Good morning, Westshore.
You know that feeling when you get a really good piece of mail? It's not junk mail or a bill, but you're not quite sure what it is? Well, I'm a total nerd because I got almost that same feeling when the financial reports from the fall election were posted last week!
In the newsletter today we have some key takeaways from Westshore campaign finances. Enjoy!
Reporter The Westshore
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CAMPAIGN SPENDING
Political donations are no guarantee of an election win
Langford's former mayor Stew Young kicked off the campaign in September 2022 at a packed event with his slate of Community First Langford candidates. (📸 Zoë Ducklow)
Community First Langford spent a whopping $143,108 on its campaign last fall, but failed to get a single candidate elected, despite having almost all of Langford’s incumbent politicians. The new Langford Now slate gave former mayor Stew Young the challenge of his career with its political campaign that cost almost $57,000, and succeeded in getting every one of its candidates elected.
Between its seven candidates of seasoned politicians, Community First Langford spent around $20,000 per person, mostly on signs, advertising, and professional services. The elector organization, which was formed last year, collected donations from 128 people who gave an average of $1,114. (The maximum contribution allowed is $1,250.)
Langford Now had a slate of five all-new candidates; it received donations from 116 people, with an average contribution of $359.
WWII MORTAR
Mortar round destroyed in Colwood after being found by hiker
Finding a Second World War explosive may sound dangerous and a little bit exciting to a civilian, but for the Canadian Armed Forces’ Maritime Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, it’s a nearly weekly occurrence in BC. This time a hiker found the antique explosive while on a Sunday morning hike. The hiker alerted the disposal team, which destroyed the mortar Sunday afternoon.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Benoit Leonard told The Westshore on a similar occurrence in 2021 that the projectiles can, if live, explode and launch parts of the steel casing as shrapnel.
Leonard asks anyone who spots a suspicious piece of metal to leave it where it is and call his team. It helps if they mark it with something weird that looks obviously out of place, like a funny looking branch. Then the disposal team will cordon off the space
There’s more than old projectiles to watch out for at Fort Rodd Hill
Fort Rodd Hill operated as an active artillery fortress protecting Victoria and the naval base from 1895 to 1956 with a trio of built-in gun batteries as well as other weaponry on site. Afterward, it became a National Historic Site.
Last fall, Fort Rodd Hill was designated one of BC’s seven key biodiversity areas (KBA) because of the rare Deltoid Balsamroot found around the fort. The KPA doesn’t automatically come with legal protection, but the group that manages the international designation hopes that by documenting and communicating the key areas that they can be protected along with other government initiatives. Read more about Fort Rodd Hill’s ecological importance, and two other KBAs on Vancouver Island.
Around the 'Shore
🚨 One man injured in Colwood stabbing: West Shore RCMP says a 47-year-old man was taken to hospital for non-life-threatening injuries after he was stabbed at a home on Colwood’s Windthrop Road Thursday night. A 19-year-old male suspect was arrested for aggravated assault. West Shore RCMP Serious Crimes unit is investigating.
🤝 Hire great people: Reimagine Work offers inclusive and agile partial and full cycle recruitment services to help leaders with the hiring heavy-lifting. Reimagine hiring here.*
**💻 Quarry info session draws hundreds:**About 200 people logged on to listen to a virtual information session on the Bamberton aggregate quarry, The Times Colonist reported. The Environmental Assessment Office moderated a two-hour session on the quarry expansion plans Thursday night. In December The Westshore covered the controversy surrounding the Malahat-owned quarry and the plans for expansion.
📝 The Community Services Recovery Fund: Submit your application by February 21st 2023. Funded by the Government of Canada. | Fonds de relance des services communautaires: La date limite de soumission est le 21 février 2023. Financé par le gouvernement du Canada.*
*Sponsored Listing
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TOGETHER WITH EMOTIONALLY ALIGNED COUNSELLING & COACHING
Finding your inner peace
Ever wonder to yourself “how did I get here?” Difficult emotions such as anxiety, depression, and anger can accumulate over time, decrease the quality of your life, and ruin your peace of mind.
Processing the difficult and traumatic situations that created these emotions in the first place can greatly improve your self-esteem, confidence, and visions of your future.
Emotionally Aligned Counselling & Coaching offers virtual mental health counselling to help guide you through the process of healing and becoming the best version of yourself. They can help you get your life back on track from the comfort of your own home.
Community Events
💕 Lovers Lane extended market at Langford Station: The business owners in the huts are planning a market day with all sorts of new local vendors. Saturday, Feb. 11, 10am-4pm.
🗣**Colwood is hosting an ideas fair to get community feedback:**Come to Royal Bay Secondary on Feb. 11 anytime between 2 and 7pm. Come with ideas and questions about seniors, youth, health, arts and culture, traffic, sewer service, and more.
🌹 **Valentine’s high tea and symphony:**Back for the first time since 2020, the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra and Sooke Lionesses are hosting an afternoon of treats and lively music. Tickets are $40, available online or Little Vienna Bakery, and Sooke Pharmasave. Feb. 12, 2:30pm in the Sooke Community Hall.
🌲 Rally for Old Growth forests: Elders for Ancient Forests, Sierra Club BC, Stand.earth, and the Wilderness Committee are hosting a rally for old growth forests at the provincial legislature buildings on Feb. 25. They’ve created a declaration, which to date has been signed by more the 160 organizations.
SPONSORED POST. CONTACT US TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE WESTSHORE.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ELIZA AT ROYAL BAY
Over 60% sold!
Eliza at Royal Bay 2-bedroom west coast modern condos start from $579,900. This master-planned community is steps from beaches, walking trails, bike paths, as well as The Commons retail village, all at your doorstep.
The people have spoken, and Eliza is a success. Book your appointment today!
What’s Offshore?
The same three ships have been hanging out offshore for a few weeks now. The Golden Magnum on the right has been here since Jan. 9; the CS Wu Han since Jan. 18, and the Tenso since Jan. 25. Each of them is waiting for an open spot at Vancouver ports, which is among the busiest bulk ports in North America.
There are five spots for freighters to anchor off Royal Bay; two spots tend to be reserved for the Esquimalt Canadian Armed Forces boats, and three are available for freighters. Most often they’re waiting for their turn at a port, but sometimes a ship will stay there to wait out a storm, or because it needs mechanical work.
Esquimalt Lagoon looking towards Washington State, taken on Feb. 1. (📸 Zoë Ducklow)
⛴ #1 The CS Wu Han is a bulk carrier built in 2021 and is sailing under the flag of Hong Kong. It is sailing from 🇨🇳 Tianjin Xingang, China ➡ 🇨🇦 Tsawwassen, BC and was scheduled to arrive three weeks ago on Jan. 2, 2023.
🚢 #2 The Tenso is a bulk carrier built in 2014 and is sailing under the flag of Japan. It is sailing from 🇯🇵 Hitachinaka, Japan ➡ 🇨🇦 Vancouver, BC and was scheduled to arrive Jan. 25.
🛳 #3 The Golden Magnumis a bulk carrier built in 2009 and is sailing under the flag of Hong Kong. It is sailing from 🇨🇳 Jiangyin, China ➡ 🇨🇦 Vancouver, BC and was scheduled to arrive on Jan. 1.