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Serving the Municipalities of Central Saanich, North Saanich, the Town of Sidney, and the Gulf Islands

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656-115]

FIFTY-EIGHTH YEAR,

No. |

12 PAGES

SIDNEY, Vancouver Island, B.C. Wednesday, April 8, 1970

Subscriptions, in advance, year $4.00; Copy 10c

BY ROSEMARY OWEN

It has been stated that all
the ornamental shrubs and
flowers needed for the gar-
dens of Western Canada could
be propagated on the Saanich
Peninsula. If there were
enough skilled hor-
ticulturalists available to
make this theory a reality,
Suburban encroachment
would “be held at’ bay. by
prosperous. orchards and
flowering fields.

In no part is this finger of
land pointing into the Gulf of
Georgia more than a breath
away from the warming in-
fluence of the sea. Along with
the islands of the Gulf, this
pleasant land enjoys an
unusual freedom. from frost
and heavy snowfall.

Many years. ago, before
easy transportation was avail-
able between the Island and
Mainland, the Saanich
Peninsula was the bread

basket of the City of Victoria.
Suburban Saanich and that
part now known as. Central
Saanich were dotted. with
large dairy and cattle farms
with ample pasturage. Market
gardens. flourished, often
operated by — industrious
Oriental families.

Today~ housing develop-
ments blanket the meadows .
where once sheep and cattle
grazed. Farther North on the
Peninsula the larger farms

SOME OF THE DAMAGE to rare nar-.

- by Beaumaris ‘Bulb Farm owner Gwyn .

-cissus: s by unknown vandals Is inspected Owen.. (Review Photo).

7% mysterious’ ‘case. of van-

- “ dalism at Beaumaris Bulb Farm,-

eee 9620 West Saanich Road, is under. '
a investigation by Sidney R.C.M.P..
A person or persons ‘slashed

_and. ‘trampled: widely-separated

- imported narcissus. bulbs some-
time during the night last Friday.

The plots. attacked contained:
the most expensive bulbs in the
one-acre. plantation. Less ex-
pensive. varieties. In. adjoining

beds were. spared, even: though |
they are just: as spectacular in”

thelr beauty,

Only: an expert would be able to:

dist ingnish between the varieties
vand their value.

Beaumaris owner, ‘Gwynnedd :
Owen, Was at'a loss for an exe :

planation of tho ‘vandalism, |
2 “AU Uthat I can sity Ip. that we re,

“just dick about it, " he ‘told athe 1
‘Review.

at least two years,

Ireland.
Some! of the varieties are not

_ being produced anywhere else in

North America.

/Beaumaris is a> 10-aere

“property at West Saanich Road ©

and (he northern end of Ardmore
Drive iknown- to. some:
Bayview), The plantation, which

‘is rolated to different sections of;
the acreage every five years, is.

about 200 yards from. the ¢ ywen

home, and just over a page-wire
: fence on the Ardmore Drive aide.

H appy Days! it's
Girl. Time Again |

ab

ing

Mins Mer mald of 170 will he ae¢ claimed during the hidney Day cele

bration thin year,

Mrs. Anna Allen, Social Director of Central Saanteh Chamber of
Conimerce, has again been requested by Sidney Kinumen c Yuh to

organize the queenly contest,

She Invites girls throughout Saanich Peninsula who will be hetween
the ages of17 and 22on August Jt next to enter the competidion,

Application forme may be obtatned in Sidney at Locul Mutchers,
Sidney Pharmacy or Cunmogham's Drug store, and at Brentwood
from the Roya) Dank or Saachch Peninsula Credit Vaton. The lasing
date for entrles is Sadurday, May 9,

Once the entry forms have been received the candidates wilh be
interviewed by Mes. Allen, aud they will be made familiar with the
rules nnd preparations Teading to the actual pidping on the eve af
Sidney Day, which is held in conjunction with Dominton Day,

ormerhye the conte wre redtirdetod io Stdnvev yirls

woe ine pane

Sidney's Queen, Mins Linda Douna went on te win the Miss PUNE,
"Uitte and the following year wan crowned Miss Canada,
Sidnev Kinsmen, sponsors af the contest. widened the scope of the
coon petition Inet wear tn embrace the whole af Ssanich Peninsubs

Linda Pue was acclaimed Miss Mermaid and her pring PRES WOK!
Debhie Nichol and Trady Rogers. | |

4 ey im ik as

dunued with

Q The’ page-wire is. + topped with
barbed wire,
He said the damage amounted :

to between $400 and $500 and has _

setback: the. production “of |
planting stock and. sale stock by”
“beds. of different: varieties” of .

There are no residences. close

tothe field, but a distant neighbor -

reported her dog had started to

“bark at about. 1.30 a.m, Saturday.
“~~ when the attack on the bulb farm

All of the narcissus damaged "could have becn taking place.

“were imported from

* ‘The Owens have two dogs hit
they were asleep. in the house.
“What we-need> are

broken plants, leaves and flowers
seattered over the paths between
the: beds,»

Palice took note of foot prints in

the Mower beds and. said today:

thal investigations are: continu:

he varietios damaged are.

‘The
hulbs are worth AS, much as $2

_bpive ae

AS week: before,’

could have been a large animal,
There were human footprints
this time as there were three

years ago at Easter time when ae
fairly Jarge number of flowers
“were stolen,

Theft wasn’t the object in iagt
week's Incident. The plants were
amashed and the flowers, seat:
tered,

As one observer: noted “This
can only be the result ot it very

ek mind. a”

VIOLATION REPORT
Walter Norbury of Sidney was.
a traffic) violation
report for failure to yield riphtot-
ware ihiel pecaitad i any aes

ceident on March 4) at the junction

of Highway 17 and Wains Cross
Kond, Mrs Nerboury's cay collided

ath aovehicle driven by Havel

Corkett, alsa of Sidney, and. a
total of $1,000 damage . wag

vest Boapanre tl

~othe >

. bear
traps.” the dejected Mr. Owen
commented as he looked. at the

. some slight,
damage was ‘done at’ the plan»
lation by what Mr. Owen thinks

have been split into small
holdings many of which are
owned and. operated by
descendants of early pioneer
settlers. Only a few stands of
timber remain to remind us of
those days when every slope
was heavily wooded . and
farms were cleared acre by |
acre with the aid of oxen,
crude implements and cheap
labor when available. Then, as
now, the Saanich Peninsula
“was a- place of beauty with
sudden breathtaking vistas of -
the Olympic Mountains, the
islLand-jewelled Gulf of
Georgia and the peaceful
waters of the Saanich Inlet.

Gradually. over the years,
large farms became divided .
into: smaller units with sur-
vival dependent upon - high-
yield specialty crops. Saanich
Peninsula. strawberries. and
logans were famous on the
Prairies for early ripening
and superior flavor. But again
transportation became a pro- .
blem as freight rates cut the
producer’s profit.

Today the fruit farmer has 2

. diversified his crep to supply
Vancouver. and Victoria not
only with berries but also tree
fruits of the highest quality.
An ever increasing market on

mainland of British
Columbia “can . now © absorb

. fourteen tons of carrots, daily, :
trucked from storage sheds

previously used only for —

| potatoes and fruit. Over: two_
~ hundred, acres. of -winter..
cabbage paint. blue and green™.

patches on the fertile slopes of |.
_ Central Saanich alohg with a

hundred more of broccoli for
_. the city markets. ase
,. Because ° of’ scientific ‘crop |

‘management and. quick.
delivery, a growing | ‘demand i i

-. developing for a. More. e tasty
2 "fresh product...
= Again the: farmer. can‘take |

7 advantage of the mild winters
‘usual to this area and count on °

“a reasonable return from the —
Majority of. his" , Siversified, ar

crops.
- Another factor ina: ‘pattern.
of highly concentrated farm-

ing enterprise is the variety in

soil structure within the area,

Tt would seem that.an ancient .
geophysical | upheaval | stirred |

. the terrain in a mighty. tor-.
“ment throwing up unrelated .
» strips of mountainous outcrop,

-. gravel, clay and rich loam in ~
~ close: proximity, to the con-,.

‘sternation of the. ploughman |
“who must adjust -his
~ ever changing conditions...

“The... Saanich ~ Peninsula. is.
remarkable for a wide range

of horticultural industries. -
Once a market is established ..

. the success of the enterprise
depends to a large extent on
the skill and initiative of the
owner as reliable labor i ig in,
short supply. >

Contralling
Scrambles |

nanied Natucket, Chinese White, [
Saiiing Light, Ponteesina, Pirate
King. and. trish. Ministre).

In: Question

Activities of, Victoria Motor
Cycle Club currently organizing

scramble meetings ona course at’
Hink Bonnie Farm, Saanichtor,

were noticed by Central Saanich
council at Monday’s meeting. -

Having noted that no approach
to council. had been. made,
Alderman Ted ( Aayards enquired
whether there is any requirement

in the by-laws fora permit. some:
‘control | dif,
public watherings are, probably,

ordinance for the
needed, he said, -
Are we getling Into a altuation
where we .could . lose control;
ow hat ia cock fostival were ta be
organized on the slopes of Mount
Newton, were . questions that
disturbad bing,
OV bae said Gaal residents in tae
Haldon Road: area had been
contacted by the Club and hae
made no-objection.. Mavor Ao M.
Gilbralth avid that there are no
municipal regulations either
‘allowing or prohibiting such
meetings. bul the police could
Always uch ander the nuisance
hydae should there be cause to

Lada sey

“North.

share to:

Each farmer is a specialist
in his own particular branch of
agriculture and must acquire
a thorough knowledge of soil
management, crop rotation,
pest control and the require-
ments of a specific market.

A thriving fruit farm repre-

sents an investment of at least
sixty thousand dollars in land,
stock and equipment and is a
business undertaken only. by
those who are strong of back.
‘and ‘stout of heart.

A striking indication of the
success of these highly in-
dividualized enterprises is
that this: remains one of the
few communities in Canada
where vertical integration, or

the absorption of the small
farmer by big business, has
not yet become a problem.
To appreciate the realheart
of the Peninsula one must
leave the stark and crowded
highway and roam the country
roads which wind among tidy
fruit farms and orchards. In
the valleys rows of. potato
plants reach into the distance
with never a weed in sight. In
fertile fields and sunny slopes
one can marvel at the symme-

. . . le
try of perfectly trained logan

vines, heavy with fruit, know-
ing little of the skill which hes
behind their culture.

~ Fields’ of. daffodils create
brief splashes of gold and are

gathered quickly to bring a
Pacific Coast spring to prairie
dwellers still shivering in the
grip of winter.

In northern Saanich a bulb
grower builds mosaics of
brilliant. colors. from two
hundred varieties of exotic.
strangers from other lands set
against a backdrop of sea and
mountain,

Later. in the season eye-
catching glimpses of fhe
product of the seed. grower,
the dahlia specialist and shrub
nurseryman lend beauty to the
landscape.

Many. of these farms are
small by most standards but
“all are lovely in a’ special

sense and represent a way of
life which is the strength of the
community.
The tourist industry is
second only to lumber in
importance. on Vancouver:
Island. If, as the gloomy
predict, the horticulturalist
with ‘his colorful ‘display
should give way. to housing
development, the loss to the
visitor would be final and
irreparable. Most threatening
to the rural community is the
Teal estate promoter with his
pockets full of tempting pro-
positions for quick’ profit.
Many of the farms have

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

: Beacon Avenue
Property Sold

“The. former Sheil Service .
Station: vat. ‘the corner of

« Beacon: Ave. and Third St.,
Sidney, has. been. sold. by-:

. for ‘the. owner of: the.

"property. residing in Cali-*
- fornia.The- premises: have. i
‘been. vacant. for-more than |

Particular ‘of. the: trans-
“action “are, not yet. “avail-
«able, but the existing build-
“ing is ‘to. be demolished and: :

plans” are .to— ‘erecta
“structure of | entirely: aif- e
_ ferent charaeter. hae :

Gordon Hulme. Ltd. acting At

Saanichton Fair.
Grant Request
- Under Study —

increased attendance
expenses and. extra equipment,
“and | requested | Council for, a
grant.

The letter was ‘referred to the
finance committee for study.

- Saanichton Fall: Fair 1969, was.
“the biggest: in history, according:
to a letter received this week: by
North Saanich: Council from’ the.
-and South - Saanich
Agricultural Soceity. een ©
"President G. Michell wrote that.
never.
theless took its toll with increased

- BX-EDITOR of The Review, A
GC. (Digger) Dagg has: accepted

can: appointment: as a. public. in:

formation officer with the B.C.
The’ ‘retired,

F orest.-Service::

RGA. Group: “Captain who

‘lives at L0815 Deep Cove: Road):
“office” on’

‘Started in his’ new:
‘Monday of this week, He had
been: working. part- -time for: The
Review. as © North: Saanich
‘Municipal Council “stringer’’ in
recent months. His work in this
capacity will be taken over by
Mrs, Pat Munson, -

Oldfield: Road: Ww

- property fora future poultry: pro-

proceeding for. purchase. of the
‘Keating acreage, but. first it is

‘trial Zoning’ will not be changed.
Mayor A.M. Galbraith said that

by-law.

‘what ‘a future council might do,

definite assurances,

“idl its Chive" at

A SEAT REI iT SAVE ty the 10- year-old’
driver of this car when it hirned aver
three times and came. to rest beside
Patricia Hay Highway, half a mile south
of Mount Newlon Cross Read ou Manday..
The youth escaped without injury |
there was $4 600 tlamage to the car which
AW wep

“nitions said

ie Car ant
iyuat
re day es

Sp Cention

i

unexpect ted snow squall. Central Saanich
nes

another north-bound vehicle, slammed on
power br akes when he saw. a approach-

the boy piled antetn

loot control, The driver has

been issued with a juvenile one nee notice:
for driving:

without’ due care and at-

view. Photos,

the subject of a
“an appicatien to council by. Fatt’ Ses

‘Wished i in the future to construct
a factory. capable ‘of processing —

abe Spokesman - for: the. ‘company. from ‘1,000 to 2,000. birds ‘an hour;

“said that the firm is looking fora

cessing plant. Negotiations ‘are.

desired to know that the indus-:

Council therefore: could give. no”

“At had ‘been. indicated that ‘the |
firm is prepared to purchase the

we the
home”
‘ crystallized Monday when Wagon: ,

- Details of major commercia ial developments planned &
in the Keating area of. Central Saanich

' “Council | ‘could:

not itself.

change the industrial: zoning; it
- would be a matter for the: ‘public
“themselves ‘as. the. result , of a
: public | hearing,” »
Alderman. Don MacLaurin,

explained

-“T’cannot see this land being.

- used otherwise,” said the Mayor...
the’ proposed. operation is per-

“mitted in that area by the Zoning ©”
He: saw. no: change >:
coming, but said. council cannot.
“make any commitment. as’ to.’

CAMPSITE PROTEST \._
-Council received a letter. fro
Mrs; G.Y. Kirkpatrick, 1948:

. Keating Cross Road, protesting a

two-year delay. in processing her

application to establish a camp:

site. on her industrially zoned.

property on the: north “side of
ws Keating.

‘AWwasr remarked by ‘Alderman
Percy Lazarz that the severnl

applications to establish trailer

camps, are tabled pending the
preparation of a controlling by-):

| Taw. He said that the draft by-law”
probably needs only: one further

committee ‘seasion: before: it’ is:

‘brought to counell, and a Publis

hearing: would. follow. tne due

‘Suurae, 7

“VALLEY APPROVAL.
Wagonmaster mobile.
“factory. promotion

‘Train Watates Ltd. of Victoria —
‘announced that Munlelpal Affatrs |
Minister) Dan Campbell: has
approved | an application. to.
rezone a 6S-nere valloy ‘at the

north end, of: Mlarenee, Lake for:
‘development, of

luxury :
residential mobile home ‘park,
The development is to be
known: ag Hidden Valley, and.
plans for an Immediate start ona
complotely ‘new. style satellite —
community are in hand, The
company expects to have the firat
phase of the Park ready for occu.
pancy th late May or- early June
when’ several display homes |
should be ready for viewing.

New. Bylaws |

Sidney Council is charting new oo

bylaw to eontral rnhetotetan |

requirements and the building of |
duplexes, Mayor Stanley Dear >”

advised aldermen recently that
extensive dlecussions

NGCRANALY,

oo
minimuny: aren slowed and width
of Jot for subdivisiona. wilt DE os