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Good morning!

The Westshore is full of exciting news this week as the community undergoes some new developments. With Langford gaining access to 35 acres of land, locals can look forward to more parkland trails in the area. On another note, West Shore RCMP is saying goodbye to Cpl. Lewis and patrol dog Halla as they move on to helping police officers reintegrate back into service. All that and more in today’s edition of the newsletter.

— Emma

NEWS

Langford adds 35 acres to its parklands in partnership with Westhills

Last week, the City of Langford announced that an extra 35 acres of dedicated undeveloped parkland is being transferred to the city from developer Westhills Land Corp. The new addition will bring Langford’s total parklands within its boundaries to over 2,300 acres, and will allow the city to add more trails and protection to the existing area.

“On behalf of myself and Langford council, we are pleased to see this additional land dedicated to the City by Westhills within the Gravity Zone and Nature Trails,” said Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson.

Throughout the year, Langford had already started building hiking and downhill biking trails through a licensed agreement with Westhills. Westhills signed the license with the city stating that it would dedicate 40% of its land as parkland through a rezoning process. The 200 acres of land, which now includes the Wildcat Trail funded by 4VI’s Targeted Regional Tourism Development Initiative, will become protected areas with beautiful trails and scenery.

“This 35-acre parcel of undeveloped land is a significant contribution to the city’s parks inventory and will be protected in perpetuity,” said Goodmanson. “Langford council is committed to ensuring access to green space for current and future Langford residents.”

Currently, BC has over 1,000 parks and protected areas. With the ability to fully access this 35-acre plot, the city can ensure locals, visitors, and wildlife are safe and educated as growth in the Westshore continues. Looking towards a greener future, preserving the forest and sea are large focuses for Langford.

“A further expansion of mountain biking experiences in the Gravity Zone and Nature Trails in Langford is going to provide enormous benefit to residents and visitors alike,” said Calum Matthews, the vice president of sustainability and strategy at 4VI. “With the principle of sustainable tourism in mind, Langford is creating a space that is accessible, welcoming, and exciting for everyone.”

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COMMUNITY

West Shore RCMP’s German shepherd Halla transitions into a new role

For five years, patrol dog Halla worked beside her partner, Cpl. Dave Lewis, answering hundreds of calls for service in the Westshore and her prior post in Kamloops. Now, new adventures are on the way for the seven-year-old German shepherd, as she retires from West Shore RCMP calls and transitions into a new role.

“We have three German shepherd dogs here—two are males and she was the only female,” says Cpl. Nancy Saggar, who had the opportunity to work with Lewis and Halla.

Lewis was paired with Halla when she was a puppy, so their bond grew strong over her five years of service. Halla was trained to specialize in tracking people, searching for evidence, and explosives detection, but what made her even more special was her playful spirit and hard-working attitude.

Read the full story on Halla and Cpl. Lewis at The Westshore.

Around the 'Shore

✅ Ravi Parmar officially sworn in as Langford-Juan de Fuca MLA: July 28 marked Ravi Parmar’s first official day as MLA. The ceremony took place last Friday after Parmar won the election on June 24. [Vancouver Island Free Daily]

⚠️ West Shore RCMP tells locals to stay alert for wildlife: After a cougar was spotted Monday near Colwood, the RCMP is telling people to stay safe and be cautious in the area; as cougars can be dangerous. RCMP is also reminding people to educate themselves on what to do if they spot a cougar.

🦚 Royal Roads bans Colwood couple for alleged animal cruelty: Royal Roads is investigating after reports that Richard McCafferty and his wife, Gisele Parent, had been taunting and plucking the feathers off peacocks in the area. The couple has said they have no ability to do this due to health concerns, and that they hope the issue is resolved soon as they use the trail daily. [CHEK]

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Community Events

🥎 Canadian women’s fast pitch championship: Aug. 2-6 has an exciting event in store because Langford Minor Fastball is hosting this year’s U19 Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship at Centennial Park. Tickets will be sold at the gates and all proceeds are going towards Langford Minor Fastball.

⛺ Summer camps and programs: Looking for activities to fill up the rest of the summer? Esquimalt Parks and Recreation is offering a number of different activities for adults and kids alike, so make sure to get out and try something new.

☀️ Sweet Summer Makers Market: With food, arts and crafts, music, and more, locals will want to head to Old Metchosin School on Aug. 12 for the Sweet Summer Makers Market. The family friendly event will be on from 10am to 3pm, allowing locals to enjoy a day of fun.

What’s Offshore?

No ships today!

Westshore Snaps

The East Sooke sun. —Jon Raser, Langford

That’s it!

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