Hello there!

What is the best way to spend local budgets? That's always a question on the minds of municipalities and public services. But this month it has come up especially directly. Langford faces a decision over whether to buy rather than subsidize a local sports facility. Meanwhile, West Shore RCMP decide not to keep putting money into collaborative region-wide police programs, arguing they can do better on their own.

More on both of those situations in today’s main stories.

— Cam

NEWS

Langford weighs whether to buy Westhills rec facility

The City of Langford is seeking public input on the offer it has received to buy the Westhills Aquatic Centre in which the YM/YWCA is housed. Langford is currently on the hook for many of the Y's costs even as a non-owner, due to the tripartite deal signed for the $30M facility between the city, Y, and developer Westhills in 2013.

For instance, the city already expects to cover the estimated $14.8M in building lifecycle costs over the 17 years remaining on the deal. It would also be on the hook for the lease if the Y, which says it has lost $10M at the site over the past decade, defaults.

Last spring, Langford increased its annual subsidy to the Y after the organization said that it was losing too much money with diminished membership and Westhills requiring it to start paying partially deferred back-rent from the early pandemic period.

The city says that buying the building would require a 1.75% tax increase from 2025 to 2028, but would save money in the long run: an estimated $10M over the life of the current lease and $121M over the next 42 years partly due to avoiding having to sign a new lease with the developer.

The public can give the city input by email or at meetings on Nov. 18, Dec. 2, and possibly Dec. 16.

Last year we asked you what you thought the city should do with the problem of the struggling Y. Here's what you said.

NEWS

West Shore RCMP will leave regional response teams

The force will pull out of the multi-police-force Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Team (IMCRT) and Mobile Youth Service Team (MYST) by the final day of 2025, and the Regional Domestic Violence Unit (RDVU) by the end of 2026.

West Shore RCMP argue they have established their own versions of these programs and are not spending money efficiently by investing in the multi-force regional projects in addition to their own. They also argue that their programs are more specialized to the Westshore and that the joint programs don't respond to Westshore cases at a high rate.

For instance, RCMP say the in-house Mental Health Unit (MHU) responded to 513 out of 944 mental health calls in the Westshore in the year and a half after it launched, while IMCRT responded to 35.

The RCMP's youth program is tied in to Pacific Centre Family Services Association (PCFSA), as is MYST, so the RCMP release argues there will be continuity and communication there. Its domestic violence team will expand to 2 officers by spring 2026.

Departure weakens region-wide response, VicPD chief argues 

Del Manak told the Times Colonist that he believes the RCMP's move will further fracture policing in the region and that one force providing service only to its own jurisdiction can weaken overall service. He flags that the relevant groups here (at-risk youth and survivors—or perpetrators—of domestic violence) often move around, and a region-wide service avoids gaps when that happens.

West Shore RCMP argue that they will remain plugged-in enough to what the regional teams are doing that there will not be gaps.

Initial concerns were misinformed, police superintendent says 

News of the decision to pull out spread before the official announcement, and Supt. Todd Preston apologized to Colwood council for being slow to update all municipalities. This had, he said, led to “misinformation" spreading after Langford council discussed the decision. Council members had expressed concern that the region would lose services—particularly without youth-centric program MYST—but Preston said the services are just being moved in-house.

Around the 'Shore

⚖ 6 years in jail for Sooke father whose impaired car crash killed son: Matthew Darlington, 49, pleaded guilty last month and was sentenced last week. The fall 2021 crash into a tree also injured his then-wife and other children. Before the crash he had been convicted 9 times of driving while prohibited; the judge has now banned him from driving for 35 years. [CBC]

⚽️ Pacific FC’s Emil Gazdov named Canadian league’s best goalie: The soccer star, 21, won the CPL Golden Glove award after tallying the second-most shutouts and second-lowest save% among qualifying goalkeepers. [Pacific FC]

🥾 Juan de Fuca park trail closed as crews assess the damage from recent heavy rains. Campsites, the Sombrio Beach suspension bridge, and Parkinson Trailhead are also off-limits. Second Beach, East Sombrio Beach, Botanical Beach, and Botany Bay all are accessible. China Beach is accessible but has been under construction. [BC Gov; latest park updates here]

🍕New pizza restaurant in Colwood: Colwood Pizza Co. at 590 Ledsham specializes in Sicilian-style rectangular sheet-pan pizzas with crispy crusts and gourmet toppings. Its menu also has appetizers such as smoked garlic bread and braised pork and beef meatballs and house-made dessert such as tiramisu and ricotta cheesecake. [Tasting Victoria]

🚌 Greater Victoria residents gave the region's transportation a grade of C+. Read all the results of the new 2024 Victoria's Vital Signs report online today!*

*Sponsored Listing

Community Events

🎨 Owl Creek Sketch Club community art program's next event is tomorrow.

🎅 AIl Sooke Arts & Crafts Christmas Show. 60+ vendors: arts, crafts, ceramics, jewelry, baking, honey, and more. Fri-Sun. Free entry. Sooke Community Hall.

🎄 Christmas Craft Fair at Ruth King. 10am-3pm on Sat. 40+ vendors and artisans.

🍵 Poinsettia Tea & Bazaar: 12-3pm Sat. at Gordon United Church. Bazaar free; tea $6 (kids) to $10 (adults).

✍ Metchosin Arts & Cultural Centre Association events this week.

What’s Offshore?

🚢 Still anchored off the coast of Colwood are container ships Marcos V (built 2005, sailing under Panama flag), SM Qingdao (2010, Korea), and Ever Steady (2006, Singapore).

🚢 Further out are container ships MSC Sofia Paz & Conti Contessa and bulk carriers Avra.Gr & Troodos Oak.

Why so many cargo carriers in the area? It's because they aren't continuing to Vancouver due to the labour lockout at the port. We'll have more on that next time.

Westshore Snaps

“A rare appearance of a Golden Eagle. Feasted on a Canada goose at a field at Royal Roads.” - Gary Woodburn

Note: The second photo below shows the goose mid-being-eaten. It's a great shot, and nothing you wouldn't see in a nature documentary, but we put it last in the newsletter in case you don't want to look at that sort of thing.

That’s it!

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