Hello there!

Writs were issued last Saturday for the BC election on Oct. 19, and the campaign period is now officially underway. Candidate lists technically are not final until Sept. 28, so we'll have a full rundown of the local races after that point. For now, you can read the details on how and when to vote here, and find locations here.

For today, we're looking at some locals who have already had extensive careers as leaders. The King Charles III medals are going to 5 major figures whose work has shaped the Westshore.

— Cam

NEWS

5 Westshore leaders chosen for King Charles III medals

This round of recipients was nominated mainly by BC MLAs for King Charles III medals—created at last year’s coronation—for their outstanding contribution to their communities. Here are the picks by Westshore MLAs Mitzi Dean and Ravi Parmar:

Elder Shirley Alphonse hails from the Hul'q'umi'num-speaking peoples of the Cowichan Valley, but has been welcomed by the T'Sou-ke as a leader over the past 30+ years. She has taught SENĆOŦEN at local elementary schools and preschools, has been a big part of the Royal Roads community, and was appointed Elder to the Premier by John Horgan in 2017. 

Gordon Planes, a T'Sou-ke First Nation chief who launched a 100-year community visioning and has supported a number of green projects such as solar paneling. 

Robert Saunders, a car dealership owner and philanthropist whose foundation has helped out local schools, sick kids, and more. 

Munmohan “Moe” Singh Sihota, View Royal, became BC's first-ever South Asian MLA at age 31 in 1986. He represented Esquimalt–Metchosin / Esquimalt–Renfrew until 2001. The Duncan-born Sihota was the first Indian-Canadian to serve as a cabinet minister in any province.  

Stew Young was the mayor of Langford for 3 decades, from shortly after it was first incorporated until the most recent election. He presided over much of the city's significant growth.

See the full list of medal recipients. 

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FOOD

Long Table Dinners are back at Langford’s House of Boateng

One of the region’s most acclaimed restaurants is hosting a series of special events. At House of Boateng, chef Castro and co.’s intricate dishes blend local Pacific Northwest ingredients with African and Caribbean flavours and ideas from around the globe.

Every year, Boateng and special guests host Long Table Dinner events, all based on a theme and done in collaboration with a local industry leader. Those begin this Fri. & Sat. with a 5-course dinner with Sheringham Distillery. Later collabs include Sea Cider the week after, Blue Grouse Estate Winery in Nov., and Small Gods Brewery in Jan.

HOB also hosts “Mentor Dinners” in which chef Castro shares his most memorable dishes from making food all around the world, from Scotland to Bermuda. He also tells the story of the mentors that inspired the dishes.

Read more details at Tasting Victoria.

Around the 'Shore

🛣 Charters Rd. will partly reopen today, 6 weeks early. The important Sooke road’s full repaving won’t end until Nov., but vehicles and bikes can now access it during peak hours (2-6pm). It will close again on Monday, on Oct. 14, and on 3 to 5 other days that are still being determined. [Sooke]

🔥 Old Man Lake fire was the only active wildfire on the Island until Mt. Arrowsmith began on Sunday night. Unlike Northern BC, the Island was mostly spared this fire season—though experts say new human-caused fires will remain a risk for several more weeks. [Capital Daily]

🏈 Top seed out of reach as Westshore Rebels drop another game: Last year Langford’s junior football team went undefeated until the national cup. But this season it has now dipped to 5-3, with the weekend’s 10-24 result the second loss to top rival the Okanagan Sun.

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Community Events

🌻 View Royal Garden Club general meeting at 7:30pm tomorrow. Guest speaker Linda Amy presents on Permaculture for the Home Gardener, and there will be a mini-show of exhibits from members’ gardens. $5. Wheeley Hall.

🍯 Farm to Table Market tomorrow 4-7pm. Fresh produce, sauces, and jams at Langford Station.

💼 Langford Job Fair on Thursday: 1-5pm at the Legion hall. [Info]

🚜 114th Luxton Fall Fair: Fri.-Sun. Free admission to see museum, farm equipment, model trains, chickens, midway, and contests like best pumpkin and kids’ veggie art. [Info]

👩‍🌾 Sooke Country Market: 10am-2pm Saturdays in field above fire hall.

🐶 4 Paws & Critter Carnival. Sat. at Langford Station. Pet parade, best-dressed contest, a novice agility course, raffles, vendors, reps from local rescues, “puppuccinos” from Morning Star Coffee, and an owner-and-pet look-alike contest.

What’s Offshore?

🚢 HMCS Max Bernays (AOPV 432) remains anchored off the coast of Colwood. It’s an Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) launched less than 3 years ago and named after a WWII naval hero who remained at a burning helm in order to ram and sink a U-boat.

Westshore Snaps

Reader Gary Woodburn caught these shots of the huge harvest moon last week. Look close to see a gull in the middle of the moon in the second photo.

That’s it!

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