Good morning!

October is here, and that means plenty of fun fall activities are popping up. Royal Roads University is hosting its fall harvest celebration where everyone can enjoy the delicious fruits and vegetables they grow. More on that in our first story today.

— Emma

COMMUNITY

Royal Roads rings in harvest season with a celebration

Harvest season is here, and Royal Roads University is excited to invite locals to join its fall harvest celebration at The Farm on Campus.

Royal Roads gardeners work hard to preserve the crops, which allow Royal Roads to bring food from its very own garden to the community. With support from volunteers and donors, an abundance of fruit and vegetables has been donated to community partners like Our Place Society, Iyé Creative, the Victoria Community Fridge and the RRU community fridge.

The farms are not only a way to help feed communities, but also allow students to learn more about agriculture. Recently, the university announced the reconstruction of its gardens, which will create opportunities for students to learn more about harvesting, growing, and cooking: the Farm is an example of the agricultural importance that Royal Roads implements, and shows the university’s work towards tackling food insecurity and biodiversity.

On Oct. 4 at 12pm, the community will gather and share in the success of this year’s harvest, which has doubled from previous seasons. The university has created a fun-filled day with a range of activities such as apple pressing and making your own seed bombs, tours of the expanding gardens, and speeches from university president Philip Steenkamp, Our Place Society’s Cheryl Diebel and Our Place Society’s head chef Zeno Friesen.

NEWS

Restoration plans for Colwood’s Dairy and Cheese house

Colwood’s Sept. 28 Special Heritage council meeting put the spotlight on the Dairy and Cheese house, as developers seek to make updates to the historical building. Consultants John Dam & Associates, on behalf of Coldstream Projects Ltd. and J McLaren Enterprises Ltd, put a Heritage Conservation Plan (HCP) in front of council members on Sept. 28. Discussions were held in hopes of receiving feedback about the relocation of the historical house in the restoration process.

Colwood’s Dairy and Cheese house received a heritage designation in 2020—the Dairy and Cheese House is recognized for its historic value as one of the earliest remaining settlement buildings in BC. The house is one of only three buildings that remain from the Pudget's Sound Agricultural Company Farms established near Victoria in the 1850s. The building also serves as the only tangible link to Captain Langford's original "Colwood" farm, from which the surrounding area and city took its name.

The HCP states that the plan is to relocate the building from its current spot (and original settlement) to the southwest corner of the site; the remaining site would be fully redeveloped to accommodate three proposed condominium towers, and the move would be at the cost of the developers.

Despite efforts to save the original building, the relocation and redevelopment will cause a significant impact on the building's integrity, setting, and any remaining historical evidence of this being one of the earliest settlements in BC; Dam & Associates maintain that regardless of the move, their focus will remain on capturing any historical evidence of the early settlement that the site may have, as well as careful restoration and preservation of the building’s features.

Councillor Misty Olsen and a few other members of the committee agreed they would like to take a tour before agreeing, as they worried that the original settlement’s history would no longer be present if moved—it was pointed out that the city has no jurisdiction in the decision of the plan, but instead had informal input into the HCP.

The developer says the next steps will involve receiving feedback and minor changes to any concerning pieces of the restoration process through council meetings —the city will continue to host public meetings until the project is finalized.

Around the 'Shore

🚨 Annual Thetis lake paddle event cancelled: West Shore RCMP were called to the View Royal lake on Sept. 29 after witnesses watched a person submerge but did not resurface. Out of respect for the swimmer who drowned, it was announced the second annual What’SUP Witches event would be cancelled. [Vancouver Island Free Daily]

🧡 Thousands gather in the Westshore to celebrate Truth and Reconciliation: Locals from across the Island gathered at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria for the grand entrance of the South Island Powwow on Saturday, with over 10,000 people in attendance. A crowd filled with orange shirts and a strong sense of community reminds everyone that the Day for Truth and Reconciliation is just a start, and that Truth and Reconciliation should be remembered every day. [CHEK]

💧 Water discolouration to be expected in Colwood and Langford: The Capital Regional District (CRD) advised residents that the annual water main flushing will start next week. While pressure and water changes may occur, those living in the Langford and Colwood areas can be rest assured that the water poses no harm. [Victoria Buzz]

🤝 Sooke Chamber of Commerce announces new leader : Deb Schenk, who has served as co-ordinator for the South Vancouver Island Shoebox for Women the past five years and is currently chamber vice-president, replaces Britt Santowski, effective next Thursday. Santowski—who readers may recognize for her many years running the Sooke Pocket News—is moving on to a communications position with the BC government.

Community Events

📑 Draft 2023-2027 Council Strategic Plan Open House: Langford is hosting an open house for its first strategic plan on Oct. 4 at the Eagle Ridge Community Centre. From 3-8pm, locals will have the chance to provide feedback and receive answers about the new city plan. To get more details on the plan, read our story here.

🏈 Westshore Rebels game: Don’t miss the chance to watch the Westshore Rebels take on the Langley Rams this Oct. 7 at Starlight Stadium. The game starts at 4pm, and you can buy tickets online before heading to the game.

🏺 Shore to Shore Studio Tour: On Saturday, Oct. 21 from 10am to 4pm, Shore to Shore Studio is inviting locals to take a self-guided pottery tour of participants’ studios in the Westshore. The tour will include stops in Langford, View Royal, Colwood, Metchosin, and Sooke.

What’s Offshore?

🚢 The Diane Oldendorff is a bulk carrier built in 2020 and is sailing under the flag of Liberia. It is sailing from Fangcheng, China 🇨🇳 ➡ Vancouver 🇨🇦 and was scheduled to arrive Sept. 24.

⛴ The Great Qin is a bulk carrier built in 2010 and is sailing under the flag of Hong Kong. It is sailing from Pohang, Korea 🇰🇷 ➡ Roberts Bank 🇨🇦 and was scheduled to arrive Sept. 24.

🛳 The Nsu Zenith is a bulk carrier built in 2019 and is sailing under the flag of Panama. It is sailing from Port Edward 🇨🇦 ➡ Vancouver 🇨🇦 and was scheduled to arrive Sept. 29.

Westshore Snaps

Swartz Bay ferry terminal. —Paul Young, Langford

That’s it!

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