Bob Thompson

Our business community is an integral part of Central Saanich. Many of our popular businesses are owned and operated by Central Saanich residents (they pay both residential and business taxes) and they deserve our support and respect. Council reached out to local businesses over this past term with the goal of improving our business environment. Council created an Economic Development Advisory Committee that carried out business walks in Saanichton, Brentwood Bay and Keating ...(to be continued in 2019) to ask local businesses what worked well for them and what Central Saanich could do to improve business opportunities. The District completed the Keating Business Implementation Plan, a long-term blueprint for build out of the Keating industrial area within its current boundaries; it also served as a business case to gain support from the Province to build safe access off the Pat Bay Highway. Finally, Central Saanich is about to initiate a Saanichton Village planning process which will include feedback from the business walk and contributions from the Saanichton Village Association’s Saanichton 2020 open houses. See more

Our business community is an integral part of Central Saanich. Many of our popular businesses are owned and operated by Central Saanich residents (they pay both residential and business taxes) and they deserve our support and respect. Council reached out to local businesses over this past term with the goal of improving our business environment. Council created an Economic Development Advisory Committee that carried out business walks in Saanichton, Brentwood Bay and Keating ...(to be continued in 2019) to ask local businesses what worked well for them and what Central Saanich could do to improve business opportunities. The District completed the Keating Business Implementation Plan, a long-term blueprint for build out of the Keating industrial area within its current boundaries; it also served as a business case to gain support from the Province to build safe access off the Pat Bay Highway. Finally, Central Saanich is about to initiate a Saanichton Village planning process which will include feedback from the business walk and contributions from the Saanichton Village Association’s Saanichton 2020 open houses. See more

What about Bob? As a former lab instructor and sessional lecturer (UVic Biology), I like designing posters and information displays. I’ve attached a few pages of an information sheet I designed to help residents understand our zoning bylaw (not an official CS document).

Farming and food production is of course a key component of our culture and economic future with more than 60% of our land base in the ALR. It’s important to remember that farming is a business so what can Council do to support agriculture? First of all you need to talk with farmers. Council seeks advice from our own Agricultural Advisory Committee as well as the Peninsula and Area Agricultural Commission (Central Saanich, North Saanich, Saanich, Metchosin). One of the pres...sing needs for farms is on-farm farmer worker accommodation to provide affordable housing for seasonal farm workers. Resolution of drainage issues is another major concern improved drainage would allow farms to extend the growing season and plant higher-value crops. Visit https://www.centralsaanich.ca//reso/agricultural-area-plan to download the Central Saanich Agricultural Area Plan. See more

Since the General Voting Day has been moved up to October from November, I don't get to put out my "vote 4 bob" pumpkin on Halloween. So here's a retrospective look at the bob 4 council pumpkin!

After several weeks of community conversation, it's time for community action! General Election Day Saturday October 20, 2018 Polls open 8am 8pm at two locations: Brentwood Bay: Central Saanich Cultural Centre (1209 Clarke Road) Saanichton: Individual Learning Centre (1649 Mount Newton Cross Road)... * Note the Saanichton poll is NOT at the Municipal Hall due to renovations. For complete voting info, visit www.centralsaanich.ca/municipal-hall/election-information I appreciate your support for experience, knowledge, continuity, and a commitment to informed, balanced decisions vote for "The Only Bob on the Ballot! www.bob4council.ca