In partnership with

Good morning! 

Rock ’n’ roll fans have a lot to look forward to this weekend with the upcoming Langford Rocks Tribute Concert making its way to town on Saturday. Host to a number of fun activities, delicious food, and some incredible music performed by renowned local cover bands, read all about it in today’s edition of the newsletter.

— Emma

NEWS

Langford council approves Beecher Bay venture in Centre Mountain development

Earlier this month, Langford council moved to approve the application of Robert Jones of Vortex Engineering Inc., on behalf of Keycorp Industrial Developments & Beecher Bay First Nation to permit the temporary use of a FedEx Freight mobile dock for package sorting and shipping in the Centre Mountain Business Park.

Without multiple means to develop and use their lands for economic benefit, the opportunities for First Nations in BC to achieve the quality of life enjoyed by other communities is severely restricted. More frequently, First Nations like Beecher Bay (Sc’ianew) are pursuing a greater share in the benefits and opportunities that come from leasing and subleasing their lands.  

Land development for the majority of First Nations is controlled by the Land Management Regime of the Indian Act and administered by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC).

The current FedEx facility is in Langford on what was Western Speedway lands. 

Ruth Sauder, administrator from Beecher Bay speaking to council on behalf of Chief Russ Chipps, explained that First Nations are dependent upon minimal funding from the federal government and do not have the ability to levy and collect taxes the way municipalities do. 

“We've been working with two established developers as co-developers of the Centre Mountain Business Park, and we have been at it on an ongoing basis, every three to six times a month, meetings for a very long time, and we have spent tens of millions of dollars, but today is our first opportunity as a community to get some revenue back from that project,” said Sauder.

Head to the Westshore to read Sidney Coles’ full story on how this will impact the Beecher Bay First Nation community.

SPONSORED BY 1440 MEDIA

The Daily Newsletter for Intellectually Curious Readers

• We scour 100+ sources daily

• Read by CEOs, scientists, business owners and more

• 3.5 million subscribers

Sign up today!

RECREATION

Rock and roll tribute concert coming to Langford

The Langford Rocks Tribute Concert is on Aug. 31 and the event will feature a great lineup of rock and roll performances. The event will be host to local vendors, games, food and drink trucks, and of course, classic rock music performed by tribute bands. We’ve got your full guide on this weekend’s rock and roll event below. 

Need to know

The concert will be held at Starlight Stadium, going from 1pm to 10pm. Guests can purchase tickets online, with a number of different options available to check out; general tickets are going for $59.99, VIP premium for $99.99, children 12 and under for $24.99, and infant and toddlers two and under get in for free. 

VIP tickets include special seating, access to a private patio overlooking the stage and festival, a no-line private drink service, and specialty snacks. For those looking to purchase general only, there will be shaded areas, picnic tables, bleachers, and folding chairs to use throughout the event. The forecast is showing sunny conditions for Saturday, so sunscreen and a hat are also essential. 

Guests are welcome to bring their own food and beverages, and will be able to fill up refillable water bottles at water filling stations. For those looking to purchase food on site, food vendors will include Greek on The Street, Big Bad Bob Hot Dogs, Lexi's Ice Cream and Treats, Willy Wonka Candy Factory, and the Starlight Stadium Food Concession. 

Entrances will be located at the main parking lot (Westshore Parkway) and C gate (Glen Lake Road), and guests can park at Starlight Stadium main lot and the overflow lot on Westshore Parkway. For those entering via Glen Lake Road, parking is available at Belmont High School. 

Bands

The event will kick off with a special set by the Victoria Rock Choir at 1pm. Following the choir’s performance, guests will hear music from CCR, David Bowie, the Tragically Hip, and Tom Petty. Performing the music will be cover bands who are considered some of the best in the industry. 

Completely Creedence will be covering CCR and have been committed to the band’s music and sound for years. With Jamie Robertson on vocals and rhythm guitar, Murray Atkinson on guitar and backing vocals, Lance Lapointe on bass guitar and backing vocals, and Grant Baird on drums and backing vocals, the Campbell River band is being booked for gigs across the country. 

David Bowie’s music will be performed by A Night Of Bowie; Victoria musician Syl Thompson and his band have been playing Bowie’s music for more than three decades, and Thompson has been praised for his embodiment of Bowie’s style and stage presence. 

Another local act will be Victoria-based Nautical Disaster, who will be covering The Tragically Hip. The band was formed in 2018 by frontman Ryan LeBlanc, quickly adding Rodney VanSpengen on drums and Alan Davies on guitar. About eight months later, Harry Somers joined on bass and vocals, and finally added Stéphane Côté as the newest member on guitar and vocals. 

Mary Jane's Last Dance is the last band in the lineup, and the group will be playing Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Founded in 2010 by Steve Mathieson, the band features Aniko Mathieson on vocals and bass guitar, Maurice Reddy on vocals and lead guitar, Steve Tomiuk on keys, and Steve Cornock on the drums. The band has been playing sold out venues for years and is also local to the area. 

Around the 'Shore

🎤 Langford news carrier auditions for Britain's Got Talent: Goldstream Gazette newspaper carrier and singer Christopher White, a Langford local, is gearing up to audition for Britain’s Got Talent. White says he found inspiration in vocalist Sydnie Christmas, who won the contest earlier this year, and will be travelling to London in September to audition for his lifelong dream. [Victoria News] 

🚨 South Island drug seizure: The North Cowichan and Duncan RCMP Street Crime Unit arrested seven people in Duncan and Sooke as a result of a multi-jurisdictional drug investigation. The operation began in November and targeted mid-level drug trafficking activity; RCMP also seized a large amount of drugs, cash, weapons and other materials. [Vancouver Island Free Daily] 

🧳 Greater Victoria popular spot for tourists: Reports are showing that municipalities across Vancouver Island are seeing less visitors except for the Greater Victoria area, which has seen a 9% increase over the summer. According to the company, summer travel to the Island is about 4 to 5% lower than it was in 2023, but that Greater Victoria has and will continue to see an influx of tourists. [Times Colonist] 

Community Events

🎉 Community Fun Day: Langford’s community fun day has had a date change to Aug. 28. Guests can head to the Happy Valley School field from 2 to 7pm, for a day filled with activities, including an inflatable obstacle course, face painting, hot dogs, music, games, and more. The community will also have the opportunity to engage with city staff and provide ideas around community planning initiatives. 

🛍️ Thursday night market: Enjoy an evening at the Sooke Region Museum with this Thursday night market on Aug. 29. Going from 5 to 8pm, check out a range of delicious food, local crafts, and live entertainment. The last night market for the summer will be hosted Sept. 5. 

🧘🏼‍♀️ Yoga in the park: Check out Royal Bay’s free yoga in the park this Aug. 29 for its final summer event. Held at Meadow Park, yoga goes from 6 to 7pm and is friendly for all levels. Make sure to bring a yoga mat and water bottle.

What’s Offshore?

No ships today!

Westshore Snaps

Fog on Cole Island. —Richard Steward, View Royal

That’s it!

If you found something useful, consider forwarding this newsletter to another Westshore local.

And before you go, let us know: