Smoke and ...

James Bay Neighbourhood Association

An on-going feature on land use & planning - to alert, inform, and prompt community action - and to celebrate success!

City of Victoria Fire Chief Jeff Lambert gave a presentation to a small but interested group of James Bay residents at the September 2013 meeting of the James Bay Neighbourhood Association (JBNA). As well as a brief history of his 32 year record of public service on the East and West Coasts of Canada, Chief Lambert talked about the history of Victoria's emergency management, recognized as the oldest west of Toronto and north of San Francisco, with continuous community service since 1858.

Currently a staff of 123 personnel provide fire, rescue and emergency services from three fire stations in Victoria, responding to approximately 6,000 calls per year. Seventeen fire-fighters per shift (four per engine) allow the fire department to claim first responder status for 60% of the calls they receive, while maintaining readiness for other emergencies.

The Department also maintains and operates a state-of-the-art fireboat, The Protector, which provides protection and rescue services to the Inner Harbour and adjoining waterways, and to properties along the water's edge. Your 9-1-1 call should clarify if responding rescue equipment should be land or water-based.

Lambert discussed Fire Safety and the importance of a working smoke alarm in every residence. As participants in a province-wide program launched in 2012, the department offers a home visit from a Fire Prevention Officer and a free smoke alarm to Victoria residents who require them. He estimates that 32 lives have been saved since the program was implemented, a decrease in the death rate of 74%. Lambert's next project is carbon monoxide detectors in every home.

In his January 2013 presentation, Victoria Police Chief Constable Jamie Graham made the case that a region-wide police force would allow for the realization of economies in staffing and equipment. While recognizing a region-wide police force as the ultimate goal, Graham felt that the business case for a regional communications centre as an interim regional solution already exists. Lambert did not discuss regional issues.

The group Amalgamation Yes notes that Victoria's is one 'of at least 17 separate Fire Departments serving the residents of the Capital Regional District. Fire Hall response areas are determined by municipal boundaries, rather than proximity. An amalgamated model would ensure that every property would be served by the nearest fire hall rather than the nearest hall in their respective municipalities.'

Amalgamation Yes notes that Greater Victoria 'has no central emergency service coordination centre in spite of being in an earthquake zone. There are six (6) separate 9-1-1/emergency services dispatch centres (3 for fire, 3 for police) as well as numerous temporary Emergency Operations Centres located in different municipalities. A common 9-1-1 & Dispatch Centre would provide more effective coordination of resources on a daily basis.'

RBCM

Angela Williams, Chief Operating Officer, Museum Operations attended the JBNA meeting to advise that the Royal British Columbia Museum (RBCM) will be applying soon for a change to its liquor license.

The museum has provided facilities rental and event management for the last 15 years. In addition to private functions such as small dinner parties, and gala events such as exhibition openings, a significant number of gallery rentals are associated with conferences held at the Victoria Conference Centre, where the RBCM functions as a special evening event for conference attendees. A team of staff and contracted service providers host over 25,000 guests per year in a program which earns approximately $200,000/year.

An increase to the current liquor license capacity (to areas such as the glass lobby, Newcombe Conference Hall wing, the escalator landing spaces and some outside areas) will allow the RBCM to host separate private/corporate events in more than one area on the same evening.

Beacon Hill Park

Councillor Chris Coleman advised that Council had received approximately 1500 comments in response to the temporary re-routing and road closures that occurred approximately one year ago in Beacon Hill Park. He anticipates that Council will make a decision regarding the permanence of these changes late in October 2013.

GVHA

Mike Graham of the GVHA reported that the roof of the E&N Railway Station (demolished to make way for the new Johnson Street Bridge) had been salvaged and transported to Ogden Point, where it will be used for a new visitors shelter on the wharf.

Join Us

at 7pm on Wednesday, October 9^th, 2013 at James Bay New Horizons, 234 Menzies Street for a joint presentation on a project involving Dallas Road by the City of Victoria and the CRD. There will also be a presentation and lively discussion on the Conflicting Interests of Marine and Air Traffic in Victoria Harbour.