Home >

The Fernwood Community Association (FCA) plays an active role in Fernwood land use and development issues. We act as a liaison between the Fernwood community and the City of Victoria.

The Association operates from a heritage building at 1923 Fernwood Road. We occupy a small front office on the main floor and the rest of the building including the Main Hall ("Little Fernwood") and a boardroom are available for rental and community activities. Groups using this hall include Theatre Inconnu, Pandora Arts Collective, Good Food Box program, Cafe Sympatico, Power of Hope along with several recovery support groups and one-off community rentals for events, art shows, independent theatre groups, meetings and celebrations.

We publish the Fernwood News quarterly, with a circulation of 6000. It is delivered door-to-door in Fernwood, and is available at the FCA office and at several key locations around Fernwood. Read news about the FCA's activities, upcoming events, updates from City Councillor Helen Hughes, and stories about life in Fernwood. The February edition is now online and the next edition is due for distribution in May, 2007.

The FCA is also engaged in a Community Well Project, at a historic Spring Ridge site in Stevenson Park. Check the Radio CBC interview with Bill Goers for more info on the Radio FCA page.

We also operate two Community Allotment Gardens, one of which we share with the Victoria Compost Education Centre, once a project of the FCA and now a successful independent organization in its own right. Just down the road is Spring Ridge Common, a "Heritage Vacant Lot," once the site of the Spring Ridge School from 1888 to 1968 another project that the FCA started, and then handed off to LifeCycles.



Scott Evans digs in for his second year at one of the two FCA managed allotment gardens in Fernwood, the Garden St. site. Between this location and the Chambers St. site below, the FCA provides garden space for about 60 Fernwood residents.

Over at the Chambers St. site, Bill McKechnie likes to spend quiet time early in the morning. Bill is also an FCA director and is working on the big boat in his yard just across the street.

Strong neighbourhoods build strong cities.

---

FCA & City Set To Go To Formal Mediation

After Victoria's City Council voted in a closed meeting April 3rd 2008 to evict the Fernwood Community Association from our building at 1923 Fernwood Road, we were issued an eviction notice that gave us 60 days, from April 7th, to leave the premises.

At the City Council meeting of April 24, Mayor and Council agreed to the FCA proposed Standstill Agreement.

At a General Meeting of the membership on April 28 at 7:00 pm at 1923 Fernwood Road, members engaged in some brainstorming around potential solutions. Members unanimously passed a motion (see below) supporting the FCA Board to try and seek a solution with the City that would allow for continued rental of our upstairs office suites. David Turner, former Mayor of Victoria, and longtime Blanshard Community Association member spoke on the value of community associations to cities.

We are still encouraging respectful letters, e-mails, or phone calls of support, to help our chances of a positive outcome in this month's mediation.

Thank you in advance for your support of the FCA!

City Council Contact Info

Mayor Alan Lowe	361-0200
Pamela Madoff	361-0221
Charlayne Thornton-Joe	361-0219
Chris Coleman	361-0223
Helen Hughes	361-0217
Dean Fortin	361-0218
Sonya Chandler	361-0216
Geoff Young	361-0220
Bea Holland (Doesn't do e-mail)	361-0222
Link to send to all of the above	(except for B. Holland)
Mailing address	#1 Centennial Square Victoria, BC V8W 1P6

Campaign News Updates

At the FCA Special General Meeting, held April 22 the membership unanimously approved the following motion from Melissa Moroz: Be it resolved that we, the assembled members of the Fernwood Community Association, place ourselves on record as supporting the ongoing occupancy of 1921/1923 Fernwood Road by the FCA, with permitted multiple use. We authorize the Executive of the FCA to engage in formal mediation with the City of Victoria. Any tentative agreement reached by the FCA mediation team is to be brought back to a membership meeting for ratification. Following a discussion, a vote was held and the Motion passed unanimously. (May 3) Radio FCA has audio from the April 24 City Council Meeting and the CBC morning news reporting on that meeting. (Apr. 26) FCA Supporters Fill the Room at City Council Meeting (Apr. 24) About 100 supporters showed up at City Hall to oppose City's eviction notice to the FCA. A diverse group of speakers made a poignant case for the value the FCA adds to the community by providing an affordable venue. City Council held a special meeting prior to the Council meeting to approve the Standstill Agreement proposed to City staff on April 22. (see below) Sincere thanks from the FCA to all those who came out to speak so eloquently in support of keeping this valuable resource in the hands of the communty. Standstill Agreement Between the Fernwood Community Association And the City of Victoria (Apr. 24) 1. The Fernwood Community Association (FCA) agrees that it will not pursue its Petition before the Court during the term of this Agreement. 2. The City of Victoria agrees to suspend its 60 day eviction notice during the term of the Agreement. 3. The parties agree to seek a resolution by way of mediation, to be concluded by May 31, 2008. (continued)

4. The parties agree to abide by the terms of the mediation established by the mediator. 5. This Agreement begins at noon on Friday, April 25 and may be terminated by way of written notice from one signatory below to the other. (signed) Mayor: Alan Lowe FCA President: Tony Sprackett On the City Council side, acceptance of this agreement was moved by Sonya Chandler, seconded by Chris Coleman. Geoff Young voted against the motion to accept. FCA Executive met with 5 members of City staff on April 22. (April 23) City indicated that the eviction notice we were issued was a direct response to the FCA's petition to the courts. The FCA proposed that a "standstill" agreement be signed by both parties, to stop the clock on the City's eviction notice and temporarily waive timelines on the FCA's petition to the court. Additionally, a formal mediation would be entered into, with the intent of seeking a long-term viable resolution amenable to both parties. Staff agreed to present the proposal to City Council. The FCA has requested a response by Friday, April 25 at noon. Council was also advised that we have significant community interest in attending Thursday, April 24 City Council meeting. We advised City staff that an early announcement of agreement to the FCA proposal would have a positive impact on the tone of the meeting. Staff agreed to advise Council of this. See our Backgrounder (PDF) to get up to speed on this situation. (April 17) Our Petition to the Court (PDF) was filed in response to City's indication that they would no longer allow us to sublet our upstairs office suites, effectively strangling our modest revenue source unless we wanted to devote our volunteer efforts to creating an entirely new business model. (April 17)

 

Standstill Agreement Extended Through August 31

Mayor Alan Lowe and FCA President Tony Sprackett signed an extension to this agreement to allow mediation to continue.

Fernwood Art Stroll

The weekend of June 20-21 is a special one in Fernwood. Thanks to Deryk Houston, Susie Jones, the City of Victoria, and all the artists who contributed, banners promoting the event were placed on 15 poles. The FCA is proud to have helped facilitate this project. Take a stroll through the 'hood and check them out. The banners promote the Fernwood Art Stroll, details here.

Painters, photographers, storytellers, sculptors, dancers, fibre artists, potters, puppeteers etc. will show, share and sell their work during the Fernwood Art Stroll weekend.

For information call Deryk Houston 884-6828 or Karen Skowron 519-0588. The event coincides with Fern-Fest.

Pandora Arts Collective will be exhibiting at the FCA building over the course of the event. (June 4)

---

Fernwood Faces Loss of FCA Building After City Issues Eviction Notice

FCA prepares for mediation (May 3)

Standstill Agreement reached with City (April 24)

Campaign News Updates

---

Child Care: Child’s Play Rally and Family Fun BBQ

Date: Saturday, June 14.

Time: 12:00- 3:00, with march from the Legislature at 11:30

The Victoria Labour Council is looking for volunteers to help with our June 14th child care event. We need parade marshals, set up and clean up crews, and help cooking food. Shifts will be around 2 hours long. This is a great way to give back to the community AND work towards a national child care system that is affordable, accessible, and not-for-profit.

Please come out and lend a hand. Please contact Tria Donaldson at 388-9948 or e-mail or Iris Taylor at (604) 430-6766.

---

Fernwood Wisdom Council Video

The Wisdom reported back to the community at the Fernwood Community Centre on March 29. Check the video. (April 13)

---

North Park Neighbourhood Association Announcement

We congratulate the North Park Neighbourhood Assn. on getting approval for a new name for their business district. North Park Village runs along Cook St., from Pandora to Caledonia. (April 10)

---

Radio FCA features a CBC Morning Show interview with FCA member Bill Goers, on the Community Well Project he is leading. (March 30)

---

The winter edition of the Fernwood News is now online.
(February 10)

Would you like to write for the Fernwood News? Have something to say about your neighbourhood? Submit a plain text article or contact us to discuss what you might be willing to contribute. Photos are welcomed, as clearly labelled attachments. All submissions are subject to copy-edit for grammatical and spelling errors. Disprectul or potentially libellous submissions cannot be accepted.
(October 3)