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Good morning!

Later this month, both Whiffin Spit and Ed MacGregor Parks will be closed due to the filming of a popular TV series. The District of Sooke is notifying the community that the closures will take place on Saturday, April 29. Whiffin Spit will be closed from 6:30am to 8pm, and Ed MacGregor Park will be closed from 7am to 2pm.

But the big question is—which TV show is using the backdrop of scenic Sooke parks? The cast and crew will be filming in various regions of Sooke on Friday, April 28 as well. Let us know if you spot them.

PHOTO FEATURE

Meet Jake James, a Westshore blacksmith

The ground shakes with every hammer blow as the red hot steel warps and stretches under the massive 1929 power hammer. The five feet of concrete below the hammer thumps again and again as blacksmith Jake James takes a narrow piece of steel and slowly moulds it like plasticine into an organic, twirling, sculpture-like object.

Tucked at the bottom of a dead end road in rural Metchosin, the workshop and forge could have easily been pulled from the early 20th century, or (with a few power tools and hammers removed) plucked from the early 12th. Not much has changed in the art and industry of blacksmithing since the turn of the first millennium, and besides the introduction of power hammers, propane forges, and some of the conveniences of the modern world; the techniques, tools, and artistry, remain remarkably similar.

Trained in his home country of England, at one of the few formal blacksmithing schools in the world, James then traveled overseas to continue developing his skills.

“I did some blacksmithing in Sri Lanka, silver smithing in India, and then ended up here.” Working in the same space on the Westshore for the past 18 years, James has forged a niche around the Island and Western Canada.

“There haven’t been that many blacksmiths doing what I consider the higher end iron working… it never really took off here… [I] do mostly architectural work, railings, gates, fireplaces, lighting, all custom made and custom designed. And then I do sculptural when I can. In a dream world where people pay me lots of money to do that, I would do that all day long.”

With no formal place to train and learn in Canada, James works hard to pass on his 25 years of smithing skills and knowledge. Teaching classes throughout the year at his workshop, as well as running collaborative sculpture workshops around North America.

Watching as the steel is heated, and shaped, and heated again; it is easy to get lost in the process.

“With blacksmithing, it’s like you beat the life into something,” says James. A simple, utilitarian material is formed into something that can stand the test of time. Which also drives at the longevity of blacksmithing.

“We all got used to this disposable culture, and in the last few years… people are looking around their houses… [and] starting to think more with their wallets and how they can support local and what might last them an entire lifetime,” explains James. “People are thinking ‘Why would I pay for something that is not going to last?’”

Explore the full photo series by James MacDonald here.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Pacific FC won a championship—then lost half its roster

This weekend, Pacific FC won its home opener in its first sibling-rivalry game. On Saturday, the Langford-based soccer team defeated the new Langley-based Vancouver FC, which is owned by the same group. Veteran Manny Aparicio’s goal in the 81st minute secured the 1-0 win. The team won the Canadian championship in late 2021, but losses of core players to rivals and retirement have set it back. Here we look back at a story from the Capital Daily archives as the team was starting its 2022 season. Last year, PFC made the playoffs, but lost in the first round. With this weekend’s win, things are off to a good start for the 2023 season.

Around the 'Shore

🚗 West Shore RCMP arrest break-and-enter suspects: The two suspects are believed to be involved in at least five break-and-enters that targeted storage lockers and vehicles in underground parking garages between Feb. 1 and March 5 in View Royal and Langford apartment buildings.

💲 Sooke to face property tax hike of 6.9%: Mayor Maja Tait said the District is facing significant inflationary pressure and says that council did the best they could. The previous proposal was for a 9.3% increase in property taxes for Sooke homeowners. The District is hosting an open house for residents on April 19 from 2-7pm at Municipal Hall. [Sooke News Mirror]

🏗️ 25-storey highrise proposed for Colwood: An application has been filed with the City of Colwood for the Thrifty Foods property at 1860 Island Highway at the Goldstream Avenue intersection. The Chan Family Tower would be 25 storeys built on a portion of a surface parking lot and on vacant land to the west of the Thrifty Foods complex. [Citified.ca]

🎁 Treat yourself! Cherish at Central Park offers a community where you can age in place gracefully. Contact Cherish to book a tour today!*

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Community Events

🌎 The CENiC speakers series: The Colwood environmental group is hosting its annual speakers series over Zoom. The fourth talk in this series is on April 18 and covers environmental action in Colwood.

🌻 Bloom art show: The annual spring art show features bursts of big, bold, floral artwork, hosted by the Coast Collective and Arts and Culture Colwood. April 22-23, 10am-4pm, Pendray House, 3221 Heatherbell Rd., Colwood

🏞️ Grand opening: The Chief Al LeQuesne Park will have its grand opening event on April 20 at 1:30pm at 2980 Humpback Rd.

What’s Offshore?

⛴ 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.

🚢 The Golden Future is a bulk carrier built in 2010 and is sailing under the flag of Hong Kong. It is sailing from 🇰🇷 Busan, Korea ➡ 🇨🇦 Vancouver, Canada and was scheduled to arrive April 14.

🛳 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, Canada and was scheduled to arrive April 14.

Westshore Sips

Sheringham Distillery moves from Sooke to Langford

The award-winning gin distiller, Sheringham Distillery, was started in Shirley by Jason and Alayna MacIsaac in 2015. It moved to Sooke in 2017, and is now about to open its new location in Langford at 103-4382 West Shore Pkwy this month.

There will be a launch party on Saturday, April 29 that is already sold out. Guests will be able to enjoy eight different Sheringham cocktails, small plates from House of Boateng, and the first chance for guests to taste Sheringham’s new Raincoast Gin. If you didn’t snag a ticket, there will be a happy hour on May 27.