Aerial sprays commence in the Westshore

Plus, playground funding coming to a Colwood school

Together with

ELIZA at Royal Bay

Good morning!

Have you spotted the aerial spray treatments in the Westshore? For any readers wondering what is going on, the Ministry of Forests is conducting treatments to eradicate spongy moths. More on that in our main story. But before we get there, we are wondering:

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NEWS

Aerial sprays planned for three areas over the next month

Photo: Submitted

The Ministry of Forests is conducting aerial spray treatments starting mid-May in View Royal, Esquimalt, and Belmont. The treatment is a biological insecticide called Foray 48B which is being used to eradicate spongy moths and minimize the risks they pose to forests, farms, orchards, and trees.

These spongy moths are unintentionally brought to BC on vehicles and equipment from the east in areas such as Ontario. The spongy caterpillars feed on the leaves of more than 300 species of trees and shrubs and can damage forests, farms, and orchards. The risk posed by these moths is that they will defoliate forests and residential areas.

The ministry has planned three aerial spray applications and each one will occur seven to 10 days apart and may take up to two days to complete. The sprays will commence at first light and should be complete by 7:30am. People hoping to minimize their exposure to the insecticide should remain indoors during that time period with windows and doors closed. The sprays will cover 381 hectares in View Royal, 267 hectares in Esquimalt, and 341 hectares in Belmont and will take place over residential, commercial, federal, and public lands.

Foray 48B is used in organic farming. It contains the active ingredient Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki (BtK) which is naturally present in urban, agricultural, and forest soils throughout BC. It poses a very low risk to humans and does not harm mammals, birds, fish, plants, reptiles, amphibians, or bees. It has been approved for the control of spongy moth larvae in Canada since 1961.

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SCHOOLS

Accessible playground coming to Colwood

Dunsmuir Middle School

Dunsmuir Middle School is on the list of 25 schools that are set to receive funding for an accessible playground this year as part of the province’s Playground Equipment Program. The program is in its sixth year, and will be providing $5 million to 25 school districts across the province.

Colwood’s Dunsmuir Middle School and the Sooke School District will receive $195,000 to go towards designing, building, and installing the playground over the next year.

“Playgrounds are excellent for our kids’ physical and mental health, and are spaces where they can be themselves and express their fun-loving nature,” said Rachna Singh, minister of education and child care. “Our government is helping communities throughout the province with better access to modern playground equipment that will benefit everyone.”

The 2023 budget includes $3.4 billion for school capital projects over the next three years , such as seismic upgrades and replacements. Recently, the Sooke School District announced its business plan for seismic upgrades for Port Renfrew Elementary School was being funded. The province committed $10 million for the new elementary school, contingent on SD62’s business plan.

Around the 'Shore

⛰️ Huge underwater mountain found off the Island’s coast: The 3,105m seamount is a third taller than nautical charts’ estimates, just shorter than Mount Baker. The discovery was made by scientists aboard the Okeanos Explorer, who are mapping the ocean floor. [Times Colonist]

🍺 Sooke brewery wins gold: The Sooke Brewing Company was awarded a gold medal for its Barleywine at the World Beer Cup, an international beer-tasting competition. [CTV]

🍨 Cherish at Central Park's chef-prepared homemade meals puts the cherry on retirement living! Contact Cherish to learn about their "Actually, I Can" program.*

👕 Evacuated thrift store finds a temporary home: St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, which was evacuated because it is next door to the RidgeView Place building, has re-opened at 101-877 Goldstream Ave. [CHEK]

🔥 Fire ban announced for the Island: Due to this week’s record-breaking heat, category two and three fires will be banned on Vancouver Island, Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast, and Gulf Islands starting on May 18 at noon. This will include bans on fireworks and sky lanterns, but shouldn’t affect small campfires that are usually category one fires when kept under a half-metre in width and height. [CTV]

🦀 Feeling crabby? Want to get out of your shell? Treat yourself to a free consultation at Intertidal Counselling & Wellness.*

🛝 Improvements for Colwood parks: The city has approved plans for future improvements at Havenwood and Latoria Creek parks in Colwood over the next 10 years. Recommendations include improvements to trails, signage, added seating, and protecting and restoring forest and meadow areas. [Goldstream Gazette]

📹 Video surveillance captures details of Sooke robbery: Tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment was stolen from Sooke Power Supply on Friday morning after a pickup truck drove into the store. The store’s cameras recorded the events of the three-minute robbery, including the theft of generators and portable chainsaws. [CHEK]

🍁 As your Member of Parliament, Alistair MacGregor can assist you with federal agencies, and help explain how he’s bringing Langford and Westshore voices to Ottawa.*

*Sponsored Listing

SPONSORED BY VICTORIA CHINATOWN MUSEUM SOCIETY

Family fun at Awakening Chinatown

Victoria Chinatown Museum Society’s Awakening Chinatown offers free family fun May 28. Enjoy the Lion Parade, kung fu, opera, dance, arts, crafts, games, and more.

Community Events

🍹 Flourish Beautea grand opening: The tea purveyor is opening a location in Langford on May 19 with tastings from 11am to noon, and a cocktail party from 6:30 to 9:30pm, as well as special deals all weekend.

🧁 Yard and bake sale: The Metchosin Co-op Preschool will be having a yard and bake sale on May 20 from 10am to 2pm. There will also be kids’ clothes, toys and books for sale. All proceeds will support the non-profit preschool.

🎻 Cascadia Strings Quartet performs: Catch the quartet performing Riddles & Romance on May 20 from 2 to 3:30pm at the Historic St. Johns the Baptist Church in Colwood.

🥬 Goldstream Farmers Market: Stop by the market on May 20 from 10am to 2pm at Veterans Memorial Park in Langford to get some homegrown fruits and vegetables.

🖼️ Vendors at the Station: The Langford Station is hosting Rise: A Made. Market on May 20 from 10am to 3pm. The market will feature artisan vendors, food trucks, a beer garden, music, and more.

What’s Offshore?

🛳 The Verdure Wave is a bulk carrier built in 2005 and is sailing under the flag of Panama. It is sailing from 🇯🇵 Kinuura, Japan ➡ 🇨🇦 North Vancouver, and was scheduled to arrive April 14.

SPONSORED BY WESTSHORE REALTOR PAUL BRUM

The Westshore real estate expert you need

With over 30 years of sales, education, and leadership within local organizations, Paul Brum is your Westshore real estate specialist!

Continuously keeping the pulse on the real estate market throughout his career helped him develop the knowledge to help his clients find their dream homes in an ever-changing market!

Westshore Snaps

A view of the Mount Baker sunrise from the 7am ferry out of Swartz Bay. — Paul Young, Langford

📸 Snapped a photo you’d like to share? Send it with a caption and don’t forget to add where you live.

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