Good morning! 

We hope you’ve had a cozy and fun-filled holiday season so far. As the year comes to a close, it can be difficult to find the perfect event to ring in the new year with friends and family. We’ve provided you with a list of NYE events to check out in the Westshore, so grab your loved ones and head out to celebrate the end of 2023, and the beginning of a new journey.

— Emma

COMMUNITY

Ring in the New Year in the Westshore

As the year wraps up, lots of people are looking for a way to celebrate and ring in 2024. There are plenty of events happening all over the Westshore, here are some to check out.  

Midnight at Darcy’s: Kick off the new year at Darcy’s Pub Westshore with a night filled with fun activities. Starting at 8pm, you can enjoy delicious drinks and food until 10pm when Bipolar Bear takes to the stage for a live music performance. Dance the night away, enjoy a complimentary champagne toast, and a midnight balloon drop. Get tickets online. 

Dance the Night Away with Rocksteady: Head to the ballroom of the Four Points by Sheraton for a dinner buffet and dance to ring in the new year. With doors opening at 6:30pm, the buffet will start at 7pm followed by live musical performances and a dance floor. Tickets are selling fast, so get them quick before they’re gone.

New Year’s Eve Party at Highland Pacific Golf: Celebrate the arrival of the new year at Highland Pacific Golf Course. With two time slots available, guests can either reserve tickets for the 5-9pm event or the 8pm-12:30am event. Both events will have seafood tapas and live music so you can take advantage of the time that suits your schedule best. 

New Year’s at the Sooke Legion: Enjoy a dinner-dance at Sooke Legion Branch 54 this Dec. 31. Doors open at 5pm, an hour before the dinner service, and the Tom Morrissey band will kick off the dancing at 8:30pm. Community members have the option of buying tickets for the dinner and dance, or the dance exclusively. 

New Year’s Eve Skate: Looking for a family friendly event? SEAPARC is hosting its annual New Year’s Eve skate from 1-2:30pm on Dec. 31. Bring out family, friends, and your skates and hop on the ice for an early celebration of New Year’s. Regular admission rates apply. 

New Year’s Eve at Element Casino: Sign up for a night of food, live music, and games at Element Casino’s New Year’s event. With doors opening at 9pm, guests will automatically receive a $20 voucher to play games. A special draw prize will be given to a guest at midnight, so don’t forget to purchase a ticket to be automatically entered. 

NEWS

Storm warnings across Vancouver Island

Environment Canada has issued warnings across Vancouver Island, including the Greater Victoria regions, after facing winds up to 120km/h to the Island’s northern west coast and waves 6-9m high (19-29 feet) to its southern west coast, which includes Sooke.

Environment Canada says the high winds may cause property damage and power outages. Much of the Island has already had difficulties due to the storm, with around 28,000 BC Hydro customers losing power along the province’s southern coast around Christmas Eve to Boxing Day. 

Along with the winds, Environment Canada is warning any coastal residents to stay clear of the waves, which have already caused delays in the BC Ferry schedule. The forecast predicts that the storm will continue into Dec. 28, but hopefully slow down afterwards.

Around the 'Shore

🎶 Local boy gives back to the community by singing carols: Nine-year-old Weston Green from View Royal has been using his voice to raise money for the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank for the past four years, raising a total of $1,184.  Singing outside of Tanner’s Books, Green was inspired to raise money after hearing about people losing jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic; this year, he raised $253. [Vancouver Island Daily] 

🏢 RidgeView Place still empty after second evacuation: Many residents have been left in the dark for months after being told to evacuate the 11-storey RidgeView Place in Langford for a second time. Both the city and owners Centurion have provided little to no updates on why its tenants had to evacuate—the highrise currently has barriers and no activity, as the owner sues the seller, builder, engineers and the city itself. [Times Colonist] 

⛽️ Lower gas prices on the Island might be due to mild weather: Experts believe that the low gas prices on Vancouver Island may be due to the mild winter weather the area is experiencing this year, with gas price analysis website GasBuddy stating the cost is close to what drivers saw during the pandemic. Concordia University professor Moshe Lander believes the lack of household heating and lower demand for air travel is the reason for the drop in price at the pump this year. [CHEK]

🎊 Start the new year with a fresh perspective! Pursue hope, healing, and happiness at Intertidal Counselling & Wellness. Make 2024 the year you thrive. Book a consultation today.*

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Community Events

⛸️ Teen Outdoor Ice Skating: Calling all teenagers—head to City Centre Park this Dec. 30 for the final teen skating event from 8 to 9:30pm. Inviting teens only to head out on the rink, this free and festive event is a great opportunity to catch up with some friends during the holiday season.

🐻‍❄️ Polar Bear Swim: Brave the icy waters this Jan. 1 for the annual Polar Bear Swim at Whiffin Spit Park. Sponsored by the Otterpoint Firefighters Association, make sure to arrive for the 11:30am registration, because the event will kick off at 12pm with a cannon start. Jump in the ocean, and warm up with hot chocolate afterwards. 

🎭 12 Angry Men Auditions: Looking to join the Sooke Harbour Players in their upcoming rendition of 12 Angry Men? Auditions are beginning this Jan. 4 from 7-9pm at the Sooke Community Theatre. With two additional dates on Jan. 6 and 7, make sure to send an email with which date you would like to audition to book your spot. Arrive with a short monologue to read (with script is fine) and also be ready to read some sides.

What’s Offshore?

No ships today!

Westshore Snaps

Sunrise at Esquimalt Lagoon. —Gary Woodburn, Colwood

That’s it!

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