West Shore This Week – Reasons to be hopeful

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

• On Monday, the province’s deputy health officer Dr. Reka Gustafson and health minister Adrian Dix reported a total of 1,120 new COVID-19 cases from the weekend as well as six new deaths in B.C. Nine new cases were reported in the Island Health region. Gustafson and Dix remind community members to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines when spending time with others.
• What gives you hope? The Discourse has put out a survey asking just that and we’d love to hear your responses so we can share some joy with the community. Anyone who participates in the survey will be entered for a chance to win a beautiful art print by Rho Elliott Photography.
• Remembrance Day is one week away and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, commemorations will look a little different this year. Here’s a roundup from The Discourse on how to participate in West Shore Remembrance Day ceremonies from home. Let us know what you’re doing to commemorate Remembrance Day. We’d love to see your photos from this year or previous years!
• Mayors in the capital region are asking the province to prioritize solving transportation issues. The Discourse spoke with three West Shore mayors to hear about their thoughts on the recently-released South Island Transportation Strategy.
• The Victoria General Hospital Auxiliary’s Poinsettias for Patients fundraiser is back and the deadline to order poinsettias is Nov. 16. Proceeds will go towards improving the ambulatory family lab at VGH to help calm and distract kids who have to take tests there. Poinsettias can be purchased at https://shop.VGHA.ca or at the hospital gift shop. You can also email [email protected] or call Val Smith at 250-598-3385.
• Reserved public skating and pickleball programming are available again at the West Shore Parks & Recreation sports complex and at The Q Centre. Things will look a little different due to COVID-19. Find more information on the West Shore Parks & Recreation Facebook page.
• Work to develop a South Highlands Local Area Plan continues and a survey to share your vision for the future of south Highlands is available online. The deadline to complete the survey has been extended to Nov. 18.
• The Meanwhile in Sooke Holiday Food Bank Challenge is back and is looking to raise $10,000 for the Sooke Food Bank. Last year, the fundraiser raised $7,500. Donations can be made online.
• The West Shore RCMP is investigating a report of a man who allegedly attempted to sell drugs to youth on a BC Transit bus. The incident took place on Sept. 19 around 7:50 p.m. at the Langford bus exchange. Police are looking to identify the suspect – a Caucasian man in his 30s who is about five feet 11 inches tall and was wearing a hoodie, baseball cap and dark pants. Anyone with information is asked to call West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Photos of the suspect can be seen online.
• Police are asking for the public’s help to identify suspects who were seen on video jumping a fence and spray-painting concrete walls of a building located at 2840 Peatt Rd. in Langford. West Shore RCMP provided photos of the suspects online. Anyone with information is asked to call West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
• 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 Friday, 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.
• Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in November: 🎨 Metchosin ArtPod’s new show, Aardvarks to Zeppelins: Kids Creations from A to Z launches on Nov. 6 with an official Zoom opening on Nov. 7 at 1 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 6: 🎭 Watch a parody play of the Netflix Series Stranger Things online. Charles Ross will be performing One Man Stranger Things as a special fundraiser show for Victoria’s Theatre SKAM. Those who donate $20 will be entered in a draw to win one of five pairs of tickets for in-house seating.
• Saturday, Nov. 7: 🚒 Langford Fire Rescue’s annual Pumpkin Smash will take place at the Westshore Town Centre. All proceeds benefit Muscular Dystrophy Canada and the BC Professional Firefighters Burn Fund.
• Sunday, Nov. 8: 🍃Participate in Westshore Community of Practice’s Contemplative Hike and cover between 10 and 15 kilometres, with time for quiet contemplation and group discussion.
• Wednesday, Nov. 11: 🇨🇦Remembrance Day is a little different this year due to COVID-19 but you can still commemorate it by watching the Langford ceremony on the Goldstream News Gazette Facebook page or the Sooke ceremony on the Sooke Legion’s Facebook page.
• Saturday, Nov. 14, 21, 28 and Dec. 5: 🛍Head to the grounds of the Sooke Region Museum for the Sooke Winter Market. There will be coffee, food, clothing, artists and more.

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

In your words

The Discourse is supported by you, our community. Why?

Almajane asked me to write a story with some more information about flu shots and how to get them, so I did. After publishing the story, she wrote, “I have read your newsletter from top to bottom. So much information, so well organized. Thank you very much.”

Thank you, Almajane, for asking important questions. We can’t do our work without the help of the community and are always keen to hear what you want to know more about. [end]