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  • Jan 23 - 2,000+ animals helped by local rescue centre

Jan 23 - 2,000+ animals helped by local rescue centre

Education help for SD62 in new ministry mandate? Local arrested over explosive device.

Hello there!

Today we look at the latest report on the different animals helped by Metchosin's wildlife rescue centre—but first, a look at whether we can expect more help to come from the province on education & childcare in the region.

Cam

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NEWS

Education minister’s mandate letter may signal more help for Westshore schools & childcare

SĆIȺNEW̱ SṮEȽIṮḴEȽ elementary under construction, via ThinkSpace Architects

On Tuesday we looked at what the latest Forests Ministry mandate letter from Premier David Eby may tell us about how Westshore forest issues will be handled this year. Today we do the same for the Education & Childcare Minister's letter, recapping some of the local issues and touching on whether the letter indicates any changes in the province's approach.

The letter includes points on reviewing all programs; reviewing BC's performance on comparative test scores; expanding education assistants and counselling; getting schools built or expanded; supporting SOGI & increasing understanding of it; and expanding before- and after-school care programs in ways that “[leverage] existing school facilities and education workers.”

Childcare & school staffing

Residents in the Greater Victoria region and the Westshore continue to struggle with access to affordable daycare. Despite the province's claims of improvement to childcare access, Eby had to amend his childcare funding agreement with the federal government, owing to what it called “diverse implementation challenges.” Those challenges included lack of trained early-childhood educators (ECEs) and before- and after-school care programs.

To meet this particular challenge, the minister will continue to implement ChildCareBC to improve access to accessible, affordable childcare—though additional provisions to reduce access to training are not as clear.

Some relief for parents of school-age students may come in the form of the minister’s mandate to work with Anne Kang, the post-secondary education minister, “to expedite the certification and deployment of new and experienced international and domestic teachers.”

Adding & expanding schools 

In the rapidly growing Westshore, the minister’s mandate to work with the ministry of infrastructure to “accelerate the delivery of new and expanded schools in a cost-effective manner” could address the strain on area schools.

Expanded student enrolment across the CRD, particularly in Langford and Sooke, has meant calls for more schools to be built in the region. Last May MLA Ravi Parmar announced a new high school for Langford, and then, last August, a nearby middle school on Gateway Road.

The 480-seat SĆIȺNEW̱ SṮEȽIṮḴEȽ elementary school is said to be on track to open in Langford in the fall of this year. Those schools will all need new teachers.

Indigenous education

The ministry’s mandate also includes continuing to work to increase Indigenous graduation rates.

Two years remain in the five-year NA’TSA’MAHT Enhancement Agreement, developed by Sooke School District (SD62) with Indigenous communities, their partners, and the ministry of education. The goal of the agreement was to maintain and enhance collective ownership in order to improve the success of Indigenous students, create safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environments, and provide learning opportunities based on the First Peoples Principles of Learning for all students, staff, and communities.

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NEWS

Metchosin's Wild ARC helped 2,043 animals this past year

A trailblazing American Kestrel treated at the centre in 2024. Photos: BC SPCA / Wild ARC

The rescue and rehab centre's year-in-review is out, and it tallies 132 different species that the centre assisted. About 70% of individuals helped were birds, with the remainder nearly 30% mammals and only a handful of amphibians and reptiles.

Standout patients include the first ever American Kestrel fledgling to be successfully hand-reared at Wild ARC, which was released back into the wild after 42 days. It was “accidentally rescued,” the centre says—meaning that it didn't actually need to be rescued and the person who found it should have contacted experts to check before removing it.

“A young animal’s best chance at survival is always with their parents,” the centre's report says, “unless they are injured or truly orphaned.”

Another bird rehabilitated last year was an Ancient Murrelet (related to the Marbled Murrelets that nest in Fairy Creek) that ran smack into a glass railing on a BC Ferries sailing. It landed on deck (instead of falling into the ocean) and once the ferry docked was quickly bundled over to Wild ARC where it recuperated for two days before joining a local flock.

Another memorable patient was an adult female raccoon with an infected eye, which could have become fatal if it wasn't removed. She's now recovering and will be released soon. Raccoons were nearly 5% of the animals admitted by the centre, and late last year the Westshore covered the study on what happens to raccoons released by Wild ARC.

The centre and BC SPCA also thanked staff volunteers for making the year of animal help possible, and encouraged the public to help by donating to help support the centre.

The Comox-area MARS wildlife centre also released its numbers a few weeks ago: 1,035 animals from 155 species.

NEWS

Sooke man in custody after RCMP seize & destroy explosive device

Shawnigan Lake RCMP say that they responded to a report from a Malahat business of a suspicious truck, which fled upon police arrival. North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP and West Shore RCMP helped track the truck which police say was determined to have been stolen.

It was found with a possible explosive at Mill Bay Marina, where police say the suspect could be seen fleeing in a different vehicle. All three vehicle occupants were taken into custody, but the other two were released without charges. The original vehicle's driver, 42, remains in custody and RCMP say that their explosives team was brought in to destroy the device.

Around the 'Shore

📊 Langford seeking residents' input on its upcoming budget as it enters the home stretch of the annual current-year and 5-year financial planning process. The city will be collecting public feedback until Feb. 9 as part of its goal of increasing public consultation / participation and transparency. [Survey / timeline info]

🚲 You can now register your bike in an online database that is automatically checked by police around the region whenever they recover a stolen bike.

🚒 Fire contained to one cabin at Sunny Shores Resort and Marina in Sooke on Tuesday. There were no injuries but a fundraiser has been started for the displaced occupant. [Goldstream Gazette] Last week crews in Langford responded to a man trying to douse car fire using a garden hose.

🌭 Costco buys neighbouring land for $14M, taking on the old home of Staples in what may be a move to expand the Langford wholesale retailer. [CHEK]

🚌 T’Sou-ke Nation getting new van to take kids to youth programs with $50K through the Victoria Foundation Indigenous grants. The nation says the van will provide “access to cultural events, educational opportunities, and sports activities.” 

📆 Tuesday news: Local MLA tasked with tariff fight. Langford violated resident's privacy. Local restaurant scammed. [Jan. 21 newsletter]

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Community Events

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

🍽 Dine Around & Stay in Town is a 17-day celebration of food featuring some of Victoria’s top restaurants presenting set three-course menus at deliciously low prices. Starts Friday. Read more at Tasting Victoria.

🎊 New Year's Open House hosted by Langford council this Sat. 11am to 1pm at Indigenous Perspectives Society. [Info]

🏒 Victoria Grizzlies face Langley on Sat. and host a family skate after the game. [Tickets]

What’s Offshore?

🚢 Near Victoria harbour: Maersk Wallis, a 2010-built container ship sailing from Prince Rupert to Vancouver under the flag of Singapore.

Westshore Snaps

Somewhere over the (double) rainbow. – Michele List, taken at Esquimalt Lagoon on Dec. 24

“Just before sunrise on the ferry to Tsawwassen.” – Alan Beairsto, Colwood

Ed. note: We don't usually run photo submissions that aren't photos of the Westshore, but I couldn't resist these colours. – Cam

Frost distorts this nighttime look out at the trees of the Westhills. Photo by Sherry Thompson

 Pink Baker: Mt. Baker sits atop the city at sunset in this view from The Beachlands in Colwood. [Doug Clement Photography]

The first Gorge bridge: See the 1866 bridge made from logs. [Facebook photo]

As always, please send in your photos of life around the ‘Shore—and get in touch if you're a local business or organization that would like to provide prizes for one of our themed photo contests.

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