Good morning, Westshore readers! I learned a new word last week that I hope is never used to describe this newsletter.
Prolix__(adj.) (pro-liks): of speech or writing using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy.
An entire lawsuit was thrown out because the judge deemed it prolix, both in scope and wordiness. The writer in me is familiar with the tendency for words to proliferate if you let them. Good writing, after all, is mostly about good editing.
Reporter, The Westshore
COVID-19
Sprawling anti-mandate lawsuit that included a Sooke couple has been rejected
Linda Morken, top left, was part of an Action4Canada lawsuit alleging infringement of Charter rights by COVID response measures. (Bottom right: Action4Canada founder Tanya Gaw and lawyer Rocco Galati.) (Illustration: Zoë Ducklow)
A diffuse anti-mandate lawsuit, that included two Sooke residents as plaintiffs, was rejected by a BC judge last week for being unconstrained and overly wordy. The 20 plaintiffs each allege they have had their Charter rights violated by COVID-19 mandates, and named 19 defendants—including the late Queen, Dr. Bonnie Henry, and several government ministers—as being responsible.
The judge called the claim document “bad beyond argument” and said the defendants could not reasonably understand what they were being sued for.
“[The claim] describes wide-ranging global conspiracies that may, or may not, have influenced either the federal or the provincial governments,” Justice Alan Ross wrote in his decision. “In my opinion, it is ‘bad beyond argument.’”
The main plaintiff was Action4Canada, a national organization that has a stated mission of protecting “Canada’s rich heritage which is founded on Judeo-Christian biblical principles.” Formed not long before the COVID-19 pandemic, the group quickly rallied around pandemic response measures it claims infringed on freedoms. The group also has opinions on 5G technology, abortion, drug legalization, and “political Islam.”
Among the 19 accused defendants were the now-late Queen Elizabeth II, all the way down to a regional manager for BC Ferries, five BC government ministers, several Crown corporations, and public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam.
Two plaintiffs, Linda and Gary Morken from Sooke, allege they were harassed by grocery store employees for not wearing masks, and that Linda’s subsequent arrest was unlawful.
The incident happened at Village Foods in Sooke in early February 2021. A mask mandate was in effect at the time, but the Morkens claimed they had mask exemptions.
ELECTION
A record 85 candidates will compete for 40 seats in Westshore local governments
A view of Langford Lake with development beyond. (James MacDonald/Capital Daily)
Sooke has 28 people running to lead the district for the next four years, including all but one member of the current council, and several who have run previously. Four candidates for mayor include two-term incumbent Maja Tait, who also served as a councillor for two terms before that, John Knops, Mick Rhodes, and William Wallace. Knops ran last year, earning 135 votes to Tait’s 2,299. None of the three mayoral challengers have publicized information about their platforms.
Among the candidates for council, all of the current members except for Ebony Logins have registered to run again; Logins is running for the Sooke School Board. Britt Sandowski, who wrote Sooke Pocket News and runs the Sooke Chamber of Commerce, has put her name forward for council after an unsuccessful bid for the school board in 2018.
Four candidates—Steve Anderson, Herb Haldane, Kevin Pearson, and Jeff Stewart—have previously served on council. The other 13 are first-time candidates, mostly unaffiliated with any elector group or organization, though four candidates are affiliated with Elections for Change, a non-registered group with the slogan, “Let’s get back on track.” That group also has three affiliated school board candidates. Sooke has six council seats that will be contested among 24 candidates.
In Langford, longtime Mayor Stew Young announced he will run again, flanked by four current councillors and two new candidates. Shannon Russell Willing, former advisor to Premier John Horgan, and Shirley Atkinson, former mayor of Port McNeill, were named as new candidates along with incumbent Couns. Matt Sahlstrom, Lanny Seaton, Roger Wade, and Norma Stewart. The seven are endorsed by an elector organization called Community First Langford.
Couns. Lillian Szpak and Denise Blackwell are also planning to run again as incumbents, but neither are part of this slate nor the Langford Now elector organization. Langford Now is a new political organization that grew out of the Langford Voters for Change Facebook group. Five candidates for council are endorsed by the group: Mary Wagner, Colby Harder, Kimberley Guiry, Keith Yacucha, and Mark Morley.
School board trustee Wendy Hobbs has decided not to run for the school board, but will try again to earn a seat on Langford council. That makes 14 candidates for six positions. Two people are registered to challenge Young for the mayor’s seat: Scott Peter Goodmanson and Dan Oickle. Neither are affiliated with an elector organization.
**In Metchosin,**10 people have declared their intention to run for council, including two current councillors who will compete for the mayor’s seat: Marie-Térèse Little and Kyara Kahakauwila. Little has served one term as councillor, and Kahakauwila has been on council since 1999 with a four-year break before 2014.
Eight candidates will compete for four council seats, and only Coun. Sherry Epp is an incumbent. Longtime Mayor John Ranns decided in January he would not run for reelection, and Coun. Andy MacKinnon also decided against more politics.
**In Highlands,**Mayor Ken Williams is uncontested, and nine people will vie for the six council seats, including all of the current council. The three non-incumbent candidates are Guy Brisebois, Ken Brotherston and Marie Brotherston.
View Royal has a slate of nine people running for the seven seats—formerly there were only five council spots. All of the current council is running again, plus one challenger for mayor and three new council candidates.
The Westshore and Capital Daily have sent candidates a survey to fill out on election issues. If you are a candidate who has not received a link to the online survey, please email our municipal affairs reporter__Shannon Waters_._
Around the ’Shore
💸 The iconic Sooke Harbour House was just listed for $13.3M. A Vancouver-based development firm, IAG Developments, bought the hotel in 2020 for $5.6M when it was mired in scandal and financial ruin. IAG said at the time that it intended to restore the hotel in the spirit of former owners’ Frederique and Sinclair Phillip’s vision. But now, two years later, the property has been listed for sale. To learn what really went on at the hotel before it floundered into bankruptcy, read Capital Daily reporter Tori Marlan’s award-winning investigation: The man who stole a hotel.
🎄 Early birdNutcracker: Save up to 20% off adult tickets to Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Nutcracker using promo code Nut-Westshore. Ends tomorrow, Sept. 14! Royal and McPherson Theatres or 250-386-6121.*
🚒 Metchosin is getting a new fire engine. Just over $700K went towards the new engine, and another $100K to replace a duty truck that was damaged in a crash. [Goldstream Gazette]
*Sponsored Listing
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TOGETHER WITH WILDPLAY VICTORIA
New at WildPlay Victoria
WildPlay’s Anti-Gravity Camp is the ultimate outdoor adventure for youth ages 7-14! This fall, your little one can spend their Pro-D days off from school conquering all of WildPlay’s iconic aerial adventures!
Camp dates:
Price: $89.99/camper
Exclusive offer for readers of The Westshore: Save $10 with code LOCAL10
Community Events
🎶 Interested in learning to sing in four-part harmony?Pacific Edge Chorus is offering free instruction to women 13 years or older. Four Tuesday night classes start Sept. 20. Email cogbass@gmail.com to register.
🌳 The Sooke Lions are hosting an open houseto talk about their proposal for John Phillips Memorial Park. They want to build a multi-purpose building with a parking lot, but the idea has been controversial. Sept. 25, 11am-3pm.
What’s Offshore?
Nothing today!
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TODAY’S PARTNER: ELIZA AT ROYAL BAY
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Previews are happening now, email hello@elizacondos.com to book your preview today!
Westshore Snaps
”Hiking Juan de Fuca Trail with my Tuesday hiking group, we found this beautiful fungi in the perfect light.” — Laurie Hayman, Sooke
📸 Snapped a photo you’d like to share? Send it with a caption and don’t forget to add where you live.