Victoria firefighters seek parking solution as city explores community garden atop parkade

Victoria council moves ahead with plan to turn parkade roof into community garden.

A proposal to transform part of a downtown parkade into a community garden has sparked frustration among Victoria firefighters, who say their own requests for parking solutions were rejected just months earlier.

The Victoria Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 730, is speaking out after Victoria city council voted to explore converting parking stalls on the rooftop of the Johnson Street Parkade into community garden plots.

The union argues the proposal comes at a time when firefighters are struggling with the loss of a parking arrangement previously available to members reporting to the department’s downtown headquarters.

“Our members are angry, and they have every right to be,” said Josh Montgomery, president of IAFF Local 730.

“The city rejected practical solutions because dedicated firefighter parking was deemed an unreasonable use of public assets. Now we’re hearing there is excess parking capacity and that those same assets could be repurposed for garden plots.”

Montgomery says firefighters had previously been allowed to park at the city’s former fire hall on Yates Street after operations moved to the new headquarters on Johnson Street.

He says members were notified earlier this year that arrangement would be ending.

According to Montgomery, the union proposed several alternatives, including shuttle services and other parking options, but says those ideas were rejected.

“What began as a parking issue has now become one of respect for the members of Local 730,” he said.

The union maintains parking is an operational issue, particularly when firefighters are called in to assist with major emergencies.

Montgomery says firefighters responding to emergency call-ins should not have to spend valuable time searching for parking before reporting for duty.

“When there’s a significant event, like a high-rise fire, we need additional staff beyond those already on shift,” he said.

“Call-in crews may be circling the block looking for somewhere to park while trying to get into service.”

The union also notes firefighters are frequently reassigned between stations on short notice to maintain minimum staffing levels across the city.

The City of Victoria says it values their firefighters and operational requirements continue to be met through parking at fire station locations.

“There is parking available to them, but it’s paid parking,” said Colleen Mycroft, on behalf of the City of Victoria.

The city also says no staff working in the downtown core are provided free parking and notes the union has engaged the grievance process regarding the matter. That process remains underway.

“Members of council brought forward a motion to pilot a garden on the roof top of the Johnson Street Parkade. It is quite close to the water, far away from the Johnson Street fire hall.”

“It’s council members who brought that motion forward. That parkade is under-utilized. The rooftop is often not full, so they wanted to make use of it.”

Still, Montgomery says firefighters were surprised to see council exploring alternative uses for parking stalls while their concerns remain unresolved.

The proposal would see the city examine the feasibility of converting part of the rooftop level of the Johnson Street Parkade into community garden space.

“If there’s enough excess parking capacity to build garden beds, there should be enough parking to support all first responders who protect Victoria 24 hours a day,” Montgomery said.

Despite the criticism, Montgomery says firefighters are not opposed to the gardening initiative itself.

“We’re not anti-gardening,” he told CTV News.

“In fact, we’ll probably come build the garden beds for them if they’d help us find some parking in that parkade.”

The grievance process remains ongoing.