Good morning!

We had a few readers email in asking what's going on with the Musky that's offshore. In our What's Offshore section, we highlight any bulk carrier ships that are making a pit stop in the waters off the coast of the Westshore on their way to a local port. The Musky was scheduled to arrive in Vancouver on Dec. 30, but based on our data, it's still sitting off our coast waiting to be called into port. Do you have a view of the water from your home? Send us a photo of the Musky if you can spot it!

— Emma

HEALTH

Colwood council takes on primary-care crisis

Colwood is weighing the options in opening a new non-profit medical centre after continuous difficulty with staffing, available facilities, and increasing demand. Colwood council met on Monday to discuss using a fully-constructed centre in Royal Bay known as Pure Medical Clinic. With unanimous approval, council is now working towards opening the centre as a walk-in clinic, as councillors and residents of Colwood are eager to see change to their medical access. 

“Can you imagine a community where every man, woman, and child have a family doctor? Can you imagine a community that has most primary health-care services within a 10-km radius of where you live? Can you imagine not having to wait hours at a walk-in clinic to see a doctor?” Mayor Doug Kobayashi asked councillors at the Jan. 22 meeting. “I need you to imagine the possibilities, this is the vision of trying to establish a medical health clinic in Colwood; this is the end goal.”  

Colwood currently has no family practices in the area after the walk-in clinic at the Colwood Medical Treatment Centre announced its closure in April of 2022. Despite the clinic announcing a soft-opening on Dec. 15 and a full-reopening in the spring, the clinic is still lacking doctors and the website shows that the clinic is still labeled as permanently closed. A similar issue came up when councillors discussed the Royal Bay facility, as the major task holding the project back is hiring medical professionals. 

Many members of the council could sympathize with the extreme importance of the issue; councillor Ian Ward recently had a “major internal organ issue” that required emergency surgery, but had to sit on a lawn chair outside the Westshore Urgent Primary Care Centre for two hours before being seen. Councillor Cynthia Day similarly said that when she broke her ankle last spring and her husband was also dealing with health issues, it took days to be seen for care. Mayor Kobayashi himself stated that he knew as well as anyone the need for doctors after being unable to access the proper care for heart failure and the development of diabetes. 

“Here we are with 22,000 [citizens] and we have zero family doctors,” said Kobayashi. “Zero.” 

One of the main takeaways from the meeting was attracting and incentivizing workers to keep the clinic running. Councillors discussed how the clinic would run including potentially taking over tasks like administering payroll and human resource duties. Kobayashi said the main key to its success is retaining doctors long-term with benefits including pensions. 

“I am convinced that we need to do something in this space,” said councillor Dean Jantzen. “It’s possible in such a fashion that it makes economic sense, we all know someone that needs a doctor and we’ve heard that from the community.” 

Council has tasked staff to gather information so the group can explore their participation in the operations of the clinic; the funding would come from a corporate contingency budget. Hoping to create change, council is hoping this initiative will tackle the primary care crisis head-on.

RECREATION

New indoor pickleball ‘hub’ to open in March

Pickleballers will have a permanent, indoor place to play on the Westshore beginning in March.

A group, that includes two area sports equipment businesses, has secured an industrial space—with 27-foot ceilings—to build six private indoor courts in Langford under the name the Victoria Pickleball Centre (VPC).

“VPC is unbelievably excited to offer a private pickleball centre to Victoria,” Brittany Buna, one of the partners and the group’s spokesperson, tells Capital Daily.

The group has signed a five-year lease, with option, on warehouse space at 2950 Westshore Parkway. A recent real estate ad (now deleted) suggests the space was priced at $20/square foot, while parts of the complex can be seen in this 2023 real estate video.

Plans for the VPC include a pro shop with rental equipment, and food and beverage service. Buna said the VPC will offer group and private lessons, and host tournaments and events.

“We want this to be the hub of all things pickleball,” Buna said.

With a shortage of indoor pickleball facilities around Greater Victoria, Buna expects that many people will travel to use the new courts as the sport continues to grow in popularity. 

Head to Capital Daily to read more about the increasing demand for pickleball.

Around the 'Shore

☀️ Proposed Sooke solar farm expected to power 20,000 homes: Recurrent Energy, a Texas-based company, has proposed to construct a 235-hectare solar farm near Sooke. The plan, which would aid in the current demand for green energy, proposes the construction of a renewable solar power generation plant situated 40 kilometres northwest of Sooke and would power around 20,000 homes in the area. [Vancouver Island Free Daily] 

🍽️ Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria kicks off its 20th anniversary with its annual Gala Launch. Enjoy bites and bevvy’s from over 50 Victoria eateries, as well as live music, circus performances, and more! You don’t want to miss this one – get your tickets!*

🛍️ Shoplifting rates increase in the Westshore: 27 people were arrested for shoplifting by West Shore RCMP Crime Reduction Unit over a six-week period from November to end of December 2023; police investigated 514 reports of shoplifting under $5,000 from Jan. 2023 to Dec. 2023, compared to 400 for the same time period last year, marking a 29% increase in shoplifting.

🍜 Nominate your favourite local restaurants in the Tasting Victoria Restaurant Awards. It’s your last week to enter your nominations in any of the 18 categories here!*

🔥 District of Sooke takes action after park tent fire: Park safety for all park users has become a priority for the District of Sooke after a recent fire broke out in an unoccupied tent in Ed Macgregor Park on Jan. 20.  Sooke Fire Rescue was able to extinguish the fire, and the district started a comprehensive cleanup in the park on Jan. 22. The district said a plan is in place for more action, including an added presence of bylaw staff and outreach workers to help people without homes who need aid. [Times Colonist]

*Sponsored Listing

Community Events

🎲 Games night: Head to the EMCS library for a free games night this Jan. 25 from 6:30-8:30pm. With over 65 board games to choose from and some snacks to enjoy while you play, invite anyone you want to compete in some friendly competition. 

🧶 Yarn swap: Looking for some new budget and eco-friendly crafting tools? Zero Waste Sooke is hosting a yarn swap event at the Sooke Library this Jan. 28 from 11am-1pm. Bring in donations of good condition yarn, knitting and crochet patterns, or tools, and swap them for other supplies you may need while chatting with fellow knitting enthusiasts; donations are welcome, but not mandatory to participate.  

🎸 The Prowl live music: Enjoy an evening of live music at Darcy’s Pub this Jan. 26 from 10pm-2am as local Victoria band the Prowl takes to the stage. The Prowl is well-loved and plays music ranging from 2000s pop hits, modern alternative rock, and a touch of classic soul and R&B thrown into the mix, so you won’t want to miss out on this free event.

What’s Offshore?

🚢 The Musky is a bulk carrier built in 2014, sailing under the flag of Marshall Islands. It is coming from 🇵🇪 Matarani, Peru ➡ 🇨🇦 Vancouver and was scheduled to arrive Dec. 30, 2023.

Westshore Snaps

Royal Roads University snowy castle. —Ali Blythe, Quadra Village

That’s it!

If you found something useful, consider forwarding this newsletter to another Westshore local.

And before you go, let us know: