Good morning, Westshore! I stumbled upon the Edward Milne Community School Society last year when I met the school’s new principal. He gave me a tour, and I have to say I was a little jealous of the EMCS students. There’s a lot more going on in that school than the high school I attended.
Luckily, it’s not exclusive to students, thanks to the EMCS Society, which opens the school on evenings and weekends to the community. One of its recent programs is the Sooke Makerspace, which was off to a great start before the pandemic took it out at the knees. Selfishly, I hope they find a new coordinator soon, because I am itching to get in there and tinker with all the machinery. 🔨
Reporter, The Westshore
COMMUNITY
EMCS Society: Filling the gaps in Sooke’s social life
Ashley Green, left, and Anne Bell at Edward Milne Community School, where they work to bridge school and community. (📸 Zoë Ducklow)
Even though Sooke is within a reasonable drive from Victoria—thousands of commuters take the route daily—the small community has limited amenities. And there’s a chronic shortage of commercial space.
That’s partly why the Edward Milne Community School (EMCS) Society exists.
It’s awkward to describe what the EMCS Society does. Officially, it's what puts “community” in Edward Milne Community School. It manages theatre bookings and make sure the props and equipment for various users stay in the right place and in good shape. It rents rooms after school hours for community classes.
It oversees the food garden, and also employs gardener extraordinaire Matthew Kemshaw to maintain gardens at three other schools in Langford and Colwood. Kemshaw is like a librarian and shop teacher combined, but for growing food.
The society regularly hosts Foodsafe certification and first-aid training. And this year it bought a movie licence to put on monthly movie nights for Sooke youth. The next closest movie theatre is in Langford, which is a long bus ride away on a Friday night. And the society owns the massive whale skeleton that hangs in the high school atrium.
“We're always trying to fill the needs of the community. In Sooke, unlike the Westshore, we don't have as many amenities, we don't have as many spaces. So we're always trying to help fill the gaps in programming,” said coordinator Ashley Green.
In its 2021/22 annual report, the Society summarizes its mission as enabling people to “make a living, make a life, and make a difference.” It is, by definition, broad.
The two coordinators, Anne Bell and Green, who share a full-time position, struggled to answer what they do because it’s such a long list. The offerings expand and contract based on community needs.
Before there were any yoga studios in Sooke, the society hosted classes at EMCS. Over the last decade, studios have cropped up all over Sooke, meaning it wasn’t a gap the society needed to fill, so it pivoted to high-intensity interval training classes. But the pandemic has forced a lot of Sooke’s yoga studios to close, so Bell and Green wonder if it’s a gap they need to fill again.
Bell and Green coordinate with the Sooke and Electoral Area Parks and Recreation Commission, or SEAPARC, to make sure they don’t overlap programs. SEAPARC is part of the Capital Regional District and tends to focus on sports and fitness activities for children, school-aged youth, and adults.
COUNCILS
Westshore councils gearing up after election
District of Highlands municipal hall. (📸 Zoë Ducklow)
By this morning, each of the Westshore councils are back in motion. Newly elected mayors and councillors—and some re-elected familiar faces—have been sworn in and appointed to their various committees and working groups. With that returns our regular reporting on Westshore council decisions. With six councils to keep an eye on, it’s inevitable that we’ll skim over some parts, miss others, and do exceptional deep dives in some places. Please reach out and let me know what you want covered in your community. I read everything you send me. zoe@thewestshore.ca
**Metchosin:**New Mayor Marie-Térèse Little beat out fellow councillor Kyara Kahakauwila to take over 30-plus-years mayor John Ranns’ seat. We spoke with Littlelast week about key priorities for her term. Little’s first goal is to reset the tone at the council table. She had been critical of Ranns’s leadership style, and has promised to lead a transparent and respectful council. Ranns and Little did not see eye to eye very often, which led to tangible tension. Some of the main issues facing Metchosin are funding the $1.1 million police budget, improving cellular connectivity, and responding to proposals for more secondary housing allowances.
**Highlands:**The unchanged Highlands council had its inaugural meeting Nov. 7, where it delegated committee assignments which were also unchanged from last term. Mayor Ken Williams is entering his third term.
Highlands isn’t known for being a political hot spot. In two of the last three general elections, the entire council was acclaimed (2018 and 2011). Since becoming mayor in 2014 after serving nine years as a councillor, Williams hasn’t had anyone run against him.
Secondary suites will continue to be a topic for council this term, as will the South Highlands local area plan.
Around the ’Shore
🔨 Langford Legion’s $4-million renovation is behind schedule and over-budget. Inflation, delayed materials, and a labour shortage have pushed the estimated completion date to March 2023, and forced the Legion to cut back on some plans to save costs. The Legion closed for renovations in May, and was supposed to reopen this month. [CHEK]
🏠 Live in style and enjoy elevated amenities: Centennial Court offers one year of free strata payments on its studio, one-, and two-bedroom homes. Move-in ready this spring! Sales start soon from low $300,000s.*
💥 Curious Comics reopens after surviving a fire and the pandemic. Customers were able to visit its Victoria and Nanaimo locations while the owners waited out the repairs, but they’re excited to meet customers in Langford again. [Goldstream Gazette]
🚸 Join Capital Daily and United Way Southern Vancouver Island on Nov. 17, 6-7pm, for a discussion on the importance of early childhood education in our community. Register here for this free virtual event. Learn more about supporting local children and investing in our future leaders.
**🚨 Father of four slowly recovering from gas station stabbing.**The 30-year-old victim has been bedridden after the attack, leaving his partner to care for him and their four young children. The incident happened Oct. 14, the first time he’d been out for an evening in almost two years. [Times Colonist]
*Sponsored Listing
SPONSORED POST. CONTACT US TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE WESTSHORE.
TOGETHER WITH CARE2TALK
Easier communication and healthcare access for the senior in your life
Seniors face physical and mental challenges that can make it difficult to stay connected and access doctors. This can increase feelings of isolation and loneliness with negative health impacts.
Care2Talk empowers seniors to get the care and connection they deserve.
Simplified communication for seniorsUnlike standard devices, Care2Talk is designed specifically for seniors, enabling them to communicate without barriers. Accessibility is built right into the Care2Talk platform to make connecting simple. This includes:
Direct access to health professionalsYour subscription also includes telehealth and in-person access to doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and more for your senior, you, and your family:
Find out how your family can benefit.
Community Events
🎁 Gifts & Wishes Christmas art showcase hosted by Arts and Culture Colwood. Every piece in this showcase was handcrafted by a local artist. Many local artists will be present to talk about their unique works of art. Nov. 12 and 13, 10am-4pm, Juan de Fuca 55+ Seniors Activity Center (1767 Island Highway).
🎤 The Snotty Nose Rez Kids are hosting a songwriting and music production workshop through the Vancouver Island Regional Library. The workshop will be virtual, and will include a performance from the rappers. The workshop is free for people 30 years and under, with special consideration for Indigenous youth. Register for free with a VIRL library card. Nov. 17, 5-6:30pm.
🎺 Celebrate Sooke, a night of jazz and standup comedy hosted by the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce. 5:30pm, Nov. 19.
What’s Offshore?
Esquimalt Lagoon looking towards Washington State, taken on Nov. 7, 2022 (📸 Tom Gierasimczuk)
🚢 The SM Tiger is a Bulk Carrier built in 2015 and is sailing under the flag of Panama. It is sailing from 🇰🇷 Gwangyang, South Korea ➡ 🇨🇦 Vancouver and is currently at anchor awaiting its berth.
SPONSORED POST. CONTACT US TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE WESTSHORE.
IN PARTNERSHIP 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. If you need assistance with federal agencies, contact him.
Westshore in your words
Last week I asked what you’re expecting from your new councils. Here are some of your answers...
As a resident of Langford, my first expectation has already been met: changing of time for the city council meetings from 5:30pm to 7pm. It is a good sign of things to come, it is the openness and inclusiveness we have missed. I feel this is a first step in the right direction. I expect we will listen respectfully to this first meeting, and that Mayor Goodmanson and council will present what is coming up for the community. It is the second chapter in the history of the City of Langford and I look forward to the engagement we will be given by this new group. We have a voice again as residents. —Patsy Hamilton, Langford
I have way too many questions. Here are a few: What existing plans will be carried through and which ones will be dropped or overhauled? With the rising costs of everything, how will this council execute to keep the housing tax from inflating? What are the plans to address road infrastructure with the evolving traffic volume? How will this team increase transit service in urban areas to attract more people to ride BC Transit?
More houses and condos are constructed, what are the plans to ensure green space surrounds these new houses and buildings? How will they handle the environmental impact? What are the plans for sewage and water supply to service all those new properties? Will they ensure that sidewalks are Included and the responsibility is with the developer? Looking forward to hearing from the members of the council and mayor. —Ms. Zalazar, Langford
I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I want to see: Respectful communication and dialogue among participants and with the public; a variety of voices in committees and decision-making bodies to represent varying expertise and interests interests; clear and robust consultation about short and long term planning for Langford; a moratorium on any further destruction of forests until that plan is completed; a balanced approach to development that considers a range of housing needs and the health of the environment. I’d love for Langford to be known as the go-to example of how to do development and infrastructure management in a way that honours the environment. Thanks for asking. —__Lenore Gibbons, Langford