Goodbye to the old leaning Garry Oak

COMMUNITY EVENTS

🌿 No Ivy League: Ivy removal in Uplands Park will take place on Sundays in April and May from 1-3pm. Meet at the Dorset/Lincoln entrance off Beach Drive. All tools, gloves and instructions will be provided—including refreshments at the end. [Friends of Uplands Park]

👨‍🎨 Spring Oak Bay Artists' Studio Tour is taking place Saturday, April 6 at 10am and ends Sunday, April 7 at 4pm at the Monterey Recreation Centre and private artists’ home studios.

🏊🏼‍♀️ Oak Bay’s new Spring/Summer Active Living Guide is now online for viewing as of April 3. Registration for general programming will open at 6:30am on Wednesday, April 10. Registration for summer camps will begin April 17.

COMMUNITY NEWS

🏞 Oak Bay bids farewell to 200-year-old beloved leaning Garry Oak. Dozens gathered on Monday this week, leaving notes and other messages, saying goodbye to the iconic tree, which was removed on Wednesday. Some are hoping the district will replace the tree with something equally sentimental. [Times Colonist]

🌊 BC whale research group turns to AI to find an orphaned orca calf’s family. The group has opened up its AI photo database to local wildlife photographers and touring companies to help track the location of its pod. The tides have been too low for the orca to swim out of the lagoon where its mother died, but if its pod can be located rescuers may attempt to lift it into a sling. [The Canadian Press]

☀️ Emerson, the moulting Elephant seal who Oak Bay residents may remember from last year, is now moulting in Saanich. Despite DFO efforts to relocate the animal, he seems to prefer busy human areas, and conservation officers are again reminding pet owners and the general public to keep a safe distance. [CHEK]

🚓 Oak Bay Police received a complaint about cyclists from one driver who was not able to pass them while they were riding side-by-side. The complaint was among 75 calls for service this week, which prompted a warning, saying cyclists failing to ride single file could receive a $109 fine. [Oak Bay Police]

💰 The Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) program offers up to $500 for people to lead a project in their neighbourhood, like a multicultural event, block party, community garden or skill-sharing workshop. Apply today!*

*Sponsored Listing

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Animal control in Oak Bay to be discussed at Oak Bay Council meeting

An Oak Bay local started a petition this week after their beloved 10-year-old cat, Lili, was attacked and killed by two dogs whose owner was not able to control them. Due to several witnesses, the owner of the dogs was tracked down after the incident by Victoria Animal Control Services (VACS) who later told the owner of the cat that there was nothing they could do, because the cat supposedly started the fight, which is in dispute. The original poster (OP) and several commenters were assuming that the owners of the dogs (who fled the scene) would have been required to muzzle the dogs if they are not under control, in order to prevent further attacks.

There have been several dog attacks in the community recently, and many believe VACS should be doing more to prevent them from occurring. The issue will be discussed at a council meeting at City Hall on Monday evening at 7pm, where the intent is that the contract with VACS will be renewed for another five years. The OP is hoping anyone who is against this contract being renewed will attend the meeting and speak up.

More popular posts

Is an unpainted crosswalk still a crosswalk?

Sidewalks and crosswalks have been a hot topic of discussion on Oak Bay Local lately, and one community member wondered whether some faint lines on the road at Cranmore Road and Christie Way were what remains of a legitimate crosswalk. There are still signs of walking children, but the markings had pretty much disappeared and the surface of the road was disintegrated. While it was confirmed that whether it is marked or not, on the road, the crosswalk in question is definitely legal, others said it seems like it’s time for Oak Bay to do some more road painting.

Are you concerned about unpainted crosswalks in the community?

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IN OTHER NEWS

Oak Bay Local survey respondents feel sidewalks should be prioritized

Oak Bay locals had been discussing how sidewalks had been left out of the often polarizing discussions around active transportation planning in the community. We conducted a poll in last week’s newsletter in an effort to gauge whether this sentiment was more widespread. We received 181 responses where 73 of the respondents said that there are many sidewalks in terrible shape, and they should be prioritized alongside plans to build out and connect the bike network. An additional 71 votes said that there are areas that should definitely be repaired, while 28 said that they see no issues.

There were a number of additional comments that rolled in, including many people that find the current sidewalks are too narrow and sloping, which poses risks, particularly to elderly individuals. Others complained about overhanging plants that also pose tripping hazards for Oak Bay walkers.

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