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Good morning!

It's another great day here in the Westshore and I was excited to hear about many of your favourite things about the area. Today we have a story on the recent restoration work that Royal Roads University is doing in its historical gardens. Plus, the BCCDC says Southern Vancouver Island has the second highest food costs for healthy food in the province.

NEWS

Royal Roads is revitalizing its gardens

Long known for its beautiful gardens and historical architecture, Royal Roads University has made a commitment to refresh and renew its facilities—a reality that is now possible with the campaign, A Vision in Bloom.

On May 30, the University held an event and announced a $196,000 donation to the campaign from TD bank, something the university’s president Philip Steenkamp says is a gracious and exciting opportunity.

“The fundraising campaign was an initiative created to support all the work we are doing in the gardens, which was the focus of the announcement,” says Steenkamp. “Whether the support comes in the form of money, whether it's [people visiting], it's all equally valued.”

The gardens are an opportunity for both learning and research space, allowing students, faculty, and local members to become more educated in agriculture, history, and community.

The goals of the campaign are to:

• further tackle food insecurity and biodiversity through the kitchen and farm garden

• restore and share cultural heritage through the Japanese tea gardens

• act on reconciliation through the preservation and acknowledgement of Indigenous history.

Read the full story on The Westshore. 

SPONSORED BY MP ALISTAIR MACGREGOR

Proudly representing the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding since 2015

As your Member of Parliament, Alistair MacGregor understands that life for Canada’s workers should be getting easier; not harder. That’s why New Democrats successfully fought for an increase to the GST benefit, rent relief, and a national dental care program.

If you need assistance with federal agencies, or would like to know more about how Alistair is bringing Langford and Westshore voices to Ottawa, please contact him.

NEWS

South Vancouver Island is BC’s second-least affordable region for healthy food, BCCDC report finds

Many BC families and individuals cannot afford to eat a nutritious diet due to systemic inequalities, according to a Food Costing in BC 2022 report created by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) in collaboration with regional health authorities.

The average monthly cost in 2022 for a family of four in the Island Health region to eat healthily was $1,366. In the Southern Vancouver Island region it was $1,386, the second highest in BC after Northern Health’s Northwest region, which averaged $1,571.

“Access to affordable, culturally preferable, nutritious, and safe food is critical to the health and well being of British Columbians,” said Dr. Charmaine Enns, medical health officer for Island Health.

“Household food insecurity takes a major toll on people’s physical and mental health, social, and emotional wellbeing, and on our provincial healthcare system.”

The average monthly cost for a family of four in BC was $1,263. Nutritious diets are unaffordable to 15% of British Columbians.

“Food insecurity is a significant public health issue,” said Dr. Geoff McKee, medical director of Population and Public Health at BCCDC. “The price of food does not affect everyone equally and the root cause of household food insecurity are low incomes.”

The report indicates that policy action to increase incomes is necessary to combat food insecurity—but does not detail what policies will be implemented to do so. Food insecurity can lead to increased risks of chronic diseases including diabetes and heart disease, and food insecure adults cost the system up to 76% more than those who have access to healthy diets, according to the report.

Since summer, demand for food banks in Greater Victoria has grown more than 25%. Around Greater Victoria, volunteer organizations, such as Rainbow Kitchen in Esquimalt, continue to help individuals access food free-of-cost. But food banks say rising inflation and housing costs, in particular, are contributing to the lack of food security in the region.

Around the 'Shore

🚔 Drug trafficking and organized crime evidence seized by RCMP: The Westshore RCMP drug trafficking and organized crime unit teamed up with police around the area, including Langford, to execute nine search warrants during the month of May. A large seizure of evidence across the Westshore included weapons, cash, drugs, and stolen items. [Victoria Buzz]

💰️ $15,000 in donated funds given to RidgeView residents: On Sunday, funds from the GoFundMe organized by Our Langford were distributed to displaced residents of RidgeView Place. The residents have been displaced for more than a month. [CHEK]

🏡 New rentals in Greater Victoria under construction: The Island is looking at an expansion, with over 5,000 rentals around the area under construction. The rentals will range in price from low to high-end, and will include a number of different options for resident’s needs. [Citified]

📜 BC anti-racism committee releases an update on priorities: The Anti-Racism Data Act was created to safely collect data to identify, address, and eliminate systematic racism—the government has just released 12 priorities for anti-racism research, which is the first update since taking effect in June. [CTV]

🐜 Do you feel like you’re always avoiding being stepped on? Is anxiety getting in the way? They’re here to help at Intertidal Counselling & Wellness.*

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Community Events

🚲 Navy Bike Ride: Register online to take part in the annual Navy Bike Ride in Colwood this June 3. The race starts at 10:30am at the John Stubbs Memorial Elementary with both beginner or intermediate courses.

🤼‍♀️ Wrestle Craze: Local pro-wrestler Josh Cadwell is back in town and ready to take on competitors at Sooke Community Hall on June 3. Tickets can be purchased online, and doors open at 6pm for VIPs.

🤑 Happy Valley Community Garage Sale: Starting at 10am, a community garage sale will be held on Hazel Road on Sunday, June 4. Updates and additional information will be posted throughout this week.

What’s Offshore?

No ships for today!

Westshore Snaps

“Angel clouds taken from my back patio in Langford.” — Paul Young, Langford