ARCHIVE – Langford, Colwood & Metchosin News [January & February 2017]
Monday, February 27 ~ West side of Vancouver Island. BC NDP leader John Horgan will kick off his 2017 re-election campaign in his home riding of Langford-Juan de Fuca on Saturday March 11.
The big-crowd event will be held at the Langford Legion, 761 Station Avenue starting at 10:30am.
Horgan has held the Langford-area riding (by various electoral area names, including Sooke and up to Port Renfrew) since 2005. He has also built an NDP stronghold on Vancouver Island that has repeatedly proven for him to have a far-reaching and deep reach into many communities and economic sectors.
For this election, the reboundaried riding has lost the largely rural area of Metchosin. Ridings are rebalanced over the years based on population numbers. Both Langford and Sooke have seen population increases in recent years, due mainly to the relatively lower cost of housing on the west side of south Vancouver Island.
The BC provincial election is set for Tuesday, May 9.
Saturday, February 25 ~ VANCOUVER ISLAND. Alistair MacGregor, MP (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford) is elated that after several years of public pressure, the BC Liberal government has finally and permanently this week revoked the permit for the toxic soil dump near Shawnigan Lake.
MacGregor has stood in solidarity with the Shawnigan community and has supported its work in the fight against the toxic soil dump over the years. As a new MP, MacGregor introduced a bill (his first) in the House of Commons in Ottawa which would have brought federal protection to Shawnigan Lake under the Navigation Protection Act.
“Not only was the entire process that allowed the toxic soil dump permit flawed from the onset, but during the first serious rain event of its existence the project failed and discharged contaminated soil directly into the watershed,” said MP Alistair MacGregor. “It shouldn’t have taken this long for the BC Government to put an end to this irresponsible and dangerous soil dump that risked inflicting irreparable damage to the Shawnigan watershed and its aquatic life,” MacGregor said.
“I want to specifically thank the Shawnigan Lake Residents Association and the Cowichan Valley Regional District for their hard work and diligence on this issue,” said MacGregor. “Our collective action is what makes our communities vibrant and strong, and this has finally forced the BC Liberal government to correct their mistake.”
Friday, February 24 ~ GREATER VICTORIA. Commuters will be pleased to know that the construction tender to extend the northbound bus lane along Douglas Street to Saanich Road has been posted. Work is anticipated to start this spring. The original funding announcement was made a year ago.
“I’m happy to see this key BC on the Move project moving forward to the tender phase,” said BC Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone in a news release today. “This extension to the northbound bus lane will reduce travel time for bus users on the busiest transit corridor in the Victoria region.”
When construction is complete from Tolmie Avenue to Saanich Road later this year, there will be continuous northbound transit priority from Fisgard Street to Uptown. Design work is continuing on the section that will run north from Saanich Road and tie into the future interchange at Admirals and McKenzie.
The estimated total cost for the northbound bus lane from Tolmie Avenue to the McKenzie interchange is $10.05 million, with the Province contributing $5.425 million and the Government of Canada providing up to $4.625 million under the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF).
“The extended bus and bike-priority lanes on Douglas Street will improve on-time performance and make transit a more effective and efficient transportation option,” said Manuel Achadinha, president and CEO, BC Transit. “By reducing travel times, the existing bus and bike priority lanes have helped us better connect people and communities.”
The BC government says their record investments in modern, safe infrastructure projects throughout BC are creating well-paying, family-supporting jobs.
Construction projects are posted on the BC Bid website.
Monday, February 20 ~ WEST SHORE. More seismic upgrades are on the way for schools in the West Shore area. Today there was an event at Dunsmuir Middle School in Colwood to celebrate the recent completion of a $11.8-million seismic mitigation project there. The occasion provided an opportunity to announce $4.2 million in new provincial funding to seismically upgrade Ruth King Elementary in Langford.
Education Minister Mike Bernier announced the completion of Dunsmuir and the new funding for Ruth King Elementary, alongside Sooke School District 62 (SD62) officials, staff from both schools and Dunsmuir students. The celebration included a performance from the Dunsmuir band and a tour of the seismic upgrades.
The project at Dunsmuir upgraded the entire building to protect students, teachers and staff in the event of an earthquake. The work included reinforcing walls, strengthening the foundations and upgrading the roof and sprinkler system. Improvements were also made to the parking lot to improve traffic flow.
The Dunsmuir project was funded with $11 million from the Province’s Seismic Mitigation Program and $800,000 from the Sooke School District (SD#62). Construction started in May of 2015 and was completed in late 2016, working around classroom activity during the school year and going full-bore during the summers. The BC government says about 36 jobs were created.
Two weeks ago, construction began on the $4.2 million Ruth King Elementary school seismic project. Funds will be used to seismically upgrade the entire two-storey portion of the school and the gym. In 1999, the single-storey south portion of the school received a seismic upgrade as part of a previous renovation project. The school was first built in 1948. The new upgrade includes upgrading the roof, gym, foundation and windows, and reinforcing interior and exterior walls. Construction started February 1 and is expected to finish in December 2017. Ruth King Elementary school will be built to BC’s latest seismic safety standards. It is anticipated that this project will create 13 local jobs.
![SD62 Superintendent Jim Cambridge [Photo: West Shore Voice News]](https://islandsocialtrends.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2322-SD62-JimCambridge-Jan1817-web.jpg)
“Student safety is our top priority,” says Minister of Education Mike Bernier. “The government is committed to seismically upgrading or replacing all high-risk schools throughout the province to protect and support students, teachers and staff so they have safe learning spaces for generations to come.”
![SD62 Board Chair Bob Phillips {Photo: West Shore Voice News]](https://islandsocialtrends.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2324-BobPhillipsHEADSHOT-Jan1817-web.jpg)
Bob Phillips, chair, SD62 Sooke Board, says that Ruth King Elementary school was originally built in 1948. “Over the years, the school has had additions, renovations and a name change. Children really ‘rock’ for education at this school,” says Phillips. “SD62 is so pleased that Ruth King Elementary will be getting a good seismic re-fit in preparation to serve another generation of West Shore children.”
Among the SD62 trustees at today’s event: Dianna Seaton (SD62 Board Vice-Chair), Denise Riley, and Margot Swinburnson.
Other investments in the west shore area have included $60.1 million at Belmont Secondary school replacement (2015) and $41.2 million at the new Royal Bay Secondary (2015).
Over the next three years, the government says it will invest $1.7 billion to replace and renovate aging school buildings and add more student spaces in growing communities.
Monday, February 20 ~ GREATER VICTORIA. Arts Development 2017 operating grants have been announced today by the CRD Arts Commission.
A total of $2,153,060 distributed among 29 arts organizations will provide assistance to the organizations and is intended to help generate economic and social benefits for the Capital Region. One of the largest amounts goes to the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, with Pacific Opera Victoria and Belfy Theatre receiving the next two largest grants. Here is the full list:
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria $443,430 | Atomic Vaudeville $25,000 | Aventa Ensemble $22,930 | Ballet Victoria $45,000 | Belfry Theatre $217,460 | CineVic $23,000 | Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria $24,000 | Dance Victoria $62,930 | Deluge Contemporary Art $38,210 | Early Music Society $12,000 | Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival $8,000 | Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra $8,000 | Intrepid Theatre $97,930 | Kaleidoscope Theatre $55,000 | MediaNet $19,000 | Open Space $82,930 | Pacific Opera Victoria $220,450 | Puente Theatre $31,000 | Story Theatre $40,000 | Theatre Inconnu $27,500 | Theatre SKAM $34,000 | Victoria Children’s Choir $13,930 | Victoria Conservatory of Music $55,000
Last year, organizations funded through the Operating Grant program produced over 2,600 events including in dance, visual and media art, music, and theatre. These activities bring visibility to the region. The activities generate numerous audience and volunteer opportunities for citizens and visitors of all ages as well as economic benefits through the employment of artists, technicians and the staff of local organizations.
“Operating grants are a vital investment in the development of the arts and in the cultural fabric of the entire region,” said Colin Plant, Chair of the CRD Arts Commission. “Municipal boundaries don’t apply when it comes to the arts and the Arts Commission is committed to working towards full participation from all jurisdictions in the Capital Region,” he said in a media release today.
The CRD Arts Development Service is currently supported by eight municipalities: Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Metchosin, Highlands, View Royal and Sidney. For further information please see www.crd.bc.ca/service/arts-funding .
Sunday, February 19 ~ COLWOOD. Seismic upgrades at Dunsmuir Middle School in Colwood have been completed.
BC Minister of Education Mike Bernier will be on hand at the school on Monday, February 20 as part of the school and SD62 school district officials, students, teachers and staff celebrating the completion of construction.
Construction was undertaken around activity in the school for over a year, as well as during the 2016 summer break.
Saturday, February 18 ~ WEST SHORE. Last week the BC Liberals made a bit of a media splash with a Vancouver Island huddle to focus their island candidates on winning a few more seats on the island. It’s the first time they’ve had a platform focused on Vancouver Island, under the guidance of Don McRae, MLA (Comox Valley).
The BC NDP have for decades held Vancouver Island as a stronghold in BC politics. Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan became their party leader in May 2014.
On this west side of the island there are two ridings gearing up for a robust race.
In the present Juan de Fuca riding (re-named and reboundaried as Langford-Juan de Fuca for the election and beyond) John Horgan is considered the frontrunner in his home riding. Meanwhile, brought in by the BC Liberals to give Horgan a race is entrepreneurial sport-enthusiast Cathy Noel. She announced her candidacy last fall and has been getting to know various aspects of the riding which includes Langford, Sooke and Juan de Fuca up to Port Renfrew.
In the present Esquimalt-Royal Roads riding current NDP MLA Maurine Karagianis is retiring from politics. The riding has been renamed and reboundaried as Esquimalt-Metchosin for the 2017 election and beyond. Running for the BC NDP in Esquimalt-Metchosin is long-time social services organizer Mitzi Dean. And as announced just this week, Esquimalt Mayor & CRD Chair Barb Desjardins is now running as the BC Liberal candidate in Esquimalt-Metchosin.
The Writ is scheduled to drop April 11 to officially start the election campaign period. The election is on Tuesday, May 9, with advance polls ahead of that.
The BC NDP is saying it’s time for change. Under the BC Liberals since 2001, the wealth gap has widened under near-relentless privatization. Families have struggled under the burden of increasing rates and fees including for hydro, ferries, and MSP.
The BC Liberals are saying they have strengthened the economy, and provided more job opportunities. They held back on adequate education funding until recently.
Thursday, February 16 ~ WEST SHORE. Two successful women are running as BC Liberal candidates on the south island.
Three-term Esquimalt mayor and Capital Regional District (CRD) chair Barb Desjardins has today been officially acclaimed as the BC Liberal candidate for the riding of Esquimalt-Metchosin in the upcoming BC provincial election.
“After years of serving local residents, I recognize that Esquimalt-Metchosin and the South Island need a strong voice on provincial issues like housing, transportation, and healthcare. I have a proven track record of representing my constituents, often against the odds – and as MLA, I will stand up for the needs of Esquimalt, View Royal, Colwood, and Metchosin with the same regard.”
A physiotherapist and small business owner by profession, Desjardins was elected to Esquimalt council in 2005 and as mayor in 2008. She says she is known for her accessibility, collaborative approach, and personal attention to the issues raised by her constituents.
In the newly named Langford-Juan de Fuca riding, BC Liberal candidate Cathy Noel will be running head to head against long-time Juan de Fuca MLA and BC NDP leader, John Horgan.
Noel came on board as a candidate in November 2016. She has a strong entrepreneurial background through her many years organizing marathon races around south Vancouver Island, more recently including the Times Colonist 10K Run, the Goddess Run in Langford, and the 10K run in Sooke. Herself a runner, she took part in the Boston Marathon in 2012. Noel says she brings strong project management skills to the table and sees the need for more jobs in the Langford-Juan de Fuca riding area which she explains will come from economic development.
Last week, Desjardins and Noel joined fellow Island BC Liberal candidates and Premier Christy Clark to discuss the party’s first-ever Island-specific election platform, which is being overseen by Comox Valley MLA Don McRae. Much of the BC Liberal focus in times past has been on the Lower Mainland and BC interior regions.
For many years the BC NDP have held most Vancouver Island ridings as a stronghold. With Horgan as their leader the Official Opposition has stood strong on issues like the environment, green technology, and the need for fairer social programs.
The BC Liberals have now nominated 76 candidates province-wide. The provincial election is set for Tuesday May 9, 2017.
Wednesday, February 15 ~ LANGFORD. There was a good turnout this evening for the West Shore Chamber of Commerce mixer held at the Coastal Community Credit Union on Goldstream Avenue in Langford town centre. The event was shared with the Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce, together producing a crowd of about 65 people.
TELUS was on hand to announce several thousands of dollars in donations to charities in the Langford, Cowichan Valley and Sooke areas. Their TELUS Fibre for Good program is about “TELUS giving back”, says TELUS rep Lisa Ballinger. Ten charities in the Cowichan area are in total receiving $22,000 from TELUS. Other charities in the south Vancouver Island area will be receiving TELUS funds, including: Victoria Conservatory of Music, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Victoria, Children’s Health Foundation, Pacific Centre Family Services, Sooke Historical Society, and Edward Milne Community School Society.
Among the crowd for the early-evening get-together were Langford Mayor Stew Young and Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins (now also the BC Liberal candidate for Esquimalt-Metchosin). Provincial election candidates in the room also included Mitzi Dean (NDP candidate for Esquimalt-Metchosin) and Cathy Noel (BC Liberal candidate for Langford-Juan de Fuca).
Coastal Community Credit Union has 23 branches on Vancouver Island, says Moira Hauk, Regional Manager South Island.
As the host for the evening mixer, Coastal Community Credit Union had the opportunity to tell people more about their services including the ITMs (interactive teller machines). When you pick up the handset, you’re instantly face-to-face with a Coastal Community expert. Because your transactions are handled by a real person, you can ask questions and get immediate answers.
ITMs provide for account inquiries, cash and cheque deposits, cheque-cashing, cash/coin withdrawals, account transfers, bill payments and more.
Tuesday, February 14 ~ LANGFORD. West Shore RCMP responded just after 8:00 pm last night February 13 after a white Mercedes collided with a BC Hydro power box in the 700-block of Strandlund Ave in Langford.
The force of the impact caused the box to move away from its foundation for several feet and caused a power outage for several homes in the area. BC Hydro shows power out for 1,330 customers starting 8:08 pm west of Bellamy Road, north of Springboard Road, south of Millington Place. Power was restored just before 1 am this morning.
When police and fire crew arrived, smoke was still emanating from the box while the 37 year old female driver (and lone occupant) was still trapped inside the vehicle. While awaiting BC Hydro crews, police maintained verbal contact with the driver. The female driver was able to communicate that she was not injured. It was unsafe to approach her vehicle due to the electricity hazard.
Once the scene was determined as safe by BC Hydro, first responders were able to extract the driver from the vehicle. She was transported to hospital by ambulance to be assessed, says Cst Alex Bérubé, media spokesperson, West Shore RCMP.
Police determined that alcohol may have been a contributing factor. The cause of the collision remains under investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact West Shore RCMP, or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
Monday, February 13 ~ OTTAWA. Cowichan-Malahat-Langford MP Alistair MacGregor has been appointed as the Justice and Attorney General Critic in the NDP Shadow Cabinet, it was announced today by NDP Leader Tom Mulcair.
In this role MacGregor will continue to sit as the Vice-Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
“I am honoured to accept this appointment as our party’s Justice Critic,” said MacGregor. “I’m looking forward to the hard work of guiding NDP policy on issues relating to criminal justice, the rule of law, and human rights so that we can build a more equitable and inclusive society.”
“I am proud to announce that Alistair MacGregor will take on more responsibility in our shadow cabinet,” said NDP Leader Tom Mulcair. “While the Liberals are focused on helping themselves, our strong NDP team will continue to fight for hardworking Canadians.”
Thursday, February 9 ~ REGION. Due to the change in weather, there are multiple areas of flooding and pooling on highways in the South Island area. Drivers are advised to slow down and drive for the conditions of the road. There is the possibility of hydroplaning.
Trees and hydro lines are down in some areas. Road access will not be available for road clearing equipment until downed lines are cleared says Mainroad South Island Contracting.
Wednesday, February 8 ~ WEST SHORE COMMUNITIES. The real estate market is landing softly at its new high level. The robust level of sales transactions and persistent steep price increases in 2016 (on the heels of many years of price increases) were of course not sustainable.
Greater Victoria Real Estate Board (VREB) president Ara Balabanian says this: “Over the last few decades, the historic cycle in Victoria is longer periods of stable activity and price followed by a rapid rise in activity and property values over a relatively short period of time.”
Look where prices have arrived as of January 2017 (VREB figures). The benchmark (data-adjusted) for single family homes in Greater Victoria overall was $636,100 last month, which is up by $111,000 over the figure for January 2015 (note, the average of actual sales was $804,558 last month). In the west shore area, the benchmark was $515,700 last month, which is $88,000 higher than a year ago. Nothing else in the economy comes anywhere close to that level of inflation.
Langford’s single family home benchmark was $516,100 in January 2016, with Colwood at $565,000 and Sooke at $436,100. All of those are peak price points.
A total of 478 properties sold in the VREB region last month, which is 11.3% fewer than the 539 sales transacted in January 2016. It’s worth noting the reverse trend in the western communities: in Langford, Colwood and Sooke combined, sales volume in January 2017 was steady, and a bit higher than in December. Comparing Langford and Sooke, there were more sales in January 2017 compared to a year ago, not fewer. This can generally be attributed to relative housing affordability compared to the Victoria/Saanich/Oak Bay core.
Condos are not frequently available in Sooke, and only three sold in Colwood last month. But in urban-style Langford last month there were 23 condo sales at a raw average sale price of $287,478 (and with a benchmark notably pumped up to $325,300 as an indication of where market interest is heading).
It remains that those already in the housing market are generally doing fine by their investment (usually so long as they don’t try to ‘buy upwards’ in the market upon resale), while affordability for others appears to be continually out of reach.
The ‘new normal’ in Canada’s housing market appears to be that there are those who play the home ownership game and those who simply don’t. And it’s something that some demographics are getting used to.
The millennium generation (adults in their 20s and early 30s) has in large part been forced into a renter’s lifestyle, where investments are instead made in wellness, travel and technology rather than the overhead of home ownership maintenance (and oftentimes becoming landlords with secondary suites to deal with). Seniors finding themselves without adequate pensions may oddly find themselves taking up the trademark millennium work-and-get-by-on-less lifestyle by default.
Wednesday, February 8 ~ South Vancouver Island. Snow is forecasted to develop mid-afternoon today February 8, increasing this evening.
Snowfall over the Pacific Marine Route (including Sooke Road / Hwy 14 / West Coast Road), Lake Cowichan and the Malahat may be quite heavy, as well as featuring some freezing rain.
Mainroad South Island winter operations will be in effect on all highways. That includes additional personnel and equipment. The priority is highways, bus routes and school bus routes as well as main corridor roads. Side roads are done after that. Clearing access for police, fire and ambulance gets priority. Motorists are reminded to drive safely around highway maintenance vehicles.
Tuesday, February 7 ~ WEST SHORE of VANCOUVER ISLAND. A few weather-related tips have been issued by Juan de Fuca Emergency Program Coordinator Jeri Grant:
“Make sure your vehicle is completely clear of ice or snow before starting the trip. Flying snow from cars causes accidents.
People really need to slow down when driving in this kind of weather/conditions and be mindful children are not at school and will be out playing in the snow, sometimes on the road.
The trees are weighed down with snow so be prepared for possible power outages, make sure your mobile phone and electronics are fully charged. If you see downed power lines stay back 10 m (30 feet) and call BC Hydro Call 1 800 BCHYDRO (1 800 224 9376) or *HYDRO (*49376) on your mobile.”
Tuesday, February 7 ~ LANGFORD. Under continued weather conditions that bring snow, a weather safety update has been issued by Chris Aubrey, Assistant chief Fire Prevention, Langford Fire Rescue:
“We are cautiously watching Wednesday night’s forecast at the moment as we have a winter storm watch in effect. There will initially be heavy snow followed with freezing rain as the temperature starts to rise and this will cause slippery roads and sidewalks. Check weather conditions and DriveBC before heading out on the road and plan for your trip to take longer than usual. Of course good winter tires are needed and make sure that you fully clean your vehicle before driving so that all your windows, lights and brakes can all be seen and so snow does not blow off your vehicle onto the ones behind you. The best plan however is that if you don’t need to go out, then don’t. Today would be a good day to stock up on any items you need in preparation for Wednesday night/Thursday morning’s event.
With the snow and freezing rain forecast, we are also concerned about trees and branches falling onto power lines so it is best to be prepared for a power outage. Candles are not recommended due to the increase risk of fire, however have LED lights and flashlights ready and get some extra blankets out now to stay warm should the outage be prolonged.
Thursday the weather warms up considerably and we will be in for a rapid thaw. Make sure perimeter drains and storm drains are clear of snow and ice to prevent flooding as all the snow starts to melt combined with the rainfall. Sandbags for Langford residents can be located Millstream School, the Trolley Hall on Happy Valley, Firehall #3 and Centennial Park.
It will be a wintry mix over the next 24-48 hours so take a moment and prepare for the quickly changing conditions before seasonal weather returns for the weekend.”
Tuesday, February 7 ~ SOOKE. Schools in Sooke, Colwood, Langford and Metchosin are closed today in School District 62 (SD62) due to challenging road and sidewalk conditions.
Recent snowfall has piled up. “All Sooke schools closed due to ice & uncleared sidewalks,” was the official Tweet out from Sooke School District 62 (SD62) today.
Schools are also closed in Saanich (SD63) but are open in Victoria (SD61).
Monday, February 6 ~ SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND ~ 5pm [see 9:30 pm update below]. POWER OUTAGE REPORT. While there has been a lot of snow falling steadily for about 24 hours (with the forecast indicating continued overnight snowfall), winds have been very light. Therefore, damage to power lines has been relatively minimal.
Overall at this hour (approx 5 pm), 1,345 BC Hydro customers in the South Vancouver Island region are without power, mostly in the Duncan area.
In the Highlands/Saanich area a wire came down around 9:18 am this morning, leaving 205 customers without power all day. Crews are expected on site around 7pm.
In Metchosin, 19 customers have been without power since about 4:15 pm. Crews are expected to arrive around 5:30 pm.
UPDATE at 9:30 pm: There are 1,963 customers on south Vancouver Island without power as of 9:30 pm this evening. Most are still in the Duncan area. In the Humpback Road area of Langford there are seven customers without power due to a downed wire — crews are expected to arrive around 10:15 pm.
BC Hydro says for all regions (right across BC): “Crews have made progress restoring remaining outages caused by the recent snow storm, including many smaller pocket areas. We’ve encountered widespread damage and access issues, but we’ll continue working into the evening to restore remaining outages tonight. Estimates will be provided as they become available so please check back for the latest updates. Please take caution as weather conditions remain poor. Thanks for your patience.”
Monday, February 6 ~ SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND. Snow that has been falling lightly but steadily since Sunday night, through today — with about 15 to 20 cm forecasted for overnight into Tuesday February 7 — sees Mainroad South Island doing operations on all highways. The roads contractor announced this afternoon that regular winter crews are on shift 24/7 with additional personnel and equipment brought in as conditions warrant. This 24/7 winter road crew status will continue “until the conditions change and highways are back to normal”, it was stated in a Mainroad news release.
Motorists and residents are reminded that during a snow event, winter operation services are provided on a priority basis. That means starting with highways, bus routes and school bus routes and main connector roads. The crews begin servicing side roads when the snowfall stops.
“The public can be assured that in emergency situations where police, fire and ambulance are requiring assistance that our crews will assist them to reach their destination,” says Mainroad in their release.
During winter driving conditions everyone is reminded to drive safely, especially when approaching a highway maintenance vehicle.
“For visibility, It’s a good idea to keep your headlights fully on during the day in snow or rain, which also lights up the tail lights on your vehicle,” says Juan de Fuca Emergency Program coordinator Jeri Grant.
Highway conditions or issues can be reported to the 24-hour communications centre at 1-877-391-7310.
[Photo Copyright 2017 West Shore Voice News: westward view on West Coast Road on Monday, February 6]
Monday, February 6 ~ WEST SHORE. Parents in Langford, Colwood, Sooke and other areas of the west side of Vancouver Island are already on top of this today, but for everyone else… schools in Sooke School District 62 (SD62) are open today despite the snowfall.
SD62 posted this Tweet this morning: “As always, it is up to #SD62 parents to decide if they feel comfortable sending their child to school. All schools are open.”
SD62 students coming in from Port Renfrew, Jordan River, Shirley, Woodhaven — no bus today, says SD62. The school district has also posted that the BC Transit bus #14 in East Sooke is not running today.
SD62 Superintendent Jim Cambridge said at a board meeting last fall that closing schools for ‘snow days’ is always a difficult decision as it affects so many people, families, workplaces and child care arrangements. There are operational, financial and safety considerations as well as the impact on learning outcomes depending on the phase of the term/semester.
Friday, February 3 ~ 3:40 PM Pacific Time. Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for Greater Victoria. Total snowfall amounts of 15 to 25 cm are expected by Saturday morning.
“A low pressure centre is bringing heavy snow to the inner south coast tonight. 5 to 10 cm of snow has fallen since this morning. An additional 5 to 15 cm of snow is expected by early Saturday morning. The snow may become mixed with or change to rain at lower elevations especially near the Strait of Georgia tonight.”
“Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow.”
Further Environment Canada alerts and forecasts are likely to be issued. To report severe weather, send an email to ec.tempetepacifique-pacificstorm.ec@canada.ca or tweet reports to #BCStorm.
[Photo by West Shore Voice News: Highway 14 after a light snow fall, December 2016]
Tuesday, January 31 ~ WEST SHORE. This afternoon around 3:10 pm there was a collision of a logging truck and car on Sooke Road (between Luxton Road and Happy Valley Road in the Langford area).
Three people in the vehicle were injured — two adults (a man, and a woman who was driving), and a child.
The three people who had been travelling in the Kia Forte sedan that was badly damaged in the crash were taken to Victoria General Hospital following the collision. The truck driver was reported as not injured.
Sooke Road was closed in both directions for more than six hours, once again affecting access to/from the community Sooke for which Highway 14 is the “one road in and out”. Traffic was diverted at Happy Valley Road as crash-scene analysts gathered evidence. The road was cleared and traffic flowing again around 9:30 pm this evening after the logging truck was towed away.
Langford Fire Rescue, BC Ambulance and RCMP attended the scene. Police are continuing their investigation and seeking witnesses.
Monday, January 30 ~ LANGFORD. Langford Fire Rescue reminds people about the importance of escape planning, as part of emergency preparedness for a fire or other household emergency. As modern homes burn faster than older homes, it is important to be prepared and have a plan to escape.
“Seconds count!,” says Chris Aubrey, Assistant Chief Fire Prevention, Langford Fire Rescue. “Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as one or two minutes to escape safely once the alarm sounds.”
Here are some helpful tips to be prepared:
• A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire.
• Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area.
• Install alarms on every level of the home.
• Smoke alarms should be interconnected. When one sounds, they all sound.
• Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan.
• Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes.
• Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of the home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Also, mark the location of each smoke alarm. This is a great way to get children involved in fire safety in a non-threatening way.
Assistant Chief Aubrey reminds people to practice the plan. “Firefighters practice continually to make sure that we can stop a fire when one happens. And families should also practice their escape plan at least annually to make sure that everyone knows what to do if there is a fire and how to get our safely,” he says.
If you have any questions on Escape Planning or how to keep your family safe from fire, contact your local fire department.
This article was first published in the January 27, 2017 issue of West Shore Voice News (page 3).
Friday, January 27 ~ LANGFORD. The West Shore RCMP is formally introducing to the community a 5-year-old German Sheppard of their canine unit. “Dash is quite excited to be working at West Shore Detachment with his handler Cst Daryl McDonald,” says West Shore Media Relations Officer Cst Alex Bérubé.
Dash’s duties include search for and detection of drugs and firearms, and tracking fleeing criminals. Dash is also involved in searches for lost children and missing persons.
Dash was born in Innisfail, Alberta and undertook an intensive 6-month training before being assigned to West Shore where he now patrols whenever needed, day and night. Dash is popular with children when he does school talks and enjoys playing around with his handler. “We have an incredible bond, says Cst McDonald, of the Police Dog Service (PDS) of West Shore RCMP. “I trust him with my life.”
The West Shore RCMP provides policing service to: City of Langford, City of Colwood, Town of View Royal, District of Metchosin, District of Highlands, Songhees First Nation and Esquimalt First Nation.
Monday, January 23 ~ COLWOOD [updated January 24]. Nine-year-old Evelyn Ooms who was a Grade 4 student at Wishart Elementary in Colwood died in a car crash yesterday. The Sunday morning crash happened at around 8 am, when the car her 40-year-old father was driving somehow lost control and struck a utility pole, says Shawnigan Lake RCMP.
The accident happening when the vehicle was travelling northbound on Shawnigan Lake Road near Sooke Lake Road, said RCMP in a release. They believe speed was a factor.
Evelyn was a passenger in the single-vehicle crash incident of the silver Honda. Her father sustained minor injuries. The girl played atom hockey with Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey; she and her father were on their way to a game in Shawnigan when the crash happened.
“Whenever a tragedy like this happens in a school community it has a very broad impact,” says Sooke School District superintendent Jim Cambridge. Grief counsellors and the Sooke School District’s critical incident response team were at the school Monday morning to help students and staff cope. “Staff has been greatly impacted, the students who knew her best are getting counseling support, other students are receiving support when required,” says Cambridge. School staff are hoping to coordinate a celebration of life but are waiting for family support before proceeding. The principal of Wishart Elementary has been in contact with the family.
Evelyn’s name was released later this afternoon. A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help support the family at this difficult time: https://www.gofundme.com/evelyn-ooms-memorial-fund . As of 10 pm this evening, $5,260 of the $15,000 goal had been pledged.
RCMP investigators are asking anyone with information to contact them at 250-743-5514.
Friday, January 13 ~ VANCOUVER ISLAND. Island Health says there has been an increase in respiratory illness bringing people to hospital on Vancouver Island in recent weeks. “It’s too soon to tell if we have reached the peak of influenza/influenza-like activity,” says Kellie Hudson, Island Health Manager, Media Relations/Issues Management.
As of January 10, a total of 181 influenza patients had been diagnosed between September 1, 2016 and January 10, 2017 as were admitted to an Island Health acute care facility (180 influenza A and 1 influenza B). The influenza A strain this year is H3N2. As of January 10, there were still 66 patients in hospital.
“We are aware of five people who have died with confirmed influenza in Island Health facilities,” says Hudson. “While they were diagnosed with influenza, it may not necessarily have been the cause of death.”
As a result of increased patient volumes, Island Health has opened up some overflow areas. The seasonal spike in respiratory illness has also led to a number of surgical postponements last week and into this week as well. Last week, approximately 13 surgeries were postponed across the island due to bed availability, says Island Health. “Surgical postponements are always considered a last resort as we work together to manage the capacity at the site.”
People are asked to wash their hands frequently, sneeze/cough into their sleeve, stay home if ill, and wear a mask if you must be out in public when you have a cold or flu.
Island Health facilities continue to have capacity to respond to critical and emergency cases. No one is turned away, but depending on urgency there may be a longer wait.
Wednesday, January 11 ~ LANGFORD. As many as 22 additional teachers (full time equivalents / FTE’s) will be hired in Sooke School District 62 (SD62) which delivers education to families in Langford, Colwood, Sooke and surrounding areas.
This is an update from last week when the first estimate was 14 FTE’s, as announced by SD62 Superintendent Jim Cambridge at the SD62 Education Committee of the Whole meeting held on January 10 in the school library at Millstream Elementary.
The new hires are possible following a BC Ministry of Education announcement that $50 million would be released in total to BC schools. That sum is just part of the available funding that will result as the BC Government continues its negotiations with the BC Teachers Federation (BCTF) following a Supreme Court of Canada decision that says the BCTF contract will unsuitably altered by the BC Government back in 2002. So in a sense, this is ‘back pay’.
A second ‘payout’ will come after further negotiations; that sum has been widely estimated to be around $300 million. However, SD62 Chair Bob Phillips says “$80 million in Learning Improvement Fund (LIF) money is already in the K-12 system”. He adds: “We’re excited about losing LIF restrictions. There is no need to find some new $80 million that is already in place going forward in the BCTF 5 year collective agreement,” Phillips says.
SD62 will get about $900,000 out of the that first $50 million payout. The money will arrive soon, and hiring is set to begin as soon as the 27 schools in SD62 determine (at the school level by principal, vice principal and staff) what their needs are for more teachers. Options include part-time teaching in full classrooms, teacher-librarian, educational assistants, counsellors and other positions.
The new hiring number of 22 FTEs was announced by SD62 Jim Cambridge last night at the school district’s Education Committee of the Whole (ECOW) meeting held at Millstream Elementary. The change from the earlier estimate was produced out of meetings between SD62 administration (Jim Cambridge, lead) and the Sooke Teacher’s Association (lead negotiator is Ian Johnson, STA president).
Cambridge explained that some smaller schools like Colwood Elementary will get 0.4% of an FTE. Bigger elementary schools will get almost a full time person, he said. The largest high school in SD62 (Belmont Secondary) will get 2.8 FTEs.
Ahead of regular business at the ECOW meeting, some Grade 3 French Immersion students performed as a small choir and another small group made a presentation regarding stress-management techniques. Board members and administrative staff expressed their amazement at the level of information delivered by the students.
At various points in the meeting — including during a presentation of graduation rates in SD62 over the past three school years, both trustees and staff expressed how pleased they were about student performance through the tough economic times (both for the school system and families) that were experienced over the last several years.
Statistical graduation profiles were presented by SD62 Assistant Superintendent Paul Block. In 2015-2016 the overall grad percentage (students who completed Grade 12) was 76.1%, up from 74.6% and 73.5% in the two preceding academic years (i.e. 2014-2015 and 2013-2015 respectively). Those number still fall short of the BC provincial average (of public and private schools combined), with a graduation rates of 83.6% in 2015-2018 (and 83.9% and 84.% in the two years preceding).
Sports academies are bustling with participation in SD62 schools. A presentation to the Board by Wayne Kelly could boast a tally of 750 students registered in sport and dance academies in the three SD62 high schools and two of the middle schools. As the Academies coordinator, Kelly says he expects the number to reach 850 or more for 2017-2018. Academies offer sports like soccer, baseball/softball, golf, hockey and lacrosse as well as dance. Registration fees range from $550 to $1,500, which is considered affordable compared to similar programs in BC Mainland schools. Talent scouts come out to see sports games, toward opportunities for post-secondary sport scholarships — especially for girls — coming up in the United States. For some student demographics, Academies tend to improve student retention at specific schools and in high school in general.
Monday, January 9 ~ LANGFORD. A significant amount of suspected controlled substances were seized from a home near Ruth King Elementary School in Langford on Friday, January 6.
The drug trafficking investigation netted three suspects, says West Shore RMCP. Three men were arrested by the West Shore RCMP’s Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) — a 32-year-old man of Saanich, and two men who are known criminals in Langford: 41-year-old Edgar Acevedo and 37-year-old Erickson Delalcazar of Langford.
The CRU obtained and executed a search warrant in the 2700-block of Jacklin Rd, across from the elementary school. The search yielded over 600 suspected controlled substance pills and over $26,000 in cash. [Photos provided by West Shore RCMP].
“The close proximity to the school where the drugs were seized from is quite concerning,” says West Shore RCMP media spokesperson Cst. Alex Bérubé. “This is why we are seeking the assistance of the community with regards to information on drug trafficking or any other criminal activity in the West Shore.”
The three individuals were charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking. The Saanich man was released on a Promise to Appear, while Delalcazar and Acevedo were remanded until today.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Saturday, January 7 ~ WEST SHORE of VANCOUVER ISLAND. Property sales through the Victoria Real Estate Board (VREB) MLS were steady in Dec 2016 (471 sales vs 465 in Dec 2015), and strong if compared to 283 sales in Dec 2013.
Meanwhile, inventory levels dropped by 40.7% to a low level of 1,493 active listings (vs 2,517 in Dec 2015), with all of that way down from the Dec 2013 inventory of 3,554 properties for sale. Supply has been drying up after a strong run of sales in 2016 under continued conditions of low interest rates and a race against the clock regarding stronger mortgage qualification rules for first-time buyers that came into effect October 17.
“As we expected, 2016 broke records in terms of the number of properties sold in our area,” notes Mike Nugent, outgoing 2016 VREB President. Overall property sales tallied at 10,622 in 2016, exceeding the previous high of 9,241 sales as set in 1991. Nugent adds that 25% of December 2016 sales sold over asking price, in the present-day modest price point of “up to $750,000”. In a news release Nugent stated: “Your average buyer will face a competitive market.”
Looking at single family home prices for the west side of the island (Langford, Colwood and Sooke) compared to the overall Greater Victoria area (see custom table above), in just one year all pricing is solidly up more than the average income of a Canadian worker (which is about $49,500). In fact, the year-over-year actual sales average for Langford was up almost $110,000 and in Sooke the one-year jump was over $128,000.
Note: the Benchmark HPI price is a data-adjusted figure based on criteria considered of influence upon the true value of a home. The raw sales average (shown in bold) is what people actually pay.
Friday, January 6 ~ SAANICH/VICTORIA. Highway Maintenance Advisory at 7pm this evening.
Mainroad South Island Contracting is working with the District of Saanich to locate and repair a broken water line in the 5200-block of the Pat Bay Hwy (Hwy 17). That’s south of Saanich, opposite Elk Lake. Hwy 17 enables traffic to/from the peninsula (including airport and ferry terminal).
Fast lane closures will be in effect both North and South bound on Hwy 17 while scheduled maintenancee (6am to 3pm) is undertaken on Saturday, January 7.
“We encourage motorists and residents and the travelling public to avoid the area,” says Mainroad South Island general manager Rick Gill. The Mainroad 24 hr Hotline is 1.877.391.7310. Observations and concerns will be passed along to road crews.
Thursday, January 5 ~ BC. School Districts in British Columbia are in total receiving $50 million to hire more teachers for the remainder of the 2016-2017 school year.
BC Minister of Education Mike Bernier made the announcement today, explaining that it’s up to each school district in discussions with local BC Teachers Federation (BCTF) representatives, to determine what sorts of teacher or staff support hiring will be done with the additional 2016-2017 funds. Province-wide, the $50 million will allow for the hiring of about 1,100 teachers, said Bernier.
Bernier says that the $50 million announced today comes on top of the $5.1 billion already invested in public education in BC. The $50 million is a portion of what will finally be determined in negotiations between the BC Government and BCTF.
Most school districts already know where the needs are, so the additional funds are likely welcome. The funds will be included in the 2017 provincial budget (coming in February), and so will carry forward into hiring considerations for school boards in 2017-2018.
The funds issued at this time are in response to the Supreme Court of Canada decision that reversed a decision made by the BC Government in 2002 that effectively cut back on teachers and funds available for schools to operate over the past 15 years. Since 2002 the continued cutbacks have impacted not only the teachers but the entire delivery of education in BC, as school boards were obliged to find all available funding (including teacher salaries) from per-pupil funding ratio revenues and other miscellaneous revenue sources.
In Sooke School District 62 (SD62) — which serves families and students in Langford, Colwood, Sooke, Highlands, Metchosin, Juan de Fuca and Port Renfrew — about 14 teachers (full time equivalents) will likely be hired pending discussions with the Sooke Teachers Association on January 6, says SD62 Superintendent Jim Cambridge.
Cambridge says that in SD62 the additional funds will probably be used to hire additional secondary school teachers, as well as additional special needs support for the elementary schools. He identified those as top priorities. He also mentioned the options of hiring educational assistants (EAs), additional half-time teachers for full classrooms, teacher-librarians and counsellors.
Tuesday, January 3. It’s been windy the past few days on south Vancouver Island, with temperatures at or below zero today. Winds picked up again this evening.
For BC Hydro customers in the utility’s south Vancouver Island region, the impact of weather on power lines presently (9:44 pm) sees 6,590 customers (about 19,000 people) without power. Several of those outages happened in the last one to three hours.
In a section of Colwood/Langford (see map) 1,297 customers have been without power since 8:30 pm.
In Duncan, 493 customers are without power, and the customer outage tally in Central Saanich at this hour is 187 in Central Saanich and the Highlands. The remaining 4,513 affected customers are various of the gulf islands.
Check for updates at www.bchydro.com