Good morning! 

Chocolate lovers should get excited because Hot Chocolate Fest is less than a week away! I haven’t stopped thinking about all of the unique takes each business will have on the warm and delicious drink, so I wanted to share a few spots where you can try out some hot chocolate to get a head start on the event. You’ll find them lower down in the newsletter, but first up is some big news for a small fire department. East Sooke has been looking for better funding for their program, and the province could help. Read about that and more in today’s edition of the Westshore.

— Emma

NEWS

East Sooke Fire Department to benefit from provincial funding boost

Through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF), the provincial government is providing more than $6.2 million for 122 local projects, benefiting more than 200 volunteer and composite fire departments across B.C. The East Sooke Fire Department is one of the fire halls that will benefit from this funding.

“People in the Juan de Fuca know that their local fire departments will be there for them when they need it most,” said Ravi Parmar, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca, when they made the announcement. But does this mean that East Sooke’s department is getting enough funding?  

Fire brigades in small communities encounter unique operational challenges that stem from their reliance on dedicated volunteers and limited resources. East Sooke may just have the two smallest fire engines that could. And in addition to emergency response, the department provides training, education and community events to encourage resident volunteer participation.

One of the primary challenges for the ESFD is the availability of volunteers that it can draw from the community, as the area’s small population means a limited pool of individuals willing and able to commit their time to firefighting duties, leading to potential shortages during emergencies. That’s certainly been the case, said Fire Chief Nathan Pocock, “not only because everyone is feeling the time pinch, but because new training standards were recently issued that demand more training time from our volunteers.” It’s a matter of time, but it also comes down, for Pocock, to the question of how to meet evolving standards of practice as a small, volunteer outfit. 

Head to the Westshore to read more about the East Sooke Fire Department.

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RECREATION

Hot chocolate takes over Greater Victoria

Hot Chocolate Fest is making its way to Victoria on Jan 20 for 32 days of delicious specialty hot chocolates from participating businesses, and with funds going towards the BC SPCA Victoria Community Animal Centre, it's a fun event with a good cause. In the spirit of the festival, we wanted to highlight two of the Westshore businesses featured, as well as a few other cafes to grab hot chocolate throughout the event. So check out our list of five Westshore spots to know when you go for cocoa!

Floyd’s Diner: Featuring steamed milk and pink-coloured white chocolate topped with real whipped cream and candied bacon, all locations of Floyd’s Diner will be participating in Hot Chocolate Fest this year. With plenty of other delicious menu and drink items, Floyd’s has been a staple in Greater Victoria since 2004 and is excited to be a part of the event.  

Flourish BeauTea: Participating at both the Langford and Victoria locations, Flourish BeauTea’s speciality hot chocolate for the fest is a strawberries and chocolate combination. Open at 10am every day in Langford, the shop stays open into the evening and is known for being a trendy tea cafe with an assortment of drinks and sweets to try out. 

The Sugar Shack: One of the sweeter parts of the My-Chosen Cafe empire, The Sugar Shack in Metchosin has different features each month and is a great spot to stop for a treat. Serving hot chocolate and mochas, you can also get a “cold” chocolate in the form of a milkshake Tuesday through Sunday from 9am-8pm.

Julie’s Delights Chocolates: Originating in Langford, Julie’s Delights is a local favourite that specializes in all things chocolate. The hot chocolate bombs and packs are great to take home and enjoy on a cozy evening in. Originating in 2013, the chocolate shop is now selling items at the Victoria Olive Oil Co and at Sea of Bloom. 

Ponchos’s Cafe & Catering: Recommended by a reader, Poncho’s is a great place to get a warm drink in the Westshore. Located on Goldstream Ave, Poncho’s has seasonal drinks and, of course, delicious hot chocolate for you to try. With catering or dine-in options, the cafe is open Monday to Saturday from 8am-4pm.

Around the 'Shore

❄️ Greater Victoria residents brace for more bad weather: Environment Canada has issued alerts for Greater Victoria after the forecast predicted snow and freezing rain in the area for Jan. 16 and 17. Reports show that a Pacific low pressure system will approach the coast from the west, leading to snowstorms — visibility may be reduced.

🏨 Sooke luxury resort flood: Guests of the upscale Prestige Oceanfront Resort in Sooke had to evacuate Friday night after the hotel flooded. First they were stuck outside in the bitter cold, then when they were allowed into the lobby the water was up to their ankles. Early reports say the flood might have been caused by a pipe that burst from the cold weather. [CHEK]

🏫 Belmont students hold walk-out: A group of students walked out of classes at Belmont High School in Langford on Friday to stand up against school policies. The protest was meant to draw attention and hopefully change the way the Sooke School District deals with sexual assaults and sexual violence. Students mentioned that despite sexual assaults happening on school properties, the school district is not properly investigating the allegations when victims step forward. [CTV]

Community Events

🎸 Demographix Band at the Loghouse Pub: Starting at 8pm on Jan. 19, the Demographix Band is taking the stage at the Loghouse Pub for an evening of live music and fun. Free of charge, the band is scheduled to play three hours featuring lots of popular hits. 

🎤 Karaoke Night: Head to the Langford Legion this Jan. 19 for their weekly karaoke night. Hosted every Friday, karaoke kicks off at 8pm and is a great way to spend an evening out with some friends. 

🎶 Metchosin Bandwagon: Take a trip back to the ‘80s at the Metchosin Golf Course this Jan. 19. Going from 7:30-9pm, Freeze Frame will be playing music from the ‘80s and beyond. With a $10 cover charge, food will also be available to purchase at the venue, so put on your best shoes and dance the night away.

What’s Offshore?

🚢 The Musky is a bulk carrier built in 2014, sailing under the flag of Marshall Islands. It is coming from 🇵🇪 Matarani, Peru ➡ 🇨🇦 Vancouver and was scheduled to arrive Dec. 30, 2023.

Westshore Snaps

Dallas Road during the windstorm. —Ken Owttrim, Langford

That’s it!

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