Remembering Jesse Adams

Good morning, Westshore.

Sooke lost one of its most generous people this week. Jesse Adams, who co-founded RainCoast Dog Rescue, died while moving animals out of danger in eastern Ukraine. We start with him.

Then some lighter news: a Langford defenceman just got the grade every junior player hopes for, the city will take your branches free three Saturdays running, and Saturday night has a plan for every age, from hot chocolate at Luxton to a 2am last song on Goldstream.

The Westshore team

Remembering Jesse Adams

Sooke remembers RainCoast co-founder Jesse Adams

Michal Klajban / CC BY-SA 4.0

Jesse Adams, co-founder of RainCoast Dog Rescue Society, has died while helping evacuate animals from danger in eastern Ukraine, Sooke Mayor Maja Tait said in a statement today.

Adams helped start RainCoast in 2014. Its work brought him far from Vancouver Island, but the rescue also helps people and pets here at home. Through its PET Project, volunteers provide food, supplies and veterinary support to owners who need a hand, including people experiencing homelessness.

Read Sooke's tribute. RainCoast's website explains the work he helped build and how to support it.

Sources · District of Sooke · RainCoast Dog Rescue Society

Local sport

Langford’s Brock Cripps earns an A from NHL scouts

Brock Cripps is on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary watch list for the 2027 draft with an A rating: a first-round candidate.

The Langford defenceman, now with the Prince Albert Raiders, had 14 assists and 15 points in 13 games when the club announced the list on Monday. He also helped Canada win gold at this summer's Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

The grade is an early scouting assessment, not a draft position. There's a season of hockey between now and draft day. Read the Raiders' announcement.

Sources · Prince Albert Raiders · Times Colonist

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Save the dates

Three free Saturdays for Langford’s yard waste

John Newcomb / CC BY 3.0

If the branches are piling up, Langford's next free yard-waste drop-offs are Nov. 7, 14 and 21, from 11am to 3pm, at 2955 Sooke Lake Rd.

Bring proof of Langford residency. The drop-offs accept residential passenger vehicles only. Keep branches and shrubs separate from invasive plants and material that cannot be chipped, such as leaves, needles, roots and grass. Household garbage, construction debris and lumber are not accepted.

Check the city's sorting instructions before loading the car.

Sources · City of Langford · City of Langford FireSmart

Halloween weekend

Candy at Luxton. Dancing on Goldstream.

John Newcomb / CC BY 3.0

Treat Street: Langford Fire Rescue brings live music, hot chocolate, candy and hot dogs to Luxton Fairgrounds, 1040 Marwood Ave., from 5:30 to 8:30pm. Entry is free; treats are available while supplies last. Event details.

Emporia's costume party: Doors open at 8pm, with DJ Flacko playing 9pm to 2am at 737 Goldstream Ave. A ticket is required to stay after 8pm, including if you arrive earlier for dinner. Tickets and booking details.

Sources · City of Langford event listings · Emporia event listing · City of Colwood · Goldstream Gazette · Colwood Fire Rescue · Town of View Royal · District of Sooke · Westshore Town Centre · City of Colwood

The rest of the weekend, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1

Costume litter pick at the lagoon

Sat, 10am to noon · Esquimalt Lagoon, Ocean Blvd., Colwood. PICK Colwood's costume litter pick. Best outfit wins a prize. Register at pickcolwood@gmail.com and meet by the washrooms.

Highlands firehall open house

Sat, 10am to 2pm · West Highlands Firehall, 1564 Millstream Rd. Highlands Volunteer Fire Department open house, with truck tours and candy. Hot dogs by donation to Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

Bowers front-yard carnival

Weekend evenings to 10:30pm · 2960 Pickford Rd., Colwood. The Bowers family's front-yard Halloween carnival. Bring a can for the Goldstream Food Bank.

Colwood firefighters' bonfire

Sat, 6 to 8:30pm · Colwood Fire Hall, 3215 Metchosin Rd. A bonfire, a hot dog and a candy top-up halfway through the trick-or-treat route.

View Royal firefighters' haunted house

Sat, 6 to 9pm · Public Safety Building, 333 Island Hwy., View Royal. Firefighters run a haunted house, with free hot dogs and hot chocolate. There's no parking on site, so walk or bike.

Camp Barnard bonfire and fireworks

Sat, 6:30 to 8pm · Camp Barnard, 3202 Young Lake Rd., Sooke. Otter Point firefighters light a bonfire, and fireworks go up over Young Lake at 7:30.

Langford's 100-foot pumpkin drop

Sun, 10am to 2pm · Westshore Town Centre Cineplex lot, Langford. Langford Fire Rescue drops your jack-o'-lantern from a 100-foot ladder for a cash donation.

Colwood pumpkin smash

Sun, 1 to 3pm · Colwood City Hall, 3300 Wishart Rd. Roll your pumpkin into a snowblower or knock it into the bin with a fire hose. Food bank donations welcome.

Sooke's spooky pumpkin walk

Sun, 5 to 7:30pm · Pineridge Park, 6600 Rhodonite Dr., Sooke. The Spooky Pumpkin Walk lights a forest trail with carved pumpkins. Drop yours off any time after 1pm. Afterwards, they go to a local farmer for animal feed.

If you knew Jesse and would like to share a memory, reply to this email.

The Westshore team

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