West Shore This Week – The election nears

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.

It must be fall. The weather has been changing day by day but I hope you’ve been able to keep warm despite it all. I can feel myself going into hibernation mode as the crisp, blustery weather rolls in. I think bears have the right idea – eat a whole bunch and then snooze until spring!

I hope you’re finding this newsletter helpful. I’m happy to share The Discourse’s provincial election coverage with you, based on questions you provided us in our online poll. We’re working hard to roll out answers to those questions leading up to election day. If you’re in the Esquimalt-Metchosin riding, you can find our stories plus other election information here. If you’re in the Langford-Juan de Fuca riding, you can find it here.

As always, I’d love to hear your input on what we should cover next. Send me an email with your thoughts (or just to say hello) and be sure to share this newsletter with friends and family!

News and announcements

• Eleven of the 13 mayors in the Capital Regional District sent a letter to provincial party leaders and local candidates calling on them to address three issues: child care; mental health, addictions and treatment; and transportation on southern Vancouver Island. View Royal’s mayor, David Screech, posted the letter in full on his Facebook page.
• Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Royal Roads University at the fall convocation ceremonies, which take place online on Nov. 6.
• Frontage improvements and underground servicing for water, hydro, communications and more is now underway at Colwood Corners and will be ongoing until June, 2021. The City of Colwood says single lane traffic will be maintained through the work zones within local roads and two-lane traffic will be maintained during rush hour along Sooke Road.
• On Oct. 8, fire crews from Langford, Colwood and View Royal attended a structure fire at 844 Goldstream Ave. The Goldstream News Gazette reports that the roughly 100 residents who live in that building could be out of their homes for weeks or even months. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
• The District of Metchosin is reopening council chambers to the public for meetings. Twelve seats will be available for presenters and the public and the meetings will be recorded using Zoom as well. The next council meeting is on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m.
• The District of Metchosin is hosting a flu clinic for its residents at the end of the month. The clinic is a cooperative effort between the Metchosin Seniors’ Resource Centre, IDA Latoria Pharmacy and the Metchosin Fire Department. 
• On Oct. 13, West Shore RCMP arrested two suspects who, after breaking into a home on Glen Lake Road, fled the scene in a stolen vehicle. Police say the suspects were also found to be in possession of weapons including an extendable baton and concealed knife. An investigation is underway and the suspects remain in custody.
• Metchosin ArtPod has put out an open call for vendors for its Mighty Fine Affordable Art and Craft Sale and Show, which will take place Dec. 3 to Jan. 10. Details can be found online.
• Over the long weekend, B.C. health officials identified 549 new COVID-19 cases in the province, CTV News reports. Ten of those new cases are on Vancouver Island. However, Dr. Bonnie Henry says less than two per cent of all COVID-19 tests in B.C. yield a COVID-positive result, which is “where we want to be.”
• Not sure where you stand during the B.C. provincial election? CBC News is running Vote Compass, a tool developed by political scientists to explore how your views align with the different parties. Give it a try online and see where you fit in.

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.
• Thursday, Oct. 15: 💼 Participate in Colwood’s first Prosperity Roundtable and talk about COVID-19 business recovery. The meeting takes place online from noon to 1:30 p.m. Find more information on how to register online.
• Thursday, Oct. 15: ✅ The WestShore Chamber of Commerce, Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce and the Sooke Multi-Belief Initiative are hosting an all-candidates forum on Zoom with the Langford-Juan de Fuca candidates. They will address six issues between 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Register for the event online.
• Friday, Oct. 16: 💻 Ask questions and hear from Esquimalt-Metchosin B.C. election candidates at an election panel hosted by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce and WestShore Chamber of Commerce. The event will take place online as a Facebook Live.
• Friday, Oct. 16 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.
• Oct. 17 and 18: 🍁 Support local farming and buy your fresh pumpkins and gourds at the Annual Pumpkin and Gourd Sale. The sale takes place at Lohbrunner Community Farm in Langford and will feature the Indecent Risotto food truck.

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

Photo of the week

The salmon are back and that means bears are, too. Brenda Lee Gibson captured this amazing photo of a bear in Sooke and it’s our photo of the week! Brenda says the bear went “up a tree, then down, then up to the hill to collect a salmon he had stashed and lay down to eat.” She says she left the bear in peace to enjoy his meal.

Have an awesome photo of life on the West Shore? Send it to [email protected]. I’d love to see how you view your community!

In your words

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

Doug says, “I like the idea of independent journalism.”

So do we, Doug, and it’s our goal to keep providing our communities with independent journalism that is driven by our readers.

With gratitude,

Shalu [end]