Good morning!

Pacific FC is moving forward in their playoff run after winning their last game. Next they are taking on Cavalry FC on Oct. 21. Check out the highlights, and more in today’s edition of the Westshore.

— Emma

COMMUNITY

The best places to watch the seasons change in the Westshore

The weather is turning, and so are the leaves and the Westshore is filled with spots to watch the red, orange, and yellow colours take over the trees. Here are five places that you should check out before the leaves drop:

Lombard Drive: This Metchosin road is a photographer's dream in the autumn. With rows of brightly coloured trees that line each side of the road, the picturesque scenery is worth the drive.

Japanese Gardens at Royal Roads: Always a beautiful place to stop, the Japanese Gardens at Royal Roads University are available for public access. The tea garden has been a staple of Royal Roads since 1910, and gets ever-more beautiful in the crisp air. With a range of wildlife, foliage, and more, this is an accessible place to watch the leaves change.

Goldstream Park: For residents looking for a beautiful hike, Goldstream Park is a local favourite in the fall. The scenic orange and yellow coloured route will lead you to the incredible waterfalls and rivers that make their home in the area. With a number of activity options, this is a great spot for families.

Galloping Goose trail: The Galloping Goose is a highly-visited trail in the fall and all year round, with options to cycle, walk, run, hike, and even horseback ride. Make this place your next starting point for a striking outdoor adventure, or check out other spots in near Sooke as the area is host to a variety of trees and changing plants.

Esquimalt Gorge Park: A spacious area that has the oldest and first Japanese Garden in North America, Esquimalt locals can take a quick journey to Gorge Park and enjoy the beautiful trees changing. Bring the family for a walk or picnic, and enjoy as the wind blows the different leaves onto the ground.

NEWS

Pacific FC moves to semifinals with another close playoff win

The local pro soccer team beat the Wanderers 1-0 in Halifax on Oct. 14 to move within one more win of its second Canadian Premiere League finals.

Pacific also won 1-0 last Wednesday, scoring in the last moments of extra time in Langford to get past York FC.

PFC faces toughest road ever to a CanPL trophy

Past years’ playoffs, including 2021 when PFC won, were a simple semifinal-final format for four teams. But this year, to reward the regular-season’s top team, the league restructured the playoffs.

The top two teams now play one semifinal while the rest of the teams—and eventually the loser of that first semi—face off until one is left to challenge for the cup. That means that PFC, due to slipping down to fourth as the regular season closed, now has to beat every other playoff team one-by-one.

“We stood up,” coach says

Head coach James Merriman said on Saturday that “the way our season ended, we were in a difficult moment, we tried to fight it a little bit and it challenged us a little bit.”

“Then in matches like this under this adversity, you find out who you are,” he said. Breakout star Kekuta Manneh added that it had been a “rough 72 hours” having to win two knockout games with a trip all the way across Canada in the middle.

Match highlights here:

On Oct. 21 at 4pm at ATCO field in Alberta, Pacific will face Cavalry FC—the regular season’s top team by far. Cavalry was upset 2-1 by Forge FC, the Hamilton team that has now been in every CanPL final ever played—losing only to Pacific.

Around the 'Shore

💰 Addiction recovery fund supports hundreds of men in View Royal: The Bc government just donated $4.39 million to the New Roads Therapeutic Recovery Community to help the program expand and support addiction recovery. The funds will allow around 330 men over the next three years to go through the facility’s recovery program, and is an important part of reintegration and healing. [Vancouver Island Free Daily]

♻️ Support United Way this October! Turn your empties into change at Bottle Depot. Let's uplift families and strengthen communities together!*

🚔 Traffic jam after Oct. 17 Colwood collision: Emergency responders answered a call about a collision on the Island Highway at Six Mile Road in Colwood around 6pm Tuesday. The collision involved a motorcycle and another vehicle, and caused delays; paramedics were on the scene. [CHEK]

📈 Progress your career growth! Jump into new possibilities and build your future. Gain valuable skills and career training with Continuing Studies at UVic.*

⚖️ Contentious plans for apartment complex in Esquimalt leads to public hearing: The city council voted to send a rezoning application for a 119-unit apartment to public hearing after listening to Victoria-based developer Lida Homes’ plan to build a six-storey apartment complex at 884 Lampson St. The council’s decision was made despite misgivings about the project’s size and plans to have the building rentable for only 10 years, which would mean a lack of stability for residents. [Times Colonist]

*Sponsored Listing

Community Events

🏈 BCFC Semi Final: Watch the Westshore Rebels take on the Langley Rams this Oct. 21 at Starlight Stadium at 4pm. With a 10-0 track record of wins this season, the Rebels are on a roll and will be charging head-first into playoffs; tickets are available online.

🏺 Shore to Shore Studio Tour: Don’t miss Shore to Shore Studio’s invitation for a self-guided pottery tour of participants’ studios in the Westshore on Oct. 21 from 10am to 4pm. With all locals in the area free to join, the tour will include stops in Langford, View Royal, Colwood, Metchosin, and Sooke.

🤣 Laugh it up Langford: Looking for a good laugh? Harbour Comedy is excited to present Laugh It Up at Millstream Beverage Company on Oct. 23 starting at 7pm. With headliner Jane Stanton, local comedian Bo Essery, and host Elyott Ryan, make sure to reserve a ticket for the Monday show for a fun evening of jokes.

What’s Offshore?

🚢 The Dietrich Oldendorff is a bulk carrier built in 2020 and is sailing under the flag of Liberia. It is sailing from Hong Kong 🇭🇰 ➡ Vancouver 🇨🇦 and was scheduled to arrive Oct. 11.

Westshore Snaps

Glorious sunset in Langford. —Laureene Hill, Langford

That’s it!

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