Bike To Work Week

Bike To Work Week was May 11-17th and Esquimalt really got "cranked up" for this event. I have yet to see the numbers...but I know that our staff and community really got behind this initiative! My thanks for the great celebration station complete with free coffee and bagels!

Free Fruit Trees!

Here is a press release from the Township of Esquimalt website. www.esquimalt.ca Don't forget to sign up for your email updates!

Fruit Trees Available for Esquimalt Residents
April 1, 2009

Esquimalt Eats for Health is a municipal nutrition strategy and food security project with a mission to change the current food environment in the community. Limited quantities of apple, cherry and pear trees will be made available at no cost for Esquimalt residents through a fruit tree distribution initiative funded by the Union of BC Municipalities. Residents interested in a tree must submit an application. Application forms are available online at www.esquimalt.ca or at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre. Local not-for-profit agencies are also invited to submit applications.

Mayor Barbra Desjardins hopes that this initiative further develops the sense of community in the Township and increases access to nutritional foods such as fresh fruit for many residents. “It would be great if those with trees bearing extra fruit share with other residents.” Desjardins noted. Recipients of trees will be chosen on a first come, first served basis – providing all pre-requisites (on the application) are met. Applications will be accepted until Sunday, April 12.

Esquimalt Eats for Health is being coordinated by the Esquimalt Parks and Recreation Department. Other project initiatives include introducing healthier options through food services, free nutrition workshops and special events celebrating local, sustainable foods.

For more information please contact:
Christina Moog, Aquatic and Fitness Coordinator
Project Leader, Esquimalt Eats for Health
Tel: 250-412-8501

Signs of the Times

Andy, my amazing husband, has been driving around Esquimalt trying to pick up all my signs. We think he got most of them, but if we missed one please let us know!

A lot of my signs were already picked up before Andy could there. As I suspected, the greenest guy in Esquimalt has been picking them up, taking them apart and getting them ready for recycling or reuse. These photos are from his driveway.

Fortunately for me, he's too busy working on this project to read this blog. If he found out that I was calling him thoughtful, kind and environmentally friendly he'd probably tell me off during the public input session at my first Council meeting. I'm personally hoping to stay in his good books - at least until I get a few meetings under my belt...

Focus Magazine November 2008

In September, I was asked to submit my vision of a "dream city" in 150 words or less. I was excited....but terrified. I can't say ANYTHING in 150 words!

I started writing and at least 10 thousands words came out. With some cutting and snipping I arrived at something just under 150.

This month, Focus published it. Here is what I submitted:

My "Dream City"

People of all ages are active and engaged citizens. Committees and commissions never lack for volunteers. The work is valued, respected and meaningful. Public consultation is frequent. Voter turnout is over 70%.
Development reflects the diverse cultures and values of the community.

Small businesses are places of lively conversation. They prosper.

Sports facilities, schools and parks are focal points. They foster connections and life long friendships. They are never considered “surplus to need.”

Music and the arts are affordable and accessible for everyone.

Public Transit, walking and cycling are the most popular options for travel. Residential streets host more road hockey than traffic.

Local food is abundant. All children have the opportunity to tend the soil.

Local newsletters welcome newcomers. The stories of our history and the possibilities of our future are shared.

We have more than a sustainable city. We do more than just sustain. We thrive.

Sign Sign Everywhere a Sign....

My wonderful husband has been driving all over Esquimalt this week putting up my election signs! I think that they look great! Boualay has created another gorgeous design. I am so lucky to have such talented people on Team Ali.

One of the things that I love best about my signs is that they are recycled. I hate to see all the coroplast from political signs head to the landfill after each election. I'm also operating from a tight budget. Recycling makes good environmental and good fiscal sense. Unfortunately, it can be a real challenge. I had to call a lot of places before I found one that would screen print on the back of old signs. Cheers to CREST for agreeing to do it and doing a really nice job.

In addition to that, each sign is a little unique. The lovely design stays the same but the wooden stakes are all bits of wood previously used on other projects. I am very fortunate that a really kind neighbour volunteered to put the signs together with wood he salvaged.

If you'd like one of these for your home please let me know! I'll send Andy over!

Esquimalt Website Improvement

I just came back from Municipal Hall and I have some good news. It looks like I won't have to stop by there on Friday afternoons anymore. The Agenda packages are available online! Check out: www.esquimalt.ca Sometimes these packages are more than 200 pages long...so this is a really positive way for the township to reduce paper as well.

Thanks to our Esquimalt staff who worked hard to make this happen!

Plastic Bags

The CRD has launched another "take the pledge" campaign. This time they are encouraging people to use cloth bags instead of plastic. They are even handing out free ones! Check out this link: http://www.crd.bc.ca/takethepledge/plasticbags/ or go down to the Esquimalt Municipal Hall. I just picked out a bright orange bag for participating!

Taking the Bus to Shoreline

I just received an email from a very happy Esquimalt parent whose child goes to Shoreline middle school. Apparently the new BC transit schedule makes it possible for Esquimalt kids to take the bus!

In Esquimalt, students who are in the French Immersion program attend Macaulay for elementary and then go to Shoreline for middle school. Unfortunately, the bus schedule has traditionally given the students two options: arrive for school an hour early or ten minutes late. Neither option is feasible so parents have been driving their kids. It is a long way to walk in the morning and the bike routes aren't really "kid friendly".

Many parents have been strong advocates for a better bus schedule over the last year. They have written letters, appeared before Esquimalt Council, the School Board and the Transit Commission. They have worked very hard. I'm so thrilled that their efforts have finally been rewarded! Families finally have a way of getting to school on time without driving the car.

Many thanks to all the parents and to BC transit for changing the schedule!

City of North Vancouver Website

The City of North Vancouver issued a press release today about a new addition to their website. They have added a large section to inform and connect residents with current sustainability initiatives. I checked it out at: www.cnv.org/Sustainability. It is a nice resource and it directly links to all the other City of North Vancouver information.

I love some of the ways North Vancouver has made Council meetings accessible to the public. Minutes and Agendas are not only available online, they are available by email subscription. You can sign up to have the info delivered right to your laptop, cellphone or computer each week. Minutes online are archived all the way back to 1907! In addition to that, Monday night Council meetings are available to watch on live streaming video. The video is then archived and available to watch on the website the very next day.

At this time in my life, I am fortunate to work part-time with a fairly flexible schedule. If I want to attend a meeting, I can arrange that. However, a few years ago, I worked the afternoon shift. I could never attend a meeting unless I booked a vacation day to do it. I would have really appreciated the option of watching the video the next day!

The website also includes a short, but thoughtful, paragraph on "Matters of Protocol" for people wishing to give public input or speak as a delegation to Council. I think this is valuable. I know that I felt very nervous speaking in front of Council for the first time and I certainly didn't know to call the Mayor "Your Worship". I think that this kind of info encourages good public engagement.

I'm very impressed with North Vancouver's website!