Hello there!

The big news, of course, is that there will be an election just a little over 6 months after the one last fall. We've got an update below on what we know—and don't—about the field of local contenders.

— Cam

NEWS

Federal election campaign begins—with many Westshore candidates still undetermined

Sensing an opportunity amid the Canada-US trade standoff and recent favorable polling, new PM and federal Liberal Party leader Mark Carney triggered an election on Sunday. The short campaign, of just 5 weeks, has a final election date of April 28.

Election comes soon after MP's retirement

The Westshore has been poised for an early election for some time, with former Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke NDP MP Randall Garrison long since announcing that he would retire rather than running again. After 14 years Garrison officially retired as of January, when even a fall election was close enough that a byelection wouldn't be triggered.

This means that May will be the first time month in over 3 decades in which the local riding (or its predecessor) will be held by somebody other than Garrison or Keith Martin, who was elected under multiple parties.

Who are the candidates to take over?

We don't yet know all of them. This riding is one of a number on the Island that have lacked candidate announcements from multiple parties.

At the time of the election call, Sooke mayor Maja Tait was the NDP's choice and the only announced candidate in the riding by a major party. She will take an unpaid leave of absence from Sooke council, and if she wins this election then the mayoral seat will be added to Sooke's upcoming council byelection.

Tait was joined this week when Grant Cool announced he was the new Conservative candidate.

Conservative & Liberal moves spark contention from within

Tracy Foran had been vying to become the Conservative candidate, and said this week that despite a year of efforts she didn't receive even a phone call before being passed over for a man she calls a “millionaire from the Uplands.” She said on social media that she is disillusioned and now believes “There is no such thing as democracy left in Canada.”

She isn't the riding's only would-be candidate upset with their party. Former View Royal mayor David Screech was originally chosen by the Liberals, but he was quickly dropped. This stemmed from stalking and harassment allegations that Screech argues are “nonsense” from a man he's never met; he also claims the party didn't give him a chance to respond.

Langford riding roster fuller, but not yet finalized

Cowichan – Malahat – Langford does have an incumbent MP running again, in the NDP's Alistair MacGregor. MacGregor, 45, has been in the role since 2015.

The Conservatives' challenger is Jeff Kibble, a navy veteran, and the Greens' is Kathleen Code, the Ecoforestry Institute Society director & chair and a Fairy Creek activist. The Liberals have yet to announce their choice.

Smaller parties also in play

The two local ridings are also being contested by Nikita Huertier and Dagmar Goeschick of the PPC, which has not elected an MP in Canada before but has pushed to field 2025 candidates in all ridings. The Animal Protection Party and Communist Party of Canada also intend to run candidates, per the Times Colonist.

Shifting tides on Island?

The NDP has had a dominant run in these local ridings over the past decade-plus. But the national resurgence of the Liberals and the unexpected provincial near-win by the BC Conservatives in Juan de Fuca – Malahat last fall may indicate a shift back to the more contested races seen in the 2000s and before.

We'll have more on the region's electoral history, and the rest of the candidates, in the coming weeks.

SPONSORED BY VANCOUVER CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

Blossoms After Dark expands for 2025

March 28-30 6:30pm-10pm - Free public event

Join in for an enchanted walk through David Lam Park to experience illuminated cherry blossoms, expanded food offerings, a cherry blossom cocktail in our licensed Blossom Lounge, exciting performers and light up art installations.

Plan your visit today!

NEWS

Island's first long-term addiction recovery centre opens in View Royal

“I didn’t plan to grow up to be an addict,” said Lee Sundquist. But she had her first drink at 12 and was injecting heroin by 16, entering into a “lifetime of addiction, trauma, abuse, and involvement with the criminal justice system.”

She was in View Royal last Wednesday, on site at the opening of the Island's first long-term recovery centre for women: the New Roads Therapeutic Recovery Community facility.

But Sundquist wasn't there as a patient—she is the women's recovery community manager at the new centre.

Facing jail time in 2013, a local judge gave her the chance to leave the Island to attend treatment on the mainland. She returned home 8 years later and worked her way up from junior support worker to assistant manager to her current role.

“Leaving the Island was not easy,” Sundquist said, “It meant severing ties with my family, with my friends and my two dogs and the community where I felt safe and supported. It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do.”

The new facility means that local women won't have to keep choosing between these programs and their community.

How the new program is set up

New Roads clients can return for multiple 9 week stays for up to a period of two years to access treatment, therapy, and educational and employment opportunities. Island Health identifies addiction as a chronic relapsing condition. This program aims to optimize the probability that clients will break the cycle of addiction, be reunited with family, and rebuild their lives.  

The new program is operated by Our Place Society at a site already home to a men's recovery program with a roughly 60% success rate. It adds 20 beds to what has long been a major shortage on the Island and in BC.

Program eligibility is based on factors including medium-to-severe addiction issues, mental-health challenges, an experience with homelessness, and a connection to the criminal-justice system. They must apply and then go through detox, unless they’re coming from the jail system. In that case, women are referred to the centre by a judge and are released into the program. 

Read the full story here.

Around the 'Shore

🛣 Hwy 1 crash near Thetis, between two southbound vehicles and a large portable traffic sign, sent three to hospital on Sunday with minor injuries. [Times Colonist]

🏒 Grizzlies sweep Bulldogs, winning final home game of regular season 3-2 in Colwood after taking the prior night's game 7-2 in Port Alberni. The team plays on the mainland this weekend before entering the playoffs; Victoria is currently 4th in the conference with Nanaimo close on the Grizzlies’ heels (their back paws?).

🚱 Boil water advisory placed for Wilderness Mountain water service area in East Sooke. [CRD]

🛒 Sooke’s Western Foods acquired by Associated Grocers: The new owner, which is a division of Pattison Food Group, was already acting as a wholesale supplier for Western Foods, which has been in Sooke for 30 years. A Pattison rep told CHEK that the manager will stay the same and all staff have been offered jobs.

🚔 BC gang unit makes 5 arrests in Langford: Police say they made 2 of the arrests in a traffic stop at Goldstream Avenue & Jacklin, seizing GHB and suspected prescription pills, then 2 more when they say a speeding stop revealed “baggies of suspected drugs” in the vehicle.

📰 Last week: Sooke & Langford take two different approaches to spectre of 15% tax increase. [March 20 newsletter]

📚 Discover how Glenlyon Norfolk School empowers students to be curious, engaged and prepared for the future. Attend an open house on April 24 or 25!*

*Sponsored Listing

Community Events

🧼 Melt & Pour Soap-Making for Kids & Youth ages 7-13. Tues and Fri, 1pm and 3:30pm: At Westshore Town Centre, kids can create soaps in various shapes, scents, and colours. [Info]

🎂 Cake Decoration Workshop: Today 6:15pm: Visit Flourish BeauTea in Langford for a fun and creative evening learning new techniques, meeting fellow cake enthusiasts, and unleashing your inner artist. [Info]

🍫 How to Craft Chocolate Masterpieces: Thurs. 6pm at Westshore Town Centre. Julie’s Delights Chocolates presents the history of chocolate, transformation processes and techniques, and sampling chocolate. [Info]

🤖 Island FanCon begins Friday. Join 5K+ fans at this pop-culture convention, with celebrity panels, meet and greets, workshops, and live music. City Centre Park in Langford. Fri.-Sun. [Info]

⛓ Make a Custom Charm Bracelet: Join Wing Art Studio at Westshore Town Centre for a creative workshop where you can design and create your own personalized charm bracelet. Sat. 1pm. All ages. [Info]

☕ Perfect Milk: Milk Steaming and Latte Art: Learn the art of steaming perfect microfoam and pour your first latte art design at The Stick's Roastoreum in Sooke. Sat. 3pm. [Info]

🧤 FireSmart invasive plant & woody debris removal at Solstice Park (across from Jordie Lunn bike park) on Sunday. [Info]

What’s Offshore?

HMCS Ottawa sailed back into CFB Esquimalt yesterday after 5-month deployment

The frigate, with its approx. 240 crewmembers, left for the Indo-Pacific in Oct. and took part in two operations:

• Operation HORIZON involving various projects with Japan, the UK, the Philippines, and others

• Operation NEON looking for vessels contravention sanctions against North Korea.

During the voyage, Cmdr. Adriano Lozer was removed from his role due to “a loss of confidence” during the operation. Commissioned in 1996, HMCS Ottawa is the 4th of its name and carries the motto “Egor Beofor” (Ocean Beaver).

🚢 Off Colwood coast: HL Taean, a bulk carrier built in 2016 sailing from Yeosu Anchorage (Korea) under Panama flag 🇵🇦.

➡️ Moving on: San Diego Bridge, a container ship built in 2010, sailing Tacoma to Vancouver under Panama flag 🇵🇦 .

🚢🚢 Further out: Cape Rainbow, a 2012-built bulk carrier sailing from Port Edward to Vancouver under Panama flag 🇵🇦 . Seaspan Baker, a 2025-built bunkering tanker sailing from Yeosu, Korea to Tilbury Island, Canada under Panama flag 🇵🇦 .

Westshore Snaps

“Bewick's Wren brightens up the day” – Gary Woodburn

That’s it!

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