Victoria News, January 31, 2014

Safety check

Deadly Quebec fire moves local senior homes to action Page A3

NEWS: Teachers ruling appeal mulled by province /A6 ARTS: Celebrating 25 years as Buddy Holly /A7 SPORTS: Skaters speed to medal finishes /A18

VICTORIANEWS Friday, January 31, 2014

Proudly serving Esquimalt & Victoria

News staff

Downtown sidewalks are feeling a little less cluttered lately, as dozens of sandwich boards advertising local businesses have quietly been disappearing. The City of Victoria’s portable sign bylaw came into effect Jan. 16, requiring businesses to pay $165 – which will drop to $135 in subsequent years – for an annual permit to use city space for advertising purposes. “Up until this year, portable signs were actually prohibited in the City of Victoria,” Mayor Dean Fortin said. As in most cities, bylaw enforcement in Victoria operates on a complaint-driven basis, meaning each infraction requires a written complaint to city hall before a business is fined. “So rather than enforcing and getting rid of them all, we wanted to create a fair and level playing field for all interests,” Fortin said. Biagio Woodward, owner of Cherry Bomb Toys on Broad Street, said he’s frustrated that a few aggressive businesses upset an otherwise non-intrusive advertising practice. “We’ve been putting a sandwich board out for the past four-and-ahalf years, never had a problem,” he said. “Of course you need to police it, but if it snows, I’m the one responsible for cleaning the sidewalk. If I want to put a sign there, why do I have to pay for it?” Woodward said he’ll likely install a larger sign on the side of his building rather than paying to put out a

New Kawai & Heintzman Pianos 2328 Government Street

250.384.3935

Historic courthouse marking 125th birthday

Clarified bylaw leaves some business owners upset with city’s annual sign fee sandwich board. “I’d rather pay once than keep paying annually,” he said. The City of Vancouver has strict regulations on the placement and size of sandwich boards, but unlike Victoria, there’s no fee for permits. That’s an idea that appeals to Mark Besner, manager of One Tooth Fitwear, 1006 Broad St. “I understand the rules, but if you’re allowed one sign, it should be free if it’s in front of your business. If you want additional signs up on Government Street, then those should cost you,” he said. As it stands, businesses on Broad Street between Broughton and Fort streets are effectively prohibited from using sandwich boards, as the sidewalk is too narrow under the new bylaw. “This sidewalk is a mess. It’s cracked and there are asphalt fills where people have tripped,” Besner said. “The city should fix this street, first of all, before worrying about signs in the way.” The city has issued 37 portable sign permits so far with another five permit applications pending, but Fortin anticipates more applications as bylaw officers spread the word. “Hopefully we’ve hit the sweet spot where we’re able to help facilitate trade and industry downtown while recognizing that if not regulated well, there will be mobility issues,” he said. “There’s always opportunity for change as we implement the system. We’re still open to feedback.” See more about the signage rules at victoria.ca/portablesigns. dpalmer@vicnews.com

Sales • Service Restoration • Tuning

www.vicnews.com

Sandwich board shuffle leaves sidewalks clear Daniel Palmer

Give the Gift of Music

Sharon Tiffin/News staff

Biagio Woodward, owner of Cherry Bomb Toys stands in mock confusion about the status of his sandwich board sign, which usually sits on the sidewalk outside his store on Broad Street. The City of Victoria, which wasn’t enforcing its no-sign bylaw, this month began charging a fee for the right to put sidewalk signs out.

Focus on family.

It’s been 125 years since B.C. Lt.-Gov. Hugh Nelson cut the ribbon on Victoria’s shining new courthouse in Bastion Square. Surrounded by Victoria’s elite, Chief Justice Matthew Baillie Begbie – B.C.’s first supreme court judge remembered best for his propensity for hanging – made a speech comparing the building’s splendour to his open-air court proceedings during the Crown colony’s early days. And while much has changed since 1889, the former courthouse, inside the Maritime Museum of B.C., is the site of a celebration tomorrow (Feb. 1) to mark the historic anniversary. “Being a National Historic Site, the building is part of who we are as British Columbians,” said Jonathan Irwin, the museum’s executive director. The courthouse was B.C.’s first major public building constructed after confederation in 1871. To mark the occasion, the Maritime Museum is offering $1.25 admission and free cupcakes to the first 125 visitors on Saturday. Doors open at 10 a.m., and tours focusing on the history of the courthouse take place at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. dpalmer@vicnews.com

Did you know our Annual Family Pass offers over 80 hours of swimming each week and skating every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday for less than $2/day? Visit us at 527 Fraser Street or www.esquimalt.ca. Ask reception for details.

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook