MAP 1: Showing Garry Oak Ecosystem surrounding Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary (1995)
Map from Christmas Hill Slopes Planning document Saanich, 1995.
(Notes in RED by Save Our Saanich). Red dot with ‘X’ indicates location of proposal for new buildings on the last privately-owned Garry oak meadow in the North Quadra neighbourhood. That property is within the much larger
“12-storey Special Area” zone in the Draft October 2024 Quadra McKenzie Plan.
A current development proposal suggests three 6-storey buildings on the site, but that proposal does not preclude other area buildings up to 12-storeys.
• In their Christmas Hill Slopes Plan (1995) Saanich had identified the “High Priority” importance of the Garry Oak ecosystem that surrounds Christmas Hill.
Protecting it had been a goal of Saanich for the last quarter century. No longer.
• A 300m “Buffer Zone” – standard for all Parks, large and small – was in place to protect the rare Garry Oak trees and their associated meadows, flowers, animals and birds, whether on public or private land.
• The land where a large proposed development is planned – where the zoning will allow buildings up to 12 storeys – is marked with an ‘X’ on a red dot. (The Garry oak meadow beneath the ‘X’, is actually is larger than shown and extends south over neighbouring properties). (See Map 2, below).
• We strongly oppose large buildings – anything over 4 storeys, or the height of trees – being considered in this area of important ecological significance.
• Neighbours and adjacent property owners in the area – on Rogers Ridge (and possibly on Rogers Way), already have covenanted [legally protected] Garry oak trees on their properties, protecting them as part of Saanich’s urban forest. Other nearby owners, stewarding their own trees, are aghast a large development can be planned and encouraged for this property: the last Garry oak meadow in the North Quadra neighbourhood.
• The Quadra McKenzie Plan gives no guidelines for the preservation of specific ecological or heritage assets; or mentions any proposals for new Parks acquisitions, necessary for all the new residents that will arrive. Surely those items also should form part of a comprehensive Plan, which the Quadra McKenzie Plan certainly is not.
Garry oak Ecosystems, both on and surrounding Christmas Hill.
Map 2:
The 2003 North Quadra Local Area Plan showed better mapping for the areas of Significant Trees:
• This map above (a detail from the 2003 North Quadra Area Plan) shows the “Significantly Treed Area” surrounding Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary.
• The October 2024 Draft Quadra McKenzie Plan shows two areas (dotted RED) that will allow buildings of up to 12-storeys adjacent to Christmas Hill. Save Our Saanich has overlaid these areas onto the 2003 Map of the “Significantly Treed Areas”.
• The Garry oak ecosystem is among the rarest in the Province and needs to be conserved, rather than built on.
• Less than 5% of these areas remain in near-natural conditions.
• It is not just the trees, but “more than 100 species of plants, mammals, reptiles, birds, butterflies and other insects are officially listed as “at risk” in these ecosystems”.
• To offset planned densification – rather than talk about slimmer towers; and to honour the previous 300m “buffer zone” – Saanich should acquire the rare property at Quadra Street and Rogers Avenue to save it and conserve it under the Swan Lake/Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary management.
• Saanich has had 40 years to act on the protection of this area. NOW is the time.
Link to the CRD Garry Oak Ecosystem Information Sheet:
Link to BC Government Garry Oak Ecosystems “among rarest in the province”:
Link to Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team website:
Save Our Saanich.
Please Sign the Petition on the Home Page.
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We acknowledge that the District of Saanich lies within the territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples represented by the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations and the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples represented by the W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout), W̱SIḴEM (Tseycum) and MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) Nations.