A Brighter Sunrise

By Doreen Marion Gee
Photos by Doreen Marion Gee

Fisherman's Wharf defines the glorious James Bay experience. It is enticing, beautiful, eccentric, and full of that community spirit and activism that has always put us on the map. Gazing at the luscious blue waves and the miniature village of arcane water-borne homes, I feel happy that a unique way of life has been preserved. The tenacity of those gutsy float home owners combined with the reasonable perspective of a new CEO has led to an agreement that secures everyone's future. It is a 'win-win' all around.

The mood of the float home owners at Fisherman's Wharf is exuberant and joyful. They are gushing over a new agreement with the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority that gives them security of tenure and a positive future at the harbour's edge. Huge unregulated moorage rate increases were threatening the future of the float home community. But they found a solution and well-deserved respect from Curtis Grad, the new CEO of the GVHA.

After a series of talks between the float home owners and the GVHA, brand new agreements between parties were signed in December 2011. Here are a few of the highlights: Licenses for the use of a location within the Float Home Community will be three years instead of one; GVHA will implement rent controls on the moorage fees, which will be increased by a fixed amount of two percent per year effective on the first and second anniversary dates of the License term and implement a fair market adjustment on the third; parking stall charges will be included within the monthly

"Services and Facilities Fee," saving each owner a huge extra cost per month; and GVHA will try to get direct postal service to float home owners. A critical part of this new relationship is a mandatory Dispute Resolution Process, which encourages all stake holders to work things out instead of resorting to the courts.

"We are very relieved!" This sentiment by resident Kim Young echoes around the float home members. "Now we can relax and stay here as long as we choose to and have a good relationship with the GVHA. We feel respected and heard by Curtis Grad. He recognizes that these are our homes and this is our neighbourhood."

Curtis Grad knows the importance of the little floating community. "The float home community contributes to the character of Fisherman's Wharf and its unique sense of place, attracting local residents and visitors alike. This in turn supports business and commercial operations." He says that careful consideration went into his decision to negotiate with residents. "Many people in and around the harbour recognize the value of the float home community to Fisherman's Wharf and the City of Victoria. As a newcomer to the scene, I took a fresh look at the situation and felt there was an opportunity to bring the parties back to the table. Ultimately, we found that our positions weren't that far apart."

In this happy ending, everybody comes out a winner. As the sun rises on Fisherman's Wharf, all parties are basking in a vision for the harbour that values and includes every stakeholder. It is amazing what a little bit of respect can do.