Good morning! 

Big news for outdoor enthusiasts as the CRD announced that they would be reopening some of the trails and parks that were affected by the Old Man Lake fire. With the Sooke fire still active, read about what has reopened, and more, in today’s edition of the newsletter.

— Emma

ENVIRONMENT

CRD reopens trails while Sooke wildfire remains active

The Capital Regional District (CRD) announced on Thursday that it would be officially reopening trails and parks in the area after closures took place in July due to the Old Man Lake fire. Visitors will now be able to use trails within the Sea to Sea Regional Park, Sooke Potholes Regional Park, and Galloping Goose Regional Trail as of Aug. 15. The District of Sooke’s Potholes Gateway has also reopened along with BC Parks in the area. 

The areas were closed on July 22 after a suspected human-caused wildfire was discovered and burned out of control for about a week, reaching a peak of 230 hectares. Officials announced on Aug. 7 that the fire was considered under control, but is still currently active. 

“It is important to note that although the status of the Old Man Lake Fire is listed as ‘under control’ it is still active,” said the CRD in a press release. “Crews from the CRD continue to work in collaboration with the BC Wildfire Service to closely monitor the fire and will do so well into the fall months.” 

Until more progress is made, the CRD is also keeping certain trails and portions of the park closed, and will update the public on those reopenings. Guests can expect closures at the Sea to Sea Regional Park north of Peden Lake Trail and Empress Mountain Trail, the Sooke Potholes Regional Park north of parking lot 2, the Galloping Goose Regional Trail north of the Peden Lake Trail access, the Spring Salmon Place (KWL-UCHUN) Campground, and Kapoor Regional Park. 

With the continuous dry and hot weather, the CRD is reminding visitors to help protect the area and reduce wildfire risk when visiting. “This means packing out any trash, including glass, always staying on sanctioned trails, and most of all never smoking or having campfires in parks,” the CRD said in a news release.

HOUSING

BC’s housing crunch means redefining affordable and middle income

As Westshore municipalities grow, the gap between what the market considers affordable and actually affordable housing—based on average income—is growing. It may be time to reassess what affordability really means for buyers and renters in the region.

The BC Housing definition of affordable housing is when costs do not exceed 30% of a person’s gross income. With a median income of $66,000, this implies housing should cost around $1,650 per month. However, average rents and mortgage payments in the Westshore far exceed these figures, indicating a significant mismatch between income and housing costs. 

As of July 2024, the  median rent for all bedroom counts and property types in Langford is $2.4K, 24% higher than the national average. The City of Langford failed to find enough eligible applicants for its Attainable Home Ownership program, citing that they had too many below income and too many above income eligibility thresholds.

In British Columbia, addressing the housing crisis involves revisiting what constitutes "affordable" and "middle income." Recent legislation, including Bills 43, 46, 47, and Bill 16, all aim to increase housing supply by streamlining development processes and setting municipal targets. 

Under the authority of the Housing Supply Act, municipalities in the CRD have been ordered to meet specific housing targets. On July 30, the province announced a new target of 585 new homes over five years for View Royal.   

The Housing Supply Act is not the only measure taken by the provincial government to address the crisis. The NDP also created the former Housing Hub program, intended to create affordable rental and ownership options, which was criticized for failing to meet real affordability needs. The recent launch of the B.C. Builds program, with $2 billion in funding to promote rental housing on non-profit and community lands, promises 20% of units will be below market. But given current market rates the percentage feels inadequate to meet current needs. 

While any increase in below-market units is a positive step, the broader issue remains that housing has become highly commodified and financialized, making true affordability elusive. Housing advocacy groups argue that a more honest reassessment of what "middle income" and "affordable" mean is needed to better address the housing needs of a broader range of residents.

Read Sidney Coles’ full story on how the province’s policies target a disappearing middle class and are not helping with actual affordable housing.

Around the 'Shore

📚 New middle school to be placed near Costco: The Sooke School District announced that the province has secured a 7.2-acre site at 2460 Gateway Rd. to place a new middle school in the north of Langford. The new land is located across from a future secondary school site, purchased in 2019, and is part of the district’s plan to deal with increasing families and students. 

⚠️ Metchosin traffic advisory: Commuters in Metchosin will have to plan out their routes to avoid traffic after the district announced crews would be doing trench work on Rocky Point Road from Lombard Drive to Windover Terrace. Traffic is anticipated from Aug. 19 to 27, with single lane alternating traffic around the immediate work site going from 7am to 5pm on workdays. 

🦦 Sea otter joins paddleboarders near Sooke: Joanie Paquin and her sister were joined by an unexpected furry visitor when paddling in the water near Sooke after a sea otter made its way onto her paddleboard and decided to hang out. The otter stayed on Paquin’s board as she paddled to shore, and jumped off into the water afterwards. Paquin stresses she didn’t go to the otter, and for people to take extra care not to touch wildlife during encounters like this. [CHEK]

Community Events

🎉 Community fun day: Head to the Happy Valley School field this Aug. 21 for the City of Langford’s community fun day. Going from 2 to 7pm,  attendees will enjoy a day of fun activities, including an inflatable obstacle course, face painting, hot dogs, music, games, and more. The community will also have the opportunity to engage with city staff and provide ideas around community planning initiatives.

🎨 Out of the Mist and into the Light: From Aug 21. to Sept. 20, check out the Arts and Culture Colwood Society’s exhibit Out of the Mist and into the Light. With the gallery open Wednesday to Friday from 10am to 3pm and Saturday 12pm to 4pm, check out how co-curators Deborah Czernecky and Kathleen Schmalz have gathered local artists to showcase works representing the area between Colwood and Port Renfrew. The exhibit’s official opening will take place Aug. 22. 

🎈 Heritage Row block party: Enjoy an evening of community fun this Aug. 21 with the Heritage Row summer block party. Held at 2045 Otter Point Rd. from 4 to 7pm, guests can check out live music, face painting, food vendors, ice cream sandwiches, sales, and more.

What’s Offshore?

No ships today!

Westshore Snaps

Mars bomber and snowbirds. —Gary Woodburn, Colwood 

That’s it!

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