Hello there!

It's the final week of voting in the BC election, including advance voting today and tomorrow. The Westshore has 3 electoral districts each with 3 candidates representing the 3 major parties. You can find your nearest voting location here, and we'll have a final round of local election updates and info on Thursday.

But first, today we have a breakdown of the final debate in newly spun-off district Juan de Fuca – Malahat. It touched on not only some of the key overarching BC issues, but also several that have emerged as Westshore-specific concerns.

— Cam

NEWS

Mill Bay Debate: Candidates in new semi-rural riding head up Malahat to discuss region's top issues

On this past Sunday, all candidates from the newly redrawn Juan de Fuca – Malahat squared off in Mill Bay. 

Kerry Park Arena's McLean Room welcomed roughly 100 audience members—including a few municipal councillors / directors—and offered a novel debate format in which they could ask questions directly.

Many key topics of the day were familiar ones from other all candidates meetings in the CRD such as health care, the environment, and housing. But in this semi-rural riding, questions also came up around farmland, parks protection, water and sewer infrastructure, and other issues particular to the area or to the Westshore.

The BC Greens’ David Evans promised more non-market housing solutions and has called for protections of agricultural land from profit-driven development.

BC NDP candidate Dana Lajeunesse spoke of a balance between development and protection, and touted has party bringing a new community health centre to Sooke.

BC Conservative Marina Sapozhnikov, a doctor in the area who became known in recent years for her vaccine mandate opposition, accused the NDP of running a “woefully inefficient [health] system.”

Read more on what they said, and what the public said to them, in the full story at The Westshore.

SPORTS

Westshore Rebels headed back to BCFC championship game

It was a clear blue afternoon yesterday in Langley, but the Westshore Rebels rained on the home team’s parade. The Rams (7-3) had the edge: home field, the better record, 2 wins over Westshore just in the past month. The Rebels, meanwhile, were reeling with 4 straight losses in which they scored 44 points total after previously averaging nearly 43 per game.

But on Saturday, Greater Victoria's BCFC team shed those struggles and again resembled the team that went undefeated last season. Down by 3 with 7 minutes left, Westshore forced an interception and scored a touchdown, then brought Langley down in its own endzone with 2 minutes left—eliminating the risk of a tying field goal.

The locals celebrated the 25-21 final score with a customary Gatorade dump as the sun set on the Langley day—and the Langley football season. They will now head to Kelowna to face the Okanagan Sun, who became the BCFC's lone undefeated team this year while the Rebels stumbled to 5-5 without former head coach Dexter Janke.

But with just one more win, on Sat. at 3pm, Westshore can win the BCFC again and be in the national championship game again, taking a second straight shot at claiming the Canadian Bowl.

You can rewatch the full semifinal game here or the highlights here.

Around the 'Shore

🚚 Truckers want changes on Hwy 1 where dump truck crashed a week ago. Tilco Contracting, the company whose driver went through the median last Tues., says the stretch near McCallum and Spencer Close is “notorious” and “very slippery” when wet. A worker for a local waste management contractor says he flagged the area to the Ministry of Transportation in 2020. [CHEK]

🏉 Langford-based national women’s rugby team finishes 2nd in WXV 1: The two best teams in the world met in Vancouver last weekend, but despite the locals’ early lead it was England that emerged—maintaining a 20-month undefeated streak and the world #1 rank. Canada, ranked #2, beat #4 France and #6 Ireland in this new tourney, which throws together the top teams from the Six Nations and Pacific Four. [Game recap]

🥫 Trade food for soccer finale tickets: Giving an in-demand item to the Goldstream Food Bank today or tomorrow will get you 2 tickets to Saturday's Pacific FC finale—which will decide whether the local club makes the playoffs or misses them for the first time. Currently PFC is clinging to a 3-point lead over a pair of rivals.

🚨 Alleged drunk driver drove into person after being confronted about drunk driving, witnesses claim. After Thursday’s alleged slow-speed hit-and-run at the Peninsula Co-Op on Goldstream, witnesses gave police the Mazda’s plate number. West Shore RCMP say the driver, 66, tested at twice the legal limit. They recommend crown charges of impaired driving and assault with a weapon—the car. The pedestrian was treated on-scene for non-life-threatening injuries. [RCMP]

🚁 Low-level aerial work over Langford continues about once per month for the next year. Fortis BC is sending helicopters to assess its transmission pipeline infrastructure and the surrounding area. [Langford]

Community Events

🧹 Pineridge Park Clean Up in Sooke tomorrow. Join in on invasive species removal and FireSmart park care in advance of the upcoming pumpkin walk. 3-5pm. [More info] 

♣️ Texas Holdem Freezout Tournament: Today at 6pm. [More Sooke Legion events]

🧙‍♀️ Spooky at the Station: A free outdoor market in Langford this weekend with food trucks, face painting, kids’ activities, and free raffle entry. [Info]

🌱 Growing & Harvesting Foods & Seeds: Free workshop series begins Oct. 20 at Sooke Library & continues mainly on Sundays through Nov. [Info / reserve a spot]

🥘 Check out these Westshore restaurants this fall. [Tasting Victoria]

What’s Offshore?

🚢  Eco City of Angels, a Chemical/Oil Products Tanker built in 2020, was anchored off the coast of Metchosin / Colwood and Victoria last night while en route from 🇺🇸San Francisco ➡ 🇨🇦Vancouver. 

Westshore Snaps

Double Rainbow magic seen from Split Rock viewpoint (Malahat). Kenneth Grant photo, sent in by Jessica Orth.

Locals from all around the region witnessed the aurora borealis last week and sent in photos.

And here's one more cool look at the sky: Orange clouds in a recent sunrise shot by Paul Young.

That’s it!

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And before you go, let us know: