Community Calendar
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December 2024
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.
Monday December 9. District of Sooke Regular Council Meeting. 6 pm. sooke.ca
Tuesday, December 10 – Choir musical performance at the BC Parliament Buildings, upper rotunda, 12 noon. Pacific Edge Chorus. Free to attend.
Tuesday December 10. New Cowichan District Hospital Virtual Info Session. Event by Island Health – Vancouver Island Health Authority. 11:00 AM to 12 noon. EVENT LINK.
Tuesday December 10. Town of View Royal Committee of the Whole. 3:30 pm. In council chambers.
Wednesday December 11. Bank of Canada scheduled interest rate announcement. | See Interest Rate Announcement Dates for 2024 and 2025.
Wednesday December 11. Choir musical performance at the BC Parliament Buildings, upper rotunda, 12 noon. Victoria Arion Male Choir. Free to attend.
Wednesday December 11. Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society AGM. Virtual meeting via Zoom, 3 pm. Livestream link to come.
Thursday December 12 – School Choir musical performance at the BC Parliament Buildings, upper rotunda, 12 noon. Oak Bay High School Choir. Free to attend.
(Nov 12 to) Friday December 13. Office of the Seniors Advocate online survey, open from Nov 12 to Dec 13 regarding the impacts of ageism on seniors. Ageism Impact Survey.
Friday, December 13. Musical performance at the BC Parliament Buildings, upper rotunda – 4 pm. Greater Victoria Concert Band. Free to attend.
Saturday December 14. Breakfast with Santa at Sawmill Taphouse in Colwood. 102-328 Wale Rd. Adults $30 per person, kids under 12 free (brunch and photo with Santa). Book your space online. 10% of all sales will be donated to the Goldstream Food Bank.
Saturday December 14. 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
Saturday December 14. Watch Live Ice Carving. 11 am to 2 pm at The Langford Station (720 Station Ave). Also December 21.
Saturday December 14. Christmas Open House with Peter Julian, MP; Jennifer Whiteside, MLA; and Raj Chouhan, MLA. At New Westminster Secondary School, 820 6th Street, New Westminister. 1 to 3 pm. RSVP to PeterJulian.ca/events
Saturday December 14 & Sunday December 15. Santa Bus. One BC Transit bus will be lit up and decorated for the holidays on December 14 and 15. Hop on the Santa Bus and enjoy a free ride and some festive holiday music along the way. Full schedule: bctransit.com/victoria.
Saturday December 14 & Sunday December 15. Sooke Craft Fair and Artisans Market, Sooke Community Hall, 2037 Shields Rd, Sooke.
Saturday December 14. Bingo Night for the CMS Food Bank (serving Cobble Hill, Mill Bay and Shawnigan Lake). Doors open 5:30 pm at Mill Bay Community League Hall, 1035 Shawnigan-Mill Bay Rd. Play BINGO starting 6 pm, Half the cash raised goes to the winners and the other half goes to the CMS Food Bank. Bring cash to play, no tap or ATM available. Minors under age 19 can attend but cannot play.
Saturday December 14. Peninsula Firefighters Christmas Food Drive. SIDNEY: Neighbourhood drive-throughs in neighbourhoods north of Beacon Ave, 12 noon to 6 pm. Drop-offs can be made at the Sidney Community Safety Building until Dec 13th from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Mon to Fri. CENTRAL SAANICH: Neighbourhood drive-throughs in Tanner Ridge and Saanichton, 10 am to 2 pm. Drop-offs can be made at the Central Saanich Fire Station #1 (1512 Keating X Rd) and Central Saanich Municipal Hall from Dec 9 to 13, during 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. NORTH SAANICH: Neighbourhood drive-throughs in Dean Park and Eaglehurst area, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. Drof-offs can be made at the North Saanich Fire Hall #1 (986 Wain Rd) and Hall #2 (1665 McTavish Rd) until Dec 13 (8 am to 4 pm, Mon-Fri). | DRIVE THROUGHS: Bring your donation to a firefighter when the truck passes by your home, or leave a bag of donated items on your doorstep or curbside to be collected. Avoid donating foods that will expire within 6 months.
Saturday December 14. 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 on December 21, December 28 and January 4.
Sunday December 15. Skate with Santa! at SEAPARC Recreation Centre, Sooke. 11:30 am to 12:45 pm.
Sunday December 15. Public Memorial for the late John Horgan. 1 pm at the Q Centre, 1767 Island Highway, Colwood. The event will be livestreamed.
Monday December 16. Federal Fall Fiscal Update will be announced in the House of Commons.
Monday December 16. Council of the Federation. Canada’s Premiers national news conference from Toronto, at 12 noon Pacific.
Monday December 16. District of Sooke Committee of the Whole Meeting. 1 pm. sooke.ca
Monday December 16. City of Langford Regular Council Meeting. Decision about purchasing the Y building. 7 pm.
Monday, December 16. School Choir musical performance at the BC Parliament Buildings, upper rotunda – at 12 noon. South Park Choir, Free to attend.
Tuesday, December 17. Choir musical performance at the BC Parliament Buildings, upper rotunda at 12 noon. Voices in Motion Choir. Free to attend.
Wednesday, December 18. School Choir musical performance by Lake Hill Elementary (SD62) at the BC Parliament Buildings, upper rotunda at 12 noon. Free to attend.
Wednesday December 18. Alistair MacGregor, MP Constituency Open House (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford) at the Langford Legion, 751 Station Ave, Langford. From 4 pm to 6 pm. Free to attend. Parking across the street. | More about the open house.
Thursday, December 19. School Choir musical performance at the BC Parliament Buildings, upper rotunda at 12 noon. St. Patrick’s Elementary School Choir. Free to attend.
Thursday, December 19. Alistair MacGregor, MP Constituency Open House (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford) at the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds, 7380 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan. From 4 pm to 6 pm. Free to attend. Co-hosted with Debra Toporowski, MLA (Cowichan Valley). For details call 1-866-609-9998 or email alistair.macgregor@parl.gc.ca. | More about the open house.
Friday, December 20. Choir musical performance at the BC Parliament Buildings, upper rotunda at 12 noon. South Island Harmony Chorus. Free to attend.
Friday December 20. Sooke School District 62. Last day before winter break. Winter break runs December 21 through January 5.
Friday, December 20 – School Choir musical performance at the BC Parliament Buildings, upper rotunda, 4 pm. SingYourJoy Children’s Choirs.
Friday December 20. District of North Saanich 2025 Grants in Aid deadline (perhaps up to Dec 31 depending on definition of last business day of Dec).
Friday December 20. Carousel in the Park at Veterans Memorial Park, Langford. 1pm to 8pm. Free, by donation. Langford WinterFest Events
Saturday December 21. Watch Live Ice Carving. 11 am to 2 pm at The Langford Station (720 Station Ave).
Saturday December 21. 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 December 28 and January 4.
Saturday December 21 & Sunday December 22. Carousel in the Park at Veterans Memorial Park, Langford. Free, by donation. 12 pm to 7 pm. Langford WinterFest Events
Tuesday December 24. Christmas Eve.
Tuesday December 24. Christmas Eve Skate at SEAPARC Recreation Centre, Sooke. 1 pm to 2:30 pm.
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.
- 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.
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.
Community Leadership Calendar – 2025:
Wednesday January 1, 2025. Happy New Year!
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.