Good morning! 

Love is in the air, and with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I’m panicking to find a last minute gift for my Valentine. Like myself, many people are still looking for the perfect present for their loved one. So, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we wanted to share a list of local places to shop for the ideal gift for your loved one. Check that out and more in today’s edition of the Westshore.

— Emma

HOUSING

Langford begins its 2024 budget process

Last Thursday, Feb. 8, marked the beginning of the City of Langford 2024 budget process as it moves to consolidate its proposed five-year financial plan. Staff made its presentation to council whose members, as of the timing of that meeting, had not yet seen any of the information presented.

Significant proposed additions to Langford’s 2024 municipal budget include the hiring of three new RCMP officers, nine additional fire fighters, and three new Community Safety and Municipal Bylaw Enforcement staff. In fact, 20.86%, the highest item percentage of the proposed budget, will go to policing and CSMBE services. 

Some good news arising from the budget presentation? Last year, 30% of Langford’s tax dollars in 2023 stayed-ish in Langford, meaning they went into services that directly impact residents there and that was revenue not shared with other provincial entities like BC Hydro. The bad news? Over a nine-year period, Langford has used $6.8M of its General Amenity Funds to offset property taxes rather than spend those funds on traditional amenities.

Langford residents are not the top property taxpayers in the CRD. The budget presentation to council showed that total residential taxes paid on a representative house in Langford in 2023 was $4,008. In Colwood it was $4,547 and in Esquimalt it was $5,140. Would-be owners of a representative house in Victoria paid $6,461 but it was Saanich residents who topped out the list at $6,800 for the CRD.

Langford’s financial plan proposes an 11.79% property tax increase in 2024.

Head to the Westshore to learn more about the budget process and why property taxes are increasing. 

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RECREATION

Last minute Valentine’s gifts

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and plenty of people are still looking for the perfect gift to give their loved ones. With a number of great local options around the Westshore, we wanted to share some places with special Valentine’s deals and selections to make your day sweeter. Here are six local places to shop for your Valentine:  

Flowers

Petals n Buds: Looking for a way to wow your loved one? Petals n Buds has a variety of special Valentine’s bouquets made just for you. With pre-made options like the Bold Desire arrangement, or even a designer’s choice in which a florist decorates a unique-bouquet ranging in size and price, this local florist has you covered when it comes to extravagant flower arrangements.  

Brown’s the Florist: With a number of different shops around Greater Victoria including one in Langford, Brown’s the Florist is offering Valentine’s deals at all of its locations. Having won a number of awards for arrangements, Brown’s is a well-known choice when it comes to gifts of love. Featuring roses in many of the bouquets, there are also wine and chocolate boxes, plants, and many more options to search through. 

Treats 

Spoon and Spade: Dig into a delicious box of charcuterie made with locally sourced ingredients with Spoon and Spade’s Graze Boxes. Check out their special Valentine’s Box or go for a treat with the Sweet Box, great for a date-night activity where you can spend time with your loved one at home and sample delicious food. Pick-up is available in Colwood or Duncan.  

Julie’s Delights: What’s Valentine’s Day without chocolate? Julie’s Delights has products like the Date Night Box, ideal for a chocolate lover's date night, or the Naughty Box for you and friends to enjoy together. While the Langford location is currently closed, you can still find Julie’s Delights online or at the Langford Station. 

Time for two 

Spa A’lita: Enjoy a relaxing day at the spa with your loved one with Spa A’lita’s special February deals. With sales on couples massages, hydro-peels, and more, this is a great gift for you to give your partner a much needed break or to enjoy some well-needed rest together.  

House of Boateng: Is dessert for dinner your dream? The House of Boateng’s pastry chef Emily Poisson is hosting a Valentine’s dinner that features sweet flavours as the focal point. Hosted on Feb. 16, tickets are on sale until 9:05pm tonight, so make sure to RSVP.

Around the 'Shore

🦆 Langford is a top location for spring bird watching: Spring is near and locals are excited for birds to make their journey across the province during migratory season, with Langford being one of the top spots to check out the spectacle. Langford has collaborated with the website bcbirdtrail.ca, a platform designed to make birding accessible for everyone, to help learn more about where, when, and what type of birds can be found; known for its diverse habitats and strategic location, this is a prime time for bird-watchers and enthusiasts. [Victoria Buzz] 

🚔 Police looking for man who cloned credit card: Sooke RCMP are seeking public assistance in the search for a man who is suspected of cloning a credit card and purchasing two generators worth around $7,000. The suspect is described as a 5’8” South Asian man around 40 to 45 years old with a heavy build—police say he was wearing a dark-coloured hoodie and jeans at the time of the purchase. [CHEK]

🗳️ Green Party announces candidate for Esquimalt-Colwood riding: The BC Green Party just announced that Camille Currie will be the MLA candidate in the Esquimalt-Colwood riding. Currie ran in last summer’s Langford-Juan de Fuca byelection, taking third place with just under 18% of the vote.

Community Events

🎨 Celebrate! Art Show: Join the Arts and Culture Colwood Society this Feb. 14 for the adjudicated Celebrate! Art Show in honour of the grand opening of the new Arts and Culture Centre. The show will go until March 14 and features a variety of local artists' work, including live performances on select dates; the centre’s operational hours will be Wednesday through Friday from 10am to 3pm, and Saturdays from 12pm to 4pm for the exhibition. We chatted with the president of the Arts and Culture Colwood Society last week, read that story here.

🗺️ Moss Cottage and Triangle Island Lighthouse tours: Looking for a historic and engaging activity this Family Day weekend? The Sooke Region Museum is hosting tours of Moss Cottage and Triangle Island Lighthouse this Feb. 17 from 11am-3pm for anyone to join. With tours approximately every 20 minutes, this is a great free option to check out. 

🍸 Crochet & Cocktails: Join Artisan 101 this Feb. 20 for a crochet and cocktails party workshop at the White Spot. Going from 6 to 9:30pm, you’ll get the opportunity to learn crochet techniques from scratch, meet fellow craft enthusiasts, and enjoy the cozy atmosphere of White Spot Langford's private room. Tickets are on sale but hurry because there’s only 25 available spots.

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.

Westshore Snaps

Great Blue Heron perched above Esquimalt Lagoon. —Chris Smith, Lagoon Beach

That’s it!

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