GOLDSTREAM Paying it forward
Local business owner helps out her community Page A3
NEWS GAZETTE
COMMUNITY: Terry Fox run continues at new venue /A3 ELECTION: Candidate profiles continue /A5 SPORTS: Speedway crowns season champs /A20
OWNED AND OPERATED BY AN AWARD WINNING SOMMELIER & BEER JUDGE THANKS TO OUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT DURING OUR RESTORATION AFTER OUR RECENT FIRE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP PLEASE CONTACT WWW.GOFUNDME.COM/ HAPPYHOMEBREWER
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Friday, September 18, 2015
www.goldstreamgazette.com
Local housing issues different than downtown West Shore municipalities may not be facing the same challenges with homelessness, council members say Katherine Engqvist News Gazette staff
A Victoria-driven proposal to end visible homelessness in the region may not be the ultimate solution for all municipalities. Elected officials from the West Shore are voicing concerns over being potentially included in a plan to levy a $11 per household fee to cover operating costs of new housing units for the region’s chronically homeless. They also indicated that a downtownfocused plan may not address issues prominent in West Shore communities. Langford Coun. Denise Blackwell, who chairs the city’s planning, zoning and affordable housing committee, hadn’t seen any information on the proposal announced by Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps earlier this week, let alone any statistics or figures to support it, other than some councillors’ remarks. “I think it’s unfortunate … they put it out there before it went to the CRD,” Blackwell said. Blackwell, who represents Langford on the Capital Regional District and Capital Regional Hos-
pital boards, said Langford has its own housing strategy because the West Shore is often faced with different issues than municipalities closer to the core. “We have an affordable housing program we’ve been running for a number of years where people get to buy a house,” she said. “It’s been quite successful.” Homelessness is “not something that’s front and centre in Langford,” she added, noting that the City was more focused on addressing the issue of accessibility to affordable housing for its residents. Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton voiced similar concerns, that housing issues on the West Shore don’t necessarily coincide with those downtown. She also noted that her city is not a member of the CRD’s affordable housing program because of differing objectives. “We weren’t seeing an opportunity there,” she said. Hamilton said research suggests that Colwood has a more pressing issue of children being over represented in the homeless population, and it has taken a position to target those causes.
Don Descoteau/News Gazette staff
Robbie and Terry Groves feed and operate an old-fashioned corn shelling machine at last year’s Luxton Fall Fair. The event runs today through Sunday at the Luxton Fairgrounds.
Fair offers glimpse into history Weekend agri-fair includes popular midway, truck & tractor pulls Arnold Lim News Gazette staff
The Luxton Fall Fair might be glittering a little more than past years. Running today (Sept. 18) through Sunday at the Luxton Fairgrounds, the fair shines the spotlight on the strong women of the gold rush and offers enough of a different hue to set this year’s family friendly event apart from
PLEASE SEE: Providing housing in region, Page A6
past fairs, says a volunteer with the Metchosin Farmers Institute. “I have been in the mining industry for half my life and I had never heard of these women and what they accomplished,” said Bruce Chaytor. “It’s not (told as) part of our history … It will be an interesting eye-opener for people.” The Heritage Museum on the fairgrounds features a full exhibit on Women in Mining featuring books, information and artifacts spotlighting such people as Nellie Cashman, the “Miner’s Angel” who used much of the fortune she made for philanthropic efforts, including helping the Sisters of St. Ann build St. Joseph’s
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Hospital in Victoria. Another story tells of Cashman helping save 77 lives when she risked her life and embarked on a 75-day trip during a cold Northern B.C. winter to bring food and medical supplies to a group that had been cut off from supplies. “I think this is an opportunity for people to learn about some of the strong unsung heroes of our past and learn some of the things they did to overcome adversity,” Chaytor said. The Women in Mining display is but one of many things to see and do at the Luxton Fall Fair.