Written by Brendan Wylie-Toal
North Saanich is a rural community in the Capital Regional District of B.C. Located outside of the Region’s Urban Containment area, it has taken the role of supporting agricultural and rural land uses, with specific plans to retain the present rural, agricultural and marine character of the community. Out of this intent, North Saanich developed a detailed agricultural strategy for the region. The strategy was planned with the recognition that food and food production are key elements in sustainable community planning. This view of food systems makes North Saanich unique. The region has taken a holistic approach to their community planning and created a Whole Community Agriculture Strategy (WCAS) that strives to create a self-reliant food system. In a 2011 report, North Saanich states that:
“This WCAS contemplates changing the way we view complete communities — it suggests local communities must be seen as a food-shed supported by an integrated and diverse local food system. In this view, a complete community is a place to live, work, play and grow food.”
The plan was developed with input from the public and interested stakeholders. As a result of such consultations, the planning committee for the WCAS received 89 suggested community actions, 44 of which were incorporated into the strategy. The strategy contains 11 priority municipal actions, such as ensuring municipal bylaws support agriculture, representing local and regional interests in food/ agriculture, and undertaking an agricultural economic development plan.
North Saanich believes that important synergies and secondary impacts will result from the WCAS, including:
For full details on the strategy, including a work plan and action items, see North Saanich’s report on the WCAS:
Report on WCAS:
http://www.northsaanich.ca/Assets/NSaanich/PDF+Files/Reports+and+Publications/Planning/Whole+Community+Agricultural+Strategy+Draft.pdf
North Saanich Agriculture Home Page:
http://www.northsaanich.ca/Municipal_Hall/Departments/Planning_and_Community_Services/Planning/North_Saanich_Agriculture.htm