Victoria residents looking to save unpermitted community garden
Holland Point Marine Reserve sits along the scenic drive of Victoria's Dallas Road. It's a meeting place for locals, and for the past few years it's been home to a grassroots, unpermitted community garden.
Now, Victoria bylaw staff are considering dismantling the vegetable garden, which has the community group that built it up in arms.
For years people have been gathering at this spot, and because of its orientation to the sun they've given it a name.
"We call it the 'Nuke Wall' because it gets so hot," said Stan Crosson, who first built the garden several years ago.
Since then, it's grown thanks to the help of dozens of volunteers. That is, until this week.
"Well, yesterday I was watering and then I got approached by kind of like 12 people, city workers, bylaw enforcement and police," Crosson told CTV News on Monday.
He says he was told by bylaw officials that the garden was being taken down because it fell under the category of "driftwood structures."
"He said (the bylaw official) he's been told to take it out," said Crosson. "So he said, 'I'm having a bit of a tough time with my boss above me saying get it done.'"
On Sunday, the garden was left untouched by authorities. But, the group has been told that the garden could be destroyed in the future, which has many upset.
"I can't for the life of me understand why someone would want to tear it out," said Johnny Ayers, a James Bay resident, shortly after he sampled some peas from the garden with his daughter.
Other James Bay residents agree.
"Why would you? Like, you know, it's a garden, it's food," said Blair Polden who lives in the area.
"It's like – people come by and they've never been down here before and they come by and say, 'My god, you guys have a garden down here!" she said.
The community group is now trying to figure out how to get a permit from the city for the garden. However, the process is turning out to be tricky.
According to the group, anything below the high-tide line along Dallas Road is federal property, while anything above the high-tide line and seawall is city property.
"Sometimes during the year, the high-tide reaches the seawall here," said James Bay resident Michael Lucas. "(During the) summer it will probably only come as high as 10 feet from the seawall."
The group is now trying to determine if a city permit is even necessary. In the event that they're declined one, the group's asking to let the garden stay for the remainder of the season, so they can finish growing what they've started.
"It would be a shame to waste, really," said Crosson. "If it’s not supposed to happen and that’s what they want, or no permits are available in the future either, well let it finish off and then we’ll just have to figure out another place for a community garden then."
The City of Victoria says it only recently became aware of the garden and that it will work with the community to understand more about it. No further action will be taken until that engagement is complete, the city said Monday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.