Together with

Good morning!

What’s Offshore is definitely a favourite for many of our readers, so today we’ve got something that’s sure to pique your interest. Photojournalist James MacDonald recently got on board with the Pacific Pilotage Authority workers as they navigate the local portion of the 25,000 kilometres of BC coastline they are responsible for. This photo series will give you an up-close look at the people whose job it is to safely guide ships into Victoria’s harbour.

TRANSPORTATION

Meet the BC coast pilots guiding ships into Victoria Harbour 

We are barreling right towards what looks like a wall of steel. A coal carrier plows her way through the Strait of Juan de Fuca towards the open waters of the Pacific. The yellow launch, a smaller vessel emblazoned with PILOT, skips directly towards it.

With a quick “HOLD ON!” from the deck crew, the launch veers off to the left and spins itself, almost on the spot, 180 degrees to come alongside the hulking ship.

We exchange waves and thumbs up with the crew three stories above us, as they lower steps and ladders towards the water. With the pilots at the railing, the launch moves in close, matching speeds exactly, and the pilots descend from the deck and step nonchalantly onto the launch.

For most this would be a white knuckling experience, but the British Columbia Coast Pilots and the Pacific Pilotage Authority do it thousands of times a year, in all types of weather, and all levels of rough seas up and down the coastline of BC.

Beginning in 1858 on the Fraser River, ship pilots have guided ships and navigated the waters of the west coast from before Canada was even a country. The British Columbia coast is massive, intricate, and challenging.

“We have the biggest pilotage district in the world, with 15,000 miles of coast line,” said Captain Cal Smith, president of the British Columbia Coast Pilots. “[From] the west side of Vancouver Island, all the way up the inside passage, all the inlets, all the way up to Alaska.”

The BC Coast Pilots and Pacific Pilotage Authority are responsible for all of it. They guide container ships into Vancouver Harbour, bulk carriers to Roberts Bank, cruise ships into Victoria Harbour, and foreign naval vessels through the Salish Sea.

The captains and crews of ships from around the world don't know the exact details of BC’s ports and coastlines, so the pilots are brought out to go aboard and help them.

“[The captain] is leaning on you for your expert local knowledge… when we board out here, we actually take the conduct on for all ships,” Smith said, “and we drive the ship up to Delta Port, we arrange the tugs, do the landing…because we’ve done it so much and we are trained pretty thoroughly.”

With a rise in coastal energy projects, and an increase in shipping traffic, the number of pilots is growing. Eight new pilots come on each year, and there are 125 in total currently—the most there have ever been. “There is a lot going on,” said Smith, “it is kind of an explosive growth period for us.”

Read the full story and explore the photo series at Capital Daily.

POLITICS

NDP announces Ravi Parmar as Langford-Juan de Fuca candidate 

The second candidate to throw their hat in the race for the Langford-Juan de Fuca byelection is Ravi Parmar. The announcement was made yesterday as he launched his campaign for the BC NDP. Parmar is currently the Sooke School District Board Chair.

Parmar was born in Victoria and raised in Langford. In high school, he mobilized with fellow students to pressure the province to construct two new high schools to replace Belmont Secondary. Shortly after he became the youngest school trustee in the country when he was elected as a trustee to the Sooke School District. He has served as board chair for SD62 since 2017. He is also a senior advisor to BC’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Brenda Bailey.

“The BC NDP in Langford-Juan de Fuca has a long tradition of electing strong MLAs to fight for good jobs and better health care, education, housing and childcare,” said Parmar in a press release statement. “With one of the youngest and fastest growing populations in the province, we can’t let up. We need to improve our transportation infrastructure, protect our environment, and promote local small businesses.”

The seat became open after John Horgan stepped down as MLA on March 31. The riding has predominantly leaned NDP for years as Horgan represented the riding since 2005.

Parmar is the second candidate announced for this riding. The first was Camille Currie, a born-and-raised Metchosin local who announced her candidacy on April 6 representing the BC Green Party.

Around the 'Shore

🎽 New Pacific FC jerseys feature West Coast designs: The Westshore pro soccer team’s new kits feature a purple geometric pattern with a Spirit Bear on the stomach on the primary and a pale teal-and-white illustration of coastal recreation on the second shirt. Both have gold accents for the 2021 championship. The third jersey will remain the popular black-and-white third design by Kwakwakaʼwakw and Coast Salish Maynard Johnny Jr., who also illustrated the Salish Heron ferry. But the team hasn’t yet shown if and how its sponsor switch from Volkswagen to the Telus wordmark will affect the design. 

❗ Missing woman located: The West Shore RCMP confirmed on April 11 that 32-year-old missing woman Amy Pana had been located safe and sound.

📝 Committee of the Whole meeting rescheduled: The City of Langford Committee of the Whole meeting that was scheduled for April 11 has been postponed to April 18 at 7pm. The rescheduling was due to an illness of Mayor Goodmanson. The meeting will include a discussion and debate of the proposed 2023-2027 Five-Year Financial Plan.

💵 Drugs, money seized in Langford and Victoria: The West Shore RCMP Drug and Organized Crime Unit executed two search warrants for residences in Langford and Victoria and seized a large quantity of drugs, money, and a stick of dynamite. Three males and one female aged 29-40 were arrested for drug trafficking related offences. [RCMP]

💍 Langford resident finds possible lost wedding ring: The ring was spotted in a pile of mulch that they purchased at Buy the Yard Gravel Mart. It is jet black with a date engraved in white on the inside. The resident, Brett Soberg, is determined to find the owner. [CHEK]

🏡 Make homeownership a reality with a mortgage helper. Several Gablecraft Homes floorplans can accommodate 1- or 2-bedroom legal suite to further assist with mortgage financing.*

*Sponsored Listing

Community Events

⚽ Pacific FC’s season opener: The team will take on Vancouver FC in the season-opening meeting on Saturday, April 15 at 4pm at Langford’s Starlight Stadium.

🛍️ Westshore Swap, Shop & Market: The community swap meet and local farmers market takes place Sundays at West Shore Parks and Recreation in the parking lot. The next meeting is Sunday, April 16 from 8am to 12pm.

🌊 Tsunami Awareness Workshop: As part of Tsunami Preparedness Week this week, View Royal Emergency Management is hosting an awareness workshop on April 13 at 6:30pm.

🎶 Coffee House Music Night: This month’s instalment of the music night hosted by Sooke Folk Music Society will take place April 15 at 6:30pm at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Sooke. The featured performer will be Shawna Caspi.

What’s Offshore?

🚢 #1 The Ototachibana is a bulk carrier built in 2012 and is sailing under the flag of Japan. It is sailing from 🇯🇵 Oita, Japan ➡ 🇨🇦 Roberts Bank, Canada and was scheduled to arrive April 7.  

Westshore Eats

Langford is getting a new Indian restaurant. Authentic Cuisine of India is set to open later this month at 104-3046 Merchant Way. The restaurant will serve traditional North Indian cuisine and the team is currently looking to hire a tandoor chef, servers, and dishwasher. If you’re interested in joining the team, send an email to [email protected].