Hello there!

We have an important update for you today!

Starting next month, we're joining forces with our sister publication, Capital Daily, to deliver all your Greater Victoria and Westshore news in one combined newsletter.

The growing Westshore municipalities are becoming a bigger and bigger part of the Capital Region, and we want the region-wide Capital Daily coverage to reflect that.

What this means for you:

• You’ll be getting news from around the South Island (including the Westshore) 7 days a week

• Your dedicated Westshore region stories & events will still run every Tuesday and Thursday

• The reader-favourite "What's Offshore" will arrive in the Monday newsletter

Many of you already subscribe to both The Westshore newsletter and Capital Daily. But for those who are only subscribed here, you'll need to opt-in to get the combined newsletter.

To continue receiving your local news without interruption, you can follow The Westshore to Capital Daily by subscribing at this link.

NEWS

CRD wants to borrow $3.15M for new Sooke skatepark & upgrades to SEAPARC

The current skatepark is nearly 30 years old, and is currently closed over safety issues. The CRD has determined that it isn't up to modern specs and that it isn't financially viable to repair the park. The CRD has already done public consultation and design work. The remaining design work, and the construction itself, would cost about $1.1M and start this year. 

Rec centre upgrades could halve its annual emissions

At nearby SEAPARC Rec Centre, the CRD wants to make upgrades to set up a heat recovery system by spending $2.2M (with $150K already expected from a grant). 

The current system sends waste heat from the refrigeration plant out into the atmosphere through a cooling tower. The proposed system would recirculate it to heat the pool and domestic hot water and to integrate with the HVAC. 

The CRD and Sooke both want to reduce emissions from SEAPARC Rec, which is the second-most emitting facility in the CRD and accounts for 16% of its facility emissions. The new system could roughly halve the rec centre's annual emissions.

The CRD is trying to make this move now because various parts of the centre are expected to reach end-of-life between 2024 and 2030. Those include the arena and pool domestic hot water storage tanks; air conditioning; pool circulation pumps; and the arena dehumidifier and parts of the pool dehumidifier.

The Alternate Approval Process

Under the AAP, the borrowing would go ahead unless 10% of electors in Sooke and the relevant part of the JDF Electoral Area mail, drop off, or email an opposition form by May 23. That would be 1,826 people. The CRD estimates that as of 2028 the annual cost would be $34 for Sooke households and $23 for JDF households.

The SEAPARC capital reserve had $873K at year's end, which isn't enough for these projects. The CRD believes that not making the rec centre changes could jeopardize its 2030 corporate greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, which include a 45% decrease from 2007 levels. 

Around the 'Shore

🩺 Colwood expects to add 2 more doctors to city clinic, and a 4th physician by the fall. Mayor Doug Kobayashi says there have been many applications but the city is avoiding candidates from other parts of BC and is enthused by BC's new US recruitment plans. [Canadian Press]

🗳 Learn about local candidates’ resumes and political priorities at our election hub. Candidate Q&A responses coming on Thursday.

🔎 Missing: Aaron, 48. Last seen April 11, according to West Shore RCMP. [Info]

📨 Vote by mail: Today is the last day to register—online or via phone—for a vote-by-mail ballot. Registration must be done before 6pm. [Info]

✍🏽 The Victoria Foundation is celebrating 20 years of the Victoria’s Vital Signs program this year. Take part in the region’s annual checkup and enter the draw to win a $100 gift card to Country Grocer. Read the full article here.*

🎳 Rezoning in Sooke would allow for a bowling alley: A Syrian family has a plan, inspired by Langford Lanes, to rezone a residential property on West Coast Road and later pursue a development permit. The public hearing on it is set for Monday. [Goldstream Gazette]

🗣 Contention in Cowichan–Malahat–Langford: Conservative Jeff Kibble is being criticized by the other candidates for not attending all-party forums and instead doing his own events with museum operator Jim Shockey, who has ties with Donald Trump Jr. [Times Colonist]

🌏 Free BC Transit rides today for Earth Day.

🐟 Streams & societies silent migration online auction fundraiser is on until Sunday. Bid on marine adventures, Alaska cruises, mushroom tours, cutting boards, watercolours, and more. [Peninsula Streams & Shorelines]

🏠 Housing in Victoria was graded a D minus last year. Do you agree in 2025? Take Victoria's 2025 Vital Signs survey for a chance to win a $100 Country Grocer gift card!*

*Sponsored Listing

Earth Day Events this week

👟 Earth Day Ocean Art Walk & pollinators tour in Metchosin today. Begins 11am at Metchosin Arts & Culture Centre, then gets to Sea Buffalo Farm at noon and continues to Witty's. Free & all ages.

♻️ Upcycled: Small changes, big impact runs today to Sat. Showcases upcycled fashion, fibre arts, home décor, and 2D and 3D works of art that tell a story. Begins 10am daily.

🌍 Sooke Earth Day: Local businesses, organizations, exhibits, and entertainment this Sat. on the greenspace beside Fire Station One. [District]

🌱 Porcher Park Opening Celebration: Langford council and Urban Food Resilience host a grand opening featuring new garden plots, light refreshments, free seeds, and a ceremonial tree planting. 11am today.

🗑 Earth Day Litter Clean: Join Colwood's PICK (Promoting Involvement for Community Kleanup) to clear litter along Sooke Road. Meetup is at the Aldeane intersection. 1-3pm today. [Info]

Read the full event listings for more Earth Week events in Esquimalt, Victoria, and around the region.

Community Events

🎨 Echoes & Emblems student art show: Goldfinch Arts Centre (170 Goldfinch) in Colwood showcases work by Ecole Royal Bay Secondary students in Grades 9-12. Until May 4.

🥳 Sookarama: A family-friendly event with 90 exhibitors presented by the District of Sooke and Sooke Lions Club. April 26 at SEAPARC. [Info]

🤖 Expert discussion on AI & the future at Royal Roads with author and evolutionary biologist Dan Riskin on May 3. [Event info]

🏓 1st-ever Sooke Paddle Battle pickleball tournament is May 3-4.

🟩 Juan de Fuca Lawn Bowls Club hosts open houses this Sat. next Weds., & the first Sun. in May. [Info]

Council Meetings

View Royal: No more council meetings scheduled this month.

Colwood: Today will have meetings of environment, active transportation, and infrastructure committees. [Calendar]

Highlands: Regular council meeting today. [Calendar]

Sooke: Committee of the Whole meets today. [Schedule]

Langford: Council meeting today. [Calendar]

Metchosin: No meetings until next Monday.

What’s Offshore?

No current vessels anchored but this weekend featured a passing appearance near Trial Island by the Zhen Hua 23, a heavy lift ship. Reader Dale Churchill snapped the photo above, and wrote that the vessel is carrying large container cranes being delivered to Delta Port where they will be used to load container ships.

In other local vessel news:

Class action over mold on CFB Esquimalt warship dismissed 
Plaintiff Félix Dunn says he discovered black mold while stationed aboard HMCS Vancouver in 2016, and experienced a range of symptoms both at that time and long-term. He argued the Forces were negligent about workplace safety. But the court determined that he didn't file grievances while an active member, and had already been compensated with disability benefits from Veterans Affairs. [CTV]

Westshore Snaps

Two gorgeous rabbits for Easter weekend. Photos from Gary Woodburn.

“Beau the dog earned this view of Finlayson Arm from Gowland Todd Park” – Ryan Cuthbert, Highlands

The trumpeter swan of Esquimalt Lagoon, which recently died. [Facebook]

That’s it!

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