Oak Bay Marina/Spewhung and Reconciliation

If you are a resident of, or do business in, the District of Oak Bay, you need to be fully aware of a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our community to take a significant step on the long road towards a reconciled relationship with the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, whose relationship with the land continues to this day. In short, the district has been considering the future of the land on which the Oak Bay Marina stands, since the current 30-year lease is expiring. The area is known as Spewhung to the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lewungen) people and once featured prominently in their historical use and occupation.

As most of you are aware, last fall St Mary's formally joined/co-founded ReconciliACTION Oak Bay (link opens in new window): a community-based network for the purpose of taking concrete steps toward meeting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action. And as part of our diocese and the Anglican Church of Canada, we are ourselves deeply committed to this healing journey.

As this important specific opportunity (the marina/Spewhung land use) is coming to a climax in our community, ReconciliACTION Oak Bay have compiled a brief summary of the issues, the process as it has played out to this point, and suggested ways for residents to make their voices heard. See the attachment on this page.

Let us not fail to put our faith and our words into action on this vital journey.