Mount Tolmie Community Association

04/18/2026

*Shelbourne Valley Plan*

Dear Mount Tolmie neighbours,

The Shelbourne Valley Plan will be considered at a public hearing on Tuesday April 28 2026. The agenda item reads as follows:

OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN BYLAW, 2023, AMENDMENT BYLAW, 2026, NO. 10280 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SHELBOURNE VALLEY PLAN The intent of this proposed Official Community Plan (OCP) Bylaw Amendment is to incorporate the updated Shelbourne Valley Plan (SVP) and update the OCP land use framework to align with the SVP. The bylaw amendment also includes administrative amendments to reflect revised mapping, numbering and formatting.

Please see the notice from Saanich below for details about the meeting and how to participate.

Sincerely,
Susan Hamilton, President

FROM SAANICH

This email is the official notification that Saanich Council will consider the Shelbourne Valley Plan at a Public Hearing to be held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Council Chambers, Saanich Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue, commencing at 6:30 p.m.

To speak at the meeting, you may register to speak in person or via video on MS Teams. Please register by:
• Emailing the meeting date, agenda item you wish to speak to, and your phone number to [email protected]; or
• By calling 250-475-5501 and specifying which meeting date and agenda item you wish to speak to.

Deadline for registration is 12:00 p.m., noon, on the day of the meeting. An opportunity to speak during the meeting will be available, please watch the webstream for details. All meetings are streamed live on Saanich.ca

Instructions will be emailed to all registrants on the afternoon of the meeting.

Written correspondence received up to 12:00 p.m., noon, on the day of the meeting will be copied to Council for their consideration. All correspondence submitted will form part of the public record and may be published in a meeting agenda.
• Send your comments to Council by emailing [email protected]
• Mail your comments by post to Legislative Services, District of Saanich, 770 Vernon Avenue, Victoria, BC V8X 2W7.
• Leave your written comments in the dropbox by the main door at Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue.

The agenda package is available online at Saanich.ca/agenda https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/mayor-council/schedule-agendas-minutes.html

�If, after viewing the agenda, you have any questions concerning the report's contents, please contact the Planning Department at 250-475-5471. If you have any questions concerning meeting procedures, please contact the Legislative Services Division at 250-475-5501 or by email at [email protected] .

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1353415330146068&set=pb.100064328426728.-2207520000

04/09/2026

Active Transportation Planning Report card

Dear Mount Tolmie neighbours,

Those of you interested in Saanich's transportation planning, including safety improvements, may be interested in its release of its Active Transportation Planning Report card, which tracks progress and highlights key changes.

Details are below.

Sincerely,
Susan Hamilton, President
MTCA

FROM SAANICH:

Hello everyone,

We’ve just published the 2025 ATP Report Card,
which tracks our progress and highlights key changes in how people move around Saanich, as well as safety improvements. You’ll also notice something new this year: our first-ever Transportation Project Completion Report. This new report is part of our commitment to transparency and improved communication. It gives a detailed look at the active transportation projects we’ve completed over the past year, so you can see exactly how we’re putting the plan into action.

We heard from many of you that clearer reporting and more frequent updates would be helpful. These new reports are a direct response to that feedback, and we hope they make it easier for you to follow along with our work and share updates with your own communities.

https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Community/Documents/Engineering/ATP Report Card 2025 Final.pdf
https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Community/Documents/Engineering/2025 Transportation Project Completion Report-Final.pdf

A few highlights from this year:

• Major safety upgrades on several key cycling and walking routes
• Progress toward Vision Zero and the Safe Systems Approach to road safety
• Continued work toward achieving the goals of our Active Transportation Plan, Official Community Plan, and Climate Action Plan

You can view both the 2025 ATP Report Card and the new Transportation Project Completion Report on our website: https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/getting-around/active-transportation-plan.html

https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/getting-around/active-transportation-plan.html

Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping us shape a safer, more accessible, and more sustainable Saanich. If you have any questions or want to discuss these updates further, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Sincerely,

Althea Divinagracia

Community Engagement Specialist
Transportation and Development Services Division�Engineering Department�District of Saanich�3500 Blanshard Street
Victoria BC V8X 1W3

672-922-2252
[email protected]
www.saanich.ca

We are committed to celebrating the rich diversity of people in our community. We are guided by the principle that embracing diversity enriches the lives of all people. We all share the responsibility for creating an equitable and inclusive community and for addressing discrimination in all forms.

04/07/2026

Quadra McKenzie Plan

Dear Mount Tolmie neighbours,

The Quadra McKenzie Plan will be considered at Saanich Council on Monday April 13, at 6:30pm. Please see the details below.

Sincerely,
Susan Hamilton, President
MTCA

This email is notification that Saanich Council will consider the Proposed Quadra McKenzie Plan at a Council meeting to be held on Monday, April 13, 2026, in Council Chambers, Saanich Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue, commencing at 6:30 p.m.

To speak at the meeting, you may register to speak in person or via video on MS Teams. Please register by:
• Emailing the meeting date, agenda item you wish to speak to, and your phone number to [email protected]; or
• By calling 250-475-5501 and specifying which meeting date and agenda item you wish to speak to.

Deadline for registration is 12:00 p.m., noon, on the day of the meeting. An opportunity to speak during the meeting will be available, please watch the webstream for details. All meetings are streamed live on Saanich.ca.
https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/mayor-council/schedule-agendas-minutes.html
Instructions will be emailed to all registrants on the afternoon of the meeting.

Written correspondence received up to 12:00 p.m., noon, on the day of the meeting will be copied to Council for their consideration. All correspondence submitted will form part of the public record and may be published in a meeting agenda.
• Send your comments to Council by emailing [email protected]
• Mail your comments by post to Legislative Services, District of Saanich, 770 Vernon Avenue, Victoria, BC V8X 2W7.
• Leave your written comments in the dropbox by the main door at Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue.

The agenda package is available online, the Thursday before the meeting at Saanich.ca/agenda
https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/mayor-council/schedule-agendas-minutes.html��If, after viewing the agenda, you have any questions concerning the report's contents, please contact the Planning Department at 250-475-5471. If you have any questions concerning meeting procedures, please contact the Legislative Services Division at 250-475-5501 or by email at [email protected] .

04/02/2026

Housing Dashboard

Dear Mount Tolmie neighbours,

Those of you following along with development and housing matters in our community might also be introduced in a new tool that the District of Saanich has introduced for public use. The Housing Dashboard brings together data from "issued development permits, building permit approvals, and housing completions to help users understand development activity and new housing that is being delivered." The tool is updated monthly.

With best wishes,

Susan Hamilton, President
MTCA

https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/community-planning/housing-division/housing-dashboard.html?fbclid=IwdGRleAQzyGZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEekJxOh27Db-VrS9Oll3JiPS2PFIcb6D_01Z0CzZT-JltQLFz24FYr9tuVLQE_aem__odkfcolFVXVcK2G-m5i4w

Housing Dashboard

03/30/2026

Hello!

Capital Region Connection in Action is a region-wide initiative focused on strengthening neighbourly connection, reducing isolation, and building more resilient, supportive communities. This spring, we're hosting two free, interactive workshops designed to help people build practical skills and confidence for connecting with others where they live:

Creating a Village: The Power of Community Connections in Turbulent Times
📅 Thursday, April 16 | 7 - 9pm | 📍Victoria Scottish Community Centre
https://www.resilientneighbourhoods.ca/2026/03/connection-in-action/

Growing a Village: Practical Skills for Building Neighbourly Connections
📅 Thursday, May 14 | 7 - 9pm | 📍Victoria Scottish Community Centre
https://www.resilientneighbourhoods.ca/2026/03/connection-in-action/

These free community workshops will be followed by a broader community activation during Loneliness Awareness Week (June 8-14, 2026), with activities happening across the region.

We're inviting a small group of aligned organizations to help share this information through your networks. Your voice helps us reach people who are already engaged in their community, and may be looking for simple ways to deepen those local connections.

Find out more (and register for the workshops!) here:
🌼 Capital Region Connection in Action
https://www.resilientneighbourhoods.ca/2026/03/connection-in-action/

A new regional community-building initiative in the Greater Victoria area.

02/19/2026

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1531821421807320&set=a.782828250039978

🔹Cash-strapped BC sidelines 510-bed dormitory destined for UVic🔹

A 510-bed, $178 million dorm that was planned to get underway this spring along Sinclair Road near Clarndon Road at the University of Victoria has been put on the back-burner by the Province due to financial shortfalls. Similar fates will lead to cancellations of other projects throughout Vancouver Island, the Province has signalled.

The 17-storey tower was to have completed in 2029. The outlook now pushes completion well into the 2030s, or beyond, depending on finances. Provincial taxpayers were providing $121 million of the project budget.

Recently, the Province pulled back on an already heavily delayed Malahat improvement in the Goldstream Park section.

02/18/2026

Shelbourne Valley Plan - reminder.

Dear Mount Tolmie neighbours,

A reminder that Saanich Council postponed consideration of the Shelbourne Valley Plan to the Special Committee of the Whole meeting of Tuesday, February 24, 2026, in Council Chambers, Saanich Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue, *commencing at 6:00 p.m (not 6:30 as previously stated)*. Please see links below for the full Council package and information about how to submit feedback.

The full Shelbourne Valley Plan proposal can be found here:

https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Community/Documents/Planning/CCVs/Proposed-Updated-Shelbourne-Valley-Plan.pdf

Another key document, with changes made in response to public feedback, can be found in the 5 page "Additional Changes" document here.

https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Community/Documents/Planning/CCVs/Additional-Changes-SVP-Draft-Proposed-Updated-SVP.pdf

To speak at the meeting, you may register to speak in person or via video on MS Teams. Please register by:
• Emailing the meeting date, agenda item you wish to speak to, and your phone number to [email protected]; or
• By calling 250-475-5501 and specifying which meeting date and agenda item you wish to speak to.

Deadline for registration is 12:00 p.m., noon, on the day of the meeting. An opportunity to speak during the meeting will be available, please watch the webstream for details. All meetings are streamed live on Saanich.ca

Instructions will be emailed to all registrants on the afternoon of the meeting.

Written correspondence received up to 12:00 p.m., noon, on the day of the meeting will be copied to Council for their consideration. All correspondence submitted will form part of the public record and may be published in a meeting agenda.
• Send your comments to Council by emailing [email protected]
• Mail your comments by post to Legislative Services, District of Saanich, 770 Vernon Avenue, Victoria, BC V8X 2W7.
• Leave your written comments in the dropbox by the main door at Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue.

The agenda package is available online, the Thursday before the meeting at Saanich.ca/agenda .

https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/mayor-council/schedule-agendas-minutes.html

Sincerely,
Susan Hamilton
President, MTCA

02/11/2026

Shelbourne Valley Plan

Dear Mount Tolmie neighbours,

Saanich has announced that the Shelbourne Valley Plan goes to Council on Tuesday February 24. Please see links below for the full Council package and information about how to submit feedback.

The full proposal can be found here:

https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Community/Documents/Planning/CCVs/Proposed-Updated-Shelbourne-Valley-Plan.pdf

Another key document, with changes made in response to public feedback, can be found in the 5 page "Additional Changes" document here:

https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Community/Documents/Planning/CCVs/Additional-Changes-SVP-Draft-Proposed-Updated-SVP.pdf

Sincerely,
Susan Hamilton
President, MTCA

02/01/2026

Questions for Carl Purvis

Dear Mount Tolmie neighbours,

MTCA invites you to send your questions for Carl Purvis, Manager of Current Planning for Saanich, who is our guest speaker for the upcoming AGM on February 25th.

We all know that Saanich is undergoing significant planning shifts, including updates to our local area plan and changes to how development applications are handled. The role of Community Associations are shifting within this process too.
Carl’s work focuses on development projects on a site-by-site basis, the processes by which they are assessed, and implementing the policies and regulations developed by Saanich’s Community Planning team.
Please send your questions to me by Friday February 13 by reply email, so that I can compile them. Getting a sense of our areas of interest ahead of time will allow Carl to dig up resources relevant to our community, and give him some sense of what is on our minds.
And of course, all questions are welcome at the Q & A session itself!

all best wishes,

Susan Hamilton, President
Mount Tolmie Community Association

Send a message to learn more

01/30/2026

Seeking applications:
Dear Mount Tolmie neighbours,

Saanich is seeking applications from residents interested in serving on two Advisory Committees: the Design Panel and the Board of Variance.

Please open the attachment for details of how to apply.

Sincerely,

Susan Hamilton
President, MTCA

From Saanich:


The District of Saanich is currently accepting applications from residents interested in becoming involved in local government by serving on an Advisory Committee or Board.
Currently there are two vacancies available: one on the Advisory Design Panel and one on the Board of Variance. Please see the attachment for additional information.

We would appreciate your help in sharing this opportunity through your networks with anyone who may be interested in contributing to the work of the District of Saanich’s Advisory Committees and Boards.
Thank you for helping spread the word.
Cheers,
Preet Chaggar
Senior Committee Clerk
Legislative Services

District of Saanich
770 Vernon Avenue

Victoria, BC V8X 2W7



t: 250-475-5494 ext. 3430

e: [email protected]

Send a message to learn more

01/27/2026

Dear Mount Tolmie neighbours,

Saanich Council will consider the proposed Shelbourne Valley Plan on Monday February 2 at 6:30 pm.

All details below.

Sincerely,

Susan Hamilton
President, MTCA

This email is the official notification that Saanich Council will consider the Proposed Updated Shelbourne Valley Plan at a Committee of the Whole meeting to be held on Monday, February 2, 2026, in Council Chambers, Saanich Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue, commencing at 6:30 p.m.


To speak at the meeting, you may register to speak in person or via video on MS Teams. Please register by:

Emailing the meeting date, agenda item you wish to speak to, and your phone number to [email protected]; or
By calling 250-475-5501 and specifying which meeting date and agenda item you wish to speak to.


Deadline for registration is 12:00 p.m., noon, on the day of the meeting. An opportunity to speak during the meeting will be available, please watch the webstream for details. All meetings are streamed live on Saanich.ca

Instructions will be emailed to all registrants on the afternoon of the meeting.

Written correspondence received up to 12:00 p.m., noon, on the day of the meeting will be copied to Council for their consideration. All correspondence submitted will form part of the public record and may be published in a meeting agenda.

Send your comments to Council by emailing [email protected]
Mail your comments by post to Legislative Services, District of Saanich, 770 Vernon Avenue, Victoria, BC V8X 2W7.
Leave your written comments in the dropbox by the main door at Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue.

The agenda package will be available online on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at Saanich.ca/agenda .

If, after viewing the agenda, you have any questions concerning the report's contents, please contact the Planning Department at 250-475-5471. If you have any questions concerning meeting procedures, please contact the Legislative Services Division at 250-475-5501 or by email at [email protected] .

Regards, Tara Da Silva

Senior Committee Clerk

Legislative Services Division

Legislative and Protective Services

District of Saanich

770 Vernon Ave.

Victoria BC V8X 2W7



t. 250-475-5494 ext. 3503

e. [email protected]

saanich.ca

01/26/2026

Newsletter 2.1 (Feb 2026)

JOIN US! It’s easy to become an MTCA member! And you can pay online. Visit our website at MTCA to join a dedicated group of residents working together to enhance the quality of life in our neighbourhood.

! SAVE THE DATE !

MTCA’s Annual General Meeting with Invited Speaker Carl Purvis (Planning, Saanich)
Wednesday February 25, 7 – 9pm at Broadview United Church
3703 St Aidan’s Street (Cedar Hill X Road)

Doors open: 6:30 pm
MTCA Business Meeting: 7 pm-8pm.
Speaker: 8pm – 9 pm

Everyone in the community is welcome to attend.

At a time of great community interest in the challenges and opportunities facing Saanich, we are delighted to share that Carl Purvis, Manager of Current Planning for Saanich, is our guest speaker. Carl will discuss a range of planning issues, including the relationship between the OCP and rezoning, and the role that Community Associations can play in the new development application process.

All MTCA members are voting members at the AGM.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What Just Happened?

🌟 MTCA Winter Meet and Greet
MTCA held its first community Meet and Greet of 2026 at Horner Park Hut on January 17. The weather gods were kind to us, offering bright blue skies and warm sun. About 45 local residents got together to enjoy good conversation, free coffee/tea, and homemade goodies. We talked about the Shelbourne Valley Update process, our coming AGM, and brain stormed ways to keep building neighbourhood connections. Names of residents renewing or buying new memberships at the event were entered into a draw for a lovely gift basket.



What Has Your Board Been Up To?

UVic Community Associations Liaison Committee: CALC meets four times yearly. Most recently, UVic updated several Community Associations on its designs for student housing on a portion of Parking Lot 5 near Sinclair Road. It also shared an update on its Real Estate Strategy, which has identified three properties adjacent to campus for redevelopment, beginning with the Ian Stewart Complex and surrounding lands on Gordon Head Road, that will form the new University District. See more details below.

Community Calendar: We continue to work on an MTCA calendar that fosters connection and showcases the benefits of our association. We would love to hear your ideas! What would you like to see?

Community Initiatives and News

University District Engagement: MTCA joined several other community associations to discuss UVic’s various development projects on Dec 11, 2025. Discussion included the new 500-bed student residence for upper-year undergraduate and graduate students located adjacent to Sinclair Road behind the Tower Residences. A final phase of engagement is anticipated in early Spring 2026 to share the design and provide updated information on the construction process. We also discussed UVic’s interest in developing a 40-acre parcel of land at Cedar Hill Cross as a mixed-use neighbourhood of predominantly mid-rise buildings up to six storeys, with the possibility for high rise buildings as well. Read more about this possible development in Victoria news:

Shelbourne Valley Plan (SVP) Update: Saanich has compiled the feedback and shared the engagement report. This report is available here:

https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Community/Documents/Planning/CCVs/2025-12-01-SVP-Phase-4-Engagement-Summary-Report.pdf

The date for consideration of the final revised plan should be announced shortly. The updated plan will expand land use and building height guidelines to include more areas within walking distance of ‘Frequent Transit’ sites along Shelbourne. Details about Saanich’s plans and deadlines are available at Hello Saanich:

https://hello.saanich.ca/en/projects/shelbourne-valley-action-plan-update

Quadra McKenzie Plan: the latest version of the QMP was presented to Saanich at Committee of the Whole on January 19. Voting on the plan is now scheduled for Feb 2. Victoria News coverage of the revised plan can be read:

https://vicnews.com/2026/01/21/in-striking-distance-saanichs-quadra-mckenzie-plan-coming-down-to-the-wire/

Lambrick Park Campus: Though outside our immediate community association boundaries, Lambrick Park is an important community hub in the Mount Tolmie neighbourhood, and the Gordon Head Recreation Centre is a big draw for many of us. Saanich is planning the future renewal of the Lambrick Park Campus. Its project aims include modernizing and expanding recreation amenities; improving accessibility; enhancing connectivity to surrounding areas; supporting a growing community; and promoting environmental stewardship. MTCA continues to monitor the progress of this planning initiative.

Thank you for being an active part of the Mount Tolmie Community Association! Together, we can continue to make our neighborhood a wonderful place to live. 🌼 Visit our website at https://mtca.ca/ to join a dedicated group of residents working together to enhance the quality of life in our neighbourhood.



Susan Hamilton, President
Mount Tolmie Community Association

We are a dedicated group of residents working together to enhance the quality of life in our Mount Tolmie neighborhood.