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Good morning!

It’s early days, but Langford’s Pacific FC is tied atop the CPL standings after a 1-1 result against Cavalry FC this weekend. PFC currently has one win, one draw, and no losses. Let’s hope they keep the top spot as the season continues.

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DEVELOPMENT

Former Danbrook One building being evacuated again over continued structural issues

For the second time in four years, residents of what is now called RidgeView Place will have to find a new place to stay. 

Langford announced Monday that it has revoked the building’s occupancy rights over unresolved structural safety concerns flagged this month by BC’s engineering association and an engineering firm. Mayor Scott Goodmanson did not say whether the city was committed to spend emergency funding to house affected tenants, as it did four years ago when an occupancy permit was revoked for the same building in late 2019.

The structural concerns flagged at that time led to years of reviews that eventually saw both main engineers’ licences removed. The 11-storey building, designed by an engineer whose experience was in much shorter wood-frames, was not structurally reliable enough in the event of an earthquake. 

It is not clear which specific structural issues remain unresolved, but BC’s Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists is unconvinced that a comprehensive structural review was ever conducted during the remediation.

Read the full story to get the details of this latest development, and the history of the situation.

CITY 

Langford's renovated park features accessible amenities

The grand reopening of Cressida Park, now named Chief Al LeQuesne Park took place last week on Thursday, April 20. Langford mayor Scott Goodmanson was in attendance along with members of the LeQuesne family. 

The upgrades to the park include picnic tables, a walking path, a 20-metre cable zipline, a friendship swing, a wheelchair-accessible glider, and a loft with 20 interactive activities. The main fixture is the 12-foot tower with an accessible centre spiral belt that allows children in wheelchairs to transfer themselves onto the belt using upper body strength and up to the upper levels of the structure. 

The park was originally built in 1981, and has been renamed in honour of Chief Al LeQuesne who joined the Langford Volunteer Fire Department in 1952, became fire chief in 1967, and retired in 1996. 

“Dad would always take time out to show a child the fire truck or fire hall. He always made sure children with disabilities were never left out. The park the City has built reflects the values of our dad,” said his son, Dave LeQuesne at the reopening. 

The park is located at 2980 Humpback Rd., and is also accessible via the Trans Canada Trail.

Around the 'Shore

💲 A 4.9% tax hike for Highlands residents: The 2023-2027 financial plan was unanimously approved at the April 17 council meeting and included a 4.9% tax increase, which is higher than the 3% increase the district targeted and met for the past several years. [Goldstream Gazette]  

🍗 Seoul Chicken strives to bring Seoulful food to Langford! Their goal is to bridge cultures together through the love of fried chicken—Korean style. Order today!*

🐟 650,000 chinook fry to be released in Sooke Basin: The South Vancouver Island Anglers Associations will release the fry in two batches in May and June. The fry will be transported from the Nitinat River Hatchery in Port Renfrew. The first release is about a month away. [Vancouver Island Free Daily] 

🏡 An exciting new collection of modern homes offering the flexibility to fit your lifestyle. Start your dream in the Southlands at Royal Bay. Register Now.*

💸 Langford can’t use provincial fund to lower taxes: The city received $16.4 million from the province’s Growing Communities Fund announced on March 3. Surrey was able to use the money it received from the fund towards its 2023-2027 financial plan. However Langford does not have any eligible projects in order to do the same. [Goldstream Gazette]  

🪧 Protestors asked to remove signs from public property: A local group called Our Langford has put up signs around Langford that read, “Say no to a 12% tax increase.” The city’s bylaw department has asked the group to remove all signs from public areas, citing they had received complaints. [CTV News]

🍁 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

🌱 Sooke Broombusters Community Clean Up: Tackle some invasive plants on April 25 from 4-5:30pm at Phillips Road and Riverstone Drive. Volunteers will be meeting again on Saturday, April 29 from 11am to 12:30pm in front of Sooke Boxing Club. 

🧑‍🌾 Sooke Garden Club Meeting: The garden club is welcoming new members and plans to meet in person on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Join the club this Wednesday, April 26 at Rose of Lima Catholic Church from 7-9pm. This month’s topic is growing avocados and oranges in Canada. 

🎵 Choral Evolution: Take a musical journey through classic pop and folk music as Choral Evolution mines life’s moments and the intervals in between creating a rich soundtrack. The performance takes place this weekend on Saturday, April 29 at 7pm and Sunday, April 30 at 2pm at Holy Trinity Church, 1962 Murray Rd. Tickets are $25, and anyone under 16 is free.

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 CS Nan Jing is a bulk carrier built in 2021 and is sailing under the flag of Hong Kong. It is sailing from 🇨🇳 Huanghua, China ➡ 🇨🇦 Vancouver, Canada and was scheduled to arrive April 11.

🛳 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 Snaps

Last weekend Pendray House provided a spectacular venue for the 14th edition of the Art & Culture Colwood Society’s Bloom Art Show. This historic venue provided the perfect backdrop for local artists to display their floral interpretations as the spring colours burst into life within the community. 

The work displayed blended with the venue perfectly for a subtle mix of flora and architectural expressions. Pendray House, a stately home built in 1927, with its river rock foundation and frontal double switchback staircase construction, is as unique as its Ernest Batchelder tiled fireplace found in the dining room where the floral artwork was displayed. 

— Richard Steward, View Royal