Community Calendar
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December 2024
December 2024. Langford Winter Fest. Many activities this month.
December 8 to 22. Holiday LEGO Exhibit. Sundays 12 pm to 5 pm, Monday to Wednesday 1 pm to 6 pm, Thursday & Friday 3 pm to 8 pm, Saturdays 1 pm to 6 pm at Westshore Town Centre (near Dollarama), Langford.
December 14 to February 15, 2025. Federal GST purchase tax is lifted from some items through to Feb 15, 2025. See details GST holiday relief tax period ec 14, 2024 to Feb 15, 2025 | GST Holiday – political & economic analysis
School winter break. December 21 through January 5. Back to school on Mon Jan 6.
Town of View Royal Lightup Contest. December 20, 2024 to January 3, 2024. | How to nominate.
Tuesday December 24. Christmas Eve.
Tuesday December 24. Christmas Eve Skate at SEAPARC Recreation Centre, Sooke. 1 pm to 2:30 pm.
Tuesday December 24. Pool at SEAPARC in Sooke. Closes early at 2:30 pm. Holiday hours.
Wednesday December 25. Christmas Day 2024.
HOLIDAY SEASON HOURS
Let us know about your office hours (for free listing here). Email to events@islandsocialtrends.com.
- Castle Liquor Store in Sooke. Open daily 9 am to 10 pm. Christmas Day 9 am to 6 pm.
- City of Colwood.
- City of Langford. Closed Dec 25 through Jan 1. Open Jan 2 to 3 – 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
- Coast Capital Savings. All branches open to 3 pm on Dec 24 and Dec 31, but closed on Dec 25, 26, and Jan 1.
- District of Metchosin. Closed all statutory holidays and between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Municipal hall office hours.
- District of North Saanich – municipal hall, public works, utilities operations, and fire department admin all closed during the holiday season (from 2 pm Dec 24 to 8 am Jan 2).
- District of Sooke – Closing early on Fri Dec 13 for a staff celebration. Holiday closure Dec 25 to 31, 2024 with regular operations resuming on Jan 6, 2025. Essential services remain available.
- Island Social Trends – Always at the ready to cover breaking news, otherwise the office is closed Tues Dec 24 to Thurs Dec 26, resuming regular operations on Fri Dec 27.
- SEAPARC Recreation Centre in Sooke. Holiday hours. Pool closes early on Dec 24 (2:30 pm); pool closed Dec 25 & 26.
- Serious Coffee View Royal, 1703 Island Highway (across from Elements Casino). Tues Xmas Eve Dec 24 – 7 am to 4 pm. Wed Christmas Day Dec 25 – closed. Thurs Boxing Day Dec 26 – 7 am to 4 pm. Tues Dec 24 New Year’s Eve – 7 am to 4 pm. Wed New Year’s Day – Jan 1, 2025 – 7 am to 4 pm.
- Town of View Royal. Municipal hall closed for the holidays starting 2 pm on Tues Dec 24. Re-open for business on Thurs Jan 2 at 8:30 am. Yard & Garden Waste Facility: Closed Dec 23, open Dec 24 (8 am to 12 noon). Closed Dec 25 & 26. Open Dec 27 to 29 )8 am to 5 pm). Closed Dec 31. Open Dec 31 (8 am to 12 noon). Closed Jan 1, open Jan 2 (8 am to 5 pm).
- Westshore Parks & Recreation, 1767 Island Highway. Dec 24 – 6 m to 3 pm. Dec 25 – closed. Dec 26 – closed. Dec 27 to 31 – open (Dec 31 from 6 am to 3 pm). Wed Jan 1 – closed.
Saturday December 28. Free Teen Skate at City Centre Park, Langford. Free. 8:15 pm to 9:30 pm. SD62 Student ID required for entry to teen-only outdoor ice skating (ages 12 to 18). Also January 4.
Tuesday December 31. New Year’s Eve.
Tuesday December 31. New Year’s Eve Skate at SEAPARC Recreation Centre, Sooke. 1 pm to 2:30 pm.
Tuesday December 31. BC Transit Service available on New Year’s Eve across the province. VICTORIA REGION: Extended late night service. Free service on both conventional and handyDART after 6 pm. Service will run on a Sunday schedule on January 1.
Community Leadership Calendar 2025
Wednesday January 1, 2025. Happy New Year!
Wednesday January 1, 2025 . BC Transit Service available. VICTORIA REGION: Service will run on a Sunday schedule on January 1.
Up to Friday January 3. Town of View Royal Lightup Contest. December 20, 2024 to January 3, 2024. | How to nominate.
Saturday January 4. Free Teen Skate at City Centre Park, Langford. Free. 8:15 pm to 9:30 pm. SD62 Student ID required for entry to teen-only outdoor ice skating (ages 12 to 18).
Sunday January 5. Golden Globes awards.
Monday January 6. Sooke School District 62. Return to classes after winter break (winter break was December 21 through January 5).
Wednesday January 29. Bank of Canada scheduled interest rate announcement. | See Interest Rate Announcement Dates for 2025.
January 2025. Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce opens new office at 201-633 Courtney St in downtown Victoria.
January or February 2025. King Charles III Memorial Awards, in Cowichan-Malahat-Langford. Date tba.
February 2025. Municipal by-election in District of Sooke. Details/update.
February 8 to 16, 2025. Invictus Games in Vancouver. and Whistler.
Friday February 14. Valentine’s Day.
Saturday February 15. Final day of federal GST purchase tax (as lifted since Dec 14, 2024). GST Holiday – political & economic analysis
Monday February 17. Family Day in BC. Statutory holiday.
Wednesday February 26. Pink Shirt Day. To raise awareness about bullying.
Tuesday February 18. Start of the Spring Session of the BC Legislative Assembly (first session after the Fall 2024 provincial election).
Tuesday March 4. BC BUDGET.
Wednesday March 12, 2025. Bank of Canada scheduled interest rate announcement. | See Interest Rate Announcement Dates for 2025.
March 28 to 30, 2025. Island FanCon at City Centre Park in Langford. Second annual cosplay event in Langford, see Nov 9, 2024 news coverage. [See 2024 event coverage | 2024 economic contribution] | Click here for: Island FanCon tickets for SD62 students
Sunday March 30, 2025. JUNO Awards in Vancouver and live on CBC.
Wednesday April 16. Bank of Canada scheduled interest rate announcement. | See Interest Rate Announcement Dates for 2025.
April 26. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld live in Victoria for a one-night show.
Wednesday June 4. Bank of Canada scheduled interest rate announcement. | See Interest Rate Announcement Dates for 2025.
July 18 to 20. 2025 National Mountain Bike Championship. At Jordie Lunn Bike Park in Langford.
Wednesday July 30. Bank of Canada scheduled interest rate announcement. | See Interest Rate Announcement Dates for 2025.
September 2025. Royal Roads University West Shore Campus, 798 Goldstream Ave, Langford. The new campus is set to open in September 2025 (previously September 2024). Check out continuing news: Groundbreaking for Royal Roads west shore campus (Aug 3, 2022) | Base slab concrete pour (Feb 1, 2023)
Wednesday September 17. Bank of Canada scheduled interest rate announcement. | See Interest Rate Announcement Dates for 2025.
September 22 to 26, 2025. Union of BC Municipalities 2025 Convention in Victoria, BC.
September 22 to 26, 2025. Woodrise International Congress mass-timber construction convention, in Vancouver, BC.
October 20, 2025. Federal election. Background articles: Former View Royal mayor eyes federal Liberal chances in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke [May 3, 2024] | NDP choose Colin Plant as their Saanich-Gulf Islands candidate [April 27, 2024] | Maja Tait kickstarts her federal campaign in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke (September 1, 2023)
Wednesday October 29. Bank of Canada scheduled interest rate announcement. | See Interest Rate Announcement Dates for 2025.
Wednesday December 10. Bank of Canada scheduled interest rate announcement. | See Interest Rate Announcement Dates for 2025.
2026:
June 2026. FIFA World Cup 2026. Vancouver will be a host city for seven (7) games. First game on June 13, 2026. | Cost-benefit announcement held on April 30, 2024.
September 2026. New child care center in Metchosin to open on the grounds of Hans Helgesen Elementary (as announced in August 2024).
November 15, 2026. The 113th Grey Cup at the Stampeders’ McMahon Stadium home in Calgary.