By 2010 400,000 more people are expected to be living in the Capitol Regional District (CRD) of Victoria. Because of this anticipated growth, development pressures will be placed on Victoria's green space and surrounding recreational areas. If accepted, a proposal to expand the park system within the CRD would help to maintain the vitality and natural beauty of the south Vancouver Island region.

VICTORIa's Sea-to-sea green blue belt

Wilderness Committee Educational Report Vol.18 - No.08 Fall 1999

CHRONOLOGY OF THE CAMPAIGN TO CREATE THE SEA-TO-SEA GREEN BLUE BELT

Years ago Ray Zimmerman (shown in the photo on the right among giant Douglas firs in the new Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park he helped create) envisioned and proposed the Sea-to-Sea Green Blue Belt. Photo credit: WCWC

The Sea-to-Sea Green Blue Belt campaign aims to establish a 20,000 hectare corridor of protected land and marine areas linking existing parks from Salt Spring Island to Juan de Fuca Strait.

1990

  • The Saanich Inlet Protection Society proposed that Saanich Inlet be designated a national Marine Park Reserve.

    1994

  • Both the CRD and CVRD Boards and the municipalities surrounding Saanich Inlet voted in favour of supporting the Marine Park Reserve designation.
  • Responding to considerable public pressure, the B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks initiated the Saanich Inlet Study.
  • The Gowlland Foundation successfully involved other groups, the CRD and B.C. government in purchasing the $17 million Tod Gowlland lands for a major park--the heartland of the Sea-to-Sea Green Blue Belt.
  • The Sea-to-Sea Greenbelt Society and Western Canada Wilderness Committee's Victoria Chapter launched a campaign to achieve park protection for the Greater Victoria Water District (GVWD) surplus off-catchment lands in the Sooke Hills.

    Sea-to-Sea Green Blue Belt Alliance Member Organizations


    Assoc. for the Protection of Rural Metchosin
    Cowichan Community Land Trust Society
    Garry Oak Meadow Protection Society
    Habitat Acquisition Trust
    Hagan Creek Restoration Project
    Rural Association of East Sooke
    Saanich Inlet Protection Society
    Salt Spring Island Conservancy
    Sea-to-Sea Greenbelt Society
    Sierra Club of B.C.
    Society for the Protection of Ayum Creek
    The Land Conservancy of B.C.
    Western Canada Wilderness Committee


    1996

  • The Salt Spring Island Conservancy purchased the Mill Farm lands, a key part of the "Belt" on southwest Salt Spring Island.

    1997

  • 4,100 hectares of the GVWD's surplus lands were protected as the Sooke Hills Regional Park. Tremendous public support and leadership by the provincial government made this victory possible.

    1998

  • Federal government announced a feasibility study for a Southern Strait of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area which includes Saanich Inlet.
  • The Society for the Protection of Ayum Creek and the Habitat Acquisition Trust, with considerable financial help from the Federal Government, purchased the estuary lands of Ayum Creek, a key south end part of the "Belt".
  • In the summer 13 local conservation groups form an alliance to work to complete the "Green Blue Belt".

    1999

  • The Land Conservancy of B.C. purchased a crucial connecting property on Ayum Creek and is now negotiating the purchase of other properties in the south end of the "Belt".
  • The draft CRD Parks Master Plan identified the completion of the Sea-to-Sea Green Blue Belt vision a reality.
  • With the "Belt" 75 percent completed, the Alliance continues to work with concerned citizens and all levels of government to purchase the remaining private lands to make the Sea-to-Sea Green Blue Belt vision a reality.