November 24 — The BC ambulance service confirmed in the media that the proposed Carrick Street station is still a possibility; comments misrepresented the Carrick Street proposal as one with the primary aim of improving service and one made only after significant community consultation. A community working group met shortly after the publication of this misleading article to discuss strategies on how to encourage the ambulance service to become accountable and transparent.
November 19 — Media publicized a statement made by B.J. Chute, spokesperson for the paramedics union, Local 873, in which he said that the proposed Carrick Street station would be permanent. The ambulance service has misled either the community or their employees.
November 18 — News reports said that the proposed Carrick Street station had been postponed and that negotiations are taking place to secure space in the CNIB building. The provincial government must have issued a news release with quotes from Ministers Abbott and Chong, but chose not to post the release online for the public to view.
November 3 — Residents attended a Saanich all-candidates' meeting at Lochside Elementary, 1145 Royal Oak Drive, at 7 p.m. Asked all candidates about proposed ambulance station. All opposed the station and supported the notion of permanently protecting the green space as a park. Contrary a suggestion made by the B.C. Hydro representative at the September 17 meeting, Saanich officials said B.C. Hydro would not entertain their interest in purchasing the property.
October 29 — Residents met at Hope Lutheran Church, 1924 Carrick Street, at 7 pm. Focused on new ideas to draw attention to issue. Launched petition.
October 17 — Following persistent reminders that the ambulance service had promised to address resident concerns, BCAS Executive Director Shawn Carby wrote a letter selectively dismissing and ignoring points made at the September 17 community meeting.
Late September / Early October — Rob Fleming, MLA Victoria-Hillside, and Howard Waldner, President and CEO of Vancouver Island Health Authority, identified another potential site for the ambulance station: the Canadian National Institute for the Blind building and parking lot. They have a surplus of available space and the right zoning for BCAS. The site feeds directly onto two major roadways, Richmond and Bay, and is directly across from the Royal Jubilee Hospital emergency entrance.
September 17 — Residents organize a meeting at Hope Lutheran Church to voice their concerns about the proposed ambulance station.
September 12 — BCAS holds an open house at Hope Lutheran Church, 1924 Carrick Street, in response to community pressure for consultation. They told only a few residents about this event and did so only on September 9. One BCAS official said that the site location was less than ideal for the ambulance service.
August 27 — Some residents with properties very near the BC Hydro green space receive letters from BC ambulance informing them that a station will be built on the land with construction set to start after that long weekend.
Early 2008 — B.C. ambulance knows it must move from Aberdeen Hospital, in part because ambulances are disrupting the lives of the seniors that live there.
Late 2007 — According to a former employee, B.C. ambulance decides on the BC Hydro green space as a site location. They decide not to tell or engage the community.
2006 — B.C. ambulance lost its lease at the Jubilee. They failed to plan ahead during hospital expansion.
Ten Years Ago — Developers planned to buy the green space between Haultain and Kings and pave it to make a parking lot. The community fought and won.
November 24 — The BC ambulance service confirmed in the media that the proposed Carrick Street station is still a possibility; comments misrepresented the Carrick Street proposal as one with the primary aim of improving service and one made only after significant community consultation. A community working group met shortly after the publication of this misleading article to discuss strategies on how to encourage the ambulance service to become accountable and transparent.
November 19 — Media publicized a statement made by B.J. Chute, spokesperson for the paramedics union, Local 873, in which he said that the proposed Carrick Street station would be permanent. The ambulance service has misled either the community or their employees.
November 18 — News reports said that the proposed Carrick Street station had been postponed and that negotiations are taking place to secure space in the CNIB building. The provincial government must have issued a news release with quotes from Ministers Abbott and Chong, but chose not to post the release online for the public to view.
November 3 — Residents attended a Saanich all-candidates' meeting at Lochside Elementary, 1145 Royal Oak Drive, at 7 p.m. Asked all candidates about proposed ambulance station. All opposed the station and supported the notion of permanently protecting the green space as a park. Contrary a suggestion made by the B.C. Hydro representative at the September 17 meeting, Saanich officials said B.C. Hydro would not entertain their interest in purchasing the property.
October 29 — Residents met at Hope Lutheran Church, 1924 Carrick Street, at 7 pm. Focused on new ideas to draw attention to issue. Launched petition.
October 17 — Following persistent reminders that the ambulance service had promised to address resident concerns, BCAS Executive Director Shawn Carby wrote a letter selectively dismissing and ignoring points made at the September 17 community meeting.
Late September / Early October — Rob Fleming, MLA Victoria-Hillside, and Howard Waldner, President and CEO of Vancouver Island Health Authority, identified another potential site for the ambulance station: the Canadian National Institute for the Blind building and parking lot. They have a surplus of available space and the right zoning for BCAS. The site feeds directly onto two major roadways, Richmond and Bay, and is directly across from the Royal Jubilee Hospital emergency entrance.
September 17 — Residents organize a meeting at Hope Lutheran Church to voice their concerns about the proposed ambulance station.
September 12 — BCAS holds an open house at Hope Lutheran Church, 1924 Carrick Street, in response to community pressure for consultation. They told only a few residents about this event and did so only on September 9. One BCAS official said that the site location was less than ideal for the ambulance service.
August 27 — Some residents with properties very near the BC Hydro green space receive letters from BC ambulance informing them that a station will be built on the land with construction set to start after that long weekend.
Early 2008 — B.C. ambulance knows it must move from Aberdeen Hospital, in part because ambulances are disrupting the lives of the seniors that live there.
Late 2007 — According to a former employee, B.C. ambulance decides on the BC Hydro green space as a site location. They decide not to tell or engage the community.
2006 — B.C. ambulance lost its lease at the Jubilee. They failed to plan ahead during hospital expansion.
Ten Years Ago — Developers planned to buy the green space between Haultain and Kings and pave it to make a parking lot. The community fought and won.