Forty years later that number is now less than 5%. If residents of the Capital Regional District (CRD) want to help reverse this trend, we need to be supporting local agriculture and preserving agricultural land.

However, current development pressure in the Saanich Pennisula risks paving over prime farmland in the region's breadbasket.

The old Sandown Racetrack has 95 acre of farmland. Right now the municipality of North Saanich has a choice about the future of these lands. They can either subdivide the land into eight privately owned estates or set aside 83 acres of land as part of the Agricultural Land Reserve.

North Saanich is in the midst of a public consultation process to decide what course of action they will take. You can find more info about the process here.

Right now we have an opportunity to take a stand for local agriculture and food security. Please come out to this important public meeting.

When: Wednesday, January 11, at 7pm
Where: Presbyterian Church at 9296 East Saanich Rd (click here for map) Free parking in the church lot.

Panelists include Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands; Robert Maxwell, a well-known Saanich peninsula farmer; and a third speaker TBA. The discussion will be moderated by Vicky Husband, a long-time B.C. environmentalist and champion of many of the province's most iconic places. The event is co-sponsored by Friends of Sandown Community Farm.

The council could be voting as early as Jan 16th. This meeting is a critical moment to show strong public support for protecting farmland.

I hope to see you there

Tria Donaldson | Pacific Coast Campaigner
Wilderness Committee