Draft:Oaklands neighbourhood, city of Victoria

• Comment: This seems like a solid start to an article. There is a little bit too much flowery wording and information is not communicated in a neutral tone. Also, I recommend to structure your article to conform to the normal layout of articles. cyberdog958^Talk 05:20, 6 January 2025 (UTC)

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Oaklands, Greater Victoria Area

Oakland's Community Mosaic embedded in the sidewalk at the entrance to Oaklands Park, Victoria, British Columbia. Artist Sandra Millott

The Oaklands neighbourhood is one of 12 neighbourhoods in the City of Victoria [1], on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in the province of British Columbia [2], In relation to other local municipalities, it is centrally located along the municipality of Victoria's northern border with the District of Saanich [3]. Other surrounding, local Victoria neighbourhoods include North Jubilee on the east, Fernwood to the south, and Quadra/Hillside on the west. The Oaklands is approximately 173 hectares in area. The Oaklands neighbourhood consists mostly of single family homes with some low rise apartment blocks, and it is dissected by major thoroughfares linking other neighbourhoods and municipalities. In addition to these physical structures the Oakland's neighbourhood has amenities such as parks, schools, local shops and restaurants, shopping centres and social housing. Many neighbourhood initiatives and celebrations, that engage neighbours are much anticipated major interactive attractions.

History

First Nations

The Lekwungen people (the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations) lived in the area of southern Vancouver Island for thousands of years, and this area still remains the traditional territory of the Lekwungen people.  Before colonization and development, the area was made up of woodlands and open meadows, which were used by the Lekwungen people for food foraging, food cultivation and careful land management. The Oaklands neighbourhood was carved out of their traditional land as part of the colonization of British Columbia and Vancouver Island.

The Oaklands neighbourhood

Development

Wall Mural "What is Community?", Oaklands neighbourhood, Victoria, British Columbia. Artists Beth Threlfall and Jenni Corrin.

The current Oaklands area was surveyed in 1850 and divided into large plots of land with farms and orchards first established in the northwestern parts of the Oaklands.   An intensive housing boom occurred between 1910 and 1913.  As the City of Victoria expanded during the early 1900's, the modest housing created in the Oakland neighbourhood were advertised as being close of downtown but still maintaining a rural feel [pre 1920 }. A census in the early 2000's approximated that 7200 people lived in the Oaklands community.  

Name and Natural history

The Oaklands neighbourhood takes its name from the Garry oak tree [Quercus garryana], which occurs in throughout the neighbourhood. Under natural settings the Garry Oak tree predominates in an ecosystem of woodlands to meadows.  And the Garry oak is uniquely adapted to the Mediterranean-like climate found in the rain shadow of the southern end of Vancouver Island. As urban developments occur, fewer open meadows and wooded natural areas of Garry Oak remain. Pursuant to these changes the Garry Oak tree in the Oaklands neighbourhood is limited to small artificial refugia of urban parks and boulevards, and private and city lots. The restoration of the Garry Oak and the preservation of its natural habitat, Garry Oak Meadow preservation society , are major initiatives in the Oaklands neighbourhood.

Amenities

Cemetery

The Bays Ha Chayim Jewish Cemetery, consecrated in 1859, is the oldest continuous operating non-indigenous cemetery in British Columbia

Local Shopping Areas

Independent stores and services at the 1100 block of Haultain Avenue include Haultain Fish and Chips and The Friendly Giant window washing. In the 1400 block of Haultain Avenue in an area referred to as Haultain Corners, are the Local General Store and U Retreat Wellness and Boutique. At the eastern edge of the Oaklands near the corner of Kings Road and Shelbourne Street is Vancouver Island's finest leather shoemaker. In the north east corner of the Oaklands, along Cedar Hill Road, are Roxy's Barber shop, Oaklands Veterinary Hospital, and Just for You Fashions tailoring. Hillside Avenue at the corner of Cedar Hill Road has numerous independent local shops including Ooh LaLa cupcakes + cakes, Emerald Day spa and All Victoria Vacuums. A major shopping area, along Hillside Avenue between Doncaster Drive and Shelbourne Street, includes the Hillside Mall, other shopping plazas and Oakwood manor a retirement home.

Attractions

Architecture

Since the Oaklands neighbourhood was established in the late 1800's and through the following years of house building, the neighbourhood has many fine examples of early house building such as Edwardian Vernacular Arts & Crafts houses (1904-1914) and Craftsman Bungalows (1900-1930). The Victoria Heritage Foundation operates a registry of 20^th-century architectural house styles, and the Victoria Heritage Foundation have identified the Oaklands Rise area in the northwestern corner of the Oaklands as an area of interest for house architectural types.

Oaklands Outdoor Art

Outdoor art in the Oaklands a local inventory initiative of outdoor art, which reflects the local cultures, social events and environment of the Oaklands Neighbourhood. Art pieces range from street and house paintings and murals to mosaics and wood carvings.

Parks and Green space

The Oaklands neighbourhood has eight parks/green spaces of varying size and function: David Spencer Park (playing fields and open space) is named for David Spencer, a business man who lived in Victoria with his family from 1864 until his death in 1920. Oswald Park has the Oswald Community Garden; an allotment garden, which is one of the many gardens of the city of Victoria's Community Garden initiative, as well as a playground, basketball court, and a dog off-leash area. Oaklands Park features a children's playground, large playing fields, public washrooms, a dog off-leash area, and tennis and pickle ball courts. Mount Stephen Park is a protected Garry Oak area. Hamilton Park is a green space. Oaklands (Holly) Green is a protected green space. Clawthorpe Park has a playground. Ryan Road Green Space: The Ryan Street Greenways Project and the related Garry Oak Restoration project led by students, focused on invasive plant removal, native plant additions, and slope stabilization within a city-owned site on Ryan Street.

Pedestrian priority walkway

Oaklands Rise Woonerf. Painted intersection. Oaklands neighbourhood, Victoria, British, Columbia.

The walkway in the Oaklands, also referred to as a Woonerf, is a pedestrian priority and living street, which is shared with all ages and mobilities, and with slow moving motor vehicles. The Oakland Rise Walkway with one end near the Oaklands Rise area of Kings Street is adorned with painted intersections, painted planters, seating benches as well as a parklet, and it carries on through to Oaklands park.

Sport venues, past and present

The Oaklands had supported a boxing venue (Mount Stephen Athletic Club - 1934 to 1936) on a property in the 2600 block of Mount Stephen Avenue. Baseball has been played since 1953 at the ballpark near the corner of Cook Street and Hillside Avenue in the Oaklands. Currently, the Jerry Hale Field is the home to the Victoria Nation Little League, which is the longest running Little League on Vancouver Island.  Tennis and Pickleball courts are at the south end of Oaklands Park, and Oaklands Park also hosts seasonal baseball diamonds and a soccer pitch.  The area is also shared as an off-leash dog park. Oswald Park also hosts an off-leash dog park.

Tree cover

The name sake Garry Oak tree predominates as one of the principal trees of boulevards, parks and residential properties. Over the years and because of Victoria’s favourable climate for tree growth many non-native and native tress have been planted on city properties as well as on private properties.  The tree planting efforts by the City of Victoria have been recognized and awarded the honorific of a “tree city of the world”, for 4 years running.  The total percentage for the city of Victoria that is tree covered is 27%, whereas a slightly higher percentage of tree cover (28%) is found in the Oaklands neighbourhood. Over the years the City of Victoria has strategically planted certain species of trees along city streets considering flowering type and timing. A living fossil, the Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba), is planted along most of the length of Belmont Avenue between Ryan Street and Haultain Street. Another living fossil, the dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is represented by two specimen in the Oaklands neighbourhood; one on Pearl Street between Shakespeare Street and Scott Street, and the second on the northeast corner of Oswald Park.

Water courses

Wall Mural "The Flood" depicting the 1935 flood of Haultian Avenue, in the Oakland Neighbourhood, Victoria, British Columbia. Artist Kay Gallivan

Two seasonal creeks are influenced by the Oaklands neighbourhood.  The more major one, Bowker creek, flows year-round with a flow rate increasing with winter rains.   Bowker creek is above ground with two starting points in the municipality of Sannich. The Bowker creek watershed drains the north west corner of the Oaklands . As Bowker Creek flows through the Oaklands it is completely culverted. The culverted section has attracted some ‘Draining Adventurers” . The creek is again above ground through the neighbourhood of North Jubilee and the district the Oak Bay before exiting into the ocean at Oak Bay. The ‘Friends of Bowker Creek’ are committed to daylighting the creek as well as other ecological restorations.  A minor seasonal water course is the Rock Bay creek.  Although the creek did not directly flow through the Oaklands, the watershed for the creek drained parts of the eastern side of the Oaklands.  The Rock Bay creek was culverted during the early years of urban development to allow for land development but also to control its flow.  ‘Damaging floods in the past (1935) along Haultain street, was the reason that flow controls were instituted. The Rock Bay Revival’ is intent on daylighting the full length of Rock Bay creek.

School and Societies

Housing societies

The M’akola Housing Society provides housing primarily for indigenous people and families.  The Kiwanis club operates the Kiwanis Village – seniors housing in the Oaklands.  There are also several housing cooperatives (Co-ops) in Oaklands: The Alf Toone Housing Co-op on Mount Stephen Road, and Heatheridge Housing Co-op on Hillside Avenue. The Piercy Respite Hotel is a respite service that provides individuals and their caregivers with a period of rest and renewal.

Public and not for profit Institution

The BC Protestant Orphanage was built in 1893 from the funds of a bequest, and it functioned as a 100 bed orphanage. In 1970 the orphanage became an organization offering support for families and was renamed 'The Cridge Centre for the Family' after its founding member, Bishop Edward Cridge. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Cridge Centre on October 1, 2016, to dedicate a statue to 'overcomers' of domestic violence. The Aberdeen Hospital, run by Island Health, is a long-term care hospital for adults with complex neurological challenges.

Totem pole inspired by the students at Oaklands Elementary School, Victoria, British Columbia. Artist Carey Newman. Unveiled in 2021.

School

The Oaklands School was built in 1913.  The original school building and an addition (1998) continue to serve the families in the Oaklands. Today the school offers programs for Kindergarten to grade 5 for approximately 450 students.  The Oaklands

Community Association is also housed in the current school building and it offers day care, afterschool care and a variety of programs and events throughout the year.  

Notable Items

Inhabitants; past and present

Carey Newman, an indigenous artist, lives in the Oaklands neighbourhood. Among the many art pieces created by Carey is his well known Witness Blanket that reflects on Canada's residential schools. Notable streets in the Oaklands, i.e., Asquith Street named after the United Kingdom Prime Minister [H. H. Asquith], Avebury Street named after Baron Avebury [Baron Avebury], Haultain Street, named after Fredrick Haultain a Canadian politician [Frederick W. A. G. Haultain] and Roseberry Avenue named after the Earl of Roseberry.  

Streets

Trees of Remembrance: Approximately 6 blocks of the Shelbourne Street Memorial Trees is in the Oaklands, from North Dairy Road south to Haultain Street. Planting of the trees, a mixture of London Plane [Platanus × hispanica] trees and American Mountain Ash [Sorbus americana], began in 1921.  They were to honour and memorialize the war dead - fallen soldiers and nurses of British Columbia - in the First World and Boer Wars. The trees now represent loss in all of Canada's wars.