Mayor Barbara Desjardins
Monday, November 4, 2024, Council Chambers, Esquimalt Municipal Hall
It’s an exciting time for our growing Township, with many ongoing projects set to complete in 2025, ushering in new families and business opportunities to Esquimalt.
Council through the first year of our term set Strategic Priorities that provide guidance for staff as they develop their workplans.
Strategic Areas of Focus include:
- Climate Resilience and Environmental Stewardship
- Diversified and Thriving Economy
- Engaged and Healthy Community
- Good Governance and Organizational Excellence
- Housing
- Strong Relationships and Partnerships
I encourage you to explore the Council Priorities document on our website, where you can find an overview of ongoing projects as well as those we’ve completed, and there are many. This “Living Document” is constantly being evaluated and reassessed by both Council and staff responsible for each initiative.
This past weekend, Esquimalt Council with Songhees and Kosapsum Nation Chiefs and their Council members came together to raise the Nations' flags at Townhall and at the Gorge Pavilion.
We are full of gratitude to have these Nations’ flags flying in recognition of the Songhees and Kosapsum traditional territories. It serves to demonstrate our respect and embraces a shared vision for a harmonious, inclusive, and prosperous future.
Hardly a week goes by without hearing from visitors who notice the significant changes in our community and express enthusiasm about returning here soon. Some even hope to move here or bring their business to Esquimalt!
The Economic Development Action Plan was approved last year, and we’re making substantial progress in its implementation. There’s growing enthusiasm from businesses interested in establishing a presence in Esquimalt.
This year, we've welcomed our beloved new pub, and the fully restored Rosemead Inn (formerly the Old English Inn) is set to open, complete with accommodations and a spa, enhancing Esquimalt as a tourism destination. The Inn’s restaurant is already serving delighted guests.
We will also welcome Bell Media to Town Square, a medical clinic to the West Bay area, and many more businesses are setting up shop in Esquimalt.
We are embarking on the next major phase of our Active Transportation Plan, with 2025 being focused on cycling lanes and pedestrian improvements for Esquimalt Road. Phase One will be from Dominion Road to Joffre Street. This will include much-needed safe crossing site additions as well as protected cycling lanes. Craigflower will also have upgrades to crosswalks and added flashing lights for pedestrian safety.
In 2024, the Township passed a bylaw, reducing speed limits to 40 km/h on major roads and 30 km/h on others. Reduced speed limits play a critical role in creating a pedestrian and bike-friendly environment for Esquimalt.
We have significant ongoing improvements to the Green Shores site in Esquimalt Gorge Park , with a focus on creating more opportunities for strolling, kayaking, and improved beach access.
We also have newly installed murals in Esquimalt Gorge Park, Anderson Park, and the Recreation Centre parking lot, enhancing the aesthetics of these public spaces.
Anderson Park playground replacement will also be completed by the end of this year. It will include upgraded equipment like monkey bars, a swing set, and a slide.
Esquimalt continues to gain a reputation for its outstanding events. These events are fuelled by volunteer organizations wanting to contribute to community vibrancy.
In April, more than 30 local volunteer organizations gathered at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre to meet community members and share their passion for what they do for Esquimalt. The goal was to help community groups recruit additional volunteers and raise awareness of their volunteer work in Esquimalt. The afternoon was a success, with more than 180 attendees learning about volunteer opportunities in Esquimalt.
There are so many avenues for people to connect with and help in our community. Please consider volunteering a little or a lot so we are able to continue events like the Farmers Market, Township Community Arts Council, Ribfest, Buccaneer Days, Celebration of Lights, and so many more - all needing a little bit of your help.
In collaboration with our Westshore municipal partners, Esquimalt developed its first Accessibility Plan. This plan aims to identify, remove, and prevent accessibility barriers while fostering a culture of equity and inclusion for everyone.
Integrating accessibility planning across all areas of our municipal services will be key in achieving Esquimalt’s long-term goal of becoming a barrier-free community.
Esquimalt has received its housing targets set out by the province. The five-year housing target for the Township is 754 net new completed housing units. Esquimalt is positioned to exceed this target as there are currently just over 1,000 units under construction, with many more in the pipeline.
Reaching a provincial housing target is one goal; sustaining and building a strong community is another. Council has directed staff to conduct a Development Capacity Assessment to evaluate what our current infrastructure can support, helping the Township plan effectively for the future.
Council has also directed staff to propose updates to our Official Community Plan (OCP) to align with provincial directives. Recognizing it has been over a decade since the last comprehensive review—and that our community has evolved significantly—we’ve requested additional information to guide a full OCP update. Rooted in community input, the OCP serves as a foundational document, guiding not only development but much more.
This year, our Fire Department also made significant strides in regional collaboration, strengthening mutual and automatic aid partnerships to ensure swift, effective response.
Additionally, our crews completed intensive tower crane rescue training, positioning Esquimalt as one of the few municipalities with this specialized expertise.
And a new fire hall and emergency services building is well underway and coming out of the ground. This modern facility will continue to enhance our Fire Department's resources, enabling us to serve the community at the highest level. We are excited to watch the building come to fruition in 2026.
Efforts are underway to explore potential policing options for an Esquimalt Police Department, with contracted support from another department. We aim to have a clearer understanding of these possibilities by mid-2025. In the meantime, Esquimalt is continuing to work with Victoria and the Police Board under an interim Framework Agreement, which has the option to extend for two further years.
It’s been an incredible year for arts and cultural events in Esquimalt—and there’s still more to come! We invite you to join us for the many upcoming celebrations organized by both our staff and community. Get ready for even more excitement in Esquimalt in 2025!
I want to extend Council's thanks and support for the organizations and the individuals who make these events happen.
Events like RibFest and JazzFest put Esquimalt on the bigger map for both regional activities but also for tourists to experience (and talk about) our amazing community.
Thank you to our staff for their hard work over the past year and to Council members for diving into important initiatives to improve Esquimalt. I look forward to continuing this work together.