Hello there!

There's plenty to cover today with multiple outdoor events just announced for the coming months and multiple consultations going on around key aspects of life in the region, from recreation to transportation. That's not all—we also bring you news about yesterday's major crash, tonight's rare eclipse, and much more.

— Cam

NEWS

Langford hosts Ideas Fair this weekend: Weigh in on transportation, parks, trails, and rec

Langford continues its push to hold more public consultation, with the latest one an invitation for residents and community members to participate in an Ideas Fair on Saturday, 11am-2pm.

The fair at the Langford Legion (761 Station Ave.) will let the public contribute ideas, share feedback, and engage in conversations with city staff, councillors, and subject-matter experts. In its announcement, the city emphasized that this fair is not just a one-way presentation of facts and information, but will encourage residents to ask questions. 

“It’s always a challenge to get people excited about filling out a survey or spending their Saturday looking at a poster of a concept that might go into a plan,” Coun. Mary Wagner told The Westshore, “but it’s so important for us as a city to hear from as many people as possible—no two people are alike!”

The fair will focus on community planning initiatives and current master plans that are in development: the Transportation Master Plan (TMP), Active Transportation Plan (ATP), and the Parks and Trails Master Plan. 

These master plans are part of Langford's effort to equip the city to handle its rapid future growth—the population is expected to reach 100K residents by 2050.

The Transportation Master Plan (TMP) and Active Transportation Plan (ATP)

These are designed to guide the long-term development of Langford’s transportation networks. Their key aims are to reduce congestion and improve connectivity within the city. The ATP focuses on enhancing opportunities for walking, cycling, and other forms of human-powered transportation. 

The Parks and Trails Master Plan

It will evaluate the current state of Langford’s parks and trails, and ensure essential public spaces remain safe, accessible and serve residents and visitors effectively. The plan will identify opportunities for additional park acquisitions, trail enhancements, and other improvements. 

Read more about the event, and the plans, at The Westshore.

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NEWS

Serious collision shuts Trans-Canada in Westshore & hospitalizes multiple people

During the afternoon commute there was a “serious collision involving multiple vehicles” around 4pm, per RCMP. 

View Royal's fire chief told the Times Colonist that a vehicle crossed the grass median and hit others vehicles in a “significant event with many injuries” that left some victims in critical condition. 

The crash led to a full highway closure for over an hour. After that, one southbound lane was open but other lanes remained closed into the evening as emergency crews remained on site. Traffic was rerouted via the 6 Mile exit and the Colwood exit.

CHEK reported that the 4-vehicle crash near Thetis trapped multiple people in vehicles and heavy-duty trucks were needed for extrication.

NEWS

West Shore Parks & Rec wants you to help shape the future of local sport facilities

The West Shore Parks and Recreation Society (WSPRS) will be hosting a public engagement opportunity at the aforementioned Ideas Fair, gathering input on its Facilities Master Plan.

The Colwood-based WSPRS governs and operates several indoor and outdoor recreation facilities on behalf of the municipalities in the region, including Langford, Colwood, View Royal, Metchosin, and Highlands. WSPRS’s board of directors are representatives from those municipalities and each of those municipalities contributes to the operation of West Shore parks and recreation facilities through tax requisition.

Facilities the Society oversees include the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre, the Q Centre, Juan de Fuca Par 3 Golf Course, and the Greater Victoria velodrome.

The report aims to determine which sport & rec facilities are in demand in the region—and how that demand can be met. That will share decisions such as if, when, and how to add new facilities or make changes to existing ones.

The survey is open until Monday, and prior to the consultation booth at Ideas Fair, there will be one at Metchosin School today (6-8pm). More info here.

Around the 'Shore

⚙ Man injured, arrested, and fined $1,000 after crashing electric unicycle into concrete barrier. Police said he “flew through the air” and flipped a few times but was luckily wearing a helmet. Unluckily, though, police claim he turned out to be wanted on multiple non-unicycle-related warrants, and he was arrested. [CHEK]

🔎 Teen reported missing last week has been found safe, per RCMP. 

🚔 Man barricaded himself in residence on Jacklin with an “edged weapon” around 2am Tuesday morning, RCMP say. He was negotiated into leaving without injury and taken into custody. 

⚽️ Langford hosts Canada vs. Argentina in women’s soccer friendly. Tickets for the April 8 match, and the other half of the series in Vancouver, go on sale this Saturday. The national team has never lost to Argentina. [Canada Soccer]

🍁 New music fest Great Canadian Bash comes to Langford: Co-headliners Big Sugar and Trooper will “Raise A Little Hell” at Starlight Stadium on June 28. The all-ages event opens the Canada Day weekend with the main concert in the evening and a pre-party show at 4:30pm in the stadium's plaza. That will star Tragically Hip tribute band Nautical Disaster and food from some of the Island's best BBQ chefs. 

🏈 Langford's BC Lions game sells out in 12 minutes: The May 19 preseason match ran out of tickets even more quickly than last year's game in Victoria, though it also had various pre-sales. [CHEK]

Community Events

🔴 Blood moon & lunar eclipse expected tonight. [Learn more]

🏠 2 virtual Housing & Land Use meetings will be held in View Royal on Thursday amid the town's broader OCP consultations.

🥖📚 Bannock and Books with author Karen Whetung on Saturday. Register by email. [Info]

🛍 Royal Canadian Legion Spring Craft & Garage Sale: 10am to 2pm this Sunday at 761 Station Ave. [Info]

🧤 Westhills community clean-up on Saturday morning, reducing invasive species and fire risk. Meet at 9:45am south of playground. [Info here; click through for map & details]

🌷 Annual Bloom Exhibition at Arts & Culture Colwood. March 20 to April 13, with opening reception March 23 (1-3pm) with music by JR & the Bad Ox Band.

Council Meetings

• View Royal: Virtual Housing and Land Use Workshops today. Council meeting next Tuesday. [Schedule]

• Langford Council on Monday. [Schedule]

• Highlands Council on Monday. [Calendar]

• Metchosin Council on Monday. [Calendar]

• Sooke Committee of the Whole on Monday. [Calendar]

What’s Offshore?

🚢🚢 Off Colwood coast: Mol Premium, a container ship built in 2008, sailing Tacoma to Vancouver under Panama flag 🇵🇦 . San Diego Bridge, a container ship built in 2010, sailing Tacoma to Vancouver under Panama flag 🇵🇦 

🚢🚢🚢 Further out from harbour: Kandla Express a container ship built in 2011, sailing Tacoma to Vancouver under Liberia flag 🇱🇷. Union Mark, a bulk carrier built in 2016, sailing from Stockton (California) to Nanaimo under Marshall Islands flag 🇲🇭. Century Highwaygreen, a vehicle carrier built in 2021 sailing from Nagoya (Japan) to New West under Japan flag 🇯🇵

Westshore Snaps

"Time to get off the fence": A photo-illustration of Fisgard Lighthouse on Colwood by Richard Steward, View Royal

That’s it!

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