VICTORIANEWS Seafaring trip
Victoria seniors head to Alaska by kayak Page A3 Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Chinese Cuisine Take Out, Eat In, and Delivery Open from 11 am - 10 pm Daily 90 Gorge Rd. W
250-385-5564 Proudly serving Esquimalt & Victoria
www.vicnews.com
New boss shakes up City Hall Jason Johnson seeks more accountability, co-operation from city staff Daniel Palmer News staff
Sean Roper/News intern
Mighty throw E’cole Victor-Brodeur school student Sarah Boukhoualt gives it everything thing she’s got in the discus throw at the Island High School Track and Field Championships held at the University of Victoria’s Centennial Stadium last week. For more photos, turn to page A12.
KEY TREEWELCOME TO SPRING!
UB
the
MONKEY TREE
PUB
KEY TREE
UB
RESTAURANT
NEWS: VicPD officers earn Tour de Rock spots /A4 COMMUNITY: Hospital campaign targets kids /A5 ARTS: Comic shop artist takes on bullying /A11
e
e
WING’S
Serving Victoria Since 1986
mon. BURGER BEER 2 APPIES
tues.
45¢
WINGS Minimum 10 12 Flavours
4025 Borden St. at Mckenzie | 250.727.3550 | www.MonkeyTreePub.ca
Jason Johnson jogs from his Vic West home along the Songhees Walkway and Inner Harbour each morning before heading to work. He likes to count the number of cyclists and fellow runners he sees along the way, but often gives up at the overwhelming tally. As city manager at the City of Victoria, Johnson has spent the past three months shepherding a bureaucracy of nearly 1,000 staff – including 50 managers – in 10 different departments. In a short period of time, the youthful Johnson has already began to demand more collaboration and planning between city departments. The looming replacement of Fire Hall No. 1, for example, already has a core team in place with staff from finance, fire, engineering and communications working together at an early stage.
“Jason insists on a highly performing staff and high performing managers,� said West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater, who spent six years working with Johnson to build that municipality from the ground up. Findlater said Johnson was one of his first hires after the various districts chose to incorporate in 2007, and he credits his Johnson former chief administrative officer with building and maintaining a lean department of only 150 staff. “Victoria would be well advised to let Jason do the operational work, give him a free hand and he’ll create an organization that people will be very pleased with,� Findlater said. Coun. Lisa Helps said she’s pleased to see Johnson applying fresh perspective to how city hall conducts its business, and said hiring Johnson was the best decision made by council since she was first elected in 2008. PlEASE SEE: City manager, Page A2
WEEKLY FOOD SPECIALS
wed.
2 WING ORDERS
thurs.
5
$
CAB COUPON
za! Pizzaz! zPaiz! Pi
The Monkey Tree is working with Yellow Cab... spend $30 or more and receive a $5 coupon for a cab ride home
fri.
RIBS 2 APPIES
sat.
BRUNCH
Until 2 pm SLIDERS
– OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK – Liquor Store 9 am - 11 pm Pub 11 am - 12:30 am, 364 days a year
sun.
BRUNCH
Until 2 pm 2FOR1 FISH & CHIPS
PRIME RIB DINNER