Good morning!

The province is experiencing a heat wave, so locals need to stay safe and aware. With a number of cooling stations around the Westshore, prepare for the hot weather and follow the province’s warnings.

— Emma

NEWS

Belmont Market implements new parking rules, frustrating locals

For years, Belmont Market has allowed locals to park freely and access the various businesses. Now, locals have become frustrated after parking company Indigo placed signs without warning that it would begin ticketing cars parked for over three hours in the market’s lot. Mary Howley is a resident at Crossing in Belmont, one of the apartment complexes within the area. Howley said that with just over 180 underground parking spots available for 180 units, many residents have turned to parking in the lot overnight; something that they can no longer do with the new rules in place.

“Most people have two cars because you need two people or maybe even more to pay for the rent,” said Howley. “There's a bunch of people who park outside because there's not enough underground parking, but now we can’t do that.”

Crombie REIT is the company responsible for the commercial parking lot around the building, and started enforcing the ticketing and towing through its third-party parking management, Indigo, on Aug. 15. Howley said there was no warning or communication, and that many residents woke up to a sign with new parking rules.

“They put up signs last week without any notice to the tenants in the apartment building, and I contacted Killam REIT, who is the landlord of the apartment buildings, and they had not been informed either,” said Howley. “They had no pre-warning that these signs were going up and we as tenants didn't have any notification that the fines were going up.”

Customers will have three hours to use the parking lot and do their shopping before receiving a ticket. When Howley inquired with Killam Apartment REIT if there could be any negotiation to add a monthly parking fee for residents, Howley said she was turned away.

“They informed me that they were trying to contact Crombie to come up with a solution so that the tenants can either buy time to park overnight or something,” said Howley. “I got an email back [on Aug. 15] from Killam saying [my husband] will be ticketed for parking outside, and the City of Langford said they can’t help because it's not on community land.”

Both Langford and Colwood have been struggling with private property ownership, with Bear Mountain adding fees for using its trails and Colwood Corners enforcing paid parking. With this new parking enforcement at Belmont Market, Howley, among many other local residents, is left feeling frustrated by the decisions and the lack of communication.

“They need to communicate that ‘this is an issue and this is what we're trying to do to rectify the issue’,” said Howley. “You just don't start implementing a change if nobody's been notified or communicated [with] or even given options.”

The Westshore reached out to Crombie REIT for comment, but has not heard back.

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NEWS

Heat wave starts to cool off

The province warned Greater Victoria would experience a heat wave starting last weekend, but temperatures are now starting to cool.

With temperatures predicted to reach 29 to 32 degrees, the forecast states things will start to cool off Thursday evening. But BC’s notice flags that prolonged heat exposure could cause heat-related illness in older adults, children, and people with a range of health conditions, highlighting the importance of staying cool not only during the heat wave, but for the rest of the summer.

BC offers a range of cooling stations across the province, and the Westshore has a map of local spots for those around the community to safely cool off.

The province has put in a number of measures to provide safety and education surrounding heat exposure, but still warns locals to take precautions. Just this week BC Hydro announced that it had broken energy records during the heat wave.

The heat is also exacerbating the season-long drought and wildfire-danger conditions the Island has been under, which were only recently lessened by BC’s early August rains. The entire Island remains at Level 5 drought risk, the highest tier. The wildfire danger rating has also risen since earlier this week, with Greater Victoria in high to extreme danger.

Around the 'Shore

🥇 Teenagers save young girl in the Highlands: West Shore RCMP is thanking Gabe Kingston and Kyle Hadley for helping reunite a little girl with her family. The two teenagers heard crying in the woods, and found the little girl who had been separated from her grandmother on the trail. RCMP issued the two boys a “certificate of appreciation.”

🗳️ Sooke mayor confirmed to run as the NDP candidate for the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke federal riding: Maja Tait has stepped forward as the NDP’s candidate for the federal election after MP Randall Garrison retired in April. The election is meant to take place in October 2025, but it is possible it will be called earlier. [Victoria Buzz]

🏥 Nurse imposter charged for alleged offences in View Royal: Brigitte Cleroux has been charged with impersonation, fraud over $5,000, and assault in connection with her brief employment at a View Royal surgery clinic in fall 2020. Cleroux has previously been convicted of impersonating a nurse and is currently facing 17 charges in Vancouver connected to her employment at BC Women’s Hospital. [CBC]

🍁 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

Community Events

🧘 Healing Hubs 2 Fundraiser: On Aug. 19, join the Borderline Personality Disorder Society of BC in raising funds towards its dialectical behaviour therapy groups. With meditation, acupuncture, and even card readings, tickets are $33 for the 1 to 4pm event on Metchosin Road.

🧼 Soap Making and Felting Workshop: Looking to get your crafting on? Head to the Langford Station on Aug. 17 for a creative day filled with soap making and felting from 5 to 7pm, and bring home a beautiful and useful creation.

🏉 2023 Rugby Americas North Sevens: The Rugby Americas North Sevens is coming to Starlight Stadium this Aug. 19 and 20, with both Canada’s men and women competing for a spot in the 2024 Olympics. Cheer on the players and watch a match, as the tournament also acts as a qualifier for the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series 2024.

What’s Offshore?

No ships today!

Westshore Snaps

Sunset in East Sooke. —Carolyn Hahn, Sooke

That’s it!

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