Hellooo 2023! I want to take this moment at the top of the year to say a heartfelt thank you to all of you who read The Westshore newsletter regularly. We started this venture a little under two years ago as a Westshore-specific offshoot from Capital Daily's Greater Victoria coverage.
Sifting through our top stories in 2022 made me so proud of what we’ve accomplished. Things that happen in our little six-municipality slice of heaven have resonated at home and sometimes across the province. And now, heading into 2023, I really want to hear from you. What are you looking forward to in 2023? What issues and stories are you curious to learn more about?
Instead of making a new year’s resolution last year, I came up with a 2022 bingo card. I made a list of things I wanted to do throughout the year, and did a little dance each time I crossed one off. Some were inconsequential, like swimming in bioluminescence (a sublime summer highlight 🧜 ♀️) others took more work (run a half marathon 🥵), but I liked having a mix of things to frame the year around.
This year I want to build a bingo card for this newsletter, and I want you to help me! Email me at zoe@thewestshore.ca and we can work on a 2023 bingo card together. My proverbial door (a.k.a. email) is always open for your comments, questions, and piercing remarks.
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT
New leadership in Langford could make big changes at a regional level
Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson has joined six Capital Regional District committees, plus sits as a regional director. (📸 Zoë Ducklow)
Scott Goodmanson’s ouster of Stew Young as Langford’s mayor last year began a new chapter for the city and Coun. Lillian Szpak expects to see a shift at the Capital Regional District (CRD) as well.
Szpak is serving as one of Langford’s CRD directors, along with Goodmanson. While the mayors of most CRD municipalities serve on the board of directors, this is new for Langford, where Young used to have another member of council fill the role.
“It's no secret that the previous mayor of Langford was not a regionalist,” Szpak told Capital Daily, adding that the former mayor “could be fairly contemptuous” of the regional government. By contrast, Goodmanson has jumped in with both feet, serving on six committees in addition to the board of directors, including the transportation committee.
“I think there is a feeling of optimism and renewal around the table because we do have new members there but also because Langford has experienced change and a great deal of hope around that change,” Szpak said.
Regionally-minded leadership in Langford—one of only three CRD municipalities with more than one director on the board—could reenergize efforts to expand regional services like transportation. The city rejected the idea of a regional transport service when the CRD considered it in 2016. At that time, Szpak was the only council member who voted in favour and still supports the idea.
“I believe when it comes to transportation, you need to speak with one voice to senior government—that's how you leverage money and services and facilities,” she said.
She believes setting up a regional authority to coordinate transportation options across the CRD would be a boon for Langford because so many residents commute to other parts of the region for work.
“It needs to be connected to the other communities in a way where you're not sitting in a crawl on your way to work and home every single day,” she said.
Szpak said she has made her support for regional transit known to CRD board chair Colin Plant, who himself has high hopes for big changes to transportation in the region over the coming four years. — By Shannon Waters
Read Can we solve the Colwood crawl once and for all? for an overview of the myriad solutions proposed for the south Island’s transportation woes.
CAPITAL DAILY FESTIVAL
The future of development in the Westshore
Speaking of the sea change the October election brought, one panel at the Jan. 18 Capital Daily Festival is dedicated to exploring the future of development in the Westshore. The panel will feature Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson, and developer Luke Mari. Since Mari’s company Aryze hasn’t been involved with development in Langford, he offered opinions on the future with no skin in the game, so to speak.
Langford is the fastest growing city in BC, doubling in population in the last 15 years. While its neighbours increased by a few hundred to a thousand people between each census, Langford jumped up by 11,000 people at the last census.
The growth was driven by a combination of demand, a regional housing plan that tasked Langford with absorbing that housing demand, and former mayor Stew Young’s unshakable vision of making Langford into a modern city.
But growing discontent among Langford residents, new and old, voted for a dramatically different kind of local leadership, which has left many wondering what the future of development will look like in Langford.
Read Michael John Lo’s interview with Mari here, and my profile of Goodmanson. Then, sign up to become a Capital Daily Insider and claim your ticket to our Jan. 18 festival. Goodmanson and Mari are not the only speakers of interest; I’m particularly excited to welcome Rande Cook and David Knox to speak about Indigenous asserting leadership to protect biodiversity. Check out the lineup here.
Around the 'Shore
**🪚 Chainsaw Christmas present used to clear Malahat traffic.**When a tree fell across the Malahat pass, a Langford man quickly pulled out his new chainsaw to chop up the obstruction. Other commuters helped clear the branches, and within minutes the highway was reopened. [Chek]
**🤬 Aggressor in road rage attack ordered to pay $326,000 to victim.******Two men had an altercation in Sooke in 2016, which left one with injuries he says have limited his ability to work. [Times Colonist]
🏠 **Inspired seaside living:*The Coral at Royal Bay offers two- and three-bedroom townhomes designed for flexibility with quality features and finishes, plus curated options and upgrades.
*Sponsored Listing
SPONSORED POST. CONTACT US TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE WESTSHORE.
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
🧑🏼 🎨 Metchosin ArtPod’s first show of the year,Iterations: Art in a Series opens Feb. 3. The call for artists asks for works in a series where each piece could stand on its own, but taken together the series will elevate the viewer’s experience. The deadline to submit art for consideration is Jan 13. The show itself goes to March 26.
🌲Christmas tree chipping by donationto the Easter Seals’ fully accessible overnight summer camp program for children and adults with disabilities. Drop off at Westshore Town Centre this weekend 10am-4pm Saturday and Sunday.
What’s Offshore?
🚢 #1 TheFrederico II is a bulk carrier built in 2009 sailing under the flag of Panama. It sailed from 🇯🇵 Tomakomai, Japan ➡ 🇨🇦 Tsawwassen and was scheduled to arrive Dec. 23, but has been moored offshore from the Esquimalt Lagoon for almost a week.
⛴ #2 The Shoyoh is a bulk carrier built in 2013 sailing under the flag of Japan. It is sailing from 🇯🇵 Soma, Japan ➡ 🇨🇦 Tsawwassen and was scheduled to arrive on Boxing Day.
🛳 #3 The CSL Tecumseh is a self-discharging bulk carrier built in 2013 and is sailing under the flag of Bahamas. It sailed from 🇺🇸 San Francisco, CA ➡ 🇨🇦 Port McNeill and was scheduled to arrive on New Years’ Eve.
🚢 #4 The Seaspan Beacon is a container ship built in 2018 and sails under the flag of Hong Kong. It is sailing from 🇰🇷 Busan New Port, South Korea ➡ 🇨🇦 Vancouver and was scheduled to arrive Jan. 1.
⛴ #5 The Ocean Seagullis a general cargo ship built in 2009 sailing under the flag of Panama. It sailed from 🇺🇸 Long Beach, CA ➡ 🇨🇦 Vancouver and was scheduled to arrive on New Years’ Eve.
🛳 #6 The Victory Rayis a vehicles carrier built in 2010 and sailing under the flag of Bahamas. It sailed from 🇺🇸 Tacoma, WA ➡ 🇨🇦 New Westminster and was scheduled to arrive on New Years’ Eve.
SPONSORED POST. CONTACT US TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE WESTSHORE.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EMOTIONALLY ALIGNED COUNSELLING & COACHING
This is your year for emotional healing
Feeling stressed out, angry, riddled with anxiety, or right out depressed? When life gets to the point that you dread getting out of bed it may be time to do something about it.
Emotionally Aligned Counselling & Coaching works with you to get you out of your rut and enjoying life.
Westshore Snaps
"Early morning Sooke covered in snow." — Linda Mooney, Sooke.
_Even though the snow is long gone, the images you all shared are still coming in, and I'm loving them._📸 Snapped a photo you’d like to share? Send it with a caption and don’t forget to add where you live.