🌳 The Garbage Gobbler returns to Langford

Good afternoon, Westshore.

The Gobbler made it back

The Garbage Gobbler has a new spot beside the bandshell at Veterans Memorial Park. It was designed in the 1950s, built on this same site, and saved by locals who restored it.

Also today: where Sooke's urgent care project stands, and a few good reasons to get out this weekend.

The Westshore team

Here's what we got for you today

Veterans Memorial Park is open again

Sooke's urgent care centre has building permits

The Luxton Fall Fair starts Friday

VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK

The Garbage Gobbler returns to a bigger Langford park

Veterans Memorial Park reopened Sept. 24 with more than three acres of space, looped paths, upgraded washrooms and a new mass-timber bandshell.

The little yellow-and-green Garbage Gobbler beside the stage has a longer history than the park. Len Shaw designed the owl-and-frog bin for BC Parks in the 1950s, and it was made in a workshop on this site. His daughter Marilyn Fuller and other locals later restored one of the originals. The city has repainted it for the reopened park.

Development cost charges paid for the expansion, the city says. If you go, look for the Gobbler beside the bandshell.

Sources · City of Langford News · CHEK News

SOOKE HEALTH CARE

Sooke urgent care centre clears a construction hurdle

Building permits are approved for Sooke’s planned urgent and primary care centre at 2101 Sitka Court. The Province expects site clearing soon and construction to start this year. The centre is not open yet.

Island Health is expected to operate the clinic on the ground floor of a six-storey building that will also include rental homes. The Province’s Sept. 21 update did not give an opening date.

Sources · BC Government · Victoria Buzz · Goldstream Gazette · CHEK News

Community Bulletin Board

What's pinned on the board

Posters from across the Westshore. Tap any to read it full-size.

Around the Westshore

More Langford parkland protected

The city says public access is secured for roughly 40 acres at Gravity Zone and three acres at Lakepoint Park.

[City of Langford]

Victoria West to Langford rail gets a study

Federal funding of $500,000 is for feasibility work. Passenger service has not been approved.

[Town of View Royal]

Langford signs agreement with two W̱SÁNEĆ Nations

Langford and the Tsartlip and Tseycum First Nations signed a memorandum of understanding on government-to-government collaboration Sept. 22.

[City of Langford]

Colwood votes Oct. 17, with advance polls Oct. 7 and 14

Polls are open 8am to 8pm at City Hall, 3300 Wishart Road. See the city’s notice for candidates and voter ID rules.

[City of Colwood]

What's On This Week

Luxton Fall Fair opens Friday

The midway runs 3 to 11pm at 1040 Marwood Ave. Rides and games are on the bill; tickets are sold through the organizer.

Goldstream Farmers Market has two Saturdays left

This Saturday, 10am to 2pm at Danbrook Park, 744 Danbrook Ave. The 2026 season ends Oct. 10.

John Horgan Campus opens its doors Saturday

Drop in from 11am to 2pm at 798 Goldstream Ave to meet BCIT, Camosun, Royal Roads and UVic. Admission is free.

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See you around the Westshore.

The Westshore team

The Westshore.

A twice-weekly, email-first local paper for the Westshore of Vancouver Island. Made out here. Yes, the traffic was bad.

Last light · First to know.

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The Westshore is produced on the territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples (the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations) and the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, whose relationship with this land continues to this day.

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