Good afternoon, Westshore.
A win in Highlands. A wait in Sooke.
Gord Baird had about 60 supporters with him at a neighbour's house in Highlands on election night when the result arrived by email: he'd won the mayor's race.
This editionSooke · Tuesday edition
Sooke’s election isn’t over
Sooke's last council seat is being recounted. Plus: a haunted yard with $33,000 behind it.
Sooke has a longer wait. Five votes separate the candidates for its last council seat, and a recount is scheduled for today. We've got all six municipal results below.
Still need to vote in the provincial election? Advance polls close tomorrow at 8pm. Then we can talk about Halloween.
The Westshore team
Here's what we got for you today
Six councils, one five-vote recount
Advance polls close tomorrow at 8pm
A Metchosin family's haunted yard is back for BC Children's
MUNICIPAL ELECTION • RESULTS
Sooke counts again. Here's where the rest landed.
Illustration: The Westshore. Results: District of Sooke.
Sooke: a five-vote gap for the last council seat. Kevin Pearson is mayor-elect. Elliot Lifton finished election night with 2,177 votes, Helen Ritts with 2,172. A full recount is scheduled for today after officials found two ballots with marks the counting machines hadn't picked up. Those ballots will be reviewed by hand as part of the recount.
Voters also supported considering a loan of up to $5 million for the Gathering Place intergenerational centre, 2,687 to 1,813. That vote does not approve the loan.
Highlands: a new mayor by 29 votes. Councillor Gord Baird defeated three-term mayor Ken Williams after a campaign centred on the former landfill site.
View Royal: two close races. Volker Dammann leads the mayoral race by 73 votes; the sixth council seat has a 13-vote margin. Voters supported the non-binding short-term rental question, 1,886 to 1,331.
Langford: Stew Young returns. Young won 64 per cent of the mayoral vote, four years after losing to Scott Goodmanson. Colby Harder was the only incumbent councillor re-elected. Newcomer Lisa Foxall led the council vote with 8,574.
Colwood: another term for Kobayashi. Doug Kobayashi won the mayoral race with 4,250 votes. Misty Olsen topped the council poll. Turnout was 34 per cent.
Metchosin: its fifth mayor. Steve Gray defeated Mayor Marie-Térèse Little, 1,724 to 434. About 52 per cent of voters turned out, the most since 2008. The new council first meets Nov. 2.
Sources · The Westshore results page · Goldstream Gazette · City of Colwood · Goldstream Gazette · Times Colonist · District of Sooke · Island Social Trends · District of Sooke recount notice
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PROVINCIAL ELECTION
Advance voting closes tomorrow at 8pm
Graphic: The Westshore. Voting details: Elections BC.
The provincial election is this Saturday, Oct. 24. If you'd rather vote early, advance polls are open today and tomorrow, 8am to 8pm. You can use any advance voting place in B.C.
Langford-Highlands: Reflections Building, #149-2745 Veterans Memorial Pkwy., through Wednesday.
Esquimalt-Colwood: Colwood Pacific Activity Centre, 2619 Rosebank Rd., today only. Esquimalt Recreation Centre, 527 Fraser St., through Wednesday.
Juan de Fuca-Malahat: Metchosin School Community Facility, 4495 Happy Valley Rd., and Sooke Community Hall, 2037 Shields Rd., both through Wednesday.
Bring photo ID showing your B.C. address, such as a driver's licence or BCID. You can also bring two pieces of ID with your name, one showing your current address.
Voting on Saturday? Polls are open 8am to 8pm, and you'll need to use your assigned voting place.
Sources · Times Colonist · Elections BC
Around the Westshore
A year with a rubber band around his neck
Rescuers freed a California sea lion at Race Rocks on Oct. 6 after Pearson College's Eco-Guardians monitored him daily. He's been seen every day since, according to the Vancouver Aquarium's Marine Mammal Rescue Society. Report a sick or injured marine mammal to 1-800-465-4336.
Mount Jack was the water supply area's biggest fire in 30 years
The fire north of Sooke burned near the Leech area, which isn't yet used for drinking water. The Capital Regional District's early read is that the risk to the water is low.
Last chance to see 45 Years in Orbit
William Head's prison theatre company closes its run this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23 and 24. The play is set on a planet where nobody has ever done anything wrong. Check the ticket page for availability and admission requirements.
Metchosin
A haunted yard. More than $33,000 for BC Children's.
The Campos family is back with Terror on Tiswilde at 798 Tiswilde Rd. in Metchosin. There's a haunted-house walk-through, and donations go to BC Children's Hospital.
The family has raised more than $33,000 over the past five years, according to its hospital fundraising page. This year's goal is $10,000.
Taking someone who prefers their Halloween without the fright? Check the family's Facebook page for scare-free sessions and visiting hours before heading over. Donate on site or through the hospital fundraiser below.
Sources · BC Children's Hospital Foundation · Terror on Tiswilde
This weekend, and one for next
Trunk or Treat at Colwood Church
Saturday, Oct. 24, 3:30 to 5:30pm, 2250 Sooke Rd. Free. Decorated car trunks, candy, hot dogs or grilled cheese, and crafts. Family-friendly costumes welcome.
Bring your biggest pumpkin to Sooke
Saturday, Oct. 24. Drop off gourds, squash and pumpkins at 2pm for the Great Gourd Showdown. The weigh-off is at 3:30. Sooke Spook runs 5 to 7pm, with a costume parade at 5:30 and a family cabaret at 6. Free, with chili and hot apple cider for sale.
Skate in costume at SEAPARC
Sunday, Oct. 25, 11:30am to 12:45pm, 2168 Phillips Rd., Sooke. Prizes for best costume. Drop-in rates, and rentals at the skate shop.
Zombie Walk through Sooke
Sunday, Oct. 25, 1:30 to 3pm, starting at Sooke Community Centre, 2037 Shields Rd.
Next Saturday: the firefighters' Halloween bonfire
Saturday, Oct. 31, 6 to 8:30pm, Colwood Fire Hall, 3215 Metchosin Rd. Hot dogs and hot chocolate by the fire.
Know a Halloween yard worth a detour? Reply with the street and a photo you've taken. Let us know if we can share it with your name. See you Thursday.
The Westshore team
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