Seasonal story
YOUTH: Langford nonprofit develops young athletes A3 COMMUNITY: Less rain doubles Goldstream eagles A5 SPORTS: Wolves close to breaking Cougars spell A17
Cast of 120, plus animals, tells the tale of Jesus’ birth Page A15
GOLDSTREAM
NEWS GAZETTE
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
SERVING THE BEST SUSHI ON THE WESTSHORE SINCE 2007 737 Goldstream Ave Beside Station House Pub
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Crash reenforces road concerns Kyle Wells News staff
Langford resident Ian Phillips is concerned over the safety of a stretch of Goldstream Avenue and would like to see something done about it. Phillips has lived off of Goldstream Avenue for 34 years, has watched the area grow and is getting tired of seeing traffic accidents on the stretch of road from roughly between the split with Wale Road and St. Anthony’s Professional Centre. The stretch of road has no centre turn lane, few sidewalks, bike lanes between traffic and parked cars and gravel shoulders. Phillips, who worked in the engineering department for the City of Victoria for 33 years, believes changes need to be made. “Because of my background I see these things,” Phillips said. “I’ll feel ‘Geez, if I don’t say anything and then there’s a serious accident I’m going to feel terrible.’” An accident near Kingswood Road on Nov. 27 which involved four vehicles brought the issue to mind again for Phillips. While the accident didn’t cause any serious injuries, and was started by a pickup truck hitting a car which had pulled over so its driver could answer a cell phone call, it reaffirmed Phillips’ view that the street is ripe for incidents. Kyle Wells/News staff
PleASe See: Cities take second look, Page A9
Langford resident Ian Phillips is concerned infrastructure shortcomings on Goldstream Avenue are leading to accidents and could result in a tragedy. The City of Langford says the street is safe but plans to instal more streetlights.
West Shore set as priority for housing society Kyle Wells News staff
A Victoria-based society is taking over the quest to establish temporary youth housing on the West Shore, with a goal to have housing up and running by spring 2014. In its recently released five-year strategic plan, Threshold Housing Society identified expansion into the West
Shore as a key priority. “We’re anxious to open up. We feel the need, the call has been heard, we’re trying to respond,” executive director Mark Muldoon said. The society’s goal is to establish semi-independent housing on the West Shore for homeless youth who need lifeskill building and cannot live alone. With a live-in supervisor and access to programs, the project is hoped to house four to six youth for long-term transitional housing.
Threshold is now on the hunt to buy, build or rent a house for the project, along with the money to do it. With Threshold taking hold of the reigns, Bill McElroy believes it’s time for the West Shore Emergency Youth Housing Task Force, which he chairs, to call it a day and celebrate its modest victories. PleASe See: Threshold forges ahead, Page A10
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