Good morning, Westshore! I know I promised a long break from election coverage, but that was before I knew the results. There is still a lot to unpack, particularly as it pertains to Colwood, View Royal, and Langford.
My colleagues from Capital Daily and I are hosting a post-election debrief panel this afternoon at 2% Jazzto talk about implications and trends from the election. The event is exclusively for Capital Daily Insider members. If you’ve benefited from our election coverage this fall, would you consider becoming an Insider? Your contribution is one of the ways we continue to fund independent local journalism—plus, Insiders get merch likes toques and totes, and access to exclusive events like this one.
Today’s event is in Saanichton, but the first 20 arrivals will get a free bag of 2% Jazz Capital Daily Roast coffee, so it’s worth the trip from the Westshore! Hope to see you there.
Reporter, The Westshore
ENVIRONMENT
Extreme fire risk puts Halloween bonfires on hold this year
Smoke in the forest at Gowlland Tod Park earlier this month. (📸 James MacDonald/Capital Daily)
Due to extreme weather conditions, fire halls across the Westshore are cancelling long-standing annual Halloween bonfires for the third year in a row. The previous two cancellations were pandemic-related.
Colwood’s fire department is still deliberating. “With the weather, if there’s a large dump of water, there’s a chance that it could happen,” said firefighter Jeff Roy. “It’s going to be conditional based off the fire rating closer to the event.”
Up in Highlands, the decision has already been made.
“It didn’t seem like it would be a safe maneuver to have fireworks and a bonfire in the current conditions,” said Jason Shuttinga, assistant chief of the Highlands Fire Department.
Earlier this month, fire crews fought off a forest fire along Finlayson Arm, just south of Gowlland Tod Park. It ignited on Oct. 2 and was only extinguished Oct. 11.
Instead, there's a trick-or-treat and and an open house planned at the Highlands Fire Department’s West hall on Oct. 30.
A member of the fire department for the past 15 years, Shuttinga says he’s been going to the Halloween bonfires held by the department for as long as he can remember.
They’re hoping to have a bonfire next year if weather conditions allow.
It’s a similar story in Metchosin, where Halloween bonfires have been burning for at least 15 years. The Metchosin fire department will be continuing its drive-through trick-or-treat Halloween event that began at the start of the pandemic. The event has received great feedback from the community and the department is considering continuing on running it in the coming years, said Metchosin firefighter Gloria Legour.
Langford’s fire department once threw Halloween bonfires too, but stopped doing them in the ’90s. The bonfires were held at the ball field behind Langford’s #2 fire hall before it was rebuilt, said Kathy Bell, a secretary with Langford’s fire department.
This year, the festivities will be concentrated at Langford Station, where local businesses and firefighters will hand out candy and serve hot dogs while live bands play on Oct. 31.
As for fireworks, Westshore residents in Colwood, Langford, View Royal, and Highlands must pass an online fireworks safety course before applying for a permit with their local fire department.
Langford, View Royal, and Highlands will not be issuing fireworks permits this year. Metchosin’s fire Chief Stephanie Dunlop has told residents to be prepared for no fireworks this year, but has not issued a formal ban. A final decision will be made today on whether Sooke will allow fireworks for Halloween.
The region has received barely any rain in recent months, and that’s expected to bring possible long-term effects on the environment. But for now, the immediate impact will be uncertainty on whether there will be fireworks on Halloween and a distinct lack of bonfires at fire halls across the Westshore.
— By Michael John Lo
ARTS & CULTURE
‘The Metchosin One’ Jesse Roper takes the heat with his newest record Horizons
Jesse Roper and band. (📸 Zoë Ducklow)
Jesse Roper’s approach to music has always been organic—go for a walk, grab a guitar, and sing his heart out. And it all started in Metchosin, his childhood home. “My parents would constantly be telling me to go outside as a kid, and I’d begrudgingly leave the house, but 20 minutes in I’d be in wonder,” he said. “Eventually, I brought along a guitar.”
And it’s that approach that’s seen him appeal en masse to Vancouver Island residents alike for the past decade, earning him the epic moniker of ”The Metchosin One.” He’s grateful for it. “I live a charmed life,” he said. “Victoria deserves all the credit for my career—it’s my springboard, and I’m trying to use that to push my music even further.”
Roper’s newest record sees him out of his comfort zone and taking a slight departure from what he’s used to—trading in his blues-drenched rock ‘n’ roll for a stripped-back folk rock sultriness.
Horizons was produced by Canadian producer Gus Van Go over five weeks in New York City. Van Go has previously worked with the Stills, Metric, and the Arkells, and with that experience, Roper said the Juno-nominated producer pulled no punches when they talked about working with each other.
“[Van Go] was like, ‘I don't really like your music. I don't like your guitar playing, it doesn't really blow me away. I'm not a huge fan of your band.’” Roper laughed. “I was kind of ready for a change anyways. So I thought, at least this guy's honest.”
This article is a bonus contribution from Capital Daily's Insider newsletter, a perk reserved for supporters of local journalism in Greater Victoria.Become an Insider and help support Capital Daily and The Westshore today!
Around the ’Shore
🙋🏻 Westshore voter turnout increased this year, while every other Greater Victoria municipality was down compared to 2018**.**Metchosin had the highest at 47.3%. The only other Greater Victoria municipality with turnout over 40% was Highlands, where 42.5% of eligible voters voted this year. In 2018, both mayor and council were acclaimed in Highlands; this year, only Mayor Ken Williams ran unopposed. Langford had the biggest increase in voter turnout at 5.5% while View Royal’s ballot box bump was only 0.7%.
Sooke voter turnout dropped by a whopping 16.1%, despite having 26 candidates to choose from. While 41.8% of eligible voters in Sooke cast a ballot in 2018, just 25.7% did so this year. Colwood’s voters decreased to 25.5% of residents voting. —Shannon Waters
🎄 Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet in****Nutcracker, Dec. 2-4, 2022 at Royal Theatre. Kids’ prices available! Tickets available at 250-386-6121 or DanceVictoria.com.*
🤝Competition for employees affecting local businesses in Sooke. High cost of living, inflation, and competitive job offers from other companies is making it hard for some small businesses to hire. [Sooke Mirror]
📈 From Nov. 15 – 17, explore world-changing ideas, cut through the noise, and gain clarity at Rising Economy 2022, produced by South Island Prosperity Partnership. Details at OurRisingEconomy.com.*
✏️ Correction: Tuesday’s newsletter was missing a word that made a significant change: Cendra Beaton, newly elected school board trustee, is the former vice-president of the Sooke School District’s PAC, the Sooke Parent’s Educational Advisory Committee. She was not formerly the VP of the Sooke School Board, a position that does not exist. We regret the typo.
*Sponsored Listing
SPONSORED POST. CONTACT US TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE WESTSHORE.
TOGETHER WITH BEACON WELLNESS
Find your beacon for life’s journey
Are you experiencing stress, anxiety or feeling on edge?
Do you find it difficult to set boundaries?
Is perfectionism preventing you from feeling present in your life?
Do you struggle to feel joy?
Beacon Wellness sees you as a whole person, as someone who makes sense, and as someone who is far from broken. They honour the survivor inside you, though they know that surviving is not enough. Helping people thrive is what Beacon Wellness is all about.
They will help you shine a light inside yourself, to find and heal the wounded parts within. You might be surprised at what you find!
Take the first step. Get to know Beacon and book your free consultation now with one of their trauma-informed counsellors.
Community Events
👻 West Coast Cabaret’s Halloween Danceat the Sooke Community Hall this Saturday. Performances, dancing, Halloween costumes contest, silent auction, spooky selfie photo booth, themed drinks and mocktails, and more. Tickets are $25, available at Stick in the Mud coffee shop and Forbes pharmacy.
**🎃 Pumpkin Party at Lohbrunner Community Farm,**11am-4pm Saturday and Sunday. Pick a pumpkin and enjoy warm drinks by donation.
**⛸ The Juan de Fuca Arena is 50!**To celebrate they’re hosting a skating party with retro rates—just 50¢ to get in. Come at 2:30pm for cake, open skate starts at 3pm.
🏒 Westshore Wolves take on the Comox Valley Glacier Kingsat the Q Centre. Puck drops at 7pm, tickets at the door.
🎻 The Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra opens its 25thseason with Chopin’s lavish "Piano Concerto No. 1," featuring award winning youth soloist Carey Wang. Music director Yariv Aloni and the orchestra will also perform Beethoven and Fauré. Two performances: Oct. 29, 7:30pm at St. Mary’s Church in Metchosin, and Oct. 30, 2:30pm at the Sooke Community Hall.
What’s Offshore?
Esquimalt Lagoon looking towards Washington State, taken on Oct. 19, 2022 (📸 Tom Gierasimczuk)
🚢 #1The Baltimoreis a Bulk Carrier built in 2012 and is sailing under the flag of Marshall Islands. It is sailing from 🇰🇷 Boryeong, South Korea ➡ 🇨🇦 Vancouver and was scheduled to arrive last Friday.
⛴ #2 The SM Kwangyangis a Container Ship built in 2007 and is sailing under the flag of South Korea. It is sailing from 🇨🇦 Prince Rupert ➡ 🇨🇦 Vancouver and was scheduled to arrive last weekend but seems to be delayed.
🛳️ #3The Global Roundis a Bulk Carrier built in 2013 and is sailing under the flag of Panama. It is sailing from 🇯🇵 Chiba, Japan ➡ 🇨🇦 Nanaimo and is scheduled to arrive later today.
🚢 #4The Polymniais a Bulk Carrier built in 2012 and is sailing under the flag of Marshall Islands. It is sailing from 🇯🇵 Nagoya, Japan ➡ 🇨🇦 Vancouver and was scheduled to arrive three weeks ago but seems to be delayed.
SPONSORED POST. CONTACT US TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE WESTSHORE.
TODAY’S PARTNER: UVIC
Catch the best women’s university rugby
Watch the top 8 women’s university rugby teams from across Canada compete for the U SPORTS national championship! Catch all the action up close at the University of Victoria, November 2-6.
Don’t miss it! Get your tickets today!
Westshore in Your Words
_I received a handful of comments from folks after the election. Here's some of what you had to say. If you want to share your thoughts, questions, or piercing remarks,__email me:_zoe@thewestshore.ca
”I voted for Stew [Young], but wanted most of the council changed. I think he wants the best for Langford and I wanted his experience to remain, but I did think that the council had to be changed for the most part. Honestly, I think women have been treated like shit on this council and it was time for it to end. I have lived in Langford for 37 years. I've been impressed with what has happened in Langford—Stew gets credit for that. I did not think it was appropriate that he trashed Lillian after the loss. Made him look really bad. I am looking forward to what is going to happen to our little town now.” —L.R.
”This was to be my retirement home: in the quiet country on the Langford-Metchosin border. I moved here for quiet, nature, and neighbourhood, and had it only for one year Then the blasting, digging, banging, and building started. I can’t sit in my yard or open my windows due to noise and dust. I had a symphony of frogs, owls and birds to listen to each night. Now, nothing. It breaks my heart to see my new town explode without a care for the creatures that used to call this home. I will be moving to a new city in the near future, because of rapid building and growth. I voted for the first time in a municipal election, and I am 65. This is how serious I am about transparent change happening in this beautiful city. The arrogance the last mayor and council exhibited was their downfall. Let’s see a new Langford—one for all of us to share and have a voice, especially for the wildlife and nature who are at the mercy of us humans.” —Jennifer Frost
”I voted in the six councillors and the mayor. The first time in my life anyone I voted for got in. This suggests that I was finally with the majority of voters! What I want to say is that six-storey apartment buildings in a small neighbourhood is far too aggressive a height, and destroys the pleasure and community feeling. This is just off Goldstream. I would ask the mayor for reasonable height restrictions in future buildings surrounded by houses. Furthermore, I would ask that road capacity be considered when locating these huge buildings.” —Char Manning
”In View Royal we've watched moderate growth in the almost 20 years we've lived here, with new condo buildings, plazas, increasing population, etc. We will need some major upgrades in infrastructure given that there are so many thoroughfares. A second major concern is securing one or two walk-in clinics. Currently people are experiencing long wait times on the doorstep of VGH. This is absolutely inappropriate. How are we expected to wait for hours out in the cold and rain while we are sick with gawd-knows-what symptoms. Not everything is Covid. Please help, we are all suffering the consequences of poor planning from our government at various levels.” —Ingrid Kuhrt