Victoria Bowmen Outdoor Range Updates

Updated July 13, 2020

Please be aware that contractors from BC Transit may come to the range at any time, and are to be afforded our utmost courtesy. If they need the range for a time, please comply and move aside or stop shooting until they are finished in that area.

From the President

We have received our official notification from the Ministry of Transport (our landlord), that we must be off the property by September 1, 2020. There isn’t much we can do until then, but I would ask that you watch the newsletter and website for information on the work that will commence mid-August.

We hope to have some news on extended indoor shooting at Saanich Commonwealth Place once the Covid shutdowns are eased.

– Al Wills

News Releases

Relocation Information

A foreword from our president, Al Wills: We licence our outdoor range from the BC Government. They own that land and have recently transferred it to BC Transit. While application by BC Transit to put a handyDART parking/maintenance facility on the land was rejected by the View Royal Council it would appear the Provincial government will take steps to make it happen. As of September 25, 2019, we  have been given a tentative deadline of June 2020 to vacate the property. This is going to be the best place to keep up with our plans, we hope to keep this page up-to-date with the latest accurate news on our situation.

Remember we always will have indoor shooting. If worst comes to worst and we lose that outdoor range we will be looking very hard and fast for a replacement outdoor range (we have some prospects that we hope to share soon) and would consider extending indoor range hours. I urge you to support the club by renewing your 2020 dues regardless of the outdoor range situation, with your support we can continue our search and work to keep archery alive and well in the Victoria area.

Remember, the Victoria Bowmen is a ‘full service’ archery club and we’ve been around for a long, long time and have weathered such storms before! We are still going to host the 2021 Canadian Championships and will still support our many club programs.

If we have to leave the present property and our search for a new property does not find anything suitable, the Board will consider partial membership fee refunds for those requesting them. A fair refund would account for the pro-rata time of year and pro-rata costs for running the club and the ranges. Unfortunately, the portion of fees for BCAA/AC insurance/membership cannot be refunded.

Please feel free to discuss with me and or any board member your questions or concerns or please attend our monthly board meetings to have yourself heard. We hope you will continue to support your club for another year, at least!

We welcome any member opinions or recommendations, as well as those from the public. You can leave a comment at the bottom of this page, or contact us through our online form.

If you are proposing a relocation site, please keep the following requirements in mind:

  • Lots must be +70m in length in order to enable full distance shooting plus space behind the shooting line.
  • Lots must not be currently in use by any conflicting owner or organization.
  • Ideal, but not necessary:
    • 24/7 access
    • Reasonable public transit access
    • Space for parking
    • Populated area (so as to avoid vandals and theft)
    • Cleared of trees

For historical context, here is the final result of one of our searches:

Thetis Lake Pistol Range

In July 2002, the CRD Board adopted the recommendations of the Thetis Lake Pistol Range Advisory Group that the site become naturalized parkland within Thetis Lake Regional Park. In 2010, the Regional Parks Committee discussed other options, including using the site for an archery range. At that time, the Town of View Royal passed a council resolution reminding the Regional Parks Committee of the Board approved recommendation to rehabilitate the site to its natural state.

At the direction of the CRD Board, the CRD has invested significant financial resources and effort to remediate the contaminated soils in the former pistol range and to restore the natural vegetation in the area, with the objective of returning that area to use as park land.  Use of the area as an archery range is not consistent with the objective of restoring this site to a natural state.

If you have any questions regarding the foregoing, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Regards,

Brett Hudson
Manager, Planning, Resource Management and Development
Regional Parks
Capital Regional District

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