Hello there!

As promised, we have another photo contest for you with more tickets to Hatley Castle. Details at the bottom of the newsletter.

We're also extending our holiday letters-to-council program, in which you can send in your wish for what you want for your local municipality in the new year. We will get them to the relevant mayor (or council member, if you specify one) and seek a response to bring back to you.

To submit, answer the poll below.

Read on for today's news, including the latest on an MP leaving, holiday trucks arriving, and a few big deadlines looming for local municipalities.

— Cam

NEWS

Westshore MP Randall Garrison retires after 14 years

The Member of Parliament for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke is stepping down after 14 years, he announced in the House of Commons this week. The NDP MP had already announced in early 2023 that he would not run again, but suggested later that year that he might resign early if an early election looked unlikely. Garrison, aged 73, now says that he has a family doctor again after waiting for 4 years, and that he is following that doctor’s advice by prioritizing his health and retiring. 

His departure will take effect in January, per a release, presumably allowing it to fall within the 9-month window before a fixed election in which a byelection does not need to be held. His district office said that constituent services will continue uninterrupted.  

Emotional farewell speech in House of Commons

Granted extra time for a final address, Garrison warned colleagues that he was “a crier” but joked that the longer speech may save him having to write a book someday. He wondered aloud at his journey, becoming choked up as he said he was still “astonished” that “a queer kid from a farm in Nebraska and from a working-class family riven by domestic violence and child abuse” went on to become an MP.

He thanked his supporters; his husband; and the influences of former NDP founder Tommy Douglas, who got him to join the party, and former leader Jack Layton, who convinced him to run despite Garrison’s misgivings about whether the riding would accept an openly gay representative. 

Garrison cited pride in work he did as an MP to protect Southern Resident orcas, fund Esquimalt harbour cleanup, ban conversion therapy, and ban discrimination over gender identity under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Watch his speech, and the tribute speeches that others made for him from across party lines, at CPAC.

Garrison has held riding for NDP since its creation

He won re-election comfortably in 2015, 2019, and 2021—after narrowly winning its predecessor Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca in the 2011 election, on his third try. The current riding includes Esquimalt, Sooke, Metchosin, View Royal, Colwood, Esquimalt First Nation, parts of Saanich municipality and Songhees FN, and more. 

He was also a Camosun prof for several decades and an Esquimalt councillor from 2008 to 2011.

Sooke mayor is NDP’s new candidate

Maja Tait was acclaimed by the party in August 2023. She will take a leave to campaign when an election is set, and has said she does not intend to run for mayor again in 2026 regardless of the result—saying Sooke needs “fresh ideas with fresh people.”

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NEWS

Truck Light Parade returns to Westshore this Saturday evening

The annual 80-truck convoy—one of the classic local signs of the holidays and winter—returns this Saturday. You can drop off food donations over the next 3 days; find locations at the IEOA's event page.

The convoy starts at 5pm at Ogden Point, moving along the water to Oak Bay for 6pm before crossing through Victoria and through View Royal, Colwood, and Langford. It ends at Ryder Hesjedal Way at 8pm. 

All of the lights and decorations displayed on the trucks are bought and constructed by the drivers and their families, which can run them thousands of dollars for the more extravagant displays. Pulling it off in time is also no small feat for drivers who are usually using their trucks for work right up until Friday before having to get them fully parade-ready on Saturday.

Read the full profile of the drivers here. 

Around the 'Shore

🏊‍♂️ Langford defers Y decision to special council meeting in 2 weeks: The Westhills YW/YMCA has lost $10M in operating costs since it opened in 2016 and drove a 2.5% tax increase last year. Langford, responsible for any cost overruns, can buy the facility for $35M—a deal it says will spark 1.75% tax increases from 2025 to 2028 but will save taxpayers $15M over the next 17 years. After public input during Mon.’s council meeting, council will now decide on Dec. 16—one day before the sale offer expires. Online public input due by Sunday. [City info]

🏗 BC will intervene in Sooke density decision: Housing minister Ravi Kahlon says the district is the only one to vote down (in this case via a 3-3 tie) BC's new upzoning requirements. Sooke has cited a lack of traffic infrastructure and requested an extension on that basis. But Kahlon says Sooke never submitted an engineering report to prove this, and is relying on “just a perception that some of the councillors have,” while the province has upgraded Hwy 14. [Times Colonist]

🚨 Saanich man with dementia found dead in Langford after week-long search: Christian Dube, 64, went missing from Broadmead Lodge on Nov. 23, slipping by two locked doors and the front reception in his slippers. He was found dead on Nov. 30 in an unused section of a Langford trailer park, apparently due to a medical issue. BC Coroners Service will investigate. [CHEK]

SPONSORED BY CFAX SANTAS ANONYMOUS

You can be Santa for a local child

2,311 children are registered and waiting for presents this Christmas.

There are many ways to give:

• Donate a toy on the Virtual Tree of Wishes

• Give online

• Call us at 778-561-1070

To avoid delay with the mail strike – call us with your pledge and we will send you a gentle reminder when postal services resume.

Community Events

🎅 Sooke Santa Parade on Sunday, with a new route and a celebration of the District's 25th anniversary. Festivities start 4pm / parade starts 5pm.

🌟 Colwood Christmas Light Up at city hall on Thursday. Hot chocolate & hot dogs grilled by municipal councillors and staff. This year’s event will also have elementary school choir performances. 6-8pm.

🎄 Esquimalt Holiday Wonderland & Christmas Tree Village is ongoing at the Rec Centre atrium and Archie Browning Sports Centre. 

🚗 CHEK Drive-Thru toy drive: West Shore Parks & Rec tomorrow, 5-7pm.

🏒 Victoria Grizzlies face off against Prince George. 7pm start. Tickets.

🖼 Gifts & Wishes Holiday Showcase. Now to Sat. See and shop original work from local artists and artisans at the Arts & Culture Colwood Society near Esquimalt Lagoon.

🥞 Pancake Breakfast with Santa & elves: $15 for pancakes, bacon, sausages, and fruit, with proceeds to the Goldstream Food Bank. 9am on Sat. at Romeo’s in Westshore Town Centre. Limited spots.

🧶 Felting Santas workshop at Sooke Yarn & Fibre on Sat.

❄️ Langford Station Winter Festival: Musical performances, food trucks, a holiday market, & fun activities for all ages. Plus performances from PACE Musical Theatre, Ablaze Choir, Pacific Edge Chorus, a balloon artist, & more. Sat. Dec. 7 / 3-7pm. Plus a holiday market, music, food, and tree lighting at Veterans Memorial Park. 5-8pm.

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

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

🎶 Cool Nights, Warm Hearts: Choral Evolution concerts Fri. & Sat. in Sooke + Sun. in Colwood.  

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

🥫 10,000 Tonight food bank donation drive continues. After Colwood/ Royal Bay yesterday, Sooke’s Ed Milne students now take over collecting food and money for the food bank. Donation opportunities at the Sooke Santa Parade (this Sunday), some local stores (all next week), and door-to-door (next Friday).

💐 Public memorial service for John Horgan will be Dec. 15 at the Q Centre. Event entry details coming soon.

What’s Offshore?

⚓ Returning today: HMCS Vancouver, after a 6-month deployment.

🚢🚢 Anchored just off the coast of Colwood: HL Taean (built 2016, Panama flag, departed from Taean-gun in Korea), KSL Sakura (built 2015, Hong Kong flag, departed Yeosu in Korea for Roberts Bank near Tsawwassen terminal).

🚢 Moving on: George Washington BR (built 2006, Panama flag, departed Tacoma for Vancouver)

🚢🚢 Anchored further out: Ocean Nisa (Crude oil tanker, built 2022, Marshall Islands flag, departed Port Angeles for Constance Bank), GSL Grania (Container ship, built 2004, Liberia flag, departed Tacoma for English Bay).

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.

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Westshore Snaps

Left: “The Corazon has seen better days” – Ron Myers, Colwood. Taken near Albert Head Lagoon Park

Right: Whiffin Spit, from Francis & Avril

Photo contest:

There are two more tickets to visit “Cozy up at the Castle” (Hatley Castle's winter session), and this time we're giving them away separately. Two winners will each get one free entry, to use on any available date and time (not just this weekend).

To enter, send in your photos that capture the essence of fall in the Westshore or winter in the Westshore. We'll feature the best ones from this and last week, and last week's entries will also be eligible for the new tickets.

To submit, reply to this email or email [email protected].

That’s it!

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