Families, couples and individuals from around the District gathered in and around the Metchosin municipal hall Sunday, to have some fun and offer input on the use of public spaces nearby.
One of the event’s organizers, Shannon Carman, chair of Metchosin’s healthy communities advisory committee, was thrilled with the turnout and the diversity of residents who showed up.
“We had young families, we had young people without kids, older folks who’ve been here for ages and people who just moved in. It was a really neat cross-section,” she said. “They all had very neat ideas about the public space and how it could be used.”
Six stations, including a kids’ space, were set up at various points on the grounds around the hall and the public market area, using a scavenger hunt idea as a way to reintroduce people to the common spaces. Maps were also handed out to allow people to note how they get around the area.
Among the ideas suggested was for the bandshell or nearby fields be utilized for showing drive-in movies. Others asked that arts and culture be a more prominent part of the area.
Carman is also among the proponents of a designated village square idea, which could tie in with the possible future sale by the Sooke School District of the former Metchosin elementary school. The building currently houses the Glow Arts gallery and the Metchosin Seniors Information and Resource Centre.
The committee will be compiling a report for council cataloging the input and the comments from the day, to be used for future planning purposes.
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