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Hello there!

Sunny and 10 degrees today? An extra hour of afternoon light as of this weekend? It seems like spring has sprung on the ‘Shore—although spring in the South Island often doesn't mean any less rain than winter, as we'll see this week.

To mark the shift in seasons, we have some of your best photos of both this past winter and winters prior. We also look at the hunt for unexploded explosives that has started in Mary Hill.

— Cam

PHOTOS

Westshore in winter: Your best photos of the snowy season

Another winter is giving way to spring! To send it off, we're rounding up your photos of February's cold snap and your submissions to December's winter memories photo contest.

It wasn't an especially white winter in the Westshore, but between the snowfall a month ago and your highlights of past years, there were plenty of snowy shots to choose from.

Here's how you, your families, your pets, and your backyards handle the snow, the cold—and sometimes even a sunny walk by the water.

See the full set here, and a few of the highlights below.

'“Fun times after some heavy labour!! All in good fun!!” – Jennifer

“Winter (2023) in East Sooke for a mini pig.” – Rhonda Lee

How the Hutchings family deals with the snow. – Sharon Hutchings

“My favourite winter picture!” – Eryn Brett

Winter chanterelles. – Jane Eert

Resident peacocks enjoying (?) a snow day at Royal Roads. – Ali Blythe

“Winter Wonderland" in Sooke. – Frankie Lawrence

See the full set of photos here.

NEWS

Military crews search for unexploded devices at Metchosin’s Mary Hill

The Metchosin stretch of the Galloping Goose could be busy as Department of National Defence (DND) crews search for unexploded devices in the area—which pose safety and environmental threats. The Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Forces have used the Mary Hill area for training since the 1930s. Training in the no-trespassing area continues to this day, but no longer uses ammunition. 

DND says only trained professionals can determine if an unexploded explosive ordinance (UXO) is safe, and urges people to call 911 if they think they see one. These devices, after years outdoors, can look different from the one shown above—see photo examples at the DND site.

Area could become Indigenous protected park

There is a proposal to establish an Indigenous Protected & Conserved Area in most of the area, under SC’IA⁄NEW stewardship. The First Nation's info page for the proposed park says that the Mary Hill land contains culturally modified trees, burial cairns, shell middens, historic petroforms and materials, and 33 recognized archeological sites. 

The 176ha Mary Hill area has been under DND control dating to WW2, but in 2018 the DND categorized it as surplus. DND would retain a part of the area, though, if a park does go forward. 

Around the 'Shore

🚵‍♂️ Langford adjusts proposed information fee: The would-be fee was $15 per 15 minutes staff spend to “obtain, photocopy, produce, and research” city documents that are not already covered under BC Freedom of Information or free property-owner access. Current fees only kick in after 3 hours of work, but the city wanted to bump it sooner due to ‘"considerable" staff time it has been taking. After public pushback at this week's meeting, Coun. Colby Harder proposed that fees only apply after one hour, which staff said would cover 80-90% of requests. [Goldstream Gazette]

🌲 Forests minister Ravi Parmar says there is “no choice but to diversify” as BC is faced with softwood lumber tariffs that could exceed 50% by this fall. BC could look to continued business with Japan and pushes into Vietnam, India, Indonesia, & Europe, the Langford-Highlands MLA says. Last month he was in California as part of a trip to survey fire damage and talk to governments and businesses. [IslandSocialTrends]

🌷 The annual Flower Count is on until next Wednesday; you can help your municipality compete with other Westshore municipalities for the title of Bloomingest Community. [Info]

🧮 Point-in-Time Count seeks volunteers to help gauge prevalence of and nature of homelessness in the region. Westshore dates are March 26 & April 4. [Info + registration here]

😼 Get Lions in Langford tickets early in this pre-sale via CHEK.

🕰 Remember to “spring ahead" this weekend. There still doesn't appear to be any movement on ending the twice-annual clock change, as the BC government voted to do (eventually) in 2019. Here are some of the cases for which time should be made permanent.

🍺 On Tuesday: Court says Six Mile Pub must be sold—likely to its own current main owner. T'Sou-ke work with UVic on disaster prep research. [Newsletter]

🦦 Watch orphaned otters play at Wild ARC last week. After arriving last summer they're getting close to being ready to go back into the wild. Wild ARC is also currently looking for new volunteers.

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Community Events

🖌 Workshops at Westshore Town Centre: Thurs. - Exploring chocolate. Fri. - Paint & Prosecco. Sat. - Floral watercolour & ink. Sun. - Patterns & Simple Landscapes. [Schedule]

🗣Westshore rec / sport facility public workshops start this week.

🌱 Seedy Saturday at Belmont Secondary, 11am-3pm. [Info]

♻️ Pacific Mobile Recycling Depot, 9am-noon, also Sat. at Belmont.

🌿 Drop off branches at Colwood public works yard on Saturdays this month.

Council meetings

Next Monday:

• Colwood Council [Agenda]

• Metchosin Committee of the Whole [Agenda]

• Sooke Council [Calendar]

• Highlands Committee of the Whole [Calendar]

What’s Offshore?

🚢🚢 Off Colwood coast: Mol Premium, a container ship built in 2008, sailing Tacoma to Vancouver under Panama flag 🇵🇦 . CL Yangzhou, a bulk carrier built in 2019 sailing to Vancouver from Boryeong Korea under Liberia flag 🇱🇷 

🚢 Further out from harbour: SAIC Anji Harmony, a container ship built in 2024 sailing from Portland to New West under a Liberia flag 🇱🇷

🛳 At Ogden Point: The first cruise ship of the season arrives today: The Disney Wonder, heading from Australia / New Zealand to Vancouver.

Westshore Snaps

“Signs of Spring – crocus” - Gary Woodburn

Are you seeing signs of spring around the ‘Shore? Send in some that you've spotted and we'll run a few of the best in this space.

That’s it!

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

And before you go, let us know: