West Shore This Week – It’s spooky season

Welcome to West Shore This Week, your source for the latest local news and events. Sign up to get this in your inbox every Wednesday.

News and announcements

• Wondering how to celebrate Halloween safely this weekend? The Discourse has built a handy guide based on official recommendations from the BC Centre for Disease Control.
• Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has issued a new health order after the province saw a record high of 817 new COVID-19 cases over a three-day period, CBC News reports. Under the order, gatherings in private homes may include no more than six people outside the household. Additionally, Henry says wearing masks is now an “expectation” in all indoor public spaces.
• Incumbent MLAs are expected to hold their seats in the West Shore ridings, according to preliminary B.C. election results. BC NDP leader John Horgan holds a crushing lead in Langford-Juan de Fuca as does the NDP’s Mitzi Dean in Esquimalt-Metchosin. 
• BC Liberal Party leader Andrew Wilkinson is stepping down after the party lost the provincial election and about one-third of its seats, based on preliminary results, CTV News reports. CTV News declared an NDP majority less than one hour after the polls closed on Saturday. Mail-in votes and absentee ballots still need to be counted.
• The City of Colwood says more people, trucks and equipment will be on-site at the Royal Bay quarry starting this week to prepare the 158-acre site for development. For safety reasons, the public is being asked to refrain from accessing the fenced lands of Latoria South. Old Latoria Road Trail and the access points into the land from Latoria Creek Park have also been closed.
• The roundabout construction at Peatt Road and Brock Avenue in Langford is complete and both roads have reopened permanently. The City of Langford reminds drivers to use proper roundabout etiquette and yield to traffic that has already entered the roundabout on your left.
• The Sooke School District is engaging with the community about a catchment review now that two new schools are being added to the district. Community feedback will be presented to the SD62 Board of Education during its monthly meeting in mid-December. A virtual town hall meeting will also be held on Oct. 28. Head to the SD62 website for more details and information.
• On Monday, Royal Roads University reported a confirmed cougar sighting on the western edge of the trails near gate eight. The university is reminding those travelling on campus to use a buddy system.
• Last week, Men’s Health reported that Royal Roads University is in its Top 40 list of Most Beautiful College Campuses in the World. The report called Hatley Park National Historic Site, on which the university sits, “pretty incredible.”
• The Sooke Night Market is looking for vendors for its outdoor Winter Market. Market dates are Nov. 14, 21, 28 and Dec. 5. Contact [email protected] with questions and for the application.

Community events

• Now until Nov. 6: 📸 Get your camera ready for Royal Beach’s photo contest, in celebration of the new Birds of Bark driftwood installation by Paul Lewis. Details about the contest can be found on the Royal Beach Seaside Village Facebook page.
• Now until Oct. 31: 🦇 Bat Week, an international, annual celebration to raise awareness about bat conservation takes place this week. Find a virtual Bat Week event near you to participate.
• Friday, Oct. 30 to Sunday, Nov. 1: 🖼 The Metchosin ArtPod Plein Air Show continues on weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Nov. 1. Head on over to see art that has been painted by West Shore artists outdoors.
• Saturday, Oct. 31: 👻 Join Metchosin Fire Department for a Drive-Thru Halloween this year, with free treats for every car.
• Saturday, Oct. 31: 🎃 Head to the West Shore Town Centre for Langford Fire Rescue’s Drive-Thru Halloween event.
• Saturday, Oct. 31: 🍬 The View Royal Firefighters Association is hosting a Halloween drive-thru in the Canadian Tire parking lot located at 1519 Admirals Road.
• Saturday, Nov. 7: 🚒  Langford Fire Rescue’s annual Pumpkin Smash will take place at the West Shore Town Centre. All proceeds benefit Muscular Dystrophy Canada and the BC Professional Firefighters Burn Fund.

If you’re planning an event that I should consider for an upcoming list, send me an email.

In your words

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