Pond outweighs the amount of water flowing through it, says Ian Bruce, and Peninsula Streams want to correct that imbalance. For the last decade, Peninsula Streams has been working with area residents, the District of North Saanich, the Victoria Airport Authority and other conservation groups to improve the health of the creek and its aquatic wildlife. An ongoing issue “With all that for the creek is the amount of sediment high-nutrient in the pond and its sediment in there, potential to do harm to the environment. it’s not a good In 2006, a disturbance of those sedisituation.” ments caused the – Ian Bruce release of excessive nutrients into the creek. Bruce, the society’s executive co-ordinator, stated that led to a massive and harmful algal bloom — something Peninsula Streams hopes to avoid in the future. The society is now proposing to remove a significant amount of sediment from the pond and have sent a letter to residents around it and downstream. It invites them to a meeting tonight (Wednesday, July 17) at 7 p.m. to discuss the condition of the pond and the society’s plans. “And, myself and Reg Kirkham plan to go door-to-door and let people know,” said Bruce, adding, “you cannot consult enough.” Please see: Water and sediment, page 10
Steven Heywood/News staff
Emma Jackson of the 1st Sidney Pathfinders successfully petitioned Sidney town council for newly-painted crosswalks on Bevan Avenue and Third Street after she and a group of Sparks completed a safety audit of local streets.
Young Pathfinder staying safe Emma Jackson asks town council for new crosswalks near the Guide Hall Steven Heywood News staff
A member of the Sidney Girl Guides is asking that the Town of Sidney consider making the streets a little safer near the community’s Scout and Guides Hall on Third Street. The town, says its mayor, is listening. Emma Jackson, 14, is a member of the 1st Sidney Pathfinders and helped con-
duct a safety audit as part of a program called Girls For Safer Communities. Run by Girl Guides of Canada, the program wants to create leaders and increase awareness of local safety concerns of women and girls. Jackson says she and a Sparks group went on a walk in the community, from the Guide Hall to the Sidney library, to see what was safe and what was not. “Everything is well maintained here,” she said. “Overall, it was pretty good.”
Jackson said Sidney does have a lot of things in place to keep pedestrians safe — including signs, crosswalks and accessible sidewalks. She added safety does come down to the actions of both pedestrians and drivers. The biggest concern to come out of the survey was a lack of crosswalks near the Scout and Guide Hall. Please see: Street safety reminder, page 4