Good morning!

With Halloween behind us, many people are wondering what to do with their rotting pumpkins. View Royal has a great solution that will both raise funds and get rid of pumpkins. All that and more in today’s edition of the Westshore.

— Emma

NEWS

Westshore communities may be up for legislated emergency planning upgrades

New legislation is supposed to support communities in BC to create pathways to stronger emergency response but it’s more of an elaborate design, not a blueprint. 

In his Fairness in a Changing Climate report released on Oct. 3, BC Ombudsman Jay Chalke found that existing Emergency Support Services (ESS) and the Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) programs in the province “were outdated, under-resourced and failed to meet diverse needs.”

One hour before Chalke issued his report, the Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma, tabled the new Emergency and Disaster Management Act (Bill 31) which includes some new and augmented responsibilities that will potentially impact Westshore municipalities.

New regulations in the Emergency Act, if implemented, would mean that municipalities in the Westshore will need to have clearer requirements for risk assessments, emergency management plans, and business continuity plans.

With  rapidly growing populations, it is more important than ever that municipalities in the region plan and prepare for whatever might come their way. For the Westshore, that means being able to count on paid first responders but it also means relying heavily on volunteers and community-based organizers. The heavy reliance on volunteers was one of Chalke’s disparagements about emergency planning in the province, but for Westshore communities, there is a void of clear alternatives.

Head to the Westshore to read the full story by Sidney Coles.

COMMUNITY

November holiday markets are here

Now that Halloween has passed, the holiday season feels like it’s just around the corner. Check out some of the Westshore’s early Christmas markets to get your family and friends some crafted goodies for the season. 

Winter Market: Visit this interactive winter market this Friday at the Station with free hot chocolate for the first 30 visitors. There will also be three workshops, vendor demonstrations, and so much more. Hosted by Julie’s Delights Chocolates, the event will run from 5-8pm and is free.

Strawberry Vale Christmas Craft Fair: From Nov. 3-5, take part in the 39th annual Strawberry Vale Christmas Craft Fair. Local Artisans come together to create a range of products, including items like Christmas decorations, body care products, pottery, bags, and treats. The fair opens at 5pm Friday until 9pm, and runs from 10am to 4pm on the weekend.

Craft Fair: Head to the Juan de Fuca 55+ Activity Centre this Nov. 4 and 5 for an early jump start to craft gifts. Browse over 30 tables with traditional craft items like quilts, jewelry, preserves, greeting cards, Christmas and regular decorations, and much more. You can even get a trinket for a toonie, and enter raffles to win prizes.

Westshore Craft Crawl Holiday market: Looking for a fun family adventure? The Westshore Craft Crawl is a drive-around market, with an interactive map that offers over 10 locations of places to stop and shop Christmas goods. Going from 10am to 4pm on Nov. 5, this is a great way to get out of the house and check out a variety of goods. 

Christmas Craft Fair: The Metchosin Hall Society’s Christmas Craft fair takes place a little later in November on the 18 and 19 from 10am to 4:30pm. Visitors can search through a bountiful of craft goods while enjoying the delicious refreshments offered.

Esquimalt Farmers Holiday Market: Hosting indoor markets throughout November, and a Christmas Market on Nov. 26, the Esquimalt farmers market runs from 11am to 5pm. Over 90 market vendors will be opening their stalls for the community to check out.

Around the 'Shore

🚨 Missing medication was not handed out on Halloween: After West Shore RCMP received reports of a Colwood home accidentally handing out pills instead of candy on Halloween night, they urged parents to check their kids' haul. On Wednesday afternoon, RCMP reported the medication had been found in another area of the home.  

🏫 Sooke School District receives funding from provincial government: As elementary schools struggle to support the over capacity of children in the area, the province announced it will be helping fund two schools to aid the teachers and families. Both Ruth King Elementary School and David Cameron Elementary School will receive funding to help expand the schools by 190 seats and eight new classrooms. 

👋 They’re there to talk at Intertidal Counselling & Wellness. Try a free consultation with one of their Registered Clinical Counsellors today.*

🚙 Drivers in the Greater Victoria area increase: With a population spike, the CRD has recently reported that there has been an increase in both households having vehicles and vehicles on the road. Making it to the top of the list, the Westshore and Saanich Peninsula were the two areas that had the most vehicles in Greater Victoria, whereas Victoria had the fewest number of vehicles. [Vancouver Island Free Daily]

*Sponsored Listing

Community Events

🗑️ Neighbourhood Cleanup: Join the Greater Victoria Green Team this Nov. 4 for their first neighbourhood litter cleanup in partnership with the City of Langford. Starting at 9:45am and going until 1pm, community members will meet at the Langford Station to pick up gloves, safety vests, litter pickers, bags, snacks and receive educational instruction before making their way to clean up the downtown. 

🛠️ Repair Cafe: Get an expert opinion and see if you can fix any old/broken items at the Sooke Community Hall this Nov. 5 at the repair cafe. Running from 10am to 2pm, volunteer ‘fixers’ will be available to help assess and repair electrical appliances, electronics, furniture, clothing, toys, and more to help save some money, and landfill waste. 

🎃 Pumpkin Smash: Don’t know how to dispose of your pumpkins? On Nov. 4, View Royal is inviting residents to bring their old pumpkins and drop them from the View Royal firefighters training tower onto a car. Going from 10am to 2pm, this is a unique and fun option to get rid of your Halloween carvings this season. Make sure to check out Capital Daily’s look at the history of View Royal’s Pumpkin Smash.

What’s Offshore?

🚢 The Pan Hope is a bulk carrier built in 2011 and is sailing under the flag of Panama. It is sailing from Port Edward 🇨🇦 ➡ Roberts Bank 🇨🇦 and was scheduled to arrive Oct. 23.

🛳 The Shagang Haili is a bulk carrier built in 2011 and is sailing under the flag of Panama. It is sailing from Port Edward 🇨🇦 ➡ Roberts Bank 🇨🇦 and was scheduled to arrive Oct. 27.

Westshore Snaps

Saxe Point looking over to Royal Bay. —Glenys Pumfrey, Colwood

That’s it!

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