BREAKING NEWS – Langford, Colwood & Metchosin – Nov & Dec 2016
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Friday, December 30 ~ COLWOOD. Trapped deer released by West Shore RCMP.
On December 28 West Shore RCMP was contacted to attend a yard of Tena Place in Colwood after a large buck had become entangled in netting around some shrubs.
The deer had its antler tangled in the netting and was trapped.
Noting the deer was exhausted and had obviously been struggling to set itself free, a West Shore RCMP officer from the Police Dog Section (PDS) was able to free the deer and let it go uninjured.
“The officer traded his Dog Handler hat for the Deer Handler hat in order to successfully complete this rescue mission!,” says Cst Alex Bérubé, Media Relations Officer, West Shore RCMP. [Photo supplied by West Shore RCMP]
Thursday, December 29 ~ VICTORIA. Spirit of 150 Victoria – First Night will be held at the Inner Harbour in Victoria on Saturday from 5 pm to 9:30 pm, with the main stage at Government and Belleville Streets.
The event marks the beginning of celebrations for Canada’s 150th birthday and the Victoria party will be one of 19 across the country. Sponsors and federal grants help cover the costs. About 20,000 to 30,000 people are expected to attend in Victoria.
The outdoor evening event will include signing, dancing, a harbour ferry ballet, artwork projected onto building surfaces, a concert by Vancouver band Dear Rouge, and the fireworks show that is scheduled to start at 9pm.
The Weather Network’s Victoria forecast for that evening is presently a temperature of minus-1°C with a 20% chance of rain, and winds around 45 km/h.
The other 18 fireworks and festival events on New Year’s Eve December 31, 2016 will be held in Vancouver (two fireworks displays over the Burrard Inlet – the first at 9 pm, the second at midnight), Whitehorse, Calgary, Edmonton, Yellowknife, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Iqaluit, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Frederiction, Moncton, Charllottetown, Halifax and St John’s.
Wednesday, December 28 ~ SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND. Mainroad South Island Contracting advises motorists to drive with caution today as many locations are encountering black ice. They suggest allowing extra time for travel and to use caution.
Mainroad says that crews have been actively treating these areas around the clock to minimize any problems.
Wednesday, December 21 ~ GREATER VICTORIA AREA. In a season when there’s plenty of rainfall (or snow), water supply is not necessarily top of mind for residents of the Greater Victoria area. But keeping an eye on the pattern of reservoir level refill is important.
The Sooke Lake Reservoir is used by the Capital Regional District (CRD) to supply water to most of the Greater Victoria area, serving over 350,000 residents. The reservoir normally refills nicely each year, though dry summers in 2015 & 2016 have presented more dramatic drops. More water is used by residents and farmers to keep landscaping and crops sufficiently hydrated in hot weather. As well, dry soils and forested areas in the CRD watershed area that feeds the reservoir soak up needed moisture, reducing runoff into the reservoir.
The reservoir does refill each fall and winter and remains full through to spring. The full pool level of Sooke Lake Reservoir is 186.75m.
In 2015, refill to 100% was achieved by December 20. In 2016, the reservoir was last full to 100% capacity at April 3, dropping to its lowest point this year on October 9 — showing 64.6% of capacity in the CRD’s water watch reports. At last check (December 18) the reservoir was back up to 96.5% of capacity.
Last weekend’s water main burst that saw a significant amount of water gushing onto Highway 1 for several hours (see page 1 in December 16, 2016 West Shore Voice News) would have taken a bite out of the expected refill pattern for year-end 2016. Full restoration of the Sooke Lake Reservoir level to 100% is likely by year-end 2016.
The average 5-year (2011-2015) daily demand for December is 96.8 million litres per day (MLD). For December 2016 so far, the demand shows as 98.7 MLD, with a one-day maximum this month showing as 107.9 MLD.
The reservoir was last expanded in 2004. CRD maintains an ongoing target of deferring expansion of the water supply system for 50 years or to around 2067 before expansion of the reservoir is required.
In 2012, CRD articulated a number of challenges are facing the Water Supply System then and for coming decades:
• Climate change
• Reliance on an unfiltered water supply
• Reliance on Sooke Reservoir
• Lack of redundancies in the transmission system
• Monitoring trends in water use
• Managing outdoor water use
• Level of service policy for wholesale water customers
• Factors affecting the price of water
• Workforce demographics
• Increasing residential development adjacent to the Water Supply Area
• Legacy of past human activities in the Water Supply Area
• Potential establishment of undesirable species in the Water Supply Area
Tuesday, December 20 ~ VANCOUVER ISLAND SOUTH. In conditions of high winds, trees are down across BC Hydro wires. That and other wind-related issues currently see power out in the Langford and Sooke areas as well as Ganges Island.
In the Sooke area, about 1,217 customers are affected across various areas including west of Otter Point Rd (out since 4:29 am, crews expected to arrive around 7:30 am), and southwest of Sooke Road east of Sea Lion Way (out since 5:06 am, crews have been assigned).
Power is also out in Langford (since 5:26 am) with crews expected to arrive around 7:30 am in an area affected north of Monnington Place, south of Jenkins Ave, west of Jacklin Road, and East of Colbourne, affecting 230 customers.
UPDATE at 12 noon: Presently 10,402 BC Hydro customers (approx 30,000 people) in the south Vancouver Island area are without power as of noon today. That includes 2,321 in the Walfred/Metchosin Rd area (Colwood/Langford); 2,056 north of Hwy 1 (Saanich/Langford); 1,812 east of West Coast Road and west of Otter Point Rd; 417 in the West Coast Road area (i.e. west of Sooke); 2,826 in Esquimalt/View Royal; and locations in Duncan. Most of those outages started mid-morning. A few outages from very early this morning (around 4:30 am in the Sooke and Langford areas) have been restored.
Tuesday, December 20 ~ BC. BC Ferries plans to ban smoking on all of its vessels and to not allow passengers to remain in vehicles on lower fully enclosed decks while vessel sailings are underway.
BC spokesperson Deborah Marshall says: “With regards to car decks, we are working to fully implement Transport Canada regulations limiting passenger access to closed car decks while ships are underway.” Closed decks are the lower vehicle decks on the larger ferries. Transport trucks and buses are parked on the lower deck; cars are also parked there when the upper deck becomes full. Customers will continue to be permitted to stay in vehicles on the upper (open) car decks.
“We will be fully implementing Transport Canada regulations to limit passenger access to closed vehicle decks while ships are underway. “Closed” decks are the main car decks. Customers will continue to be permitted to stay in vehicles on the upper (opened) car decks.”
With regards to smoking: “We are currently reviewing our policy with an aim to offer a smoke free environment in the future. The Province recently changed regulations regarding smoke free zones to from 3 to 6 metres away from a door or opening window. This proves challenging on a ship.”
A formal announcement on these two new BC Ferries developments is expected in early January.
Monday, December 19 ~ About 100 people showed up to share some holiday cheer at Randall Garrison, MP’s annual holiday open house this evening. There were light refreshments.
Garrison’s new constituency office that opened earlier this year at 2904 Tillicum Road (corner of Gorge Rd) is more spacious and adaptable than the previous office, including a board room, private office space, and plenty of storage area. Lots of parking too.
Garrison says his office is busy compiling some facts and figures regarding how much employment is already happening in the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding and overall in BC in the green-tech/sustainability sector. More on that in the new year.
Friday, December 16 ~ 8 pm Update VICTORIA. CRD Water Supply Main Break along Trans Canada Highway (Southbound) between Burnside Road West and Helmcken Road
As a result of a large diameter CRD water supply main break located along the Trans Canada Highway (TCH) between Burnside Road West and Helmcken Road, southbound traffic flow is expected to be impacted through late Friday evening.
The CRD with the assistance of the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and its contractors have repaired the water supply main and are returning the system to service this evening. Highway repair work is also proceeding with paving work planned for late Friday evening. Single lane southbound traffic continues to be maintained at this time. All three southbound lanes are expected to be open to traffic Saturday morning.
The break occurred at approximately 11:50 pm on Thursday, December 15. The CRD Water Supply Main #3 is a 990 mm diameter steel pipe that serves the municipalities of Saanich, Victoria and Oak Bay.
There are no major water service interruptions expected as municipalities are being served via CRD Water Supply Mains #1 and #2 during the repair.
However, customers in the Victoria West, Tillicum, Esquimalt and View Royal areas may experience lower water pressure and notice a slightly increased level of turbidity in the tap water as a result of fine sediments in the pipe being disturbed through the sudden change in flow and pressure. If turbidity is noticed, it is recommended to run taps until the water is clear. In consultation with Island Health, the CRD confirms the water remains safe to drink.
The CRD Integrated Water Services apologizes for any inconvenience this event may have caused. [Photo by CRD]
Friday, December 16 ~ WEST SHORE. Randall Garrison, MP will be holding his Annual Christmas Open House on Monday, December 19 at his new constituency office that opened earlier this year.
The office is at 2904 Tillicum Road at Gorge Rd. Plenty of parking behind the building. RSVP is not required. Mingle and enjoy refreshments from 4 to 6 pm.
Garrison was first elected in 2011 when the riding was called Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca. He was instrumental in having the riding renamed as Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke for the 2015 election, to better reflect the area in which voting takes place for the federal MP for this region.
![Hwy 1 in the Burnside Area. [Google maps]](https://islandsocialtrends.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/MAP-Hwy1Burnside-Dec1616-web.jpg)
As a result of the large diameter CRD water supply main break, southbound traffic flow is expected to be impacted through to the evening tonight, December 16. Repair of the steel pipe is estimated to take until late Friday evening, December 16 to complete.
The CRD has coordinated with the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) to maintain single lane southbound traffic through the site while crews complete repairs. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes into the Victoria area and to expect traffic delays in the area while CRD crews work as quickly as possible to conduct the repairs currently underway.
The break occurred around 11:50 pm last night, Thursday, December 15. The CRD Water Supply Main #3 is a 990mm diameter steel pipe that serves the municipalities of Saanich, Victoria and Oak Bay.
There are no major water service interruptions expected as municipalities are being served via CRD Water Supply Mains #1 and #2. However, customers in the Victoria West, Tillicum, Esquimalt and View Royal areas may experience lower water pressure and notice a slightly increased level of turbidity in the tap water as a result of fine sediments in the pipe being disturbed through the sudden change in flow and pressure. In consultation with Island Health, the CRD confirms the water remains safe to drink.
Relocating a main CRD water line has been the first task of many as part of constructing the McKenzie/Admirals Interchange on Hwy 1.
Around 3 pm, repair work on the large pipe was still underway (see CRD photo above). At 5:30 pm, CRD says work is still underway, and that another update will be issued around 8 pm this evening.
![Lt Gov Judith Guichon during the official welcome of the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge, Sept 24 2016 [Photo Copyright 2016 West Shore Voice News]](https://islandsocialtrends.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/174704-LtGovGuichon-Sep2416-byWestShoreVoice.jpg)
Friday, Dec. 16 ~ Open House and Carol Sing: 5 pm to 7 pm. Christmas carolling will begin at 5 p.m. in the Ballroom, led by Louise Rose. Following the carolling, members of the public are welcome to stroll through the main floor and view the Christmas decorations. Food contributions or donations to support local food banks are encouraged and will be accepted at the door.
Sunday, Jan. 1 ~ New Year’s Day Levée: 10 am to 12 pm. Canada 150 celebrations will begin by greeting members of the public at the annual New Year’s Day Levée. Guests will have an opportunity to enjoy refreshments and the music of the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Scottish Regiment Pipes and Drums. Her Honour will deliver her remarks at 11:30 am. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to avoid a long lineup. Food contributions or donations to support local food banks are encouraged and will be accepted at the door upon entrance to the levée.
Earlier this week, Grade 3 students from various schools around the Greater Victoria area participated in the decorating of Christmas trees at Government House, including in Lt Gov Guichon’s office. As well, seniors from various seniors’ residences were invited to official Christmas teas being held on Dec 14 & 15.
Wednesday, December 14 ~ Greater Victoria area. The Capital Regional District (CRD) Board has today approved their Regional Food and Agriculture Strategy (RFAS) which they say identifies the top issues facing the region‘s food and agriculture sector and provides recommendations for addressing challenges.
“The Strategy aims to enhance awareness of local agricultural issues and opportunities and increase local food production. The Strategy has been developed with the intent of complementing existing local agricultural area plans and provincial legislation/policy,” says a release from CRD today.
“Local food production is very important to our food security, local economy and environment. The Regional Food and Agriculture Strategy recognizes the benefits of developing local food systems and sets out concrete steps to support individuals, businesses and First Nations in accessing and adopting local options,” says CRD Board Chair, Barbara Desjardins.
Regional districts, municipalities and electoral areas do not have a specific mandate over food and agriculture. However, the food and agriculture sector is impacted by CRD services such as water delivery, environmental protection and conservation, watershed education and drinking watershed protection and management, liquid and solid waste management (including rural septic programs), invasive species eradication / native plant restoration, and more recently, wildlife (deer, geese, beaver, bullfrog) management. The RFAS identifies how these services relate to food and agriculture and provides recommendations.
The RFAS document identifies approaches to key issues such as:
- increasing access to farm land through a potential land bank or farmland trust,
- increasing farmers’ awareness of tools to address wildlife damage,
- working with partners to increase economic development opportunities, and
- addressing storm water and drainage issues.
Implementation will start with the formation of a regional food and agriculture task force. The task force will provide input to the Planning Transportation and Protective Services Committee to help set priorities and advance the Strategy recommendations. Task force members will represent non-profits, municipalities with significant agricultural land holdings or interests in food and agriculture, First Nations and the Ministry of Agriculture. “Task force appointments are intended to reflect the geographic and sectoral diversity of the Capital Region food and agriculture economy,” says CRD.
CRD says they had strong support and input from the agricultural sector, with the intent of complementing existing local agricultural area plans and provincial legislation and policy. They add that First Nations interests were strongly represented throughout the development of the Strategy.
Tuesday, December 13 ~ Today two schools from the west shore (SD62) — Ecole John Stubbs and Sangster Elementary — helped decorate Christmas trees at Government House in Victoria.
The Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, each year holds this event to begin the holiday season at Government House by welcoming children and seniors to enjoy festive activities.
The Children’s Tree Decorating Party from 9:30-11:30 am welcomed eight Grade 3 classes to decorate trees in the ballroom and in Hon Judith Guichon’s office. Entertainment for the students included Tickles the Clown, holiday treats, and a grand finale tree lighting outside.
The full range of schools attending: Cordova Bay Elementary, Ecole John Stubbs, Lakeview Christian School, Lakewood Elementary, Prospect Lake Elementary, Quadra Elementary, Sangster Elementary, South Park Family School.
Seniors’ Christmas Teas will be held Wednesday December 14 and Thursday, December 15 from 2:15 to 3:30 pm. Her Honour will welcome seniors from local residences to a Christmas tea at Government House. Guests will be entertained with Christmas carols and have the opportunity to enjoy the trees decorated by the children.
Seniors’ Residences attending: Dec 14: Aberdeen Hospital, Beacon Hill Villa, Beckley Farm Lodge, Camelot Heritage House, James Bay Care Centre, Jesken Aerie Assisted Living Facility, Norgarden Estates – Norgarden, Oak Bay Lodge, Parry Place Assisted Living, Sunrise Senior Living, Victoria Chinatown Care Centre. Dec 15: Amica at Somerset House, Glenwarren Lodge, Marrian Village, Mount St. Mary’s Hospital, Priory Hospital – Heritage Woods, Rest Haven Lodge, Saint Francis Manor by the Sea, The Cedars (Dawson Heights), The Gorge View Society, The Kensington, West Shore Lodge.
Sunday, December 11 ~ WEST SIDE of VANCOUVER ISLAND. For anyone who’s out shopping for a home at Christmas, or who otherwise just follows the real estate trends in Greater Victoria, this is for you.
A look at the MLS numbers (Nov 2016, Greater Victoria Real Estate Board) shows the trend for best-value right now in Colwood and Metchosin (narrow margin between benchmark and actual raw sale average). Where there’s a considerable margin between the Greater Victoria MLS benchmark (data-adjusted) value and what you actually pay is in Langford and Sooke.
Compare: Benchmark for a single-family home in Colwood is $561,700, with the average of actual sales being pretty close at $551,720. In Sooke the benchmark is $420,900 but the actual sales average works out to $502,775.
Yes, this is a look at one month’s figures, but the trend has been heading this way for a while. West Shore Voice News continues to follow real estate trends in detail with custom little insights that stand apart from regular news coverage.
Click on the above image to see the prices for Langford, Colwood, Metchosin, and Sooke as compared to the overall Greater Victoria area. Or find the original article on page 1 in the print/PDF December 9, 2016 issue of West Shore Voice News.
Friday, December 9 ~ SOOKE. For Vancouver Island where we can go several winters in a row without snow, there was a relatively big snowfall last night, but not enough to grind things to a halt.
Schools are still open in the SD62 School District (Sooke, Colwood, Langford, Metchosin), except in the Port Renfrew area. School buses are still running but might be behind schedule.
SD62 says it’s always up to parents whether it’s safe enough to send their children to school. www.sd62.bc.ca
Nighttime temperatures started falling below zero a few nights ago, so the snow does not really come as a surprise.
Wednesday, December 7 ~ COLWOOD. Tonight the City of Colwood will hold their Colwood Christmas Light Up 2016.
The community celebration is from 6pm to 8pm when City Hall officially lights up for the holidays! Music by school choirs (Sangster and Colwood Elementary School Choirs at 6:15 pm), and a special performance by Fintan O’Brien. Hot chocolate by Bitez Sandwich Bar, hot dogs supplied and grilled by the Red Barn Market BarnBQ, and tasty treats courtesy of Royal Bay Bakery!
There will be fun craft activities indoors for kids, led by volunteers from West Shore Parks and Recreation to keep them busy while they eagerly await Santa’s arrival by fire truck. And you can vote for your favourite tree with a donation to the Christmas Backpack Project or Goldstream Food Bank. Santa arrives on a fire truck at 7pm.
Wednesday, December 7 ~ LANGFORD. .John Horgan, MLA will hold his Annual Christmas Open House at his Juan de Fuca Constituency office tonight from 4:30 to 6:30pm at 122-2806 Jacklin Rd (corner of Goldstream Ave).
All supporters and constituents welcome. The refreshments are usually pretty tasty at this annual event!
No RSVP required. It’s casual. Just drop by, and bring an item for food bank.
The 10,000 Tonight food drive by Belmont students will be going on in Langford that same evening (as well as in Colwood by Royal Bay students).
Wednesday, December 7 ~ COLWOOD. Need a fresh-cut Christmas tree? The students and staff at Westshore Centre for Learning (Colwood Campus, 2139 Sooke Road) are holding a fundraiser.
Several varieties of trees are brought in fresh daily by Saanichton Tree Farm. Tree sizes from 2 ft to 12 ft. You can even custom-order a tree!
The fundraiser runs daily to Tuesday, December 13. Mon-Thurs 3 to 7 pm, Fri & Sat 10-8, Sun 10-6.
Funds raised are used to support the on-site community garden, and the grad ceremony in June.
Wednesday, December 7 ~ WEST SHORE of VANCOUVER ISLAND. In mid-September 2016, the West Shore RCMP Detachment’s Street Crime Unit and the Crime Reduction Unit joined forces to become one. This amalgamation aims to efficiently deploy resources to conduct targeted investigations against prolific offenders, those that are contributing the most to crime in the community.
The Crime Reduction Unit was created to proactively target property crime offenders, prolific offenders, and execute apprehensions on people with outstanding arrest warrants. The unit also proactively investigates and targets street level drug offenders.
“The unit’s message is clear: Crime is not welcome in the West Shore. We want West Shore to be safe and the unit is relentlessly going after those involved in crime, says Cpl Bryson Hill of the West Shore RCMP’s Crime Reduction Unit.
In the 10 weeks since the amalgamation, the Crime Reduction Unit has arrested 18 individuals and a total 34 charges have been recommended against them. Those charges range, but are not limited to: Breach of Recognizance, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Possession of Drugs for Purpose of Trafficking, Prohibited Driving, Theft, Breach of Conditional Sentencing Order, and Unlawful Possession of Firearms.
During this time, the Crime Reduction Unit has also seized substantial quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, OxyContin, fentanyl, steroids, cash, handguns and vehicles from the streets.
With an approximate population of 72,000 and growing, the residents in the communities that are served by the RCMP West Shore detachment (Langford, Colwood) play a major part in the fight against these criminals, says RCMP Media Relations Officer Cst Alex Bérubé. “It starts by providing an extra set of eyes and ears. Together, we are working together to make our family-oriented communities, a safe place to be.”
Anyone with information about drug trafficking or any other criminal activity in the West Shore is encouraged to contact West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Tuesday, December 6 ~ GREATER VICTORIA AREA. Need some Holiday Recycling Tips, Green Gift Ideas, or Green New Year’s Resolutions? The Capital Regional District (CRD) wants to contribute to this being a “green” holiday season.
At the www.crd.bc.ca/memories website you’ll find information on holiday waste reduction, gift ideas that will help create memories – not garbage, tips on properly preparing recyclables at the curb, Christmas light recycling locations and much more!
While the winter holiday season brings good cheer and great times with friends and family for many people, it also brings a lot more consumer purchases and waste.
CRD says that the quantity of recycling generated during this time period increases dramatically as people shop more. Discarded items include holiday wrap, cards and ribbon, in addition to the enormous quantity of cans, bottles and plastic containers tossed after holiday celebrations.
BC CORONER NEWS. Monday, December 5 ~ LANGFORD. The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a man who died on a trail in Langford on December 1. He was Christopher James Tousignant, aged 33, of Victoria.
A person walking his dog came upon Mr Tousignant, unresponsive, on a short unnamed trail in Langford about 7 am on December 2, 2016. The trail, described as narrow and steep, leads between the Millstream Shopping Centre and Whitehorn Place, where Tousignant had most recently been residing. He was determined to be deceased at the scene.
The BC Coroners Service and RCMP continue to investigate to determine the cause and classification of this death. The family has been notified.
POLICE NEWS. Monday, December 5 ~ COLWOOD. Police are confirming a 53-year-old Langford man is dead following a crash in Colwood.
At approximately 10 pm last night, December 4, West Shore RCMP, along with Colwood Fire and BC Ambulance, responded to a single vehicle collision at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Latoria Rd in Colwood.
The vehicle, a blue Chevrolet pickup, was seen travelling at a high rate of speed on Veterans Memorial Parkway towards Latoria and crashed head on against the rock wall. The man was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The BC Coroner’s Service and an RCMP Traffic Analyst were called to the scene to assist with the investigation.
The name of the driver is not being released, pending his Next of Kin notification.
If someone has not travelled that road before, it’s possible the rock wall — with options to turn right or left — is not readily seen, especially at night at high speed.
Friday, December 2~ LANGFORD. On Saturday night December 3 is the 10th Annual Langford Christmas Lightup!
As usual, it will be held at Veterans Memorial Park (Veterans Memorial Parkway at Goldstream Ave).
Fun at the lightup includes an outdoor Christmas Market starting at 5pm, with treats like hot chocolate and hot dogs starting at 5:30 pm (while supplies last. Santa will arrive at 6pm. The Official Lightup brightens up the park at 7pm.
The Truck Light Convoy arrives around 8pm. Items that you bring for the food bank can be deposited in designated areas along the parade route.
Each year thousands of people line the streets throughout Langford to see the truck light convoy that starts in Oak Bay and makes its way through the city out to the western communities. Last year over 100 trucks made their way through Langford and the energy of the crowd was quite abuzz despite a drizzle of rain.
Friday, December 2 ~ COLWOOD. Negotiation Training with Students at Royal Bay Secondary. For the second year in a row, members of the Vancouver Island RCMP Negotiator Team including team Psychologist Dr Susan Brock reached out to the Senior Acting Company class with Grade 10, 11, 12 students at Royal Bay Secondary in Colwood to assist with training.
On November 28, students from the drama class taught by Melissa Young acted out real life scenarios while negotiators practiced techniques aimed at de-escalation.
“The students did an amazing job and it was a real benefit to both the actors and the RCMP officers,” says Cst. Alex Bérubé, Media Relations Officer, West Shore RCMP.
“It’s a highlight and a pleasure for members to work with and get to know these students,” said Sgt Todd Preston of Vancouver Island RCMP Negotiator Team.
“This is a valuable opportunity for police negotiators to train on various scenarios (thanks to the help of those skilled drama students) but also for those students to experience and learn about the work of police negotiators,” says Cst Bérubé.
Thursday, December 1 ~ LANGFORD. Running as the BC Liberal Candidate in Langford-Juan de Fuca for the May 9, 2017 provincial election is Cathy Noel. She is a local entrepreneur and charity event organizer.
She will be running head to head with long-time Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan, NDP who has served the region since first being elected in 2005. Horgan became the province-wide party leader of the BC NDP in 2014. Horgan lives in Langford. Horgan has years of background in handling key province-wide issues including energy, education, the environment and the economy.
“I’m ready to take my experiences as an Island business owner, entrepreneur, and mother and use them to make a real difference in our community,” said Ms Noel. She says that a growing riding needs “a strong champion for this growth in the Legislature who understands that the best way to look after the people we love is with a strong economy that creates good jobs on the Island and across BC”,” as stated in a BC Liberal news release.
Noel owns and operates a small business that has organized local charity events for dozens of not-for-profits across the Island. She is also the Race Director of two of the largest races on the Island: the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon and the Victoria Goddess Run, and is past race director of the Times Colonist 10k, and past president of the Vancouver Island Runners Association.
Noel says her top priorities for the region are to grow the local economy to create jobs and opportunities in the South Island, and to get to the government table to deliver on regional needs such as health care, education, and transportation infrastructure.
Noel joins a team of 66 BC Liberal candidates already nominated province-wide.
Thursday, December 1 ~ SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND. Snow is forecasted to sea level on all of Vancouver Island with snow as early as Sunday December 4, but with forecasts for significant snowfall Wednesday, December 7.
Winter tires are mandatory on the Trans Canada Highway (Hwy 1) Malahat section, and on Highway 18 in the Cowichan Valley area, as well as on West Coast Road (Hwy 14) west of Sooke.
- The Malahat on Highway 1 is well known for challenging driving conditions even in good weather. It is an unavoidable section of highway if travelling to/from the Greater Victoria area to/from upisland.
- Highway 18 is a short, 42 km long main vehicle route in the Cowichan Valley Regional District on Vancouver Island, connecting the city of Duncan on the Trans-Canada Highway with the community of Youbou, on the north shore of Lake Cowichan.
- Highway 14 (Sooke Road / called West Coast Road in the section that is west of Otter Point Road in Sooke town centre), requires winter tires anywhere west of the Grant Road West intersection (heading west to Kemp Lake and beyond).
In anticipation of this weather event, Mainroad winter operations will be in effect on all Highways. Their regular winter crews are on shift 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. “Extra manpower and equipment are brought in as conditions warrant and will continue until the conditions change and highways are back to normal,” says Leon Bohmer, Operations Manager, Mainroad South Island Contracting LP.
“During winter driving conditions we’re reminding everyone to please drive safe especially when approaching a highway maintenance vehicle,” says Bohmer. “Our 24 hour communications centre will pass on all your observations and concerns to our crews when contacted.”
The Mainroad 24hr Hotline is 1.877.391.7310.
Thursday, December 1 ~ WEST SHORE. West Shore RCMP officers have arrested two suspects after an ordeal that shut down Sooke Rd in Colwood last night, November 30.
At around 3:30 pm, West Shore RCMP received a report that a small red vehicle had rear-ended another vehicle while approaching the four lane portion of Sooke Rd (Highway 14) eastbound in Langford. The suspect vehicle then continued travelling eastbound at a high rate of speed.
“During that time, multiple calls were received reporting that same vehicle hitting several other vehicles. The suspect vehicle finally came to a stop in the 2600 block of Sooke Rd after it became disabled. No one was injured during those collisions,” says Cst Alex Bérubé. The two suspects jumped out of the red vehicle, which had been stolen in the Comox Valley earlier, and fled into a wooded area after unsuccessfully attempting to car jack another vehicle. Police arrived shortly after and were able to locate and arrest the two suspects without further incident.
The two suspects, a 40-year-old man of Courtenay and a 28-year-old man of no fixed address were taken to hospital to be treated as they appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance. They were later released and taken into police custody. They will both appear in court this afternoon to face numerous criminal charges.
The Colwood Fire Department and the Capital Region District HAZMAT team assisted with the investigation.
“Initial observation of the content of the suspect vehicle led police to contain the area as a precautionary measure,” states Cst Bérubé, spokesperson of the West Shore RCMP. The content of the vehicle turned out to be harmless and posed no danger to the occupants or the public.
Police would like to particularly thank all bystanders who helped officers locate these two suspects in this chaotic incident.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 or CRIMESTOPPERS at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Wednesday, November 30 ~ OTTAWA. The MP for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford on Vancouver Island, Alistair MacGregor, says he is dismayed at Trudeau’s broken promise on Kinder Morgan.
“Yesterday, Justin Trudeau and the Liberals betrayed a clear commitment that they made to British Columbians during the campaign that the Kinder Morgan pipeline would not be approved under the Conservative’s broken review process,” said MacGregor in a news release today .
“I think it’s clear that Justin Trudeau has betrayed the trust of British Columbians after totally backtracking on his promises,” he said. “Many in my province of British Columbia actually voted Liberal because they were led to believe that this pipeline would not go forward under a Liberal government. That turned out to be untrue.”
MacGregor says that several Liberal MPs were elected stating that Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could not be approved because it had not undergone a credible public review process. “The government’s hand-picked cabinet panel admitted that this project faces strong opposition from First Nations and local communities. The recent Bella Bella oil spill demonstrates that the BC coast is not prepared for a 7-fold increase in tanker traffic,” says MacGregor.
“The Prime Minister admitted that the environmental process was not credible under the Conservatives and then approved the project anyway,” said MacGregor. “They should have brought in a new review process to address environmental concerns rather than just following Stephen Harper’s lead on climate change,’’ added MacGregor.
Tuesday, November 29 ~ ‘Light Up the Highway’ will be held by RCMP on Friday, December 2 in most areas of Vancouver Island.
Each year on Vancouver Island Police from Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island work tirelessly conducting road checks and impaired driving enforcement in their communities.
On December 2 police from across Vancouver Island will be “Lighting Up the Highway” as they conduct coordinated Counter Attack road checks from Victoria all the way up Vancouver Island highways to Port Hardy.
Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death in Canada. In BC, 86 people on average die every year in crashes involving impaired driving. On Vancouver Island 13 people on average are killed each year in crashes involving impaired driving. Most impaired-related crashes occur on Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights between 9pm and 3am.
“Island District Traffic Services Officers from across the Island are committed to making our roads and communities safer through road checks across Vancouver Island,” says Traffic Services Commander Inspector Ward Johnson.
This event is part of a larger Provincial campaign where police and ICBC are urging drivers to plan ahead and make smart decisions to get home safely this holiday season. “If your holiday festivities involve alcohol, plan ahead for a safe ride home,” says Colleen Woodger, local ICBC road safety coordinator.
“Arrange a designated driver, call a taxi or take transit – there are so many options to get home safe.” If you see an impaired driver you are encouraged to call 911.
Friday, November 25 ~ VICTORIA. Island Health has issued an urgent message to drug consumers: Avoid using alone.
In response to seven overdose deaths on Vancouver Island in the past week (five of those have occurred on the South Island and four of these in the last 72 hours), Island Health is issuing an urgent warning to individuals who are going to use illicit drugs.
Avoid using alone, and make sure someone is around who is willing and able to seek help if an overdose happens.
This warning applies to all methods of drug consumption – injection, inhalation, snorting, smoking or consuming with alcohol.
“While vulnerable, street-entrenched individuals are still very high risk for overdoses, we are finding that recent overdose deaths involve individuals who are in housing, whether that be a private residence or publicly-funded housing facilities, including shelters,” said Dr. Richard Stanwick, Island Health’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. “These individuals need to know they are at significant risk of overdose, especially if they use alone.”
Island Health is particularly concerned given the approaching weekend and this week’s issuing of social service cheques. In addition to warning regular and weekend recreational users, Island Health has issued an alert for its front-line staff as a well as community service providers. Island Health continues to work with community service providers to further increase outreach and overdose response capacity.
“The drugs on the street are more potent and dangerous than they have ever been before,” Dr. Stanwick said. “Do not use alone. Please, have someone around who is willing and able to seek help if an overdose happens.”
The following strategies can reduce the risk:
– Avoid using alone; fix with a friend
– Try a small amount of new drugs first
– Stagger use with friends so someone can respond if needed
– Avoid using more than one drug at a time (stacking drugs increases risk of overdoses and contributes to more severe overdoses)
– Carry and use naloxone and have an overdose response plan
– Be close to help
If someone overdoses:
– Call 9-1-1 immediately
– Provide rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth)
– Administer naloxone
Thursday, November 24 ~ VICTORIA. They tried, but amalgamation of the Greater Victoria chamber of Commerce and Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce is not going to proceed, it was announced November 23.
“Both Boards have determined the best option at this time is for the two chambers to remain separate organizations,” it was stated in a news release from both chambers.
“The door to integration remains open as both Boards continue to believe that services to members can be strengthened and enhanced by integration. The parties have benefited from the opportunity to get to know each other better and plan to continue to work together on areas of mutual interest.”
Friday, November 18 ~ VICTORIA. Commuters, cyclists and pedestrians will have their travel schedules interrupted by rock blasting for the McKenzie Interchange highway improvement project on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Hwy). The blasting begins today, Friday November 18.
Traffic interruptions will be intermittent. During the day the traffic waits will be about 15 minutes long, affecting drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. In the evenings traffic will be stopped completely when rock excavation takes place 8 to 10 pm Monday to Saturday. The rock excavation activity in the evening will continue to April 2017. There will be no construction activity on Sundays or statutory holidays.
Travelers using Highway 1 to reach Victoria from upisland, and those generally commuting between the west shore and Saanich and downtown, should check www.Drivebc.ca for the most up to date traffic advisories. Users of the Galloping Goose trail are encouraged to use alternate routes or be prepared to stop during the work periods. Motorists will need to incorporate additional time into their travel schedules.
Completion of the long-awaited McKenzie Interchange is expected later in 2018. Many in the Greater Victoria area have pushed for commuter traffic flow improvements at the intersection of McKenzie and Admirals Road, particularly to serve morning and evening commuter traffic between the western communities of Langford, Colwood and Sooke (which have become ‘bedroom communities’ to the Victoria/Saanich employment hub) and the core area of Greater Victoria.
Wednesday, November 16 ~ LANGFORD. ‘Sustainability’ is a new course coming up in the 2nd semester at Belmont Secondary in Langford. Offered to Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12.
It is a course for those keenly interested in taking care of Mother Nature (the environment). One major project this class will work on is the design and development of the school garden.
The school says students can sign up on the list in the counselling suite at the school. If there’s enough interest, the course will proceed.
Tuesday, November 15 ~ LANGFORD. TRAFFIC UPDATE. On Wednesday November 16 and Friday November 18, highway road crews will be paving on Hwy 1 in the north bound lane at West Shore Parkway, from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.
The paving is part of the West Shore Parkway completion project, says Mainroad South Island. The City of Langford is completing the second left turn lane on Hwy 1 northbound, turning left onto the West Shore Parkway.
Paving is weather dependent and has been challenging this fall season given the record amounts of rain on the south island.
Traffic control will be on-site to ensure no major disruptions. Delays may be expected.
Monday, November 14 ~ A free info session on emergency preparedness — specifically about the organizations that help out during and following an emergency — will be held at the Metchosin Fire Hall tomorrow night, November 15. Starts at 7pm.
“Prepare yourself with knowledge before a disaster strikes,” says Metchosin Fire Chief Stephanie Dunlop. “Even if you have a fully stocked emergency kit and other contingency plans in place, you can still educate yourself on the other helping hands that may be available. There are many non-government organizations (NGOs) on the Southern Island that are ready to help in the case of an emergency,” she says.
NGOs are prepared to help care and rescue pets, feed community members with mobile kitchens, assist with first aid among other resources and services.
“In the event of a large event or local emergency we would open a reception centre where people could spend the night. Depending on the number of people at the site, we could be overwhelmed and call on NGOs to help assist us,” said Dawne Kirwan of the Metchosin Emergency Program.
Come learn about our local, regional and even some provincial and federal NGO’s that are here to help during a disaster!
Monday, November 14 ~ Broad public input for what kind of City that Colwood can be — that will be open for discussion on Thursday night, November 17.
The ‘Successful Cities & Happening Places’ event with Dr Dave Witty (VP, Vancouver Island University) will produce discussion toward “a bold plan for Colwood”. It’s part of ‘Making Waves’, a process toward navigating Colwood’s future.
The evening program starts at 6:30 pm and runs to 8:30 pm at Royal Bay Secondary School, 3500 Ryder Hesjedal Way.
The City of Colwood is encouraging community members to get involved in updating its Official Community Plan (OCP). When Colwood Council is faced with decisions about growth and new development, improvements to parks and other public spaces, projects for roads and infrastructure, and more, they look to the Official Community Plan to determine whether it fits with the community’s long term vision.
The City of Colwood says this is a chance to help shape the long term vision of the community. www.colwood.ca/MakingWaves
Friday, November 11 ~ GREATER VICTORIA AREA. The long-awaited but complex MacKenzie Interchange construction work has begun.
With a notice of drilling and blasting released on November 10, work will occur adjacent to the current highway alignment starting November 10 and lasting to around April of 2017.
• Drilling activities are permitted between 3:00pm & 9:00pm Monday to Friday and 9:00am & 9:00pm Saturdays.
• Blasting is permitted between 8:00pm & 10:00pm Monday to Saturday. Preparatory work for blasting will be completed throughout the day with possible multiple blasts during the permitted evening time window.
• No blasting is permitted on Sundays or Statutory Holidays
For safety, drivers, cyclists and pedestrians are asked to obey traffic control personnel. Warning signs will be as follows:
• Twelve (12) short whistles, followed by a brief pause;
• Blast(s) will be detonated;
• A long whistle indicates all is clear.
During construction, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) is committed to minimize delays and maximize predictability for all commuters (drivers, transit users, cyclists and pedestrians) by undertaking the majority of work outside of peak periods. The ministry will not allow lane closures for construction on Sundays, statutory holidays, or during the hours of 5:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Nighttime work may include 15-30 minute traffic stoppages and advance notice will be provided.
Regular updates and advance notification will be provided as needed through DriveBC, social media, traffic advisories, and changeable message signs. Project updates: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/mckenzieinterchange/construction-updates/
Ministry staff will be monitoring traffic throughout to ensure any delays related to construction are minimal.
For Friday, November 11 ~ LANGFORD. Traffic flow at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Pkwy and Goldstream Avenue in Langford will be greatly affected during the November 11 Remembrance Day Ceremony, says West Shore RCMP.
There will be some partial and full lane closures. It is recommended that motorists use alternate routes to minimize delays in the area.
Thursday, November 10 ~ BC. Premier Christy Clark will be at the West Kelowna Memorial Service in honour of Remembrance Day. NDP Leader John Horgan will be in Vancouver at a ceremony for Remembrance Day, though today he attended a ceremony at Spencer Middle School in Langford.
On the west shore of Vancouver Island, Randall Garrison, MP (Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke) will be in Esquimalt for Remembrance Day ceremonies, and Alistair MacGregor (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford) will be in Langford at Veterans Memorial Park.
In Sooke, a wreath will be laid at the Sooke Cenotaph on November 11 by retired Sooke Fire Chief Steve Sorensen on behalf of Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan.
Sunday, November 6 ~ HIGHLANDS. The loop trail at the east end of Durrance Lake, in Mount Work Regional Park, will be closed to the public on November 7, 8, 9 and 28.
Closure is required while the Capital Regional District (CRD) conducts an assessment of the dam, which includes drilling and other activities.
The CRD asks that park visitors use caution around equipment and crews, and follow the signs around the closed site within the temporarily fenced-off area. The parking lot, the loop trail outside the fenced area and other park facilities remain open.
The CRD is undertaking a geotechnical investigation and composition assessment of the earth dam at the east end of the lake to better understand what it is composed of and how it was constructed when it was originally built in the early 1900s. This project is part of the CRD Regional Parks commitment to ensuring its facilities are maintained to a high standard for public safety.
Friday, November 4 ~ VICTORIA. WorkBC’s ‘Find Your Fit’ will showcase BC’s in-demand jobs at Teen Fest Victoria tomorrow Saturday, November 5 at Pearkes Recreation Centre, 3100 Tillicum Rd (open to the public 11 am to 4:30 pm). Young people of Victoria will have an opportunity to learn the skills they will need for tomorrow’s in-demand occupations.
Find Your Fit is an interactive event where individuals of all ages can learn about BC’s in-demand careers and test out some of the skills they would need for those occupations. Participants will also get to know career planning tools – such as Blueprint Builder and Career Trek videos – and the job resources and labour market information WorkBC.ca offers. Parents, teachers and career counsellors may benefit, too – by discovering ways to educate and support youth in their career exploration.
Find Your Fit is part of BC’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint commitment to re-engineer education and deliver the skilled workforce needed in BC’s growing economy. The tour has had over 180,000 participants so far. The tour was most recently in Burns Lake. It’s next stop on Vancouver Island will be in Duncan on December 1. Other communities can also request a tour stop.
“Through BC’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, we are committed to preparing the skilled workforce that our growing economy needs. The Find Your Fit tour ensures that our youth have the tools and resources necessary to consider the full range of in-demand occupations available to them,” says Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour.
Friday, November 4. “Small Treasures” marks the beginning of the 2016 holiday shopping season in Colwood. It’s a a showcase of small works of fine art running November 2 to 30 at the Coast Collective gallery.
The opening reception is tonight November 4. Between 7 and 9 pm will be a chance to meet the artists and enjoy the piano stylings of Louise Eldridge.
“You’ll find this lovely exhibition of smaller works to be perfect for your own collection, or as a holiday gift for a special someone in your life,” say gallery organizers.
One striking image in the show is called Radiating Love, a piece in acrylic mixed media and hand-tooled copper by Cheryl Bakke Martin.
Thursday, November 3 ~ WEST SIDE of VANCOUVER ISLAND. Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke MP Randall Garrison is on his way back from Ottawa to his constituency today, to spend a week on this west side of the island and attend the Remembrance Day ceremony in Esquimalt on November 11.
He is in full support of NDP Leader Tom Mulcair’s statement in the House of Commons today that the Liberal government should hold an inquiry into RCMP/CSIS surveillance of journalists. He adds that while instances of media surveillance have surfaced in Quebec, it’s a bigger problem than that.
“If journalists are under surveillance, then people won’t talk to them. Free press is a fundamental part of our democracy for people’s right to know what’s going on,” said Randall Garrison, MP, today in a phone interview.
Thursday, November 3 ~ VICTORIA. There will be additional BC Ferries sailings on the Remembrance Day weekend, with 24 extra sailings on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route Thurs November 10 through Sunday November 13. An additional round trip has also been added to the Horsehoe Bay – Departure Bay route on the evening of Thursday, Nov 10.
On Friday November 11, BC senior citizens will be able to travel half-price (passenger fares only) on BC Ferries. Throughout the year, discounted travel is offered to BC seniors from Monday to Thursdays (except holidays).
All Canadian flags on BC Ferries vessels will fly at half mast on Remembrance Day in respect of veterans active military personnel. A moment of silence will occur at 11 am on the vessels.
Wednesday, November 2 ~ LANGFORD. The BC Ministry of Education has invested $300,000 at Spencer Middle school in Langford.
The provincial School Enhancement Program funding is being used to replace the school’s boiler system. The first phase was completed about three weeks ago, says Sooke School District 62 (SD62) — see boiler photo below. Phase two is about changing the pumps for energy efficiency, which is scheduled for completion by the end of November.
Spencer Middle School which serves Langford-area students in Grades 6, 7 and 8 is located on Goldstream Avenue close to the City of Langford core. The Isabel Reader Theatre within the school is a popular location for public meetings.
SD62 operates schools in Langford, Colwood and Sooke. Other schools have also received funding for facility improvements in the past year.
Government announced an extra $20 million in funding under the program in September 2016. As a result, 217 school improvement projects have been approved to proceed throughout the province.
Out of the 217 approved projects, 122 schools will use the funding to upgrade their plumbing lines and fixtures. A number of districts will benefit from new or repaired roofs or upgraded fire response systems. For this round of funding, the Ministry of Education expanded the scope of eligible projects to include flooring upgrades and 30 schools will benefit from improved flooring. Successful projects were chosen based on need, priority and how well they support student learning and safety.
“As a result of BC’s fiscal discipline and balanced budget, government is able to support student learning, community development and local jobs through key investments like the School Enhancement Program,” it was stated in a news release November 2.
Mike Bernier, Minister of Education says: “Through the School Enhancement Program, we are continuing to deliver on our commitment to help school districts protect, preserve and extend the life of their schools. We are doing this to ensure that our students have the secure, safe and comfortable environment they need to succeed. Since the launch of this successful program, we’ve invested over $100 million in school improvement projects throughout the province.”
The School Enhancement Program is aimed at helping school districts extend the life of their facilities through a wide range of improvement projects, including:
- plumbing, boiler and other mechanical upgrades;
- heating and ventilation upgrades;
- roof repairs or replacement;
- windows, lighting and electrical system upgrades;
- safety enhancements including fire protection; and
- flooring upgrades.
To be eligible for this government funding, projects must cost between $100,000 and $3 million and be substantially complete by March 31, 2017. Budget 2016 provides $1.7 billion in capital funding over three years to replace aging facilities, build more student spaces in growing communities and improve school seismic safety. Link: BC’s School Enhancement Program
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