Big News: The Salmon-Safe Certified View Royal handyDART Centre Opens
- Salmon-Safe BC
- Apr 2
- 2 min read
On March 28, government officials and project partners gathered to celebrate the official launch of the handyDART Centre in View Royal. The site prioritizes both transit accessibility and environmental stewardship.
Hosted by BC Transit, the event was attended by key individuals, including Fraser Basin Council CEO, David Marshall, and our Salmon-Safe BC program Lead, Mollie Hunt, who shared their enthusiasm for the site’s Salmon-Safe certification and its impact on local ecosystems.
The opening welcomed distinguished guests such as Honourable Ravi Parmar, B.C. Minister of Forests, George Anderson, Parliamentary Secretary for Transit, Marianne Alto, Vice-Chair for the Victoria Regional Transit Commission, and Erinn Pinkerton, President and CEO of BC Transit.
Minister Parmar highlighted the importance of this site:
“Whether it is helping people with reduced mobility get to work, the grocery store or anywhere else they need to go, this is a major investment in our people and something I’m proud we have delivered. The Westshore is pleased to be the home of this new state of the art handyDART facility.”
BC Transit CEO Erinn Pinkerton emphasized the collaboration that made the project a reality:
“This new, central location in View Royal will allow BC Transit to not only operate handyDART more efficiently but also expand this important service across the region. The partnerships established while building the handyDART centre represent a collaborative effort that reflect the outcomes and goals of both the community and BC Transit by creating a modern operations facility and an environmental rehabilitation project in one.”
A Salmon-Safe Success Story
The handyDART Centre is already seeing positive environmental results. In February, 74 coho salmon and cutthroat trout were counted in the restored creek, a tributary of the salmon-bearing Craigflower Creek. This number was nearly three times higher than what was recorded in the first and second years!
Key environmental efforts at the handyDART Centre include:
8000 native plants and trees planted on the site
Nine rain gardens onsite that cover approximately 1/3 of an acre
Ongoing invasive species removal and riparian zone maintenance
Water quality monitoring during construction and site operation
Reduced water usage through water re-use and low flow features
The site’s LEED Gold designed building has been recognized with an EcoStar Award for environmental design and holds the distinction of being the first Salmon-Safe urban development project on Vancouver Island.
The new handyDART Centre is a testament to what’s possible when accessibility, innovation, and environmental responsibility come together. We’re excited to see this project continue to thrive, for people and for salmon!
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