Good morning!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which means plenty of family time and delicious food this weekend. With a number of markets and food-related events, make sure to check out our list of Thanksgiving events this weekend.

— Emma

NEWS

More transitional housing needed in Sooke for those fleeing domestic and family violence

Women and children’s advocates across Canada pinpointed the arrival of COVID as a flashpoint and spike source in domestic and family violence. The trend hasn’t really slowed.

The related statistics in Canada are increasingly grim. Every six days, a woman is killed by her intimate partner in Canada and on any given night, 6,000 women and children sleep in shelters to escape violence. In 2022, intimate partner-related homicide deaths (135) accounted for 9% of all homicide deaths in BC, according to reporting by the BC Coroner Service. Since the release of the BC Government’s 2014 Domestic Violence Report, homicide deaths for women related to Intimate Partner Violence in the province have increased nearly 30%—from 28 in 2014 to 38 in 2022.

At the root of much of the violence perpetrated against women is Canada is racism, inequality, misogyny and poverty, however, these are not the only determining factors and abuse can happen in all communities, to women of all ages and economic strata. The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) report has demonstrated that Indigenous women in BC are particularly vulnerable to abuse and violence at the hands of known and unknown perpetrators.

However, domestic violence does not always discriminate, nor does it simply end when government support programs finish and reports are issued. And it’s not just women, children and youth who are impacted by abuse. One in 12 seniors in British Columbia have experienced abuse. The mistreatment can come at the hands of a spouse or partner, family member, caregiver, friend or trusted individual in the person’s life.

Tracy Schetterer, Transition House Director of Annie’s Place in Sooke, knows these realities only too well. Annie’s Place, a member of the BC Society of Transition houses, provides supportive accommodation for up to 30 days for women (cisgender and transgender) and non-binary and two-spirit people who identify as part of the women’s community, with or without children. It has been operating in Sooke since 1994 and is funded by BC Housing and the Public Safety Solicitor General.

Annie’s Place is holding a fundraiser bottle drive on October 7, but whatever proceeds they net that day will be a drop in the bucket of their financial needs. For the past three years, the four-bedroom house that provides temporary shelter to women and children escaping abuse has been full nearly every day. “We are constantly having to turn people away or, whenever possible, refer them to other transition houses on the Island,” Schetterer said in a recent telephone interview. Additional transition houses are located in Coquitlam, Langley, Vancouver, Vernon, and Victoria.

Faced with the on-going demand, Schetterer’s wish list is short. “What I really want is a bigger house here and way more second stage housing.” After living for a time at Annie’s Place, women are invited to live in second stage housing for two-to-three years, where they continue to get the support of programs and counselling before they move out entirely on their own.

In the face of increasing needs of women, children, youth and elders escaping abuse in the region, municipal and provincial funders are being called on to respond.

SPONSORED BY INTERTIDAL WELLNESS

A Farewell to Summer

The counsellors at Intertidal Wellness are helping their clients bid farewell to summer.

Increasing darkness and a change of pace can be impactful for some who might require resources and tools to thrive as the season changes. For others, as they leave the summer frenzy behind, their thoughts and attention may turn inward, leading them toward growth, change and self-discovery.

Fall is a time of transition, which for some can bring up old thoughts, emotions, reactions and behaviour patterns they thought they had left behind them. The way we cope with stress can change at this time of year too.

Whatever your season-related challenge, the skilled therapists at Intertidal Wellness would love to meet you and explore with you how they can help.

Visit the website to book your free consultation.

COMMUNITY

Things to do Thanksgiving weekend in the Westshore

The Thanksgiving long weekend is a famously great time to get together with family and friends and celebrate community. To help your planning, the Westshore put together a selection of happenings—putting an emphasis on delicious foods. Here are five things for you to do this Thanksgiving weekend.

Oktoberfest: Head to the Sooke Community Hall on Oct. 5 for the Sooke Lions Club celebration of Oktoberfest. From 5:30 to 10:30pm, enjoy authentic German food, German music to dance to, and some German focused entertainment; tickets are available at Pharmasave, Forbes Pharmacy & WestShack Auto Repair.

Esquimalt Farmers Market: Grab some fresh ingredients this Thursday in preparation for the Monday holiday at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre from 4:30 to 6:30pm on Oct. 6. With a variety of crafted goods, fresh vegetables and treats, the Esquimal market is a good and early way to get groceries.

Goldstream Farmers Market: The year’s final Goldstream Farmers Market is happening Oct. 7 from 10am to 2pm. Hosted at Veterans Memorial Park, Langford’s market is host to a selection of fruits and vegetables, fresh-baked goods, and craft and textile creations.

Sooke Country Market: Sooke locals can head to the grassy field near the Sooke district hall for the last market of the season. Choose from crisp vegetables and fruits, crafts, baked goods and even body products on Oct. 7 from 10am to 2pm.

Thanksgiving dinner at the White Spot: Head to the Langford White Spot for their traditional turkey dinner or heat-and-serve dinner for two. The deal will last until Oct. 9 or when supplies run out—whichever comes first—and is available at all locations.

Around the 'Shore

🚔 Sooke RCMP investigate a crash that claimed the life of a motorcyclist: On Oct. 1 near Jordan River, a 56-year-old motorcyclist collided with a pickup truck. RCMP say they suspect the motorcyclist hit the truck after it attempted to pass when the truck was turning left at a campground. [Vancouver Island Free Daily]

⛪️ Our Lady of the Rosary Church set to be demolished: Langford’s oldest church, Our Lady of the Rosary, is set to be demolished in upcoming weeks. The church held its final mass on Sept. 17, capping more than 70 years of services and community gatherings. [Goldstream Gazette]

💉 New COVID booster program in BC: Starting Oct. 10, BC will be offering general vaccination eligibility. The province reports that with a rising number of COVID cases, it is also making masks mandatory in health facilities as of Oct. 3.

🎫 Grab a community campaign raffle today! Help United Way Southern Vancouver Island support local communities. Amazing prizes, fabulous cause; you truly can't lose!*

💃🏻 Dance Victoria presents New York’s world-class Gibney Company in a virtuosic mixed evening on November 17 and 18 at the Royal Theatre. Get tickets here!*

*Sponsored Listing

Community Events

🧵 Quilt Show and Gala: Are you a fan of sewing? From Oct. 12-14, enjoy the Sew Magic Quilt Show and Gala at 1089 Langford Parkway. Attendees will have the chance to view displays of handcrafted quilts, connect with the community and shop the marketplace throughout the event; the evening gala on Thursday from 7 to 9pm, and the quilt show on Friday from 10am to 5pm and Saturday from 10 am to 4pm.

⚽️ Pacific FC in playoffs: The local Westshore soccer team is heading to Alberta this week, as they play their first game on Oct. 7 against Cavalry FC in the Canadian Premier League playoffs. You can watch the team play the 3pm game online, and cheer on the local athletes.

🎨 Royal Bay art exhibit: To celebrate the opening of Royal Bay’s new retail village, The Commons, the city has transformed the corner space of Latoria Boulevard and Ryder Hesjedal Way into an art exhibition. From now until Nov. 4, with a variety of opening times each day, The Sum of Our parts will showcase Samantha Dickie, Laura Dutton and Roberta Pyx Sutherland’s artworks that reflect on the idea of many different parts coming together and forming something greater.

What’s Offshore?

⛴ #1 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

Sunrise from near Nanaimo in the morning. — Paul Young, Langford

That’s it!

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