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Hello there!

At this point, the seasons are clearly shifting as we move from the colourful fall into what isn't looking like a white winter but is feeling like winter all the same.

Today we have a roundup of some of your photos of that now-fading falltime scenery, but also a timely warning as we head into the holiday season. Impaired driving has risen this year in the region, according to police stats, and is being monitored on local roads this month—including this coming weekend.

— Cam

NEWS

Your photos of the Westshore in fall

The leaves have nearly all fallen, even in the best places to see them. Overnight lows are only slightly above 0C, and light barely lasts past 4pm. As mid-December arrives, it's beginning to feel a lot like winter rather than fall.

This month we've asked you to send us your photos that capture both seasons. Today we have a roundup of some of those that best embodied fall in the region, from fiery red and orange trees to moody mornings in fog and grey.

We've had a few contest winners, but Richard Steward is the one featured above for his vibrant shots of fall scenes. Everyone in today's roundup will get an extra entry into the next photo contest, which we plan to run next week.

See more of the seasonal photos in the full story here.

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NEWS

Westshore on pace for rise in impaired driving this year

Saanich police recently announced that this year has set a new record for Immediate Roadside Prohibitions of impaired drivers, with 580. By September, they had surpassed the total for all of 2023. 

For West Shore RCMP, the 2024 numbers are only available up to August: 382 impaired driving investigations. But that’s on pace to easily surpass the 432 in 2023, and the Jan. through March numbers had already been showing a 17% increase. 

It was in March that West Shore RCMP reported that an impaired driver of a Dodge Ram had rammed into the View Royal “Report Impaired Drivers” sidewalk sign, per witnesses, knocking off its licence plate [see above].

Recent months have also seen several high-profile crashes due to suspected impairment. On Oct. 11, a driver was arrested in Langford for failing to remain at the Peninsula Co-op gas station, where paramedics attended an injured pedestrian who witnesses say the driver slowly drove into after being confronted about drinking and driving. In Aug., a crash into the fence along Selwyn Road prompted a 90-day licence suspension.

A spokesperson for the RCMP told The Westshore on Tuesday that it is planning a local counterattack blitz over this coming weekend, but—not surprisingly—did not say where officers will be set up or for how long. 

Read more about impaired driving in Greater Victoria at Capital Daily.

Around the 'Shore

💰 Langford will decide in Monday meeting whether to buy Westhills Y building, which has lost $10M in operating costs since 2016 and drove a 2.5% tax increase last year. Langford, responsible for any cost overruns, says that buying it for $35M will spark 1.75% tax increases from 2025 to 2028 but ultimately save taxpayers $15M over the next 17 years. The offer expires on Tuesday.

🏥 Island Health touts Westshore UPCC’s minivan paramedics: These LARUs (Link & Referral Units) drive to 911 callers whose conditions aren’t urgent, saving ambulances for more dire crises. LARU paramedics assess the person on-site and then plan care options with them, such as going to the nearest UPCC together or making an appointment for later. [Details]

⚕️ View Royal nurse impersonator apologizes on last day of sentencing: Brigitte Cleroux treated—under false pretenses—899 patients in Metro Vancouver and at the View Royal Surgical Centre. Cleroux, 49, has pleaded guilty to 11 counts, including fraud and impersonation. She has served half of a 7-year sentence for similar crimes in Ontario; BC’s Crown wants 8 more for crimes here. [CTV]

🔎 Missing Colwood girl, 15, has been found.

🐻 Odds narrowing for orphaned Sooke bears, expert says. Ellie Lamb argues that other wild animals, cars, cold, and lack of food will likely kill the cubs—particularly because they likely didn’t learn winter skills from their mother before she was hit by a car. [Times Colonist]

🎧 We have amazing people in our community and we want you to hear their stories. The Vital Victoria Podcast spotlights positive changemakers in Victoria. Listen today!*

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Community Events

💐 Public memorial service for John Horgan will be this Sunday at the Q Centre. Tickets online only.

🧱 A Lego exhibit inspired by Langford during the holidays is now on display at Westshore Town Centre until Dec. 22. Hours: Mon.-Wed. 1-6 pm. Thurs.-Fri. 3-8pm. Sunday 12-5pm.

🎁 Yuletide Market at Bilston Creek Farm on Fri. / Sat. / Sun. 90+ local businesses showcasing their products, food vendors, live music, and more.

🏰 Hatley Castle is opening up to the public just a few times this winter, including this weekend. You can tour the museum, warm up by the fire, go up the grand staircase (which isn't open in the summer), take your holiday photos.

🛍 Find more Greater Victoria winter markets in this roundup from Tasting Victoria.

🌲 More free holiday events put on throughout this month by Westshore municipalities. [Our roundup]

🥫 10,000 Tonight food bank donation drive continues as Sooke’s Ed Milne students collect food and money for the food bank door-to-door tomorrow.

🧊 Live professional ice carving at Langford Station on Sat. Dec. 14 & 21, and at the Light Up.

🎅 Highlands Volunteer Fire’s charitable Santa Run. Firefighters will drive Santa around and collect food bank donations. This Sat. See the route and more info here.

🤶 Family Jolly Jingle Story Mingle in Esquimalt is on Sat. Dec. 14, 7-8pm.

🥫 View Royal annual Santa Drive on Sat. 9:30am-2pm. Fire trucks will tour View Royal neighbourhoods, collecting non-perishable food and cash donations for Goldstream Food Bank.

🍲 Christmas Community Dinner at Gordon United Church (935 Goldstream Ave.) is on Monday, Dec. 16 at 5:30pm. All are welcome.

What’s Offshore?

🚢 Just off the coast of Colwood: The HL Taean (built 2016, Panama flag, departed from Taean-gun in Korea) remains anchored.

🚢🚢 Further out: Panagia Thalassini (oil tanker, built 2017, Cyprus flag, departed Long Beach, arriving Vancouver), One Maestro (container ship, built 2010, Singapore flag, departed Tacoma).

As always, you can send us your photos of ships you see anchored off the Westshore and we will try to identify them and include them here.  

Westshore Snaps

Mother Nature at her finest. – Glenys Pumfrey, Colwood

Fern Grotto in Latoria Creek Park. — Ron Myers, Colwood

That’s it!

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