Metchosin’s delayed exploration option of a village square space may cost the district

Municipalities across the country are increasingly looking at urban green spaces, referred to by urban designers and planners as “third spaces” to provide places for people to gather and build social connections. The term “third space” refers to places where people spend time between home (their ‘first’ place) and work (their ‘second’ place) and was coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg. Third spaces are locations that appeal to a broad cross-section of residents where people can exchange ideas and build relationships.  

Municipalities in the Westshore are bringing forth ideas for local third spaces, but they take time to be effectively envisioned and then approved by councils.

As early as 2018, Langford’s Official Community Plan recognized the value of “pocket parks” as part of its social and environmental sustainability efforts. The Town of View Royal’s Parks Master Plan also recognizes the need to “connect people to places for active and passive recreation.” The benefits of passive recreation and spontaneous socializing are things the newly formed Metchosin Village Society are highlighting about their own plans.

If Shannon Carman, chair of the District of Metchosin’s healthy community advisory committee and longtime leader of this green space project has her way, such a space will soon be built on the Metchosin Elementary School site. But, despite individual councillor support for it, there has been no firm answer from council on whether it will approve it. 

Carman received a grant of $30,000 from Healthy Communities BC in 2017 to consult with the community and design a new public gathering space and entryway to the Metchosin Elementary School site on Happy Valley Road. Ever since she received the grant, she’s been trying to convince the Metchosin council of the merits of her vision for Metchosin Village Square, a civic meeting and green space that would also help give the Metchosin Elementary school site a new, more permanent lease on life.

The Metchosin Village Planning Context Report survey, paid for by the Healthy Communities BC grant funding, showed residents overwhelmingly (83%) identified the social benefits (more opportunities to connect with other members of the community) as a key reason to move ahead with the proposed volunteer-led project. And when asked if they’d like to see a new public space in the village core, 66% said yes. Carman’s plan hits many birds with one stone. 

The district purchased the roughly five-acre Metchosin Elementary School property for $1.5 million from the Sooke School District in 2017 and has been faltering on what to do with it since. In the past, the district considered various options for the school, including using the facility as a sub-regional protective services training centre, a theatre, or as part of expanding local arts-based spaces. 

The Metchosin Village Square Society proposed to make the site a green space. The community-centred design would also serve as a beautiful entrance way to the school site.  

After nearly a decade of what she described as “stalling, pushback and confusion over things,” Carman finally received support for Metchosin Village Square when council approved it on July 23. Councillors Sharie Epp and Chief Administrative Officer Bob Payette agreed to do a site visit for the potential square. According to the Metchosin Village Square Society (MVSS) Facebook page, no confirmation was given to Carman about when, exactly, that would happen.

Coun. Jay Shukin acknowledged the project’s connection to enhancing the school as one of the drivers behind the MVSS who see the creation of a new entry point for the hall as a marketing feature for the building. “One of the values we have of the schools is the gym where we can hold concerts. It’s going to be challenging to make it a viable event space if we don’t have a clear entryway,” said Shukin.

“I think the Village Square idea is a wonderful idea,” he added.

Coun. Epp voiced her regrets around not siding with the Metchosin Village Society’s plan earlier and the potential loss of the opportunity due to the delays. “The costing of the school comes up over and over again,” she said. “We keep trying to do things piecemeal without wanting to spend any money to make it a much more viable, attractive school like it would have been good had we gone ahead with the Village Square Society’s plan.”

She bemoaned the delays in reaching consensus around responding to Metchosin Village Square Society’s proposal. She expressed her concerns in the meeting that the chance to go with the MVSS plan may have passed council by.

“Thanks to our postponement, we may have lost that opportunity of thousands of dollars in donations and in volunteer work as well as the money that people have had for a grant. I just find it really frustrating, and especially that we have really kind of blown our opportunity for this entrance [to the school],” said Epp.

There are still a number of outstanding considerations to be worked out, including the costs for the project and who shoulders them. In a recent Facebook post, Carman indicated that the cost to create the space would be $5K and $6 to $7K in volunteer hours and that Coun. Epp was exploring a community development grant for the project. This money will not directly come from the district. 

Payette told council he would have a more determinant report ready on the school and proposal in question ready in early September.