Good morning! 

Exciting news for soccer fans, as the City of Langford announced a fundraiser to auction off tickets to see Canada’s women’s national team take on Australia this Dec. 1 at Starlight Stadium. Supporting the Goldstream Food Bank, this game marks the second-last match for Christine Sinclair on the national team. Read all about it and more in today’s edition of the Westshore.

— Emma

NEWS

BC Legislators in the hot seat to respond to a firefighting crisis

Members of the British Columbia General Employees Union (BCGEU) went to the BC Legislature on Tuesday to meet with MLAs to lobby for transformational investments they hope will enhance public safety and make it easier for them to recruit and retain members.

The BCGEU represents roughly 1,800 firefighter professionals, including frontline wildland firefighting crews from every corner of the province. Its ranks also represent dispatch operators, administrative professionals and information officers that support their crucial work.   

According to the BC government, BC Wildfire Service members numbered close to 2,000 in February of last year but only 267 of those were year-round and full-time positions.

When asked what the key aim of their meetings were, BCGEU treasurer Paul Finch said, “We were trying to get across a message to both the governing and opposition parties, that the wildfire system is in crisis and that crisis is rooted in a lack of compensation.”

During last year’s wildfire season, which the province registers from April 1 to March 1 of each following year, 2,216 wildfires torched nearly 3M hectares making it the worst wildfire season Canada has seen. The Westshore was on high alert with level five droughts and extreme heat, facing fires at Thetis Lake and near Sooke at Tugwell Creek and King Creek—the majority of the wildfires happened in the Prince Rupert Fire Centre area, but the entire province suffered considerable losses in many areas. For a map of BC Unit Crew locations click here.

Climate change and a prolonged climate-related drought in BC don’t bode well for the coming wildfire season. The BCGEU is calling the current situation a serious crisis that the province needs to pay attention to before those wildfires start up again in the spring. 

The real crisis, said Finch, “is rooted in a lack of proper compensation and we can no longer recruit and retain the kind of qualified firefighters we need to have better outcomes in ever worsening fire systems.” So deep is the problem that they are often forced to take parts of the response system entirely offline just to do training.

Head to Capital Daily to read more about the BCGEU’s recommendations.

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COMMUNITY

An auction for the Goldstream Food Bank

Hoping to bring attention to the Goldstream Food Bank, Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson announced the city suite at Starlight Stadium would be up for auction throughout the week to get a chance to watch Canada’s women’s national soccer team face off against Australia. 

On Nov. 21, Goodmanson shared that the auction package holds 30 VIP tickets, and a $1,000 credit towards food and drinks for the Dec. 1 game. With all donations going in support of the Goldstream Food Bank, Goodmanson hopes the fundraiser will receive the attention it deserves. 

“Our hope is that the auction raises a significant amount of money for the Goldstream Food Bank, which needs the community’s support now more than ever,” said Goodmanson. “I encourage everyone to bid what they can to support the food bank during such a critical time; we know more people than ever are accessing the support of their local food bank, and this is one small way we can give back and rally around the love of sport for a good cause.”

According to Food Bank BC, usage of food banks has gone up 57% since 2019, while donations have had a significant decrease of 30%. The Goldstream Food Bank services a number of areas in the Greater Victoria area, including the municipalities of Colwood, East Sooke, Highlands, Langford, Metchosin, and View Royal; with such a wide area and need for access to these services, Goldstream Food Bank president Gayle Ireland says they are seeking any aid possible. 

“Every year, we see an increase in the number of people and families using the food bank, and this year, we expect to distribute around 700 Christmas hampers,” says Ireland. “We thank the City of Langford for organizing the auction.”

Being one of a two-game series that also marks the end of international soccer-star Christine Sinclair’s career with the women’s national team, the fundraiser is a chance to watch an explosive game between two strong teams. The Canada vs. Australia match was announced by Soccer Canada as a preparation for both teams for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games; Canada has already qualified. 

The auction was launched live on the Nov. 21 CFAX morning show, and is open for the community until Nov. 27 at 8pm. Separate donations can also be made directly on the Goldstream Food Bank’s website.

Around the 'Shore

🚙 Driver under the influence flipped car in Langford: Police are saying a driver who flipped his car is lucky to be alive after the incident on Nov. 18. The driver was over the legal limit of alcohol and crashed near the Bear Mountain Parkway and Echo Valley Drive, resulting in minor injuries—his car was impounded for 30 days and a suspension was placed on his driving for 90 days. [Vancouver Island Daily] 

🤝🏼 Help fight food insecurity with United Way Southern Vancouver Island this Giving Tuesday, November 28. Your donation will be matched, doubling the impact!*

🚓 Driver arrested after reckless operation of a vehicle causing a crash: West Shore RCMP arrested a 42-year-old male driver after crashing into a tractor trailer on the morning of Nov. 20. Facing around $1,200 in fines, the driver was charged with a number of offences, served a driving prohibition, and had his car impounded for seven days; the driver was released on an undertaking along with Motor Vehicle Act tickets and an upcoming court date in February. 

🤸‍♀️ Jump into learning! Refresh your perspective or dive into new directions. Gain valuable skills and career training with Continuing Studies at UVic.*

🦌 Community in Esquimalt helps deer stuck in park: A group of neighbours in Esquimalt helped rescue a young buck that got trapped at the Colville Park baseball field, keeping watch of the deer and posting to a group who notified CFB Esquimalt Military Police. Corp. Nathan Barrett was able to help direct the deer to the nearest open fence, leading the deer back to nature and reassuring all residents in the area. [CHEK]

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Community Events

🎁 Makers Wonderland Market: With over 80 rotating vendors, make sure to head to the Langford Business Centre for the four-week Makers Wonderland Market. Starting on Nov. 24 and going until Dec. 17, the market is open Fridays from 4-7pm, and throughout the weekend from 10am to 3pm for plenty of family friendly fun. 

🎄 Decoration Swap: Looking for new decorations this holiday season? Head to the Sooke Public Library this Nov. 26 for a decoration swap. From 11am to 1pm, bring your seasonal donations in good condition, and take home pieces that catch your eye for a budget and environmentally-friendly swap. 

❄️ Christmas Spirit Market: From Dec. 2-3, visit the Metchosin Community Hall for a Christmas market from 11am to 5pm both days. With a variety of holiday vendors and prize draws, admission is free for the public and any donations will go to the Sooke Food Bank.

What’s Offshore?

🚢 The Christine Oldendorff is a bulk carrier built in 2010 and is sailing under the flag of Liberia. It is sailing from Jintang, China 🇨🇳 ➡ Vancouver 🇨🇦 and was scheduled to arrive Nov. 7.

⛴ The Ototachibana is a bulk carrier built in 2012 and is sailing under the flag of Japan. It is sailing from Himeji, Japan 🇯🇵 ➡ Vancouver 🇨🇦 and was scheduled to arrive Nov. 7.

🛳 The Guo Yuan 88 is a bulk carrier built in 2020 and is sailing under the flag of China. It is sailing from Wakayama, Japan 🇯🇵 ➡ Vancouver 🇨🇦 and was scheduled to arrive Nov. 15.

Westshore Snaps

Nature’s octopus on Mt. Finlayson Trail. —Ron Myers, Colwood

That’s it!

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