Hello there!

It's still easy to smell the burning rubber, hear the roaring engines, and feel the jolt of the acceleration. Two years ago, I got the chance to ride along in a rally car during the second-last event at the speedway.

That memorable night was part of the going-away celebrations for a track that was a hub for car culture in the region for nearly 70 years. The speedway was making way for a new development, and this week we (and Langford council) had an update on that project.

— Cam

NEWS

2 years after final race, speedway lands are on track to become business park

Last week marked two years since Western Speedway / Westshore Racing Park in Langford shut down. After operating for 68 years, it was the oldest speedway in Canada until its closure.

For decades the track's spring-summer season hosted stock cars, sprint cars, Old Time Racing Association cars, drag racers, monster trucks—and even NASCAR series events in the 1970s and ‘80s.

Speedsters are still waiting on any concrete plans for a new South Island track; in 2022, a replacement spot was discussed near Shawnigan Lake or other areas. The former speedway land is intended to become a hub for new businesses, and the city is taking a step to fast-track those newcomers' growth.

Langford has made efforts to offset taxes for future businesses on the land through a tax exemption bylaw, with the intention to keep tax rates frozen in 2021. Last night council voted on amendments to make the tax exemption bylaw for developments to bring it into alignment with BC Assessment: Initially there was an issue with the bylaw’s language, looking at property taxes instead of taxable assessed value.

With this reworked exemption, the net taxable assessed value for lots on the former speedway land would not increase for 5-7 years. This applies only to municipal property taxes, but it allows businesses that move into these lots to get a leg up in order to grow—and Langford staff anticipate this could encourage investment in the area.

Once the 5-7-year period for each lot ends, its owner will pay the full tax for that year—eventually infusing more tax dollars into the city.

Bastion Development Corporation and Strand Holdings, the developers that bought the land from the Wille family in 2021, plan to construct a business park called Langford Heights. It will also include a small section dedicated to residential development (much of the surrounding area is residential subdivision). Per the Langford Heights website, the business park will be complete in spring 2025 and is currently pre-leasing spaces.

Take a look back at the old Western Speedway as racers took their last laps in the legendary track in 2022, with photos by James MacDonald.

SPONSORED BY THE TYEE

The election stories you won’t find anywhere else

Confused about what’s happening in B.C.? Make sense of the political moment by subscribing to The Run. The Tyee’s award-winning election newsletter is back, aiming its laser focus on the political future of the west coast. Twice weekly this fall we’ll bring you the story behind the headlines, and break down key election themes happening across the province. It’s a free newsletter full of smart voices unpacking key issues, fact-checking politicians and exposing disinformation to clarifying light. Know what’s at stake when you cast your vote by subscribing today to The Run.

Subscribe for free.

NEWS

Westshore sports roundup: Sooke rugby star debuts; local teams limp toward playoffs

Sooke local wins international rugby debut

Edward Milne grad Rori Wood tallied her first cap as the Langford-based national women’s rugby team beat Ireland 21-8 last weekend. The win in Langley is the second of the WXV 1 tourney; next they play world #1 England this Saturday in Vancouver.

Before the national team, Wood played for UBC where she was named the top rookie in the country back in 2018. She told CHEK this week that she had to remind herself that her first plays on the international stage were just part of a game like any other, telling herself “it's just rugby" to quell the excitement.

Westshore Rebels will open playoffs on road—& on losing streak

Last year the local football club went undefeated on the regular season and was the national runner-up. But this year, following the loss of the Grey-Cup-winning Dexter Janke head coach, the team is 5-5 so far. The Rebels may have played their last Langford game of 2024: Their 4th straight loss (Sat. in Langley) means they'll be seeded #3 and will open the postseason against those same Langley Rams, again on the road. 

Pacific FC could snag the last playoff spot—or end up in last place overall 

After losing 1-4 to Cavalry on Sat., the Langford soccer team is in a pack of 4 teams that all have 28 or 27 points. With a fortnight left in the regular season, and two of those teams set to play each other, PFC will need to pick up a win or draw if it wants to keep the final playoff spot.

Around the 'Shore

🗳 Remember that you can vote now at designated electoral offices (find one here), without having to wait for advance polling later this week or election day next weekend. 

⚖ Another major Westshore development put into receivership: Spirit Bay, a decade-old project on Sc’ianew / Beecher Bay land, owes nearly $1.9M to building company Scala. In 2013 the project envisioned building about 500 sustainable homes, but by 2023 had just 50. The First Nation said in court documents that Spirit Bay developed money problems early on—particularly after the other partner, developer David Butterfield, fell ill and died. [Times Colonist]

👴 Sooke centenarian has well-wishers worldwide: There were times in WW2 when bomber pilot Donovan Nixon didn’t think he'd live to his 18th birthday. But last month marked his 102nd, a milestone that mysteriously drew cards from around the world—sparked, it turns out, by an online request from the niece of one of his care home friends. [Sooke News Mirror]

♨️ Local candidate features in leaked BC United oppo research: The dossier compiled by BCU before its surrender to the BC Conservatives included Langford-area candidate Mike Harris's professional LinkedIn page sharing a video of debunked COVID theories. The post, which Harris initially denied posting before saying his staff may have posted it, argued that blowing a hair dryer up your nose could help fight the virus. [PressProgress]

Community Events

🍂 Saturday fall markets: Goldstream Farmers Market 10am-2pm at Veterans Memorial Park. Autumn Gratitude Market 11am-4pm at Langford Station. [Langford calendar]

👅 Stones tribute band: Got Stones at Edward Milne school. Sat 7-9pm. [Tickets] 

🍽 House of Boateng's Mentor Dinners: A special dish and the story of where (and who) inspired it. [Few tickets left for Oct. 18]

🌺 Seniors hula dancing at Westshore Parks & Rec. You'll have to register, but it looks like there are still some spots left. [Info]

🎃 Autumn Harvest Pumpkin Planter Workshop at Gardenworks Colwood. Sunday 1pm. [Ticket info]

🍁 October food events throughout Greater Victoria. [Tasting Victoria]

What’s Offshore?

🚢 Underwater robot rides by: Nothing was anchored off the Westshore yesterday. But last week CanPac Marine ship Valour went by, carrying the newest Remotely Operated Vehicle out on a marine mission to the waters off the Island's west coast.

Ocean Networks Canada is taking the remote-controlled underwater robot on a maintenance run to the NEPTUNE 800km underwater cable system. There is a live feed of what the ROV is up to; yesterday it dove at the Folger Deep Station near Banfield, and today will be in Ucluelet. 

Westshore Snaps

Morning light at Albert Head Lagoon – Darcy M. Page

An aurora was visible in Metchosin on Sunday night, per these shots from photographer Doug Clement.

Diamondback tritonia: A local snorkeller spotted a strange aquatic creature “so vibrant white it was basically glow-in-the-dark” near East Sooke Park. [Facebook photos] 

That’s it!

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

And before you go, let us know: