Every community has its unsung heroes, and for National Public Works Week, Saanich celebrated its own.
From fixing water main breaks in the middle of the night to restoring creeks and cleaning bike paths, Saanich’s public works crews keep the city running day after day, often without anyone noticing.
As municipalities across North America marked the event, the district invited the community to tour its Parks and Public Works facility at 1040 McKenzie Avenue on May 22.
As young families and residents trickled in, engineering operations manager Brandon Salter greeted visitors and spoke about the department’s role.
“We take care of all the basic infrastructure that gets everybody where they need to be, as well as provide essential services such as the roadways, water, sewer, parks, and take care of all the green areas that Saanich owns and operates,” he said.
At booths scattered around the site, workers explained their roles and duties, showcasing the tools, vehicles, and equipment they use on the job.
With roughly 250 employees on the team, Salter said he was grateful for the opportunity to connect with the public and highlight the work he and his colleagues do every day.
“These people do work a lot and they do a lot of good work around the community,” he said. “Everybody who works here are the people who keep the city always running, and it's really important that we get a chance to recognize them during this week.”
