Tillicum Green Infrastructure Project

Introduction

The Tillicum Green Infrastructure Project is a partnership project coordinated by the District of Saanich to mitigate climate change and upgrade the Tillicum-Burnside area with more tree canopy cover. The project includes the creation of multiple rain gardens and extensive tree and vegetation planting at the following locations:

1. The residential roads of Albina Street, Maddock Avenue and Orillia Street around Tillicum Elementary School.
   • The plantings and rain gardens will be installed on the boulevard and integrated with road and sidewalk improvements.
   • Construction began in early 2025 and is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2025.
   • More information can be found on the Albina-Maddock-Orillia Road Improvements project webpage here.
2. Tillicum Elementary School, in partnership with the Greater Victoria School District.
   • The landscape design for the school site has been drafted with feedback incorporated from Tillicum Elementary administration, School District staff including the Facilities Department and the Indigenous Education Department, and the Elder’s Advisory Council.
   • In-classroom learning about native planting and climate change is ongoing.

Landscape Design

The landscape design on school property will be unveiled at the March 11, 2025 Open House and uploaded to this website on the same day. The design includes tree planting, cluster planting (trees and vegetation) with split rail protective fencing as well as a raingarden and outdoor classroom (subject to funding).

Community Engagement

Feedback Opportunities

• Open House: March 11, 2025 from 4pm to 6pm (drop-in format) in the gymnasium at Tillicum Elementary School
• Online Survey (opens March 11 and closes April 8): https://forms.office.com/r/U18CmCR0dK

Media Advisories & Releases

• Media Advisory [February 27, 2025]: Open House at Tillicum Elementary Invites Community Feedback on Outdoor Design with Climate Focus in Partnership with the District of Saanich

Background Information

Climate Change and Green Infrastructure

As many of us have experienced, our summers are getting hotter and we are experiencing more extreme weather events, such as heat domes, wildfires, major storms and extreme rainfall or atmospheric rivers. Our latest regional climate projections show that these events will be more frequent and extreme in future.

Green infrastructure such as trees, rain gardens and natural areas, offer many benefits (or ecosystem services), that help us be resilient to these climate changes. Benefits include shade, stormwater management, air purification, carbon sequestration, water quality, and more.

The Tillicum-Burnside area has been identified in the Urban Forest Strategy as a neighbourhood with one of the lowest tree canopy covers in Saanich and highly vulnerable to extreme heat, as shown in the Capital Regional District’s Extreme Heat Information Portal. The site also lies near important natural ecosystems such as Portage Inlet and Cuthbert Holmes Park and is in Primary Growth Area of Saanich that is expected to see community development in the coming years.

Funding

This project is being generously supported by a $396,865 grant from the Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation (DRR-CA) funding stream of the Provincial Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF).  This is administered by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM).

More Information

Visit the District of Saanich project website for more information.