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Singing those blues away at the Island Blues Bash Page A13
OAK BAYNEWS Friday, August 30, 2013
www.vicnews.com
Welcome, neighbour!
Oak Bay students will live through construction
Block party season culminates in September; Oak Bay counts 28 street-based events this year
New high school project will affect two years of classes
Danielle Pope News staff
Annie Weeks loves spending time with her neighbours. She lives on one of the most remarkable streets in Oak Bay, after all, so residents hardly need an excuse to celebrate – but they’ll take one anyway. People around the district are blocking off their final summer weekends to celebrate with their friends next door, as block party season “We enjoy these enters its last month. This year, Oak Bay will parties more every celebrate 28 block paryear and it just makes ties throughout the area; from 20 parties in 2012. it a great experience up And although the mayor, police and fire officials aim to live here. We all to make it out to every cellove each other.” ebration, the best thing for – Annie Weeks residents is realizing you live beside people you like. “We think this is a very special street and so many interesting people live here,” says Weeks, who resides on Hamiota Street. “We enjoy these parties more every year and it just makes it a great experience to live here. We all love each other.” Block parties have become a tradition in Oak Bay. Six parties were recently approved by council for this coming week alone. “We, as a council, encourage block parties to be held as often as possible,” Mayor Nils Jensen says. “It really builds that neighbourly feel, and I try to make it out to all of them. It’s a great community-building opportunity for people who live on the block.” For Hamiota residents, a long-standing tradition will be carried out where one side of the street is delegated to bring a savoury dish while the other side provides dessert.
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Block Watch gatherings, Page A5
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Danielle Pope News staff
Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Having a ball Three-year-old Kaden Trafton rides the zipline Tuesday at the Rotary Water Park in Carnarvon Park. Kaden and sister Taylor, 6, ran through the spray at the park, but found the water too cold in the fall-like weather. The water park, scheduled to remain open through September, may get more use this weekend, with forecasts calling for sunny skies and warmer temperatures. Sharpie
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School bells will be ringing soon at Oak Bay High. And with construction underway as classes kick off Sept. 3, school officials are gearing up to help students and community members navigate the altered premises. “We’ve already been in discussions with students as of last spring,” said principal Dave Thomson. “Students need to be engaged with the process so they can take some ownership in our new building.” As part of that effort, Thomson has created a student advisory group made up of two students from each grade to address any issues – from noise and distraction complaints to anything that comes up along the way. “We don’t believe this will cause us any long-term stress. That doesn’t mean everyone is enamoured with this happening, but from a community perspective this is the right thing to do,” he said. While most students are excited about the new building, Thomson said, there are those who have expressed sadness and nostalgia for the building that is destined to be torn down.
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