VRMNC Speaker Luncheon – April 24

PRESENTATION:  The Capital Regional District (CRD): It’s Role. Priorities and Challenges

SPEAKER:  On April 24, CRD Chair Cliff McNeil-Smith will be the featured speaker. Mr. McNeil-Smith, who is also Mayor of Sidney, will speak on the role of the Capital Regional District (CRD), its priorities and future challenges. The CRD is the regional government for 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, serving about 460,000 people. The region includes traditional territories of many First Nations where 11 of these Nations hold reserve lands. It provides services that involve regional water supply, solid waste, wastewater treatment, regional parks, housing, 911 call answer, and recreation facilities. For electoral areas outside of municipal boundaries, the CRD acts as a local government, providing services and delivering projects at the local level. The CRD, the Capital Region Health District  and Capital Region Housing Corporation (CRHC) financial plans combine to form a consolidated budget totaling $891 million. In short, the CRD plays a crucial governance role in Greater Victoria.

Mr. McNeil-Smith, owner of Tanner Books in Sidney, was first elected Mayor of Sidney in 2018 having served as a Councilor since 2009. He was the founder and first President of the Sidney Business Improvement Area, an association that has focused on making downtown Sidney an attractive shopping and tourist destination. He was elected Chair of the CRD (by other CRD Directors) in November of 2024.

Please note that the lunch venue has changed. Lunch will be at the Sports View Lounge on the 2nd floor of the Oak Bay Recreation Centre, 1975 Bee Street, near the intersection of Fort St and Foul Bay Road. There is substantial free parking at the Rec Centre. Overflow could consider parking in the Save On Foods shopping center or on Goldsmith. Doors will open at 11:30.

TICKETS: Click + sign then click Get Tickets. When complete you will receive two emails, 1) payment receipt from PayPal, and 2) ticket from software. If you do not get these two emails you have not completed your ticket.  Sales cutoff is April 20, 4pm.

WAITLIST: Contact Organizer (Peter Boland: peter.boland@shaw.ca) if the event is sold out.