We spent the weekend in this area. With it's bush, wildlife and green hillsides, it's exactly the kind of area we would love as the location of our "forever home" - except it's super expensive (likely due to the reasons we love it, but also proximity to the city, which isn't quite as important to us).
What other areas are there in Victoria which have the same kind of vibe as this region that we should be looking at?
Originally my partner and I are both from western/ north western vic, and this region was like home for us - except for the green! They obviously get a lot more rainfall than we are used to!
https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/op-ed/comment-victoria-is-facing-a-public-safety-crisis-1.24361659
A commentary by a Victoria city councillor.
The City of Victoria is in a public-safety crisis. The first step to solving the growing threat to public safety is to acknowledge it as real and take immediate action. If that is not done, it is difficult to see how we can continue to function as a city.
Our police, bylaw and animal-control departments are in crisis. They are understaffed and overworked. The tone from inside these departments is that “we are dropping like flies.”
The numbers speak for themselves. VicPD has 52 members unable to be deployed due to injury or PTSD, including 17 recruits at the Justice Institute. Hours lost to injury and PTSD tripled since 2018, from 1,051 to 3,361.
It’s getting worse, with assaults on officers, including being knocked unconscious, attacked while volunteering and recently even being struck by a stolen vehicle.
VicPD often runs below minimum staffing numbers for patrol shifts. At one time, officers were glad to work overtime, but no more. They are increasingly burnt out and shifts are going unfilled.
The response time for “priority one” calls, such as threat to life or assault, is now 15 minutes.
Chief Del Manak tells council this is “an unacceptable level.” That is an understatement — it is dangerous.
Morale is badly diminished. Numerous sources say from 10 to 18 officers are actively looking to leave VicPD for other departments such as Saanich, Oak Bay, Surrey and the RCMP. Several veteran officers recently said they have never seen morale so low.
The union says part of the problem is that VicPD handles more work per officer than any other capital region police department, and those VicPD officers get less pay.
As a front-line officer recently said: “It’s not really about the money. We need help. We feel abandoned, underappreciated and everyday face ‘anti-police’ comments. It’s not great right now.”
Throughout the ranks, there is concern that if help doesn’t come soon, surviving the crisis will be next to impossible.
Out of necessity, basic maintenance of public order now rests with city bylaw officers. That department estimates it spends 80 per cent of its time dealing with public safety issues in parks and on the streets, and trying to prevent further encampments.
That leaves little time to deal with a growing list of resident complaints, such as noise, infractions and investigations.
VicPD’
... keep reading on reddit ➡
I had no chance of winning this one even with some decent performances. CIN put up madden numbers and I'm toast. Still have Dak, Hill, Montgomery, and Kamara.
Two travel nurses heading over y’all’s way at the end of the month that are between two places to live right now. One property is a house in forest acres, but not that great or comfortable on the inside. A bit of a cramped ikea vibe. The other that we like more is in St. Andrews. Specifically a condo off Bentley drive by the river. The problem is after reading about your city it seems that St. Andrews might be a bit sketchy?
In short, a nicer place in a potentially worse part of town or a less comfortable place in a better part of town. Same price. What do you think?
