Uploaded on 2016-03-14 by AlessandraWeiss

Which are your top livability criteria? 1-Climate 2-Environment 3-Transportation 4-Culture 5-Infrastructure Why do we live where we live? I live in Victoria, BC and I moved here over 3 years ago after living in some of the coldest cities in Canada (Regina, Winnipeg). I live here because: -The weather is extremely mild and beautiful compared to the prairie provinces and the winter is relatively non-existent. -The proximity to the ocean and mountains for me creates a sense of freedom and the amount of nature/vegetation within the city and surrounding areas is therapeutic. -There seems to be more of a consciousness about the environment, many grass-roots organizations, interesting initiatives, and active citizens. -I was able to find a great job that provides me with stability. ![View of Victoria][1] To what extent does your own place of residence fulfill your ideal livability criteria? 1-Climate 90 (for a Canadian city) “Located in a sub-Mediterranean zone, Victoria, BC enjoys the mildest climate in Canada and the driest summers. Victoria boasts an average of 2,193 hours of sunshine yearly, and an eight month frost free season. Average annual rainfall is 84cm or 33.1 inches (compared to over 50 inches in New York). The average monthly rainfall in winter is 13.5cm (5.3 inches) and in the summer is less than 2.5 cm (1 inch).” http://www.tourismvictoria.com/plan/climate/ 2-Environment 80 We live in an awe inspiring city surrounded by nature, however, Victoria still shamefully dumps its raw sewage into the Ocean. After numerous years of controversy, the talks of a sewage treatment plant are finally beginning to solidify into a concrete plan. http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/seattle-is-tired-of-dealing-with-victoria-bcs-crap-vgtrn http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2016/03/09/victoria-region-settles-on-sites-for-sewage-treatment.html 3-Infrastructure 75 Some of the public spaces have a lot of potential but don’t seem to be used as optimally as they could, actually repelling people in subtle ways instead of attracting them and inviting them to stay. A few examples include: the uncomfortable materiality (stucco coating) on a central seating area in the heart of the city @ Centennial Square, a missed opportunity because of the lack of safety at night (and lighting) of one of the most lovely and historic alleyways in the city (Waddington Alley), many awkwardly placed and evidently empty street benches and chairs throughout various locations, among others. The new future public spaces designed next to our new Johnson St. Bridge are slightly underwhelming at best. This bridge is largest infrastructure the City has taken on and is one of the most important junctions. If we look at the images in the link below, particularly the West Plaza which is an area designed for viewing the city and entertainment, it only uses a small fraction of the opportunity existent within that space. http://www.johnsonstreetbridge.com/new-bridge/design/ 4-Transportation 80 Victoria’s crown as “Canada’s cycling capital” in the 1980s and 1990s, had approximately 10% of the population riding their bikes to work. However, the Bicycle Master Plan was not updated for numerous years until recently in 2015. Cycling has now been recognized as a valuable force in fueling many aspects that will contribute to increasing the quality of life for residents and tourists alike in the coming years. “Affectionately coined #Biketoria, the resulting roadmap is being championed by newly-elected Mayor Lisa Helps, who went on the record to state their city will become “the best small cycling city in the world.” http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2016/01/biketoria-cycling-city/ 5-Culture 70 In general, the slower pace of the island is evident when in Victoria. The vibrancy of the city fluctuates and parts of the downtown can sometimes seem desolate. There are many great communities throughout, yet not many unifying factors. How can Victoria come together and ignite its existence further? Based on my ideal livability criteria: 79 General livability score: 70 4. What would you change? If I were the mayor, the first measure I would take to improve livability would be to enhance and connect our urban public spaces utilizing our number one, yet somewhat invisible industry: tech. This could help redefine the city’s now evolving yet historically based identity and benefit those engaging with it, young and old alike. It could be developed in ways intended to encourage urban exploration, participation, learning, and interaction for tourists and locals alike. It could perhaps mobilize our visitors and invite them to freely roam and discover away from the beautiful historical downtown ‘bubble,’ that merely showcases one facet of our active and dynamic city. 5. Why do we move? -Barcelona–Inspiring Architecture-Vibrant Arts & Culture Hub–Many Urban Parks-Lifestyle -Tokyo-Modern-Innovative-Fascinating Culture-Peaceful nature surrounding the city-Surprise -Berlin-Urban Vitality-Thriving Industries-Transformative-Creative Hub-A general sense of unpretentious Fun [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14579165657326482.jpg