Good morning!
There has been a fair amount of coverage on Langford's proposed 12% property tax increase, and it's got us wondering how our Langford readers feel. Former mayor Stew Young has argued that the double-digit increase is unwarranted and that his councils avoided hikes by tapping into the Community Amenity Fund that developers paid into. And current Mayor Scott Goodmanson has said that fund has become too depleted to keep relying on.
If you've got some thoughts to share on this matter, we'd love to hear them. Send us an email at hello@thewestshore.ca and we may include some of your comments in an upcoming newsletter!
— The Westshore team
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SCHOOLS
Port Renfrew Elementary will get long-awaited seismic upgrades
Elk at Port Renfrew Elementary School. Photo: Amanda Hamilton / SD62.bc.ca
The Sooke School District (SD62) announced Friday that its business plan for seismic upgrades for Port Renfrew Elementary School is being funded and will soon be sent to the province. The school is more than 50 years old and serves students from the Port Renfrew area and the Pacheedaht First Nation.
During the Friday announcement, the province said it would commit $10 million for the new elementary school, contingent on the Sooke School District's business plan.
This announcement has come after years of concern that the school was significantly at risk. SD62 applied in 2022 for capital funds for seismic upgrades, with Port Renfrew Elementary and Sooke Elementary listed as their top priorities, after the province denied its 2021 request.
Those two schools were among 46 South Island schools listed last year as in need of seismic upgrades in a July 2022 provincial progress report. At that time, SD62 superintendent Scott Stinson told Capital Daily that while the province has provided around $200 million since 2018 for various projects, including land acquisition and school builds, seismic upgrades hadn't seen funding.
In addition to these upgrades at Port Renfrew Elementary, SD62 along with the Pacheedaht First Nation and the province are continuing to lobby for the federal government to fund a school for students in Grades 6 to 12 in Port Renfrew. They applied in February for funding to build a middle/high school near the elementary school as older students currently have to travel to Sooke, which can result in commutes of nearly two hours each way.
Read the full story on the risks and challenges involved in these seismic upgrades to South Island schools in Capital Daily.
ELECTIONS
New Westshore riding, and changes to others, in final BC election recommendation
A new more urban Westshore riding, Langford-Highlands, has been recommended in Monday’s final report of the BC Electoral Boundaries Committee, along with four in the Lower Mainland and one in the Interior. The committee meets after every two general elections to recommend riding changes in which ridings make sense so that their populations—and in turn the impact of each vote—stay relatively similar.
The current Langford-Juan de Fuca riding, held by John Horgan until last Friday and now due for by-election, has an estimated population of 70,000. That’s well above the goal of around 54,000 people per riding, and one of just six ridings that are over 25% above. The new electoral quotient (per district average) is 53,773 people, with a usual deviation range (25% in either direction) of 40,330 to 67,216 people.
This new and more urban Westshore riding would have 49,114 people (per 2021 census numbers). With Langford one of the fastest growing areas in the country, this riding has been given breathing room to add more people. This change, and local population growth, would spur several other shifts:
Esquimalt-Colwood: Vic West would split from Victoria to join Esquimalt and Colwood in a 58,000-person riding. Last fall the Committee wrote that it heard from the community that Victoria West is more aligned with its Gorge Waterway neighbours than with Victoria.
Juan de Fuca-Malahat: A new more rural southwest-Island riding. Metchosin would split from Esquimalt, and Malahat communities such as Shawnigan Lake would split from Cowichan. Together, they would join Juan de Fuca, Sooke, and Port Renfrew in a 45,000-person riding.
Other changes include tweaks to the boundaries on the peninsula and around Nanaimo, along with four new ridings in the Lower Mainland and one in Kelowna. Read more on the changes here.
Around the 'Shore
🚰 Asbestos cement pipes in Langford: A CTV W5 investigation has found that asbestos cement pipes are being used to deliver tap water across Canada, including the Westshore. In Langford, 18% of the network of pipes, equalling about eight kilometres of pipe, contains asbestos. [CTV]
🐳 **Captive southern resident orca will return to Salish Sea waters:**Lolita, 57, also called Tokitae or Toki, has lived and performed at the Miami Seaquarium since her capture in 1970. After years of activism, an agreement has been announced to return the whale to the Salish Sea within the next two years. [CNN]
🏉 **Langford will host rugby 7s Olympic qualifier:**Rugby Canada has been awarded the 2023 Rugby Americas North Sevens tournament, which will run Aug. 19-20.
😵 There are good reasons for feeling stuck. Explore yours with a counsellor from Intertidal Counselling & Wellness.*
🍴Your digital pocket guide to the city’s must-try spots: From the best new restaurant to the best hidden gem, download your guide to the winners of this year’s Tasting Victoria Best Restaurant Awards, presented by Gordon Food Service.
*Sponsored Listing
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TOGETHER WITH****MP ALISTAIR MACGREGOR
Proudly representing the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding since 2015
As your Member of Parliament, Alistair MacGregor understands that life for Canada’s workers should be getting easier; not harder. That’s why New Democrats successfully fought for an increase to the GST benefit, rent relief, and a national dental care program.
If you need assistance with federal agencies, or would like to know more about how Alistair is bringing Langford and Westshore voices to Ottawa, please contact him.
Community Events
🌎 **The CENiC speakers series:**The Colwood environmental group is hosting its annual speakers series over Zoom. The third talk is today, April 4, and is focused on protecting natural assets. Next Tuesday will be focused on the economics of sustainable buildings.
🖥️****Virtual open house for lands proposed for Te'mexw treaties: Join the Te'mexw Treaty Association at an open house to learn and share input on the five proposed treaties on Wednesday, April 5 from 2:30-4pm.
🎨 Arts open house at Pearson College: Enjoy this end-of-year exhibit on Thursday, April 6 from 4-5:30pm at Pearson College where students will share a collection of artworks and perform short solo and group performances.
What’s Offshore?
Nothing today!
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Westshore Eats
Tasting Victoria just released its list of winners for the best burger in Victoria, and Big Wheel Burger took second place. Lucky for us in the Westshore, Big Wheel is opening a new location at the Westshore Town Centre at 2945 Jacklin Rd., Unit 610 in Langford.
The website notes that the new location will open this month. Big Wheel fans will know that the eatery has some big flavours and originality when it comes to its menu, as well as vegetarian-friendly options.
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