Victoria International Marina

Acting on further feedback from the Victoria paddling community and Transport Canada through the recent public consultation process regarding non-powered vessel access in and around the marina, Community Marine Concepts has now created a dedicated paddling lane to accommodate kayaks and larger paddling craft.

Unveiled at the last public meeting on September 22nd, 2009, the route has been designed using Transport Canada criteria to facilitate the passage of paddling craft up to the size of dragon boats or 6-man outrigger canoes. The new paddling lane eliminates the potential conflict for paddlers with larger vessels in the marina, or with aircraft and other vessels around the southern side of the marina, as they will not have to paddle through the marina or around its southern perimeter. Paddlers will now be able to travel along the shoreline, protected from wind and waves by the marina itself.

With a minimum of 8 meters clear span width for the entire paddling route, as well as a minimum of 1.5 meters headroom at high tide beneath marina ramps and buildings (more headroom at all other times), the new dedicated paddling lane provides unfettered access for all paddlers on the north shore of Victoria Harbour.

Illustrations of the new paddling lane can be found at www.victoriainternationalmarina.ca , on the Plans & Renderings page.

Community Marine Concepts has previously announced plans to include a public kayak launch and landing dock, which remains part of the marina development. Paddlers can drop in for refreshments at the marina coffee house, visit friends in the surrounding neighbourhood, or use the marina as a safe refuge in bad weather. Public storage racks will also be made available for a limited number of kayaks and canoes.

Victoria International Marina is the Pacific Northwest’s most exciting marina development, providing much needed moorage for recreational vessels between 65’ – 135’. Its 52 slips, located on the north shore of Victoria Harbour just minutes from Victoria icons such as the Empress Hotel and the BC Legislature, will answer demand for both home port and transient moorage in British Columbia’s world class cruising grounds. For further information on the Victoria International Marina visit www.victoriainternationalmarina.ca.

Community Marine Concepts, the developer of the Victoria International Marina, is a partnership between WAM Development Group and Robert Evans. Western Asset Management was established in 1987. Over the past 20 years, the company has been active in Western Canada and the United States, to date having developed or acquired over nine million square feet of real estate space including retail, office, and residential and industrial projects. WAM Development Group’s offices are located in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Phoenix, Arizona.

Robert Evans has been involved with the development of the Songhees area since the mid-1980's, when as President of Pacific National Investments he acquired 16 acres of derelict industrial land and created the infrastructure and many of the buildings there now, including the Royal Quays condominiums. Now, as Vice-President of Community Marine Concepts, he is working to deliver the final phase of the original Songhees Master Plan, a world-class luxury yacht marina – the Victoria International Marina.

For further information, please contact:

Lachlan MacLean
General Manager - Marina Operations
WAM Development Group
Tel: (604) 737-7380
Cell: (778) 960-6224
Email: lmaclean@wamdevelopment.com