Good morning! 

Westshore families may see some changes with bus transportation, as the Sooke School District considers implementing bus fees for the next school year. Putting growth and cost into the equation, the district says that it needs to weigh all the possibilities before making a decision. Read all about it, and more, in today’s edition of the Westshore.

— Emma

EDUCATION

Sooke School District considering adding bus fees

Families using the Sooke School District (SD62) bus system may see a change in the coming school year, as the board weighs the option of charging fees for transportation usage. 

In an announcement on March 1, the board confirmed that they had been considering the possibility of charging fees for a number of reasons, including growth and cost. 

“With inflation and increased student enrolment in our region, transportation costs are climbing at an unsustainable rate,” read the announcement. “The Board of Education is faced with the incredibly difficult task of either reallocating more funds from the classroom to sustain transportation services or implementing a transportation fee model to safeguard classroom funding.” 

The Westshore itself is becoming an increasingly popular place to live in, and is currently one of the fastest growing regions in Canada with a projected 33% increase in population over the next decade. On top of that, SD62 is one of the fastest-growing districts in BC, with a student population that has reached over 13,000 and is expected to reach more than 15,000 by 2030. 

Currently, SD62 allocates almost $4 million a year towards the bus system through its own resources. According to the district, the only fee that had been in place previously was a $25 fee for safety. With the additional cost of funding classroom needs, the letter emphasizes the importance in prioritizing funds and allocating them appropriately. 

“At the public board meeting on Feb. 27, the Board of Education passed a motion to explore a fee-based model for transportation services for the 2024/25 school year,” read the letter. “This measure aims to ensure that essential resources remain within classrooms, while still providing families with access to transportation services, albeit at a reasonable cost.” 

Despite the announcement, the board assures families that staff will work through multiple scenarios and options before presenting them to the Board of Education for review and approval; families will have the opportunity to discuss plans. For now, the families are advised to sign up for bus-transport as per usual, and make changes when plans are finalized.

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NEWS

A streamlined program aims to boost Esquimalt’s curb appeal

Esquimalt Township has announced the continuation of its successful Business Façade Improvement Program (BFIP), which is designed to improve the aesthetic appeal of the town's commercial areas and attract more customers to the area. 

In partnership with the Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce, the BFIP is offering a one-time renovation grant in the form of a 50% reimbursement of up to $5K per building/project with a single-face improvement and $10K per building/project on a corner lot with a two-face improvement. The program also provides the support of an architect to assist with design based on applicant budget and needs for no additional fee. 

This is the second year the program has been providing funding for local businesses to enhance their storefronts. The program and application process have been streamlined for efficiency and to provide faster support for small businesses. 

There was a time when businesses could get a tax break for making cosmetic improvements but Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins said that program “was too onerous.”

The updated plan offers a localized way to incentivize businesses to improve their curb appeal by helping meet their needs as they grow and change. The funding priority is for front-facing businesses along Esquimalt Road and businesses at corner locations along the stretch, however, while there may be geographic and street orientation requirements, “there are no restrictions,” Desjardins said “around business type or design.”

The design support component used to be a prerequisite for businesses applying for façade enhancement funding, but it is no longer compulsory. Some businesses are only looking for new signage, an enhancement for which design but not architectural support is relevant.

Read the full story by Sidney Coles.

Around the 'Shore

🏥 Announcement of new Foundry integrated youth health facility in Westshore: The provincial government is putting up $1.5 million for a new integrated youth health centre in the Westshore area with the aim to provide better support for young people’s wellness. The centre, which is part of a provincewide initiative known as Foundry, will operate by combining various types of healthcare and social services for youth ages 12 to 24 and their families; services offered will range from things like mental health, addiction counselling, physical and sexual health care, peer support, and social services. [Vancouver Island Free Daily]

🍔 Tasting Victoria Best Restaurant Awards: The voting phase is now open. Vote for your favourite eateries in each of the 18 categories, and look out for the Westshore nominees. Vote now!

🔥 Sooke restaurant fire put out by staff and customers: Staff and customers of the 17 Mile House Pub in Sooke jumped into action this Tuesday evening after reports of flames started around 6:15pm. Staff and customers were able to douse the fire before first responders even arrived, and no damage was done to the building. [CHEK]

💰 The Victoria Foundation's 2024 Community Grants Program is accepting applications from non-profits and charities until March 7. Click here to apply for thousands of grant dollars!*

🌱 Langford child hospitalized after ingesting poisonous hemlock at school: A Langford elementary school student was sent to the hospital after ingesting poisonous hemlock last Wednesday, mistaking the hemlock for an edible plant. The incident took place during an after-school program through a third party at Crystal View Elementary, resulting in the removal of the soil and plants where the hemlock was; other schools in the area also have poisonous hemlock, so the district is warning students to be careful. [Times Colonist] 

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Community Events

🧺 Westhills Park community clean-up: Looking to make a difference in your community? Help clean up the Westhills Park community this March 9 from 10am to 1pm. With no prior experience needed, the goal is to contribute to general clean up, remove invasive species, and also learn more about wildfire safety practices. 

🌿 Seedy Saturday: This March 9, head to Belmont Secondary School and learn more about growing your garden. Going from 11am-3pm, ReImagine West Shore will guide you through growing your own vegetables and native plants; if you can’t attend the March 9 event, there will be more Seedy Saturdays in the future. 

🌊 Beach clean-up: Join Surfrider South Vancouver Island for their Whiffin Beach clean-up this March 10. Going from 11am to 1pm, members will collect waste which will be measured and recorded at the end of the event to help develop a data set to identify some of the main types of local pollution found on beaches. Surfrider hosts beach clean-ups throughout the year, so check out their schedule and see what dates work best for you.

What’s Offshore?

No ships today!

Westshore Snaps

Stoneridge Wetlands early morning fog in February. —Michael Faulkner, View Royal

That’s it!

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