Good morning!

Langford city staff and the Sooke School District are standing in solidarity with Spencer Middle School after the new rainbow crosswalk was vandalized hours after its installation. West Shore RCMP is conducting an investigation. Read all about it and more in today’s edition of the newsletter.

— Emma

NEWS

Langford councillor 'harassed' by 'disgruntled' citizen, mayor says

Langford’s mayor has taken the unusual step of asking his predecessor to denounce some “inappropriate and troubling behaviour which erodes the foundation of the community,” after a person was seen peering into the home of an unidentified city council member.

“We had an individual basically staring through an elected official's window and seemed to be filming the inside of their house,” Scott Goodmanson said on Feb. 14. 

“Anytime that any elected official is being targeted on their own property, that is a call for alarm,” the mayor said. 

The incident happened “recently” in the evening, with the councillor  “harassed” by the suspect, who they recognized, the mayor said.

In a release, the city said the incident involved “a disgruntled member of the public who has spent the last year being angry and unaccepting of the results of a democratic election.”

“It is just absolutely inappropriate, and we cannot let this behaviour continue,” said Goodmanson, who has asked former mayor Stew Young to condemn not only the incident but the frayed discourse that seems to have struck Langford since he and his council were swept aside in the 2022 municipal election.

“It is time for current and former leaders in our community, including former mayor Stewart Young, to strongly denounce this inappropriate and troubling behaviour which erodes the foundation of the community.”

Read the full story by Mark Brennae on Capital Daily.

NEWS

Spencer Middle School rainbow crosswalk vandalized

Langford is dealing with a bout of discrimination after a newly painted rainbow crosswalk was vandalized the same day it was unveiled. The crosswalk, an initiative brought forward by the students in the school’s Sexual Orientation, Gender Identities (SOGI) Club, was painted with the colours of the Progress Pride Flag to increase safety, awareness, and inclusivity at school.

However, within hours of its installation the day before Valentine’s Day, somebody purposely scuffed it up with skid marks. City staff swiftly saw to repairs, but despite the quick action, the crosswalk was vandalized again overnight, this time defaced with spray paint alongside more skid marks. 

“Vandalism and hate are never appropriate and have no place in our community, " said Langford Coun. Kimberley Guiry, who worked closely on the project with the SOGI Club. “As residents and neighbours, we can do so much better than vandalizing a symbol of acceptance.” 

West Shore RCMP are investigating.

“We live in a time where the most vulnerable community members need strong allies in leadership roles and reinforced messages of support from the community,” Guiry said. 

Read the full story by Emma Boyne on Capital Daily.

Around the 'Shore

🏡 Songhees Nation receives over $20 million for housing project: Construction is already underway for an affordable housing development on the Songhees Nation, which is receiving over $20 million from federal and provincial coffers. The announcement was made on Feb. 16, and detailed that the money will go towards building a 66-unit apartment building on Admirals Road near the View Royal Canadian Tire; the  units will be selling at below-market rates and residents will pay no more than 30% of their income. [Vancouver Island Free Daily]

🔥 View Royal Fire Rescue responds to structure fire: A fire in View Royal caused concern for residents after reports of a small building that was ablaze with large flames Saturday night caught the attention of anyone nearby. View Royal Fire and Rescue were able to contain the fire, which was close to the Scottish Community Centre, which is located at the corner of Craigflower and Admiral Roads; the cause of the fire is under investigation. [Victoria Buzz] 

📈 Colwood has growing pains with population boom: As Colwood becomes an increasingly popular area to lay down roots, the city is already facing difficulty accommodating the influx. Despite the lack of housing units, Mayor Doug Kobayashi and councillors have set up plans, and will continue to grow the city through housing, facilities, and more in the coming years. [CHEK]

SPONSORED BY ISLAND WINDOW COVERINGS

Complete your vision

Island Window Coverings - serving Victoria and the Gulf Islands for over 38 years. We offer a range of Motorized, Blinds, Shades, Draperies and Shutters. Featuring Hunter Douglas, Lutron & more.

With complimentary consultations, we are confident that we can find a solution that you will love, within your budget.

Community Events

🌎 World Thinking Day: Join Sooke in celebrating World Thinking Day this Feb. 22. Check out the municipal hall, which will be lit in all blue lights, and celebrate girls and women all across the world. World Thinking Day is an annual event created by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) to give girls and young women the opportunity to celebrate international friendship and to take action on global issues.

❄️ Coldest Night of the Year Walk: Support the effort to end homelessness in a Canada-wide community initiative with the Coldest Night of the Year Walk. Starting at Langford Parkway this Feb. 24, the event will go from 4-7pm with different routes to choose from. All funds raised will go to support people on the Westshore who are homeless, hurting and hungry through services offered by Pacific Centre Family Services Association and Our Place Society. Register online to participate. 

♟️ Games Night: Enjoy an evening of snacks and games at Edward Milne Community School this Feb. 22. Going from 6:30-8:30pm, choose from over 65 board games in the EMCS library and enjoy snacks while you spend time with friends, family, or fellow community members. 

❤️ What the Heart Wants art show: Check out the final dates of the Sooke Art Council’s show “What the Heart Wants”. Located on 2043 Church Rd., the show is available to check out until Feb. 25. The gallery is open 11am to 4pm, Wednesday through Sunday, so make sure to do a walk through before the event is over.  

What’s Offshore?

🚢 The Lavender is a bulk carrier built in 2010, sailing under the flag of Panama. It is coming from 🇨🇦 North Vancouver ➡ 🇨🇦 Roberts Bank and was scheduled to arrive Feb. 5, 2024.

⛴️ The Los Angeles is a bulk carrier built in 2012, sailing under the flag of Marshall Islands. It is coming from 🇨🇳 Qingdao, China ➡ 🇨🇦 Victoria and was scheduled to arrive Feb. 14, 2024.

Westshore Snaps

From the ferry coming back from the mainland. —Paul Young, Langford

That’s it!

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

And before you go, let us know: