Jan 16 - Banned from council

Building a bridge. Murder trial extended. Registrations open for camping and kindergarten.

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Hello there!

As promised, we have an update on the fallout of Monday's Langford council meeting. Some details remain unresolved—such as who exactly was banned, and why. But the history of tension between current councillors and a handful of dedicated opponents is at this point extensive. We compiled a number of those incidents in the article link.

But it isn't all Langford or all council news today. We also have updates on an ongoing murder trial and, more positively, an incoming new trail in Sooke.

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NEWS

Langford bans one member of public from council meetings

Councillors deliver final remarks in the Westhills Y purchase a month ago, while offscreen hecklers repeatedly interrupt. Image: screencapped from meeting livestream

Monday's Langford council meeting saw two RCMP officers attending and one civilian banned from attending.

In an in-camera meeting that followed the main one, council voted unanimously to ban a member of the public from attending council meetings in person for three months effective immediately. The individual’s name was not immediately made public but they have been notified, the spokesperson wrote.

“The decision was based on more than one incident,” the announcement said, “and was deemed concerning enough for [the] Council to have to take this action.”

The ban is the latest instance in which councillors say some people have gone beyond criticism and behaved inappropriately or threatened councillors. In the afternoon of its latest meeting, Langford announced that two RCMP officers would be present for the evening meeting, due to “the recent inappropriate behaviour, yelling, and outbursts from some members of the public during council proceedings.”

Langford made the RCMP announcement citing safety concerns from staff and calling it a “proactive measure.” The city says officers were there in response to “unacceptable behaviour” from some residents, calling the measures “regrettable but necessary.” 

Read the full story at The Westshore for more on the ban, the RCMP presence, and the incidents that led up to them.

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NEWS

Trial extended for Langford man accused of mother's murder

The trial-by-judge will hear arguments from the defence that Ryan Elder, now 30, was not criminally responsible for killing his mother on Christmas 2021. In the current trial, neither Elder nor his lawyers spoke in his defence. Justice Jennifer Power was initially slated to give a verdict yesterday, which, if it was guilty, the lawyers intended to respond to with an argument of not-criminally-responsible due to mental disorder. But on Weds., Power chose to reopen the trial and have the defence make that case, beginning on Monday, as part of it.

Accused confessed the killing to police, court heard on Tues.

Per the crown prosecutor, police said that Ryan Elder told them in 2021 that he killed his mother Raymonde by stabbing her, after trying to strangle her. His reasons shifted, however, ranging from longstanding resentment over her authority over him to claims it was self-defence or even a “mercy killing” that she welcomed.

Elder had a history of mental health problems, family members have said, and was living with his mother at the time of her death.

NEWS

Sooke to begin work on Little River Crossing foot-and-cycle trail

Diagram from District of Sooke. Note: Phase 1 was completed in 2020.

Sooke has awarded its contract to build a Little River Crossing foot-and-cycle trail to Regehr Contracting Ltd. The new multi-use path over Demamiel Creek (Little River) will connect Sunriver Way by Poirier Elementary. The $2M project is funded mostly with active transportation grants.

Its 1.2km pedestrian route will connect Sooke’s town core to the Sunriver neighbourhood as an alternative to the 8km Hwy 14 drive. Site prep will run through Feb., with the trail and boardwalk built in spring and the bridge in Aug.-Sept. 

Around the 'Shore

🚨 Head-on crash hospitalizes 3 with serious injuries. Sooke Road near the Metchosin border was shut for 2 hours on Weds. morning after the 5am crash. RCMP say an eastbound driver crossed the centre line and hit a taxi carrying one youth.

⚖ Bail denied for suspect in attack on Colwood home of singer AP Dhillon. Winnipeg's Abjeet Kinga, 25, faces firearm and arson charges. The other suspect is at large and believed to be out of the country. [CHEK]

🏕 Camping registration has opened for BC Parks including Juan de Fuca. The West Coast Trail isn't until Monday, though.

👩‍🏫 Kindergarten registration has opened for SD62. [Info]

 🏫 Survey on Metchosin rec programs: Weigh in on possibly bringing West Shore Parks & Rec programs to the newly renovated Old Metchosin School and gym. Due Jan. 31.

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Community Events

☕ Coffee with the Mayor of Metchosin: Today 2-4pm in council chambers.

📚 Sooke Library events this week: Lego club, documentary discussions, seniors’ chair exercises, story time, crafts, and more.

🌳 Drop off your branches at the Colwood public works yard on Sat. [Info]

⏳ Sand Art & Succulent Terrarium Workshop: Monday 6:30pm at Six Mile Pub. [Info]

🎂 Cake Decoration Workshop: Next Tues. (6:15pm) at Flourish BeauTea in Langford. [Info]

🛍 Gift Shop Grand Opening at Colwood Art Centre. 1-3pm today with music from Steluta string quartet.

👟 Exploring Indigenous Perspectives guided walk Saturday at Witty's. [CRD info]

What’s Offshore?

🚢 Near Colwood shore: None yesterday, in a rare sight (or lack thereof) for waters that have been busy for much of the past half-year.

Moving on: UTE (container ship, built 2007, Liberia flag, heading from Prince Rupert to Vancouver)

Westshore Snaps

McCauley Point Beach Window in Esquimalt. – Richard Steward, View Royal

📸 Snapped a photo you’d like to share? Send it with a caption and don’t forget to add where you live.

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