Perhaps the toughest part about chairing of the West Shore Parks and Recreation board is ensuring that six very different municipalities all feel content with the societyB次元官网网址檚 direction and initiatives.

The West ShoreB次元官网网址檚 diverse voices, coming from growing and non-growing communities, and a problematic system that gives any municipality veto rights, continue to make the post a challenging one, said Colwood Coun. Rob Martin, who will soon step down as chair after four years in the position.

He nonetheless said the board has worked especially hard the last few years to maintain a high level of cohesiveness, and heB次元官网网址檚 pleased with what theyB次元官网网址檝e been able to accomplish.

At the forefront of those accomplishments is the annual Rock the Shores music festival, which has brought in high-profile Vancouver Island and international artists to perform at the Juan de Fuca fields every July since 2012. The three-day event has been so successful that itB次元官网网址檚 become one of the societyB次元官网网址檚 major revenue sources. The festival brings in more money than an entire season of either the Victoria Grizzlies or Victoria Shamrocks, for example, which are basically break-even initiatives for the organization, according to Martin.

B次元官网网址淩ock the Shores meets a lot of needs within our community,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd itB次元官网网址檚 one of those things that I donB次元官网网址檛 think our community recognizes how important it is, and how important it is to support that B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 something that I think adds a lot of value to the joy of living here on the West Shore.B次元官网网址�

View Royal Mayor David Screech, who held a position on the board under Martin until 2014, also pointed to the festivalB次元官网网址檚 success as a major coup.

B次元官网网址淚 think one thing thatB次元官网网址檚 happened under (Martin) are events like Rock the Shores, and different events to raise alternate sources of revenue for West Shore Parks and Rec have certainly improved,B次元官网网址� Screech said.

Other important moves during MartinB次元官网网址檚 tenure include welcoming the Velox Rugby Football Club (now Westshore RFC), which moved from lands owned by the University of Victoria; upgrades to several of the organizationB次元官网网址檚 facilities, and the successful hosting of the PintyB次元官网网址檚 Grand Slam of Curling at The Q Centre earlier this year.

Martin travels a lot for work and said he makes a point to check out recreation facilities in each of the communities he visits.

He believes the variety of facilities on the sprawling Juan de Fuca site in Colwood are something the community can be proud of.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a gorgeous facility that I donB次元官网网址檛 think we recognize how lucky we are to have,B次元官网网址� he said.

Martin also points to balanced books and a solid revenue stream from user fees, which made up over 50 per cent of the organizationB次元官网网址檚 revenue in 2015, as a significant accomplishment.

As of now, itB次元官网网址檚 uncertain which board member will take over as chair.

Martin plans to focus more on his work with the Greater Victoria Public Library board, where he currently sits as vice-chair, while still maintaining an active role as a West Shore Parks and Recreation board member.

Moving forward, he would like to see the boardB次元官网网址檚 veto system changed B次元官网网址� a move that would, ironically enough, require 100 per cent approval.

Screech agrees with Martin on that subject, preferring a B次元官网网址榯wo-thirdsB次元官网网址� system of governance.

The View Royal mayor would also like to see more active engagement between the organization and the municipalities it serves, including regular updates at council meetings.

B次元官网网址淭hey need to reach out more and find out what the municipalityB次元官网网址檚 plans and desires are, because I think thereB次元官网网址檚 been a bit of a disconnect between the municipal councils and West Shore Parks and Recreation,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淎nd we need to figure out a way to bridge that so that weB次元官网网址檙e all on the same page and weB次元官网网址檙e communicating.B次元官网网址�

Major projects on the horizon include a skatepark B次元官网网址� potential sites are being explored by Parks and Rec. staff and a local coalition B次元官网网址� and an increased need for newer and larger facilities, as Colwood and Langford continue to experience growth.

At times, differing needs between an urban community like Langford, which has constructed a number of its own recreation facilities, and a rural municipality like Metchosin has created tension. With that in mind, Martin stressed the importance of compromise as a key to the organizationB次元官网网址檚 future success.

B次元官网网址淓ach municipality recognizes the importance of the health of our community and our long-term health is only going to be successful if we work together. If we start being individualistic about it, weB次元官网网址檙e not going to be successful,B次元官网网址� Martin said.

joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com