Good morning!
If you live in the Westshore, you’re probably aware of the YMCA’s gorgeous facility overlooking Langford Lake. The new digs opened in 2016, and since then the recreational facility has seen $10 million in operating losses. This week, the non-profit organization appealed to Langford council to double the amount of financial support so it can keep its doors open. I’m curious to know what you think about it.
Should Langford double its annual funding to $1.9 million? (up from $950,000)
Reporter The Westshore
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PHOTO ESSAY
Meet a South Island surfboard ‘tailor’
Surfboard shaper Jorge Elias drills holes for fins in an almost completed long board in his Sooke workshop. (📸 James MacDonald)
Dust swirls around his workshop as the loud whir from Jorge Elias’s planer fills the small space.
Sidestepping slowly down the length of the raw surfboard blank, Elias moves almost like he’s surfing one of the South Island’s long slow waves crashing into the sea just minutes from his Sooke workshop.
Foot over foot, not a step out of place, he carefully planes down the plank to the desired thickness.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Development and public input in Langford
Development still moving forward in Langford
Langford council approved 173 units of housing at its last council meeting between two proposals, both of which had received third reading and public hearings under the previous council. A 67-unit, six-storey residential building on two Granderson Road properties near the E&N rail corridor had its public hearing last April after first coming before council in December 2021. And a building on Orono Avenue will amalgamate four properties into a six-storey, 106-unit building. That project had a public hearing last June and first came to council less than a year ago in April.
By this time last year, council had approved 350 residential units, mostly made up of one two-tower development in downtown Langford directly across the street from the soon-to-be Langford university campus. The development is called The Scene, and while construction has not yet begun, pre-sales of units have begun.
Committee of the whole established
Council also made some changes to how city business will be conducted. It established a new committee of the whole regular meeting, and two new public advisory councils.
To non-political wonks, a committee of the whole name probably means nothing. In simple terms, it’s a place where council can discuss items publicly, outside the formal confines of a council meeting. These bi-weekly meetings will deal with issues that aren’t ready for a binding vote. Committee of the whole meetings will have publicly posted agendas, and are open to public participation.
In October, Langford council dissolved the other committees while it took time to assess its strategic plan. Of the five committees, PZAH was the most active—it stood for planning, zoning, and affordable housing. Other committees met irregularly, and were sometimes cancelled because there wasn’t anything on the agenda.
Now, council has announced two new interim committees: a sustainable development advisory committee that will deal with planning, development and engineering issues; and a community advisory committee that will handle everything else. Three council members will sit on each committee, along with six representatives from the public.
The two committees are temporary, as council and staff are still working out a plan for a more permanent committee structure.
Applications for public representatives on the two interim committees is open until March 24.
Around the 'Shore
🚌 Pacheedaht and SD62 planning for new school: The First Nation community has an elementary school, but middle and high school students have to ride the bus for an hour and 15 minutes to get to school in Sooke each day. Pacheedaht and the school district have been planning for a school in the community, and last week the nation formally asked for funding from Infrastructure Canada. Additional funding would also be needed from the provincial Ministry of Education. [CTV]
🔍 The case the internet got wrong. Capital Daily embarked on a three-year investigation into the notorious unsolved murder of real estate agent Lindsay Buziak. Download and listen to the resulting podcast, Murder on the Island, that uncovers new details.
🚢 **Freighters are ‘parking’ for longer as they wait for access to Vancouver ports:**The volume of freighter traffic has far outpaced the increase in port activity, leading to long waits at anchorages around the south coast. [Vic News]
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🚨 Sooke teen killed in Trans-Canada Highway crash: The 16-year-old girl was a passenger in the single-vehicle crash on Sunday. [Vic News]
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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 Art Pod’sIterationsart show still on:**Artists were invited to create art in a series for this curated and juried show. The ArtPod is open Fridays to Sundays, 11am-4pm; the Iterations gallery show is on until March 26.
🤝 **Te’mexw Treaty negotiations are nearing completion:**A series of open houses have been planned for the public to learn about the proposed terms. Five nations are part of the Te’mexw Treaty: Beecher Bay (SC’IA⁄NEW), Malahat, Snaw-Naw-As, Songhees, and T’Sou-ke. Negotiations have been going on since 1994 when the Te’mexw Treaty Association was formed. There are three open houses in the Westshore:
🗑 Annual Whiffin Spit beach cleanup with Surfrider Foundation: The beach is a hotspot for styrofoam, so every year Surfriders Foundation organizes a beach cleanup. Bring gloves and a bucket. March 12, 11am-1pm.
What’s Offshore?
⛴ #1 The Pan Hopeis a bulk carrier built in 2011 and is sailing under the flag of Panama. It is sailing from 🇨🇦 Port Edward (between Prince Rupert and Kitimat) ➡ 🇨🇦 Vancouver, BC and was scheduled to arrive Feb. 22.
🚢 #2 The HL Vision is a bulk carrier built in 2011 and is sailing under the flag of South Korea. It is sailing from 🇰🇷 Gwangyang, Korea ➡ 🇨🇦 North Vancouver, BC and was scheduled to arrive Feb. 10.
🛳 #3 The Mariloula is a bulk carrier built in 2008 and is sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands. It is sailing from 🇨🇳 Qingdao, China ➡ 🇨🇦 Victoria, BC and was scheduled to arrive on Feb. 11.
SPONSORED POST. CONTACT US TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE WESTSHORE.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TALL TREE HEALTH
A longer, healthier life is now within reach
On April 19, learn simple things you can do to fend off disease and live longer from oncologist, TEDx speaker, and longevity enthusiast Dr. Zia Poonja.
Register now for this special event. Co-sponsored by Tall Tree and Heart Pharmacy.