West Shore This Week – Time to stay home

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

• As of Monday, Nov. 23, there were 152 active cases of COVID-19 on Vancouver Island, with 40 of those cases in the South Vancouver Island region. At a briefing on Monday, Dr. Bonnie Henry announced new provincial health orders, which include suspending all events and social gatherings. Last week, Henry also announced masks are now required for everyone in all public, indoor settings and workplaces. People are limited to gathering only with those in their household and, in some cases, a core bubble with a maximum of two people in it. More information on these health orders and others can be found here.
• Pearson College UWC in Metchosin is part of a global initiative called “Rise,” which will fund scholarships for 15 students from refugee backgrounds to attend a United World College school, including Pearson, over three years. 
• Elections BC says a total of 1,900,353 people voted in the B.C. provincial election. The voter turnout is 86,021 fewer than the 2017 provincial election but is the second-highest total in B.C. electoral history.
• Colwood and Metchosin will be hosting Backpack Project donation boxes at their municipal halls. Starting Tuesday, new item donations will be accepted through contactless drop-offs. Check out the Backpack Project Facebook page for more information.
• The City of Colwood says the Royal Bay neighbourhood is steadily moving towards a vision outlined in the city’s Official Community Plan. City staff are working to protect trees in the development lands and are working with developers and other professionals like biologists and arborists when tree removal is considered.
• Over 800 people received their flu shots as part of the City of Colwood’s free flu clinics this year. The city says the clinics were an example of collaboration between partners such as the local Latoria IDA Pharmacy, Island Health, the Colwood Fire Department and staff.
• The District of Metchosin is making some changes at the Municipal Hall in support of province-wide health restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The district is implementing new systems to help staff work from home and live-stream council meetings but in the meantime council and standing committee meetings are not being held and the municipal office will be closed.
• The Capital Regional District announced the elections of chairs and vice-chairs for the Capital Regional Hospital District and the Capital Region Housing Corporation. Langford Councillor Denise Blackwell has been re-elected as the CRHD board chair and View Royal Mayor David Screech has been re-elected as CRHC board vice-chair.
• The CRD is developing a new solid waste management plan to reduce how much waste is sent to Hartland Landfill. CRD residents are invited to review the draft plan, learn what feedback has been received so far and provide input through an online form.
• The Mount Work Coalition has started a petition to ban the expansion of Hartland Landfill and protect trees as well as Mount Work Regional Park.
• 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.

Community events

• Now until Nov. 26: 🍾 Bring your bottles and cans to a contactless bottle drive and help the Goldstream Food Bank raise money for its Christmas hampers. Donations will be accepted at Langford Lanes between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. until Nov. 26 and at Langford City Hall on Nov. 21 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Now until Dec. 1: 🤗 Donate new or gently used coats, mittens, scarves and hats to the Warmth for Winter Coat Drive at Langford Fire Hall Station #1 or Langford City Hall. Donations will be taken to the Goldstream Food Bank.
• Now until Dec. 6: 💰The Metchosin Community House is putting on a Silent Auction fundraiser. Treats, treasures and services have been donated by local businesses and community members for it. View items online and submit bids to briandgrant96@gmail.com.
• Now until Nov. 29: 💁‍♀️The Westshore Soroptomist Club, an organization dedicated to supporting women and girls in the community, is holding an online auction to raise funds for its various programs. Items have been donated by local businesses and artisans.
• Friday, Nov. 27 to Sunday, Nov. 29: 👩‍💻The Rotary Club of Sooke has put together an online auction to raise funds for the organization. Bid on items including pizza, artwork and condo rentals.
• Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in November Cancelled: 🎨 Metchosin ArtPod’s latest show, Aardvarks to Zeppelins: Kids Creations from A to Z takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 29: 🎷Watch a virtual telethon concert featuring some of Victoria’s finest classical and jazz artists. The concert is in support of the arts and the Victoria Hospitals Foundation and will be live-streamed from the Victoria International Marina.

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

I had the pleasure of joining John Juricic and Kelly Darwin of Westshore Business for a Facebook Live last week where we talked about The Discourse and West Shore issues. When chatting about this newsletter, Juricic said “I really can’t wait to see it as it drops in my inbox. Everyone in the West Shore should feel the same.”

I was so glad to hear you enjoy the newsletter, John, and hope our West Shore community feels the same! [end]