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Going to the dogs
City councillor goes to the dogs for special fundraiser Page A3
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Boys of winter return Team Senators, and Victoria Royals veteran Brandon Magee yells at a teammate from the bench during training camp scrimmage action at the Save on Foods Memorial Centre. For more on the Royals’ training camp, please turn to Page A7. Don Denton/News staff
Farmers issue challenge to civic candidates Municipal Farm Challenge asks local candidates to pledge protection for ALR
Daniel Palmer News staff
One of the region’s most prominent farmers is throwing down the gauntlet to Capital Region municipal candidates by asking them to publicly pledge to protect farmland. Nathalie Chambers, who runs the 11-hectare Madrona Farm on Blenkinsop Road with her husband, will host the first Municipal Farmland Challenge to coincide with the
farm’s annual Chef Survival Challenge on Sept. 7. “We’re inviting all councillors who have a good record of protecting farmland as well as new candidates to take part,” Chambers says. Once at Madrona, the friendly competition will see politicians turn soil and plant a row of crops. After a winner is declared, each participant will pledge support on video for the protection of the Capital Region’s supply of arable land.
“Saanich is so good with protecting farmland, but many municipalities aren’t,” Chambers says. “We’re some of the highest food bank users in B.C. Our failure of food security is right here in our backyard.” Central Saanich Coun. Zeb King is already firmly behind the pledge event. He said the province is weakening the Agricultural Land Reserve, and that means active farmland protection is even more crucial in urban areas.
Tastes so Gouda!
King said municipal land use bylaws and other local authority can “determine whether or not urban sprawl will be allowed to intrude further into our region’s finest and most fertile arable land.” Chambers hopes all the region’s mayors sign up for the event. Sign up for the event as a candidate or simply as a foodie on the Chef Survival Challenge website at chefsurvivalchallenge.ca.
Gouda Cheese
with a smoky flavour
Caramelized Onions
in a sweet sauce
Dijon Aioli,
a tangy mayo
editor@saanichnews.com