Good morning, Westshore! Throughout the last few weeks of glorious sun, I’ve visited my share of beaches. Mostly ocean, but some lakes, too. People from Victoria love to brag that their beaches are the best, but now that I’ve had a second summer of carefully collecting a data set on all the south Island beaches, I conclude that Westshore is the best shore.
We have a delightful variety of landscape and beach types. My personal favourite is a rocky beach where the ocean acts like a rock tumbler, so they’re all smooth and round. There’s no sand to get in everything, and there are countless rocks to throw, admire, and sometimes collect. Plus, we get better sunsets on the west. Penny for your beach thoughts?
Reporter, The Westshore
HEALTH
Victoria doctor backs off from charging $125, plans to leave MSP altogether
Dr. Perpetua Nwosu announced a plan to charge $125 a month, withdrew the plan, and then told patients she's leaving MSP. (Photo: Supplied. Illustration: Zoë Ducklow/The Westshore)
A local doctor made waves this month by announcing plans to charge her patients $125 a month for access to services that are mostly covered by BC’s Medical Services Plan. That is, we don’t pay out of pocket for them. Dr. Perpetua Nwosu, a family doctor who’s been operating in Victoria for about two years, said her clinic has been overrun and the "retainership scheme", as she called it, would help her hire more health-care practitioners—like a licenced practical nurse and a physiotherapist—and cover general expenses.
Amid the ensuing outcry, Nwosu backed off and told patients she would withdraw the plan while it was under review. (She did not answer whether she was forced to withdraw the proposal by a review from the Medical Services Commission, or if she chose to.)
Then, yesterday morning her patients received a third email telling them she’s planning to unenrol from the Medical Services Plan, and patients would be billed directly for consultations with Dr. Nwosu.
The question her patients are left with is, is this legal?
MSP does allow for some billing to clients for things like a doctor’s note, or transferring medical files. But can they bill for a meeting with a family doctor?
DEVELOPMENT
Langford speeds through council business as end of term looms
An aerial view of the land to be developed on the south side of Sawyer Road in Langford. (Contributed)
It has been a busy summer for Langford council, despite cutting back to one meeting a month from the standard twice-monthly schedule—and deciding to cancel its last three meetings before the Oct. 15 municipal election.
Since June, Langford council approved 933 units of housing, made up of apartments, condominiums, townhouses, and single family lots, shared between 11 development proposals. The largest is Dunford Crossing, a two-tower complex that will be over 20 storeys tall, and make approximately 352 homes. Four other residential buildings were approved, ranging from six to 12 storeys, and together will add 287 residential units. Four different townhouse developments will add 247 homes, and two subdivisions will add 47 detached homes.
Among the six developments approved last Monday was a subdivision immediately north of the Humpback Reservoir that could provide up to 172 homes, in a mixture of single-family detached houses and townhouses.
It’s on the south side of Sawyer Road, backing onto a steep hill. It’s couched by park land on most sides, with a small neighbourhood to the north and Westhills neighbourhood to the east. Behind and to its west is Sooke Hills Wilderness Park, owned by the Capital Regional District (CRD). On its western border, the property abuts a large restricted area that’s part of Greater Victoria’s water supply.
The property itself has a few houses on it—including a 100-year-old farmhouse—and is mostly forested. Power lines and a natural gas pipeline cross the long northern edge, so that portion has been tentatively earmarked to become a Langford park. The utilities’ right of way means park activities would be limited, but the landowner would get to use it as the required 30% park designation.
The property was rezoned without a development plan, though the owner has submitted rough plans for a new neighbourhood of 42 detached houses and 130 townhouses.
The CRD expressed concern about a development’s impact on its land, so the rezoning bylaw agrees to a three-metre no-disturbance zone, where no trees would be felled and a fence would be installed. This is to mitigate wind-throw and root damage to the bordering forest in Sooke Hills Wilderness Park and prevent trespassing into the restricted water protection area. The eastern edge will have a 10-metre buffer beside Humpback Road, and have a walking trail added.
The proposal first appeared on the Planning, Zoning and Affordable Housing Committee (PZAH) agenda on May 9. Twelve people wrote to the committee expressing strong opposition. They cited things like infrastructure—Westhills has had a significant impact on traffic—concerns about stormwater flooding if the steep forest is cleared, and at least two people mentioned the 100-year-old farm house that they’d like to see preserved. Just two people wrote in support, including one of the owners.
PZAH approved the application and forwarded it to council, which accepted the rough plan for first reading the next week. A public hearing was held June 20, and the rezoning was approved on Aug. 15.
To glimpse what else has been approved in the last year, look at the Langford Development Map we published this spring. Click on the marker for details on the proposal, and if it’s been approved.
Green markers are approved, orange markers are still in process. Click to view the interactive map, and find developments in your Langford neighbourhood.
Around the 'Shore
⚖️ Day parole denied for man who killed a Langford teen in 2010. Kruse Hendrick Wellwood was 16 when he plotted and carried out the violent sexual assault and murder of 18-year-old Kimberly Proctor in Langford with a co-conspirator, then 17-year-old Cameron Moffat. Wellwood and Moffat both pled guilty to first-degree murder and received life sentences in 2011. Last week Wellwood, now 28, was denied day parole, because he is still considered at high risk to reoffend. [Times Colonist]
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TOGETHER WITH FRONTRUNNERS
Westshore running lives here
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Finding the right fit takes time, care and and years of expertise. Fortunately, the Frontrunners Westshore staff has been building community while improving the fitness of residents since 2005.
Check out their Westshore location at 123-755 Goldstream Ave, or give them a call at 250-391-7373.
Community Events
**🎸****This weekend marks the last of Colwood’s summer of music:**Country music group, The Chick Wagon Band, performs at Meadow Green Park in Royal Bay, 6-8pm. And Nautical Disaster, a Tragically Hip tribute band, takes the closing slot on Saturday night at Esquimalt Lagoon, 5-7pm.
🌭 Multi-household Garage sale in View Royalat 14 Erskine Lane. There are 28 residences participating, the neighbourhood association will be selling $3 hot, and parking directors will help manage traffic. Aug. 27, 9am-1:30pm.
💜 Sooke is holding its first International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31. Mayor Maja Tait will make a proclamation recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day, and representatives from T’Sou-ke First Nation will open the evening. There will be stories, poems and music by various volunteer artists. Naloxone training will be provided, and supporting groups will share resources and information about their services. The evening will finish with a candle light vigil and “say their name” to honour and remember the people we’ve lost. Next Wednesday at Ed MacGregor Park, 6:30pm.
What’s Offshore?
The SM YANTIAN was in Seattle in July, where this image was captured. (📸 Jackie Pritchard, Marine Traffic)
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Westshore Snaps
(📸 Robin McKeown)
This picture of the Race Rocks Lighthouse was snapped mid-July while out on the water heading back to Pedder Bay. — Robin McKeown, Metchosin
📸 Snapped a photo you’d like to share? Send it with a caption and don’t forget to add where you live.