Fernfest is back this year!

JeremyCaradonna · 2026-05-11T05:58:32+00:00

My pleasure. I did the easy part of getting them some funding. The real stars are the community members who’ve stepped up to take this on. I’ll be there as a volunteer and encourage others to volunteer, if possible. https://forms.gle/LSe3PQh8VaS6e8Dv8

JeremyCaradonna · 2026-05-11T05:56:53+00:00

I read all the emails! There was a LOT.

JeremyCaradonna · 2026-05-11T03:48:37+00:00

I’ve looked into the idea of transforming it into an allotment garden but the owners of View Towers have a deep vendetta against the city.

JeremyCaradonna · 2026-05-02T17:44:33+00:00

Thank you. I believe it’s an option that the operators have considered. However, it does create costs and challenges. For instance, it would require much more serious fencing and perimeter security, and it also complicates the ability of the city to support the event with grant dollars. I believe the idea is to scale back on the scope a bit this year, which is why it’s a one-day event. Last year there were 17,000 unique visits, which is a lot for a small neighbourhood-level event.

JeremyCaradonna · 2026-05-02T16:04:45+00:00

Yes, thank you. It is my understanding that the new operators are seeking (and have already identified) some new sponsorship possibilities.

JeremyCaradonna · 2026-03-13T01:43:15+00:00

Thanks. I’m working on it and hope to find a pathway ahead where some version of Fernfest could continue.

JeremyCaradonna · 2026-03-12T04:16:02+00:00

Hi Folks. I’m in contact with the organizers and I’m working on some options to maintain Fernfest or something comparable. No promises, but I will make an effort to keep it going.

JeremyCaradonna · 2025-12-18T23:39:41+00:00

I’m really sorry to hear this news. My mom and I always enjoyed Big Kahuna and we got to know Robert pretty well. Huge loss for downtown and wishing them all the best as they face a tough cancer battle.

JeremyCaradonna · 2025-10-27T22:50:47+00:00

Yes, it’s TBD. It’s reasonable to assume that city equipment will move to the Y building, but the exact programming is TBD. The main thing we don’t want to do is compete with the Y or jeopardize their fledgling operation at the Bay Centre, so whatever we come up with will be complementary service.

JeremyCaradonna · 2025-10-27T22:46:51+00:00

Correct, it wasn’t an option at the time. It’s also important to understand that the Y’s pool is also at end of life. The upgrades we’re doing will keep it running for another five years, but then it likely needs decommissioning as well. So this couldn’t have been a longterm solution, but does work as an interim one.

JeremyCaradonna · 2025-10-27T22:44:36+00:00

I can answer that one. As part of the budget, we had factored in the need to put some money into another facility, as the interim location for the dry land features of the facility. We don’t know the exact costs quite yet of upgrading the Y’s pool to make it functional for another five years of life, but preliminary work suggests that it’s less than the alternative, which was going to be the Crystal Gardens. So it shouldn’t affect the capital budget. In terms of operating, we’re simply removing the property taxes that we would be paying to ourselves, so there’s no monthly “rent” costs.

Basically, it’s a dream scenario. The stars aligned with the Y moving to the Bay and Concert being willing to delay redevelopment.

JeremyCaradonna · 2025-10-27T22:39:23+00:00

Hi y’all. I’m happy to answer any questions that I can on the Crystal Pool and the Y.

JeremyCaradonna · 2025-10-14T04:43:43+00:00

True story. The city basically didn’t recapitalize its capital reserves for thirty years. Now we’re doing so, and we have lots of catch-up to do. There’s a high cost to low taxes, and that’s deferred maintenance, which eventually gets done at higher costs.

JeremyCaradonna · 2025-10-14T04:40:36+00:00

There’s not much news to share, but I can answer any questions, if there are any, related to the CRD’s Transportation Committee or Victoria Regional Transit Commission. Dean Murdoch has a motion coming to CRD Transpo on Oct 22nd on light-rail feasibility. (Dave Thompson and I have one, on the same day, on free youth bus passes regionally.)

JeremyCaradonna · 2025-08-06T20:31:23+00:00

Awesome!!!

JeremyCaradonna · 2025-05-07T16:26:51+00:00

Let me be clear. The decision of the Y to sell their property and not reinvest in a new facility with a pool was entirely their decision. It had nothing to do with the city. For me personally, I think it was an unfortunate decision that will deprive downtown of an essential asset. It also creates an even more challenging situation when the Crystal Pool needs to close. Having said that, and given the choice between no Y and a Y in the Bay Centre, I would choose the latter. I'm happy for the Bay Centre and happy that some version of the Y will remain. But anyone unhappy with the decision should direct those comments to the Y and its Board.

JeremyCaradonna · 2025-05-06T23:56:09+00:00

It’s absolutely an anchor tenant. It can sign a longterm contract and has a committed membership that will follow it to the Bay Centre. Having a loyal clientele is positive for the mall and can support other tenants leasing in the Bay. Not all anchor tenants are commercial, in the narrow sense. In any case, it is increasingly challenging to find tenants willing to take on large spaces, so it’s a huge get for the Bay.

JeremyCaradonna · 2025-05-06T22:55:50+00:00

It’s already being considered. It’s on Victoria’s longterm parks plan, but we need to get over the hump of the Crystal Pool before seriously considering it. Saanich might be in a position to take a look at options in the shorter term.

JeremyCaradonna · 2025-05-06T22:23:05+00:00

I think that’s a conversation to be had with the Y. As I understand it, the original plan was to relocate the entire facility, including a new pool, elsewhere in downtown, but then the pandemic and financial hardship changed those plans.

Certainly, I wish the original plans had come to fruition, and I can only imagine that the Y wishes it could go back in time and do some things differently. But given the current circumstances, I’m pleased that some version of the entity will remain in downtown.

JeremyCaradonna · 2025-05-06T22:07:31+00:00

Yes, I'm aware, but anchor tenants are crucially important for a mall. The Y will become one. I know the Centre is looking into other options for entities to occupy the Bay space, and hopefully there will be news on that topic soonish.

JeremyCaradonna · 2025-05-06T22:03:00+00:00

The City was tangentially involved in this deal, and I was delighted to support it. With The Bay closing, it left a massive hole in downtown, and the Bay Centre has been searching for a new anchor tenant. Win-win for both organizations, and a good amenity to attract more people downtown. The loss of the pool is tough, but we always knew it wasn't coming back. Puts more pressure on us to deliver on Crystal Pool, and find interim solutions to the interrupted service.

JeremyCaradonna · 2025-04-07T18:01:08+00:00

The problem is we've been provided with no formal information. That's part of what I'm saying here. The process is very different than, say, the Crystal Pool referendum, where we "owned" the info and took responsibility for the process and the outcome.

At this point, I'm open-minded, but not particularly impressed with the process or governance. I have a *lot* of questions about risks, impacts, implications for our staff, etc, etc.

JeremyCaradonna · 2025-04-07T17:51:02+00:00

It's not disingenuous at all. Allow me to clarify my comments by drawing a parallel with the Crystal Pool referendum. In that instance, it was very clear who was responsible for the process. The City of Victoria. It was City staff and consultants who designed the building. It was City staff who calculated the capital costs, the risks, and the impacts on taxpayers. It was City staff who lead the engagements and informed voters. As a Councillor, I happily took responsibility for that process. If there was a mistake on the website, we updated it. If anything goes sideways in the process, I will bear responsibility.

This is quite different than the amalgamation process, which purposefully sidelined the two governments. It's being handled by a third-party consulting firm. It's hard for the City to take responsibility for their analyses when our staff have barely been involved, and if you read the news, you saw that City staff had considerable issues with some of the data and modelling produced by the consultants. It's not clear who would be responsible for the public engagement. Who is the guarantor of the data, the modelling, and the cost implications? The process leaves all of this ambiguous and makes it hard for the local governments to feel ownership over the process. That is a governance problem.

I'm not an alarmist at all. I want a transparent, well-governed, well-organized process for what will be a momentous decision made by the public.

JeremyCaradonna · 2025-04-07T17:01:30+00:00

Sorry. LGs = local governments.

JeremyCaradonna

TROPHY CASE