Goldstream News Gazette, June 05, 2024

SchoolAge5-12Years

Wednesday, June 19

11:00 am – 2:30 pm

The Wellesley 2800 Blanshard St., Victoria

Please join us for a Kick-off to Summer BBQ & Open House at the Wellesley retirement residence on June 19.

Take a tour of the community and have some fun, too, with good music, good friends and good food. Don’t forget the prizes and giveaways!

Walk-ins welcome!

To RSVP, contact Jeff Nahnybida, Community Relations Manager, at M. 250-514-5114

E. jnahnybida@retirementconcepts.com

retirementconcepts.com

B.C. moves to seize properties linked to Savages motorcycle club

Mark Page News Staff

The B.C. government is taking steps to seize two properties, as well as cash and a vehicle, from three people allegedly linked to the Savages Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.

A civil forfeiture claim was filed on May 29 in the B.C. Supreme Court against John Robert-Lee Riches and two others to confiscate a strata lot on Goldstream Avenue, a single-fam-

ily home on Sooke Road, a 2014 Dodge Ram and about $47,000 in cash.

The claim stems from a Greater Victoria drug-trafficking investigation that resulted in Jan. 31 RCMP raids on both properties, as well as on the Savages’ Langford clubhouse.

At the time, police called the Savages a “support club” for the Hells Angels.

This is a civil forfeiture claim, and none of the defendants have been charged with a crime related to the raids, though several other people

were charged as a result of the investigation.

The defendants have 21 days from when they are served notice to file a response if they wish to dispute the claim, otherwise a judgment could automatically be made in favour of the province.

Riches is said to be the sole registered owner of the Goldstream Avenue property, while the Sooke Road property is owned by Kenneth Sylvan Baker and Taylor Church.

Continued on A7

THE BIG HAUL

The Greater Victoria Green Team clears unwanted plants to make way for native species in Murray’s Pond Park in Colwood. (Courtesy Greater Victoria Green Team)

Wealth is measured by what you give to others

Tim Collins Contributor

Indigenous Peoples have a rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity that has shaped the Canada we know today.

That fundamental truth will be on full display at Starlight Stadium in Langford on Saturday, June 8 when the Change Makers Gathering Festival opens its doors to the community for an afternoon of games, cultural events, food and fun.

The free event is offered to the entire community to honour Indigenous culture, values, and history. It also recognizes the invaluable and generous guidance of Indigenous knowledge keepers who are helping to make the event happen.

Charla Huber, an Indigenous relations and communications consultant and organizer of the festival, was a driving force behind the creation of the Change Makers Gathering Festival.

She said the event shares Indigenous knowledge in a safe place.

“A key part of reconcilia-

tion is about people educating themselves (about Indigenous people) and this festival is an opportunity for people to come and participate. It’s a chance to learn and to have fun.”

Huber credits the participation of a dedicated group of volunteers and the generous support of sponsors for the event’s success.

This year’s festival is sponsored by Langford Fire Rescue, Metchosin Fire Dept., Sc’ianew Cheanuh First Nation, the Metchosin Arts and Cultural Centre Associates, FortisBC, Keycorp, the Indigenous Prosperity Centre, West Shore Parks and Recreation, Charla Huber Indigenous Communications, the Province of BC, the City of Langford

and the Goldstream Gazette.

“It is such an honour for the City to host the Change Makers Gathering Festival for the third year in a row,” said Scott Goodmanson, Mayor of Langford. “Council has committed to take action towards reconciliation by working to implement the actions specific to local government as outlined in the Truth and

Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action. This event aligns with our priority to collaborate with Indigenous partners and celebrate Indigenous culture.”

Festival attractions will include educational and artistic features, including an Elder-led cedar weaving workshop with two Coast Salish artists – one doing Coast Salish collage and design, and the other drawing and painting.

There will be several Indigenous artisans on site as well and, in another area of the festival, teens will be able to paint their own skateboard decks (perhaps incorporating what they’ve learned about Indigenous art). The decks and paint will be provided free of charge.

Of course, no festival would be complete without entertainment: the Change Makers Gathering Festival will welcome an impressive collection of Indigenous drum and dance groups and, at 1 p.m., there’ll be a performance by hip hop/ rap artist Stax.

Food is also a part of every festival and again, the festival won’t disappoint.

“We’ll have a free Bannock taco lunch for people to enjoy. That’s a modern Indigenous food and it’s delicious,”Huber said.

The very fact that the event has been organized in a way that provides food, entertainment and activities free of charge is indicative of the Indigenous culture that is being celebrated.

“This is all part of Indigenous values and culture. It’s a gift to the community and (in Indigenous culture) a sign of wealth has always been measured in what you give away, not what you keep,” Huber said.

“It’s an important, valuable event for everyone and we’ve worked really hard to create something for the whole community. And it seems to have worked since we get a whole cross-section of the entire community coming out and participating.”

The sixth annual Change Makers Gathering Festival takes place at the Starlight Stadium in Langford and will run between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. For more info, visit langford. ca/changemakers.

Miracle on Bear Mountain raises over $1 million for Victoria hospital

Thomas Eley News Staff

A ‘miracle’ happened on Bear Mountain on Saturday, May 25, as a record-breaking $1 million was raised for the Victoria Hospital Foundation.

The Miracle on the Mountain event held at the Westin Bear Mountain Resort, a sold out event, raised money in support a new CT scanner for Victoria General Hospital (VGH).

The event couldn’t have started better as local donor Craig Mearns announced he would be matching all donations up to $500,000.

“It’s so important that we all give to ensure our hospitals have the best technology and latest equipment,” said Mearns. “We are all better for it.”

Initially, $956,000 was raised Westshore and Foundations came together throughout the weekend to help reach the seven figure mark. Included in that was former Langford mayor Stew Young who pledged a $10,000 donation from his Westshore Charity Tournament and

got many other local businesses to donate.

“It goes to show that people on the West Shore want their healthcare to be better,” Young said.

More than 450 guests donated over the course of the event.

“This final total is a tribute to the incredible philanthropists in our community and a pure reflection of the Westshore’s generous nature,” said Avery Brohman, Victoria Hospitals Foundation CEO.

The money goes towards the Victoria Hospitals Foundation’s Imaging is Power campaign, which is now just a little over $1 million away from their $11 million goal.

In previous years, the Miracle on the Mountain raised $600,000 and $700,000, but this year’s gala broke that record in four hours.

“We know that the strongest hospitals across Canada have the strongest philanthropy, and what we have done for our imaging department at VGH is powerful and transformative. It is a great privilege to witness such intentional philanthropy,” Brohman said.

Victoria Hospitals Foundation team members, including Foundation CEO Avery Brohman, join local donor Craig Mearns, Radiologist Dr. John Hickle, Westshore champion Stew Young, and presenting sponsor and Gala Chair Amy Ratcliff in celebrating the success of Miracle on the Mountain 2024 in front of a CT scanner supported by the event. (Photo submitted/ Julia Loglisci)

The crowd watches as dancers perform at the Change-Makers Gathering Festival in 2022. (Justin SamanskiLangille/News Staff)

Law enforcement agencies from B.C. and the United States have charged a Langford man with child exploitation after a jointinvestigationthat began last fall.

Jae Alexander Hegan was arrested in January after the BritishColumbiaIntegrated Child Exploitation Unit (BC ICE) and West Shore RCMP executed a search warrant on a Langford home. He was then released with a number of conditions relating to children and internet access. The 31-year-old man from the Langford area now faces seven criminal charges.

participating in child exploitation on a social media app. BC ICE identified Hegan, who police on Tuesday (May 28) said lured three youth victims online and exploited them. The man made child sexual abuse material of the victims and posted thatmaterialontheinternetforotherstosee, a police news release said.

The investigation began in September 2023 when the child exploitation unit received information from U.S. Homeland Security investigators about a suspect believed to be in B.C. who was allegedly

Hegan now faces criminal charges including: making or publishing child pornography, making child pornography available, possession of child pornography, accessing child pornography, making sexually explicit material available to a person under the age of 16 and two counts of child luring.

Investigators recognizedthecollaboration between the Canadian and U.S. units to identify and arrest Hegan.

“Online child exploitation poses a grave threat to the well-being of our youth, and this case highlights the importance of cross-border cooperation in combating these crimes,” saidBCICEStaff Sgt. Natalie Davis. “Predators are online and accessing our youth at home, in the privacy of their bedrooms. It is important for adults to have conversations withtheyouthsintheir livesabouthowtostay safe online.”

Police say the investigationisongoingbut no more information will be released now that the case is before the courts.

TheB.C.government in recent months tabled legislation aimed atholdingsocialmedia giants accountable for the harms their algorithms cause people, especially kids. That legislation, which would allow

the province to sue tech giants over tactics deemed harmful to children, has been put on pause after companies like Meta, Snap, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) agreed to take part in anonlinesafetyaction table.

The Public Health Accountability and CostRecoveryActwas tabled after Premier David Eby promised the parents of Carson Cleland the province would hold social media companies accountable, following the 12-year-old boy’s suicide death. Cleland was a victim of online sextortion, which included the sharing of intimate images to an online user who had pretended to be a young girl. The boy then received extortion threats.

This year has also seen the federal government introduce its online harms bill, which would target content that sexually victimizes a child. The legislation would createanewdigitalsafety commissionthatcould order such content to be removed within 24 hours of images shared without an individual’s consent.

With files from Wolf Depner and The Canadian Press

of Langford/ Contributed)

Langford reveals banner for National Indigenous History Month, Pride Month

The City of Langford has unveiled new banners recognizing National Indigenous History Month on Thursday, May 30.

“When making this design, I wanted to create a unity between both the 2SLGBTQIA+ and the Indigenous communities that would be seen as powerful for both groups and equally meaningful for people residing in both groups,” said Jeannie Chipps daughter of Russ Chipps, Chief of Sc’ianew First Nation.

Chipps incorporated the colours of the pride flag with aspects of Indigenous culture, and the ‘Rainbow Trout’ flag will be displayed on lampposts along Goldstream Avenue.

June is National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month.

“These banners celebrate Indigenous art and culture and represent the spirit of diversity and inclusion that we strive to cultivate within the community,” said Mayor of Langford Scott Goodmanson.

Langford is one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada, and the project aligns with the council’s strategic objective of taking meaningful actions toward reconciliation.

“Fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and included is a priority of Council,” Goodmanson said.

On Saturday, June 8, Langford is hosting the annual ChangeMakers Gathering Festival on Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Starlight Stadium.

The event honours Indigenous art, culture, values, and history and includes live music and workshops.

FAMILYDENTAL

BorninMontrealandraisedinYellowknife, Dr.NegaarNadjibringsauniqueblendof warmthandexpertisetoLangford, Victoria.

AgraduateofMcGillUniversity,Dr.Nadji returnedtoherrootsinYellowknifeto workforherchildhooddentistbefore makingthemovetoVictoriatobecloserto family.Sincearriving,she'sbeen embracedbytheLangfordcommunity with openarms.

FluentinEnglish,French,andFarsi,Dr. Nadjii snotonlyaskilledpractitionerbut alsoacompassionatecommunicator.

Withthreelittleonesofherown,Dr.Nadjiunderstandsthe importanceofafriendly,welcomingdentalenvironment, especiallyforfamilies.Herpassionistocreateaspacewhe re childrenandtheirlovedoneseagerlyanticipatetheirdent al visits.Sheadoresseeingchildrenaspatients!

JoinusinexperiencingthecareanddedicationofDr .Nadjiand ourentireteam!

Thomas Eley News Staff

Cabana – Group Publisher michelle.cabana@blackpress.ca

OPINION OUR VIEW

An efficient solution to tackle housing crisis

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s latest report highlights some little-discussed problems behind Canada’s ongoing housing crisis.

We’ve all heard about how long it takes to get permits, about the cost of materials and land, and about how difficult it is to find workers.

One thing the report highlights is just how many people are involved in the construction industry in Canada. According to the report, authored by CMHC vice-president Mathieu Laberge, 650,000 people work in the homebuilding industry. That’s more than 16 per cent of Canada’s population.

Laberge also notes that the efficiency of those workers has declined. Some of that is inefficiencies at the institutional level, but Laberge points out that major efforts are underway to fix that side of things. From local councils to B.C.’s housing reforms to Ottawa’s Housing Accelerator program, cities are cutting red tape, speeding up approvals, and increasing density.

But that won’t do it all.

The CMHC report points out that the Canadian construction industry is made up of countless tiny businesses. Across the country, 69 per cent of homebuilding businesses have five or fewer employees. Bigger firms might find more efficiencies, Laberge suggests.

There are some bright spots in the report, including the finding that the number of homes being built per capita is much higher in Calgary and the Vancouver area than in other regions of the country.

If every major centre built homes at the rate of those two cities, Canada would have seen more than 430,000 new units built last year – almost double the 223,000 constructed.

However we find greater efficiency – in design, in modular building, in permitting –that has to be a big part of getting ourselves out of our housing hole.

Making homebuilding more efficient will free up workers to help Canada get out of its housing crisis.

The GOLDSTREAM GAZETTE s a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please contact: editor@goldstreamgazette.com or call 778-746-4010. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the web site at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.

Copyright and/or property rightssubsistinalladvertisements andinallothermaterialappearing in this edition of The Gazette. Permission to reproduce wholly or in part and in any form whatsoever, particularly by a photographic or offset process in a publication, must be obtained in writing from the publisher. Any unauthorized reproduction will be subject to recourse in law.

Vola Coates took this photo of a young turkey vulture that landed

in Colwood. If you have a photo you’d like to feature in Community

the

room@goldstreamgazette.com. Please include your name, contact information and where you took the photo. COMMUNITY

COLUMN

We welcome your opinions and comments. To put readers on equal footing, and to be sure that all opinions are heard, please keep letters to less than 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for style, legality, length and taste. We will not publish anonymous letters. Send your letters to: newsroom@ goldstreamgazettecom.

Pirates plundered an important role in world history

Without piracy, the world’s history would have gone very differently.

Piracy is usually thought of through the lens of Treasure Island or Pirates of the Caribbean – a brief swashbuckling era in the 18th century filled with cutlasses, cannons, and bearded men saying “Arrr, matey!”

But piracy has existed as long as we’ve had boats and stuff worth stealing.

Pirates of some sort have existed in and around every seafaring culture for thousands of years, in every part of the world.

But piracy really made history when it intersected with the politics of the colonization of the Americas.

Going back as far as the Bronze Age Collapse around 1200 BC, the Egyptian pharaohs found themselves fending off what became known as the Sea People, some kind of violent mass-migration or invasion force with sizable warships. Historians still don’t have a clear idea where they came from. Women like Zheng Yi Sao in China and Grace O’Malley in Ireland carved out careers as bandit queens of the high seas.

By the late 1500s, the Spanish Empire ranged from Florida and Texas down to South America.

Spain used enslaved and forced Indigenous labourers to mine the richest silver deposits in the world for centuries.

But all that silver – and gold and other goodies Spain was extracting from its colonial empire – had to be hauled back across the Atlantic.

Enter the pirates.

Not that they called themselves that. Whether it was Sir Francis Drake in the 1570s, or Sir Henry Morgan almost a century later, the rulers of England gave these sea-going raiders permission to go after enemies of the state.

When those enemies included Spain, that meant it was practically open season. Anyone with a boat, a crew, and some gunpowder could get a letter of marque – official per-

mission to be a pirate, as long as you picked the right victims.

Drake would circle the world after raiding numerous settlements in South and Central America. (No one expects the Spanish… to be attacked from the Pacific Ocean.) They limped home years after everyone thought they were dead. But they brought back so much silver, they’d been using it for ship’s ballast.

Piracy was used as a tool of warfare and colonialism for a solid century and a half. Every time there was a lull in official fighting, the privateers would wander off and become pirates, then huddle under the skirts of official recognition as soon as Britain, France, Spain, and the Netherlands started squabbling again.

Men who began their careers as raiders explored distant lands, mapped unknown shores, were granted knighthoods, and retired rich and respected.

Or died of scurvy, storms, or a hangman’s noose. Piracy is still with us, but it no longer serves great powers, so they make every effort now to stamp it out.

Matthew Claxton is a reporter with the Langley Advance Times.

Michelle

on

deck railing of her home overlooking Lookout Lake

Camera, email us a high-resolution .jpg copy to news-

Sonica Parmar Social Media Coordinator sonica.parmar@ blackpress.ca

Thomas Eley Multimedia Journalist thomas.eley@ blackpress.ca

Jake Romphf Multimedia Journalist jake.romphf@ blackpress.ca

Matthew Claxton Painful Truth

Langford breaks barriers: Joins Victoria Pride Parade

Thomas Eley News Staff

For the first time, the City of Langford will participate in the Victoria Pride Parade on July 7.

“It is important to see yourself in the community,”Langford Coun. Kimberly Guiry said.

Guiry said she would be at the parade again this year after she, along with councillors Mary Wagner and Colby Harder, attended last year.

“It is a big privilege.”

Langford is already a member of the Victoria Pride Society and participating in the parade aligns with the council’s priority of fostering an inclusive environment in the city.

“We are thrilled to welcome the City of Langford in the Victoria Pride Parade,” said Ace Mann, president of Victoria Pride Society.

ing in both groups,” Jeannie Chipps said.

The banners feature the rainbow trout and incorporate the colours of the pride flag with Indigenous culture.

“When making this design, I wanted to create a unity between the 2SLGBTQIA+ and the Indigenous communities that would be seen as powerful for both groups and equally meaningful for people resid-

Along with attending the Pride Parade, the Langford displayed new city banners designed by Jeannie Chipps, daughter of Russ Chips, Chief of Sc’ianew First Nation (Beecher Bay).

The banners will be displayed on lampposts along Goldstream Avenue in downtown Langford.

“These initiatives represent progress in fostering a more inclusive and respectful community for all, and we are grateful to see these symbols of diversity and equity,” Mann said.

Most of the money was found at Baker’s residence, but money, drugs, guns (or ammunition) and other paraphernalia was found at both properties.

A list of justifications for the seizure are given, but the general argument is that the property was either used to commit a crime, or was paid for with the illicit and unde-

clared proceeds from unlawful activity.

The claim alleges that both Riches and Baker trafficked in controlled substances in Victoria and the surrounding areas.

Riches is the only person named as a member of the Savages, though Baker is alleged to also be a member of a criminal organization.

It is said that Church “ought to have known”the manner in

which his property was being used.

In total, nine properties were searched on Jan. 31. Police found 450 grams of fentanyl, 150 grams of methamphetamine, 200 grams of psilocybin, as well as smaller amounts of crack cocaine, two weapons and just over $46,000 in cash.

The Savages Langford clubhouse has since been listed for sale for over $1.3 million.

The City of Langford will help fill the streets for the Victoria Pride Parade.

(Courtesy Victoria Pride Society)

One-stop mental health shop throwing pizza party in Langford on June 24

West Shore Foundry will cater to people aged 12-24 and their families

Thomas Eley News Staff

Thrive Social Services is throwing a pizza party on Wednesday, June 5, at Veterans Memorial Park in Langford from 4 to 6 p.m. to celebrate the launch of the West Shore Foundry.

“This is not about talking heads. It is about gathering the community to celebrate,” Scott Bradford, Thrive executive director, said.

The Foundry is a one-stop mental health shop incorporating primary care, sexual health, mental health, peer support, family support and social services under one roof.

“It’s really comprehensive. Young people and their families will know exactly where to go. Instead of bouncing around the city trying to find who’s got the shortest waitlist,” Bradford said.

The centre is slated to open in 2026 and will give the team at Thrive plenty of time to get everything ready at the Foundry for when the project is complete.

It will cater to people aged 12-24, whether their needs are physical, mental, or substance-related.

The Foundry will examine all these needs and find ways to address them.

“If one block is missing, it makes the whole entity unstable. So we must recognize that to be stable in life, we must address all the building blocks,” Bradford said.

For decades, mental health was dealt with in secret, and many suffered in silence, leading to serious consequences like suicide. Bradford said they hope to create an environment where it is safe to talk about these concerns at the Foundry.

“By talking about it, we are 100 per cent making it safe to say ‘I have issues just like everybody else, and I need help,”’ said Bradford. “When my car breaks down. People don’t judge me for bringing it in to get an oil change, tire fix, or windshield. We shouldn’t be judging people to go and address the issues that they may have.”

To find out more about the services Foundry offer please visit: https://foundrybc.ca/

Scott Bradford

CRD seeks Greater Victoria input on charges that would fund expanded water system

Residents and builders are being invited to give feedback on charges that will help fund drinking water projects in the Capital Regional District (CRD).

The CRD says its proposed Regional Water Supply (RWS) Development Cost Charge (DCC) program will aim to ensure costs that service new construction are equitably shared and that the water system meets the needs of Greater Victoria’s growing population.

DCCs are fees paid by developers to help pay for infrastructure that supports growth. The proposed charging scheme would share costs between new construction projects and existing users to pay for upsizing infrastructure. Regional water supply commission vice chair Karen Harper said that without a cost charge program, existing water users would have to pay higher rates to cover the infrastructure needed to support new development.

The CRD will host a virtual information session on the proposed program on June 19 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. That session can be accessed on Zoom here.

The CRD is also hosting a virtual information session for the development community on June 20 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. An online survey will also be open until July 5. Feedback will be used to determine the level of support for the program, along with what should be considered as it’s designed and implementated.

Bikeonthe GallopingGooseTrailonSookeRoadbythePark&Ride

Encouragingactivetransportation We’llbeonthesiteofthefuture GallopingGooseBridge-awalking& cyclingoverpassforasafe,seamless connectionoverSookeRoad.

ConstructionisscheduledtobeginthisyearontheGallopingGooseBridge, supportedbyagrantof$3.6MfromtheInvestinginCanadaInfrastructure Program.ThebridgewillbesupportedbyintersectionimprovementsatWale andWilfertRoads,supportedbyaBCActiveTransportationInfrastructure Grant. www.colwood.ca/GooseBridgeAward

PROPERTYTAX DUE Jul 2, 2024

1.Claimyour homeownergrant: Onlineonlyat etax.gov.bc.ca/btp/HOG

2.Pay one of several ways: •Throughonlineorphonebanking •24hourdropboxatCityHall •Mailto 3300WishartRd.V9C1R1 •Throughyourmortgagelender •Atyourbankinginstitution •Taxdeferralprogram •AtCityHall

5:30to7:30pm

CONNECTWITHCOLWOOD

Wewant tomake iteasy for you tohaveasayin decisionsabout your community.

Getintouch,shareideas,andgetinvolved. Phone: 250-478-5999

Online: www.colwood.ca

Email: info@colwood.ca

Requests: colwood.ca/ActionRequest

Engage: LetsTalkColwood.ca

Subscribe: colwood.ca/subscribe

Social: @CityofColwood

The CRD is inviting people to weigh in on a program that would fund expanded drinking water programs. (Photo courtesy of the CRD)

Teams tackle unwanted plants near Colwood pond

Murray’s Pond Park looks a little less cluttered these days after the Greater Victoria Green Team tackled habitat restoration to celebrate BC Trails Day.

June 1 also marked the first day of the Society for Ecological Restoration’s Make a Difference Week and it was filled with smiles at the Colwood park where the team defeated stubborn taproots and root crowns of unwanted plants to create space for more native species to grow.

In partnership with the City of Colwood providing the ecological direction & expertise and local developer, GableCraft Homes providing the financial support, the Greater Victoria Green Team

engaged 24 community members, removing invasive species such as Himalayan blackberry and Scotch broom.

The team removed about seven cubic metres of invasive plant material – the equivalent of 44 bathtubs full – to revitalize 200 square metres of park area.

A good-natured competition for the wackiest root had people excited to dig out the root crowns of the invasive blackberry plants. Participants voted for their favourite wacky root and the winner received a BC Trails Day hat.

The Greater Victoria Green Team is a program of the charity Green Teams of Canada. The purpose of these activities is to

help community members foster deeper connections to others, nature and the places they live, and to empower them to take care of themselves, others, and the environment.

We all experience mental and physical health benefits from being with others in nature, and we can have a positive impact on the environment while doing so.

Next up, the green team plans to remove invasive species in Uplands Park, Oak Bay, on Saturday (June 8). Learn more at meetup.com/Greater-Victoria-Green-Team.

The Greater Victoria Green Team clears unwanted plants to make way for native species in Murray’s Pond Park in Colwood. (Courtesy Greater Victoria Green Team)

Soccer academy coach hangs up the cleats

Rick Stiebel News Staff

Kelly Hunter’s vision of what could be will shine again in September when students in Edward Milne Community School’s (EMCS) Soccer Academy take to the field.

Although Hunter is retiring after 19 years at the helm of the program she launched, she’s certain the principles she emphasised when she kick-started the program will continue.

“I’m sure the academy will be in good hands moving forward,” said Hunter, who began her career at EMCS as a teacher on call in 1998. “It will be bittersweet retiring, but I am super happy to know the incumbent is equally qualified, and young,” she added with a laugh.

This year marks her 26th at the school, where she has served as head of the physical health and education department for the past eight years. She earned her master’s degree in Leadership and Administration in 2014 while teaching full-time.

Hunter, with the support of former EMCS principal Ross Leadbetter, first approached the Sooke School District’s board of education about starting a soccer academy in 2005.

She has carefully built the program since its inception in 2006, expanding the soccer academy to include students at Dunsmuir Middle School (DMS) and Royal Bay Secondary School (RBSS). The first year included 23 students at EMCS, with 44 taking part this year. That brings the total for all three schools to about 160 students for the year.

“For a small school, we have a strong number of girls and boys in all grades participating at

EMCS,” she noted. “They all learn such things as sports psychology, weight training principles, defensive and offensive tactical skills in field sessions, futsal, and learning to work as a team. These are life skills the students can take with them into the world after school.”

Hunter has continued to slowly build the program, resulting in the soccer academy now being offered at DMS and RBSS.

“I think what has made the soccer academy so successful is that we try to have fun developing

skills in a safe environment,” she explained.

“Everyone is accepting of each other’s skill level, they work so hard together, and they’re having fun while doing it. I witness a real bond between them all, like a family.”

Hunter also had high praise for her “amazing” co-teacher and coach, Amy Hawkings.

“Being a teacher is so rewarding,” Hunter said. “This might be cliché, but while you get to teach youth lifelong skills, a teacher also learns from the students, how to be patient,

understanding, compassionate, and how to make positive changes in a their live. A teacher really cares.”

Hunter has always stressed the importance of ensuring the students give back to the community by helping local organizations.

“The support from the people of Sooke is extraordinary,” she said. “And it’s great to see how proud the kids are about the contributions they make.”

Hunter, who played basketball and was on the rowing team at the University of Victoria, has been involved in sports all of her life. She coached basketball, cross country, volleyball and track and field between 2000 and 2019, in addition to her work with the soccer academy.

“They call soccer the beautiful game for a reason,” she said. “Watching the sport with the highest level of skills and athleticism on full display is amazing. Seeing how 11 players on a big field can tic-tac-toe the ball around is truly something special.”

Masato Takao, one of the two coaches Hunter works with, said Hunter’s flexible approach to coaching works well with the students.

“The students are fun while developing skills,” said Takao, owner/operator of JP Sports Training. “Kelly’s always smiling and there’s a lot of mutual respect, which makes it easy to work with her. She will be missed, but knowing Kelly, I’m certain she’ll still be around.”

In the meantime, Hunter’s looking forward to having more time to pursue some of her other passions, notably alpine hiking and golf. “Retirement probably won’t sink in until I head off on a cruise with some friends in September,” she admitted.

Long-time EMCS teacher and soccer academy coach is retiring at the end of the school year. (Rick Stiebel - News Staff)

MEGA RECL IN ERSALE

The Capital Regional District is holding tours to teach residents about where their water come from, and how it’s treated. (Bailey Seymour/Black Press)

Capital Regional District hosts watershed tours

Bailey Seymour News Staff

The Capital Regional District (CRD) is holding five-hour tours around the Greater Victoria watershed with the goal of educating the public on where their water comes from and the process it takes to get to residents taps.

Throughout the spring, the CRD has been touring residents through the West Shore and Sooke, showing them the Sooke Reservoir, its tributaries, the CRD treatment plant, and everything in between.

“The way we treat our water in Victoria, is we don’t use a filtration system. So we don’t filter the water. It relies on a good source water. So right from that gate coming in, is where we start thinking about water quality,”said Kathy Haesevoets, who helped lead the tour.

The Sooke Reservoir, which is northwest of Victoria, is the primary source for water throughout Greater Victoria.

Water then travels through a number of pipes to an ultraviolet facility for treatment, which includes UV disinfection to kill bacteria and parasites, and a low dose of chlorine and ammonia which produces chloramine, a long-lasting disinfectant which protects the water from bacterial contamination.

The water system is about 90 per cent gravity fed, as the reservoir is over 150 metres above sea level, and there are multiple reducing stations throughout the distribution network as water moves throughout the city and up the peninsula.

An ongoing concern of the CRD in the looming threat of wildfires around the reservoirs, which would cause ash to cloud the water, which makes it more difficult for UV to disinfect the water properly, however there are currently initiatives being taken to reduce the risk of wildfire as much as possible.

“It’s a forested environment, previously harvested, so a lot of it is second growth in the CRD area. Almost 45 per cent has been logged at some time in the past. We don’t do the harvesting anymore, but what the legacy of that has left us with is a forest that is at quite a high density, and it’s a certain stage in a forest, where there’s a lot of fuels that build up,” said Haesevoets.

There are tours still available through June. To book a spot visit Https://www.crd.bc.ca/ service/public-tours/watershed-tours.

LocalAmenities

•TrailNetwork

Cancer trial at Greater Victoria hospital gives researcher hope

have improved.

“People, particularly with prostate cancer, and melanoma, lung cancer, survival rates, are just so much better,” he said. “When I started, you know, people with melanoma that spread often didn’t live very long, with survival rates of like a year.”

Victoria.

“It ends up being quite a large team because it takes a lot of expertise and different disciplines to deliver these treatments.”

Thomas Eley News Staff

The BC Cancer Foundation is conducting a trial at BC Cancer Victoria to reduce prostate cancer radiation therapy visits from five to two, starting in Dec. 2024.

“I can’t overstate how much progress has been made,” said Doctor Abraham Alexander, a radiation oncologist at BC Cancer Victoria. “It really is fantastic to see.”

In Alexander’s 18 years at BC Cancer, a lot of progress has been made in cancer diagnosis, and the treatment options for even the most dangerous

BC Cancer had completed research that initially saw the number of visits for chemo from over 20 to five, according to Alexander.

“We were able to give the treatment in five treatments with as little or even fewer side effects as the standard treatment,” he said.

The new trial will run for eight years, and according to Alexander, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the latest research.

“Many of these patients, with our advanced treatments, live five or 10 years more.”

Alexander works alongside a team of six oncologists, two or three medical physicists, 10 radiation therapists and four or five nurses at BC Cancer

Alexander’s research was only possible with community engagement, and he said he is fortunate to have the support he has in Victoria.

The trials are randomized, and patients undergoing standard treatments can be allowed to participate in the clinical trials offered by BC Cancer.

“We couldn’t make our humans better without people enrolling in trials, and clinical trials are a really important part of what we do,” he said.

Part of the research saw BC Cancer incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) that would allow researchers to assess the amount of radiation that is being delivered into the body, Alexander said.

“We’re hoping by applying AI to target the radiation better, we’ll be able to, you know, further reduce the side effects of the treatment.”

Westin Bear Mountain Resort not involved in Langford, Ecoasis legal battle

Thomas Eley News Staff

The Westin Bear Mountain Resort in Langford is distancing itself from legal proceedings involving Sanovest, Ecoasis Developments LLP

and Ecoasis Resort and Golf LLP.

Back on March 19 it became known that the City of Langford was suing Ecoasis after the developer failed to make scheduled payments for the Bear Mountain Parkway.

In the press release, Westin Bear Mountain

Resort clarified that it is not affiliated with the group and wants to ensure that guests’ stays are uninterrupted. The resort on Bear Mountain was acquired by the Westin Hotel group in 2019, and all food and beverage outlets and conference facilities will remain open.

PointHopeMaritimeOpenHouse

Doctor Abraham Alexander is excited about the latest cancer research at Royal Jubilee Hospital and said the advanced treatments could prolong life by five to 10 years.

(Photo Submitted/ BC Cancer Foundation)

HarbourCats, charity team up to collect hygiene items for youth

An initiative hopes to spur some good in the community alongside a summer pastime in Victoria.

Soap for Hope Canada has partnered with the Victoria HarbourCats on a program that looks to provide more than 2,000 kids and teens in Victoria with essential hygiene and oral-care products.

Throughout the baseball season, the charity will be collecting gently used and new hygiene products at HarbourCats home games, while also raising funds through an 50/50 raffle.

A donation bin will be present at Royal Athletic Park and fans are encouraged to donate gently used shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion, along with new items like deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes.

Soap for Hope Canada provides essential hygiene products to various in-need groups and has distributed almost 10 million items since 2015. That effort has also saved one million pounds from ending up in the landfill by finding a home for products that otherwise would’ve been thrown away.

The charity says hygiene is critical for staying healthy and maintaining self-confidence, but many kids and teens in Victoria lack access to basic items. That could lead to missed school days, health issues and impact the overall well-being of youth, the Victoria-based organization said.

“Supporting the health and self-esteem of kids in our com-

munity is a cause we are deeply passionate about,” C. Anne McIntyre, Soap for Hope Canada’s founder and executive director, said in a news release. “We are excited to partner with the HarbourCats and engage the community in this meaningful initiative.”

The Cats’ will host their home opener on June 7 at Royal Athletic Park.

The Victoria HarbourCats have teamed up with Soap for Hope Canada to benefit local kids and teens this baseball season. (Courtesy of the Victoria HarbourCats Official Fan Community/Facebook)

Ataulfo Mango Mexico

Bartlett Pears

Mandarins

Gala Apples

Schneiders Chicken Wings Selected Varieties, Frozen, 615g

Outlaw Beef Burgers Frozen, 1.81 kg

Steelhead Fillet Fresh

Fillet Fresh

Schneiders Bacon Selected Varieties, 375g

Schneiders Juicy Jumbos Selected Varieties, 375g or 450g

Schneiders Wieners Selected Varieties, 375g

Sunrise Farms Chicken Thighs Boneless, Skinless, Family Pack, 17.61/kg

Black Angus Sirloin Tip Oven Roast Canada, AAA, 17.61/kg

Butt Steak

Mott’s

Maille Dijon Mustard Selected

Western Family Mayonnaise Selected

Western Family Relish

Selected

Franks Hot Sauce (354

Keg Pourable Dressing

Landon Brockington

Abby Cochrane

Jared Krause

McNaughton

Ella Foster Mikayla Ward

Makenna Lalonde

Kayla White

Angelo Avilla

Brandon Tieman

David Fellows

Dylan Gilbert

Owen Arnold

Leland Vince Marin Piasentin Kayla Welsh Dylan Ringma

Metchosin farm buzzing with activity for National Insect Appreciation Day

Feeling antsy? Then you might want to celebrate National Insect Appreciation Day on Saturday (June 8) with a day trip to Bilston Creek Farm.

The lavender farm, known to host weddings, events and workshops, is rife with nooks and crannies to find bees and butterflies, both real and artist-rendered

A hunt for 36 art and science cards of local insects produced by The Metchosin Foundation and The Metchosin Artpod will be scattered through the farm, with participant prizes available.

The special deck will also be available for purchase. Claudia Copley from the BC Museum will be hosting guided walks, and kids and adults can play lawn games such as ring toss, croquet, ladder toss, bean bag toss and giant Bilston Jenga.

For a more relaxing activity, visitors can enjoy a host of lavender beverages available for purchase, including lemonade, soda, cream coffee and rose tea, or cozy up in the barn with a selection of classic board games.

The free event takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. and will have artists and naturalists in attendance who donated their time and images to the BC Art Nature Card Deck: Insects! All proceeds go towards the community fundraiser.

Sam Duerksen Black Press Media

Creek Farm. (Courtesy Bilston Creek Farm)

SHOWSUITEOPENSATURDAYS11AM-1PM-WelcometoTheGrand!Thisisa1bedroom 1bathroomSOUTHFACINGUNITofferinganopenconceptfunctionallivingspacewitha hugeoutdoorbalcony!Youwillfindmodernfinishing’sthroughoutincluding;stainlesssteel appliances,quartzcountertops,vinylplankflooring,gasrange&gasBBQhookup,highly energyefficientheating &cooling,roughedinEVcharger, undergroundsecureparking,bike storage,gym,andaworkstation!Enjoywalkingtorestaurants,pubs,shopping,recreation, schools,E&NTrail,RoyalColwoodGolfCourse,transit,hikingtrailsandmuchmore!5minute drivetoHWY1plusawalkscoreof73&bikescoreof95!2petsno weightrestrictionsand rentalsallowed-Price+GST.

A group of Blenkinsop Valley residents are banding together to help a 78-year-old woman secure her home after six suspected break-ins over the course of two weeks, all while she was in the Royal Jubilee Hospital.

Saanich police are investigating the reports and have now

been to the property several times, which belongs to Anne Tolmie.

“The Saanich Police have open files into this matter and officers are actively investigating the circumstances,” Inspector Damian Kowalewich said in an email to Black Press Media on Tuesday (May 28).

In what appears to be a series of burglaries, thieves made off with everything from parts of furniture to copper piping. Also missing is some antique dishware — the Tolmie family has a long history in the area and the house is (or was) full of heirlooms — including a 14th century Welsh plate.

She says police did not take her seriously enough at first, and so the break-ins kept happening.

It all began on Victoria Day when Tolmie said she showed up to check on her house.

“Everything had been gone through,” she told Black Press at the house on Tuesday afternoon. “All the closets, all the drawers — everything was open.”

She had moved out of the house in February after coming down with pneumonia, and now just returns home on day passes from

Royal Jubilee Hospital.

Tolmie called Saanich police, who promptly took her back to the hospital.

“They kind of took a cursory look through the middle of the house and grabbed me by the arms and said ‘you’re supposed to be in the hospital’ and took me back,” she said.

She returned to the house each day for the next few days, finding each time it had been broken into again.

Eventually she called a police line to try to reach the RCMP because she said Saanich Police didn’t seem to be doing anything about it.

A Victoria police officer and a nurse showed up, and then got the ball rolling toward a more thorough investigation by the Saanich Police Department.

Police found a pry bar and a discarded cigarette butt in the house, all which was taken for evidence.

The condition of the home was already not considered good enough for Tolmie to move back into - a leaky ceiling had caused mold to grow in the rafters — but after each break-in the condition of the house got worse and worse. It is now completely

ransacked, with debris scattered across every bit of floor.

Nearby neighbour David Chambers, who works and lives at Madrona Farms was at Tolmie’s on Monday and Tuesday to help sort through the mess and secure the house. Other neighbours are now helping keep watch.

Chambers first went over to the house on Saturday after Tolmie approached him and explained she was a bit afraid to go up to the house alone.

“They’ve taken quite a bit of stuff,” Chambers said. “They’d cut the pipes to her oil heat, taken the pipes off the hot water tank.”

When he returned for the cleanup it appeared the thieves had returned yet again.

“We had a whole group of people going to meet at 11 a.m. I was the first one and I saw the doors are wide open,” he said. “So, then we have to call the police back in again.”

The neighbours are now getting more vigilant.

“We just got the lawns mowed, we got windows boarded up, we screwed windows shut that had been pried open, and started to clean up,” Chambers said.

Mark Page News Staff

Anne Tolmie says her home was broken into six times while she was in the hospital. (Mark Page/News Staff)

Victoria Humane Society looking for second property amid overflow

Bailey Seymour News Staff

The Victoria Humane Society is currently looking for a second property as they continue to face an unprecedented excess of dogs and cats as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, the shelter is housing about 100 dogs and 200 cats, where on a normal year, they would only carry about 50 of each.

“We have our spay neuter clinic here. But unfortunately, all of our animals go into foster care,” said Penny Stone, executive director of the Humane Society. “The problem with this is people are asking us to take on animals from hoarding cases or whatever, and we don’t know anything about them. So you’re bringing animals in and asking people to take them home without any knowledge of what they’re like.”

A major factor of the overflow other than rising prices on pet food and supplies, she said, is due to people who adopted pets during the pandemic that couldn’t be spayed or neutered, and now that people are going back to work, they surrender their animals.

“The animals that weren’t spayed and neutered, are having babies who are having babies, and it’s gone crazy. It’s spiraled out of control,” she said.

They are now searching for a second property so they can better assess pets and give them the proper care needed before they go to a foster home, however, that has proven to be difficult.

Stone said although they have someone who is willing to donate funds to go towards buying a new property, they would still need a property that could be renovated, doesn’t have close neighbours, and it would need to be zoned as a kennel.

The Humane Society is currently providing spaying and neutering services to remote communities around the island in n effort to

stem the flow.

“It’s kind of too little too late. It’s sad that we can’t get this under control. We picked up a Tupperware bucket on the side of the road full of 19 puppies that are only four weeks old the other day, it just is not stopping,” said Stone. “Please spay and neuter your pets. It’s so important.”

To donate to the Victoria Humane Society, visit https://victoriahumanesociety.com/ save-animals-everyday/.

The Victoria Humane Society is looking for a second property while they experience “out of control” overflow according to executive director Penny Stone. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Island students with hearing loss make connections at Cadboro Bay park

Annual event links hard of hearing kids with their peers through games and activities

Jake Romphf News Staff

As they dove for prime tic-tac-toe positions or went fishing for magnets, students with hearing loss from across south Vancouver Island got to forge connections on Wednesday (May 29) that they may not get to make every day.

The festivities marked the Greater Victoria School District’s annual deaf and hard of hearing beach day at Cadboro-Gyro Park.

Students from five school districts came together for the day of games, which aims to spur social connections. Many of those who took part in Wednesday’s event are the only ones in their class or school who have hearing loss, so the beach day’s Amazing Race-style games allows them to meet other kids like themselves, said Megan Jantz.

The SD61 teacher, who works with students living with hearing loss, said those kids can sometimes struggle at school. Jantz gave the example of those students missing invitations to play at times when they can’t hear

others kids behind them.

The more than 100 students expected to attend this year made it the largest beach day to date, but the activity-filled break from class is always a day that gets circled on the calendar.

“They love it, like we have some kids who start talking about (beach day) in September. They really look forward to this and connecting to their peers and others,” Jantz said.

The array of carnival-style games for those in Kindergarten to Grade 5 saw a parachute swaying, bean bags flying and kids working as a team across various stations set up on the park’s field. Grades 6 to 12 competed in challenges in the Cadboro Bay Village shops just down the street, vying to get their names on a trophy resembling the Stanley Cup. A series of games also accommodated students who are both deaf and blind.

But students weren’t the only ones benefitting as the around 40 to 50 parents who helped out on Wednesday also got to meet others in similar positions.

“It can feel really isolating and alone when your kid is the only one at the school (with hearing loss),”

Jantz said, who added that beach day has put more emphasis on involving parents in recent years so they also know they’re not alone.

The park outing was supported by various deafblindness and hardof-hearing agencies who could refer parents to community programs

available to families.

Jantz said people sometimes don’t fully understand the challenges kids face in school when they have hearing loss.

The school district has aimed to help those kids foster connections with their peers in the classroom through initiatives like having agencies give entire classes American Sign Language (ASL) lessons.

Jantz hoped the friendships kids made on Wednesday would last beyond beach day, which the teacher said has been a common result of the annual event.

Students from across south Vancouver Island school districts took part in an array of activities during the annual deaf and hard of hearing beach day at Cadboro-Gyro Park on May 29. (photos by Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Bankruptcy court application shows 930 creditors have $317 million in claims against

company

Mark

A court appointed receiver says former Victoria mortgage broker Greg Martel was operating a “massive Ponzi scheme” that defrauded investors of almost $270 million.

Martel’s debts were laid bare in bankruptcy documents filed on May 21 by PricewaterhouseCoopers — the receiver appointed as trustee to oversee the insolvency proceedings for Martel’s company — alleging he owes 930 creditors a total of $317 million. Meanwhile, Martel’s whereabouts are unknown, potentially somewhere overseas, according to the filing.

Investors had plowed money into a company run by Martel that was supposed to be providing bridge loans for mortgages. But the

court filing called it a Ponzi scheme, saying that no actual bridge loans were ever made a nd when investors needed to be paid out, Martel’s company just used money from new investors.

The filing was made to oppose the discharge of Martel’s bankruptcy proceedings, something he could have been eligible for after the end of a nine-month period, which is May 31. His lack of cooperation in the process, along with the activity that allegedly led to the bankruptcy, are given as reasons for keeping the process active.

The document also says those investors are unlikely to get anything back from Martel or the the company that he owned, My Mortgage Auction Corp. (MMAC), also known as Shop Your Own Mortgage.

“The trustee does not expect that

ProposedRegionalWaterSupply DevelopmentCostCharge VirtualInformationSession

Wednesday,June19,2024|6:00PM

Signup:getinvolved.crd.bc.ca/water-supply-dcc

TheCapitalRegionalDistrictisworkingtowards implementingaRegionalWaterSupply(RWS)Development CostCharge(DCC)Programtohelpfundeligiblegrowthrelatedwaterprojectsandwantstohearfromyou. LearnmoreandaskquestionsaboutDCCsandtheproposed RWSDCCprogramatourvirtualinformationsession. Yourinputwillhelpshapethedevelopmentofthisprogram.

Can’tmaketheinformationsession?

Learnmoreandcompletethesurveyby July5,2024: getinvolved.crd.bc.ca/water-supply-dcc

the investors will receive any recovery from the bankruptcy estates of Martel or MMAC,” the document states.

Warrants have been issued for Martel’s arrest in the U.S. and Canada. The document says that he was residing in Thailand until Aug. 31, 2023, when he was deported to Dubai, UAE.

The document goes on to say he has not cooperated at any time since the start of the receivership and bankrupt-

cy proceedings.

“He did not turn over his books and records of MMAC, disclose the nature and extent of MMAC’s assets, or answer questions put to him even though court orders were made directing him to do so,” the document reads.

PricewaterhouseCoopers also alleges that not only was the company operating as a Ponzi scheme, Martel helped bring on bankruptcy by living

in “unjustifiable extravagance.”

This includes spending by him and the company between 2018 and 2023 of $3.1 million for travel such as private plane charters, $3.1 million for vehicles, $1.1 million for rent at multiple homes, and $261,000 for meals.

The situation is also the subject of an investigation by the Victoria Police Department and the BC Securities Commission.

https://www.enerheatwindows.

Greg Martel

Page News Staff

Martel’s

Set sail from Mill Bay with Captain Hook

Set sail on the Saanich Inlet with Captain Hook aboard the MV Klitsa – you definitely won’t see crocodiles but you may be lucky enough to ogle orcas.

Captain Aaron Hook has been with BC Ferries since 1991, and has been leading the sea training for the deck department at Swartz Bay for the last 20 years, but since December he has had the privilege of commanding of the MV Klitsa. Since taking on the run, Hook says he loves being on the small boat, and the meet-the-people attitude that comes with it. Another highlight for him was seeing a pod of orcas in March, something he had never witnessed personally in all his years pleasure fishing in the area.

“I’ve always enjoyed working this run… I like it down here,”said Hook. “It’s really excellent to see killer whales coming back into the Saanich Inlet. They went right down into Goldstream… I also really enjoy getting to know all the commuters and the people around here. I get to meet a lot of retirees, and they are a lot of fun too. I feel very lucky to be a part of this ferry and this route; it has been a big part of Brentwood Bay and Mill Bay for a lot of years and I hope it keeps going for many more.”

The route between Mill Bay and Brentwood Bay, dubbed as “The Island’s Most Beautiful Shortcut” by B.C. Ferries, is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year. With a boatload of history this route is the oldest continuous ferry service on the coast of B.C., and was first started by

two former naval officers Kennaird and Williams in November 1924.

“BC Ferries is thrilled we’ve been able to provide service for so long, the journey to this milestone has been amazing,” said BC Ferries senior communications advisor Reet Sidhu. “The Mill Bay to Brentwood Bay route is such a scenic short cut for our customers and

loved by the crew. We want to acknowledge that this route is in WSANEC [whe-SAYnich] territory, specifically the territories and communities of Malahat Nation and Tsartlip First Nation.

BC Ferries is proud to be building relationships with both nations.”

The initial service provided by Cascade Freight and Trading Company first made a

splash with a 22-yearold, 90-foot wooden hulled coastal steamer then called the SS Cascade, which was altered to allow cars to drive on or off the bow and the stern.

As the years passed the SS Cascade saw her steam engines replaced with internal combustion engines, and was eventually rechristened the Brentwood.

Continued on A36

NOTICEOFANNUALMEETING

PleasetakenoticethattheAnnualReportwillbe consideredbyDistrictCouncilattheCouncilMeetingto beheldat7:00pm,Monday,June17,2024–Highlands CommunityHall-729FinlaysonArmRoad.

The2023AnnualReportfortheDistrictofHighlandswill beavailableforviewingattheDistrictOfficeon Monday, June3,2024 at1980MillstreamRoadduringregular businesshours,8:30am–4:00pm,Monday–Friday, excludingholidays.ItmayalsobeviewedontheDistrict’s websiteatwww.highlands.ca.

Anyonemayattendthemeetingtomakeaverbal submission,andthosewishingtomakeawritten submissionregardingtheAnnualReportmaydoso inwritingatanytimepriortothemeeting:Bymail: 1980MillstreamRoad,Victoria,BCV9B6H1ByE-mail: lhilton@highlands.ca

LoranneHilton

ChiefAdministrativeOfficer

Chadd Cawson Black Press Media

Passengers and crews take in the views as the M.V. Klitsa approaches Brentwood Bay. (Chadd Cawson/Black Press Media)

The sailing route Brentwood Bay and Mill Bay

It was in 1945 that Cascade Freight and Trading Company was bought out by Coast Ferries Limited, and by the 1950s the Brentwood, which was more than 50 years young, was in need of a replacement. It was around that time Coast Ferries contracted out the construction of a new steel hulled ferry to the Victoria Machinery Depot firm in Victoria and the MV Mill Bay ferry first set sail across the Saanich Inlet route on July 20, 1956, just four years before the inception of BC Ferries which commissioned their first ferry route in 1960, and by 1969 had bought out Coast Ferries Ltd.

The MV Mill Bay Ferry that sails just under 6 km in 25 minutes had a few interesting trips back 1989. The first was on May 29, when it ran aground due to the captain falling asleep at the helm. This stemmed from him participating in the Swiftsure Yacht Race earlier that day.

Later that same year on July 5, a problem arose with the Mill Bay ferry’s fuel line and the engine lost power — the fuel line was repaired as the ferry eventually made it to shore under her own power.

BC Ferries had proposed withdrawing the Mill Bay ferry service in 2000, but the waves made by a local protest were strong enough to counter the proposal and preserve the service. This warranted the Mill Bay being removed from service for two months

during the summer of 2001 to undergo refurbishment that included replacing several sections of steel plating in the hull, extension of the bridge, and the addition of radar.

Both the Mill Bay and Brentwood Bay terminals also saw upgrades that same year. The price tag for all repairs and upgrades ending up costing approximately $3.8 million.

The original MV Mill Bay was retired in 2010 and put up for sale in February of 2011 to be replaced with the MV Klitsa which was built in 1972. Last month the Klitsa came out of the water at the dry dock at

Point Hope on April 15 for a refit which included a fine tuning of the systems and engines and new control panels – its sister ship the K class Kahloke took her place.

“It is going to be kind of fun to have the Kahloke down here for a bit,” said Hook. “The Klitsa is going to get a good mid-life refurbishment.”

The MV Klitsa sails nine round trips each day – four round trips in the morning and five at night. She is equipped with three lanes, two with no height restriction and one lane that passes under the superstructure for the wheelhouse enabling her to

carry 19 vehicles, with the capacity to carry 150 passengers. To date, the Mill Bay ferry is not only the oldest working vessel in the BC Ferries fleet, it is also the most fuel efficient. It is powered by an L Gardner and Sons model 8L3 straight-eight engine that generates 152 hp, and burns diesel fuel at the rate of 14 litres per hour – she has 700 horsepower and travels at a maximum of 10 knots, or 18.5 km per hour.

The Klitsa has serviced the Brentwood Bay - Mill Bay route since the summer of 2011 and Hardeep Parmar has been the lone hardworking deckhand ever since. His responsibilities include discharge, charge, and loading, but also all the husbandry and check offs which include making sure all the safety equipment is up to snuff every day such as the rescue boat. The Klitsa, which also serves as a bypass for the Malahat section of the Island highway, has certainly proved to be the little ferry that could and does, and Parmar has proved to be a part of it when it has needed him most. Parmar was one of the members of the relief group who stepped up to keep the island connected and weather the storm during the heavy rainfall that began on Nov. 15, 2021 – to this day is recognized as one of the most damaging storms in B.C. history. It put the Malahat highway out of commission and the Klitsa crew stepped up to do five days worth of work within the span of 72 hours.

It’s not just the vessel that’s got a cool history. The Mill Bay terminal made the movies in 1970 as it was used as a location for a scene during the filming of Five Easy Pieces starring Jack Nicholson and Karen Black. It had brushes with Hollywood again after its renovations with the 2001 film Black Point starring David Caruso and the 2006 film The Mermaid Chair with Kim Basinger. With the new film studio coming to Malahat Nation in the years ahead, it is exciting to think about what big stars may do a scene at the little terminal next.

It doesn’t cost much to take this scenic shortcut across the Saanich Inlet. For foot passengers 12 and older the fare as of April of this year is $7.55, the fare for those ages five to 11 is $3.80 and those under five sail for free. A standard vehicle excluding its driver and passengers is $17.80 and the fare for motorcycles is $8.75. Tickets for the Mill Bay ferry are 40 per cent off when purchased at Thrifty Foods in Mill Bay or Brentwood Bay, and the best part is they don’t expire.

Between the original MV and the Klitsa the Mill Bay ferry has been smooth sailing for nearly seven decades, giving its passengers a time-saving and picturesque alternate to driving over the Malahat whether one chooses to take their vehicle or park it, and enjoy the sights and the sail.

Captain Aaron Hook has had the pleasure of manning the helm on the M.V. Klitsa since December 2023. (Chadd Cawson/Black Press Media)

Reimagining masculinity in Greater Victoria as part of men’s mental health month

“The gender expectation that we put on men and masculinity is unnecessary and doubles down the harm”

Thomas Eley News

Staff

Warning: This story contains content that could be triggering to some

As the calendar turns to June, it is now men’s mental health month, an area that’s often overlooked.

Men are over-represented in all of these statistics around being unhoused, drug abuse, alcohol abuse and suicide, said Carol Bilson, Director of Operations at the Anti-Violence Project.

“About 70 per cent who commit suicide are male,” she said.

In 2022, of the more than 227 British Columbians who died of suicide, 184 were men. Additionally, there were 2,511 toxic drug deaths in 2023, and 71 per cent of those were men, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control. While the feminist movement did wonders for

feminism and what it meant to be a woman, said Bilson. A similar movement within men is needed but has yet to happen.

“Our society just hinders men’s capacity to connect and relate to others,” she said.

This can mean having a more challenging time processing trauma, dealing with rejection and becoming violent towards either the person they were interested in or themselves.

“The gender expectation that we put on men and masculinity is unnecessary and doubles down the harm.”

Suicide is the second or third leading cause of death for men aged 19 to 44, and for men aged 15 to 25.

Outside of motor vehicle accidents, there is little else killing them, said John Oliffe, research chair in the Men’s Health research program at UBC.

For many years, we’ve discussed how traditional ideas of masculinity may have been unhelpful to many men, Oliffe said.

Now, there’s a focus on the concept of toxic masculinity and the negative behaviours associated with it.

“When you’re young, you especially buy into the norms that guide your identity, your role, and sometimes your values, which can be persuasive for many young guys.”

More men needed in caring professions like nursing, therapy

From A37

Bilson said young men and boys are told to bury most of their emotions and are often left with two feelings — anger and happiness.

“We haven’t created a society where it’s safe for men to feel. We don’t want to be in proximity to men suffering. Two things have to happen. We must get close to men’s pain and suffering and understand what’s happening.”

Bilson previously worked with abuse survivors and was compelled to start helping to heal men after listening to the women she had been counselling.

“As someone who supports sur-

vivors of violence and someone who works with men, I feel like we cannot separate those two. The health and mental health of men determines the safety of women.”

Gender expectations, in general, are archaic, but expectations around masculinity have not been needed for a long time, Bilson said.

“All those things left these old notions that only men provide and protect. And that’s all we require of them, to bring home the bacon. We did a disservice to men, genuinely,” added Bilson.

“Men are being asked to reimagine masculinity, and I think it’s

InsidePassage & Skeena TrainJuly 88 days$3460

SummerTheatre inAlbertaJuly15 7 days$2815

BellaCoola &TweedsmuirParkAug11 7 days$3365

Maritimes & NewfoundlandAug2624days$9175

ScenicRailwaysofColorado(EB)Sept1612days$6980

BostontoQuebecCruise(EB)Sept1813days from $6685

OntarioTheatre Includes11shows (EB) Oct 1 10days$6880

TyaxResortOct 66 days$2485

OregonCoast(EB)Oct 6 10days$4130

NewOrleans & CajunCountry(EB) Oct1411days$4980

because of society’s ideas of what women were supposed to do, and who was supposed to bring the income and who was supposed to raise children. All of that has been completely flipped on its head.”

Increasingly, some young men have started turning to ‘toxic’male influencers.

“The masculinity that they’re projecting, first of all, is a familiar masculinity,” Bilson said. It doesn’t ask people to change, she said.

“I always say ‘the patriarchy sells men fake power. It’s an external power. And it’s a fake power structure.’”

More men are needed in caring professions like nursing, therapy and education, said Carl Haynes, Men’s Education & Research Coordinator at the Anti-Violence Project.

“With the baby boomers, aging out and going into retirement, and old age, there’s going to be an increased need for these care professions,” Haynes said.

An increasing lack of male educators has also worried Haynes, as there is a lack of positive male role models for young men.

“This is where you see other men

stepping in, through social media and filling the gap,” Haynes said.

In May, Our Place in Victoria surveyed the unhoused along Pandora Avenue.

“It is about 77 per cent,” said Grant McKinnon, communications director at Our Place. “Usually, it is about 80 per cent.”

On the vulnerability index, when it comes to the unhoused, men are less likely to move into supportive housing, with the average age of a male on the street being 55.

When it comes to unhoused youth, about 63 per cent of young people in shelters are male.

The reasons why men and women are unhoused are complex, but generally, men are not running and hiding from abusive spouses. And men might find themselves on the street after a mental health concern or an injury.

There is a lot of shame around being unhoused, even for those who eventually find a house.

Many men do not want to share their experiences for fear of being negatively judged, said McKinnon.

“Adding to the problem, men often go into the bushes like a wounded animal and isolate themselves,” McKinnon said.

It is up to men to help fix other men. Women have been doing the heavy lifting for too long, according to Bilson and is one of the driving forces behind a popular social media trend where women are choosing to find a metaphorical bear in the forest rather than date a man.

“It is a very legitimate concern. Because the struggle might be ongoing and permanent, and to be assaulted, to be sexually assaulted, to be abused, to be humiliated, has long-term lifetime impacts.”

It will be a one-time experience, and it’ll probably be done, versus a long time of suffering and trying to recover your self-esteem and sense of self-worth,” Bilson said.

Iconic songs such as We Will Rock You, Bohemian Rhapsody,

and Don’t Stop Me

Now will ring out with live fortitude once again when Queen: It’s Kinda Magic returns to Victoria’s Royal

SIDNEYNORTHSAANICH YACHTCLUB

•SidneyNorthSaanichYachtClub’sSummerSailingSchooloffersCanSailcourses foralllevelsofsailors,age7to18yearsinclusive.

•CanSailtrainedinstructorsteachboththeoryandon-the-waterskillsinafun, positiveatmosphere.

•JuniorRaceTeam,AdultDinghyLessons,RacingandPrivateSailingLessons

•Registrationdetails: www.snsyc.ca (schoolprograms/coursesandfees)

Formoreinformationpleasecontact:manager@snsyc.caor250-656-4600

Theatre on June 14.

The highly acclaimed Australian stage production was here just last year and is launching another

massive national tour from April to June, playing 40 shows across the country.

This latest tour will unveil fresh costumes and previously unheard Queen tracks.

Classically trained artist Dominic Warren will once again embody the iconic role of Freddie Mercury, bringing authenticity to the performance with his talent on the

piano and guitar.

“It’s one thing to create these musical masterpieces, but a whole other thing to then be able to go and perform them in the unique, spectacular way that he did. He is a very hard artist to replicate but it’s an honour to try!” said Warren in a press release.

Tickets can be purchased at rmts.bc.ca.

Men have been disconnected from their emotions and a male liberation movement is needed for men, said Carol Bilson, director of operations at the Anti-Violence Project (BPD file Photo)

Sam Duerksen Black Press Media

Queen: It’s Kind of Magic is an Australian production with international acclaim. (RADAR Photography)

Send Kelp! Documentary explores challenges and potential of starting a kelp farm

Frances Ward gave up everything she’d built in her life to pursue something a bit unconventional: starting a kelp farm.

The new documentary Send Kelp! follows Ward’s journey as she tries to coax the crop from the waters of the Pacific. She speaks to scientists, wild harvesters and other entrepreneurs who also know about the challenges and potential of kelp.

“And along the way, she’ll find a glimmer of the hope that kelp might provide not only for our planet, but for her, too,” the synopsis of the film says.

California, Belgium, South Korea, Spain and Germany. Next week the film will be brought to an Island audience.

Shot at various locations across Vancouver Island, the film features many people working in the local kelp industry, shell fishers, kelp producers and farmers, researchers and chefs. Each of them uses kelp in a different way, and the film showcases all of the ways to use the crop.

The film has already had an international showing, with past screenings in Canada,

DistrictofMetchosin

4450HappyValleyRoad,Victoria,BCV9C3Z3 tel:250-474-3167fax:250-474-6298

www.metchosin.ca

NOTICEOFLANDUSEAMENDMENTBYLAW

NOTICEISHEREBYGIVEN,thatpursuanttoSection467(2)ofthe LocalGovernmentAct, the CounciloftheDistrictofMetchosinwillconsiderfirst,secondandthirdreadingsofBylawNo.702 toamendthe MetchosinLandUseBylawNo.259, atthemeetingnotedbelow:

MeetingDateandTime: June17,2024at7:00p.m.

MeetingPlace: MunicipalHallCouncilChambers 4450HappyValleyRoad Victoria,BCV9C3Z3

Bylaw: MetchosinLandUseAmendmentBylawNo.702

Purpose: ToamendMetchosinLandUseBylawNo.259inorderto implementtherequirementsofBill44(Small-ScaleMulti-Unit Housing)enactedbytheProvinceofBC

TheentireDistrictofMetchosinisthesubjectoftheproposed LandUseAmendmentBylaw

Inaccordancewiththenewprovincialhousing legislation,LocalGovernmentAct Section464(4), theDistrictisprohibitedfromholdingapublic hearingonthisBylaw.

Foranypersonsseekingmoredetailedinformation, theproposedBylawandotherrelatedmaterials maybeinspectedbetweenthehoursof8:00 a.m.and4:00p.m.,MondaytoFridayexcluding statutoryholidaysbeginningWednesday,June 5,2024.Correspondencemaybesubmittedby emailing info@metchosin.ca orbywritingto DistrictofMetchosin,4450HappyValleyRoad, Victoria,BC,V9C3Z3.Youmayalsocontactthe municipalhallat250-474-3167.

The film shows in Sidney at the Star Cinema on June 9 at 3:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. and features University of Victoria researchers. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

NoticeofRezoningBylaw

NOTICE isherebygiventhatpursuanttoSection467(2)oftheLocalGovernmentAct,theCouncilof theCityofLangfordwillconsiderfirst,second,andthirdreadingsofBylawNo.2174beingaBylawto amendZoningBylawNo.300fortheCityofLangford,atthemeetingnotedbelow.

MeetingDateandTimeJune17,2024,7:00pm

MeetingPlaceCityHallCouncilChambers,ThirdFloor,877GoldstreamAvenue BylawNo.2174

Location2691SookeRoadasshownshadedontheplanbelow

Purpose Toamendthezoningdesignationofthesubjectpropertyfromthe ServiceCommercial(CS1)ZonetotheCommunitytownCentre Pedestrian(C9)Zonetoallowasix-storeymixed-usebuildingwith approximately70residentialunitsandgroundfloorcommercialspace.

PLEASENOTE:Thismeetingwillbeheldelectronicallyandinpersonattheaboveaddress.Information abouthowtoconnecttothismeetingisindicatedinthetablebelow.

Teleconference#1-855-703-8985(CanadaTollFree)OR1-778-907-2071 (longdistancechargesmayapply)

http://Zoom.us/

MeetingID#89709567061–Zoom.usorZoomapponyourmobiledevice

TheAgenda,includingmaterialthatCouncilmayconsiderinrelationtothebylaw,willbepostedto theCity’swebsite: https://www.langford.ca/city-hall/agendas-and-minutes/ nolaterthantheFriday beforetheCouncilMeeting.Correspondencemaybesubmittedbyemailing planning@langford.ca orbywritingtoLangfordCityHall,2ndFloor,877GoldstreamAvenue,Langford,BC,V9B2X8. YoumayalsocontactthePlanningDepartmentat(250)478.7882.

MarieWatmough CorporateOfficer

Marc Kitteringham Black Press Media

Send Kelp! is a documentary about kelp farming near Vancouver Island. The film will be shown in a few different Island communities in June. Photo supplied

Sarah McLachlan coming to Victoria, honouring album’s 30th anniversary

The Nov. 20 show at Saveon-Foods Memorial Centre is the final show of the tour

The tour celebrates McLachlan’s third studio album, which was released on Oct. 22, 1993. Immediately a hit in Canada, the album received critical acclaim, going platinum within weeks and selling over 3 million copies worldwide.

“I think it’s interesting as an artist or as a human for that matter, to be able to go back and look at

a postcard of a time in your life and reflect on it,” said Sarah McLachlan in a press release. “I think this tour is going to be a real walk down memory lane for me, and I’m hoping that my audience, many of whom have been with me for 30 years, will also be able to go back in time with me.”

Acoustic harmony trio Tiny

Habits will join McLachlan on stage. Tickets are now on presale with

general ticket sales kicking off Friday, May 31 at 10 a.m. through sofmc.com/event/sarah-mclachlan

Capital RegionalDistrict NoticeofMeeting

JuandeFucaBoardofVariance

While touring again for the first time since 2016, Grammy and Juno-award winner Sarah McLachlan is making her final stop of the Fumbling Towards Ecstasy 30th Anniversary Tour in Victoria.

The American leg of the tour kicks off May 25 in Seattle while the 12-date Canadian tour starts November 2 in Peterborough, ONT and ends at Victoria’s Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

DistrictofMetchosin

4450HappyValleyRoad,Victoria,BCV9C3Z3 tel:250-474-3167fax:250-474-6298 www.metchosin.ca

NOTICEISHERBYGIVEN,pursuanttos.99ofthe CommunityCharter, thatthe2023AnnualReportwillbeconsideredatthefollowingCouncil Meeting:

Monday,June17,2024at7:00p.m. MunicipalHallCouncilChambers 4450HappyValleyRoad Victoria,BCV9C3Z3

ThepublicmayprovideinputontheAnnualReportbyattendingthe meetinginpersonorbyemailingwrittensubmissionstoinfo@metchosin.ca by4:00p.m.Monday,June17th,2024.Verbalandwrittensubmissionswill formpartofthepublicrecord.

Copiesofthe2023AnnualReportwillbepostedonlineatwww.metchosin. caandmaybeinspectedattheMunicipalHall,between8:00a.m.and4:00 p.m.MondaytoFriday(excludingstatutoryholidays).

Date: June11,2024

Time: 6pm

Place: JuandeFucaLocalAreaServicesBuilding 3–7450ButlerRoad,OtterPoint,BC

1.Applications

a)BV000498 -Lot1, District Lots51and187,Malahat District, Plan12268(4215OkotoksDrive)

b)BV000499-Lot8,Sections42and38,OtterDistrict,Plan EPP63580(ClarkRoad)

PLEASENOTE: Thepublicmayattendthemeetingin-personor electronicallythroughvideoor teleconference.Toattendelectronically, please contactus by email at jdfinfo@crd.bc.ca sothatstaffmayforward meetingdetails

Writtensubmissionsonagendaitemscanbesubmittedbefore 4:00pmon theday before themeeting.

Mail: JuandeFucaCommunityPlanning 3–7450ButlerRoad,Sooke,BC,V9Z1N1

Email: jdfinfo@crd.bc.ca

Phone: 250.642.8100

Sam Duerksen Black Press Media

Sarah McLachlan comes to Victoria Nov. 20, 2024. (Tour image)

250 478-4431

info@cherishliving.ca www.cherishvictoria.ca 917 Avrill Road, Victoria BC V9B 0T2

CLUES ACROSS

1. Baby’s dining accessory

4. Something free

8. Ancient Egyptian deity

10. Set-like mathematical categories

11. Top-quality 12. Expansive 13. Seizure

15. People with congenital absence of pigment

16. Gains

17. Mocked online

18. Clint’s son

21. Body part

22. Humor

23. Code number

CLUES DOWN

1. Nestlings

2. Induces vomiting

3. A place to eat

4. Partner in the air

5. Offered one’s take

6. Nobel-winning French biologist

7. Farm animals

9. Prevent from growing

10. Sensationalist periodical

12. Soft-bodied beetle

14. Very fast airplane

15. Imaginative creation

17. Recipe measurement (abbr.)

19. Evoked a response

24. Your physique

25. Family of regulator genes

26. LA football player (abbr.)

27. “The Blonde Bombshell”

34. Charity

35. Bluish greens

36. Examined closely

37. A type of equation

38. Stretched uncomfortably

39. Indian religious god

40. Clocks

41. Slowly leak through 42. Witnesses

43. Midway between south and southeast

20. French river

23. Shiny yellow minerals

24. Make illegal

25. U.S. military branch

26. River in France and Belgium

27. A woman of refinement

28. Male child

29. Type of medication

30. German city

31. Animal disease

32. Mediterranean dietary staple

33. Sneak out

34. Radioactivity unit

36. Performs on stage

“Neurolenseshavechangedmylife! Isufferfrommajorheadachesand wheneverIfeelonecoming,orhaveone. Imakesuretowearthem.Mysymptoms decreasetremendouslyandmyeyesfeel morerelaxedthroughouttheday.”

CONTROLLER

It is

in any event beyond the amount paid for such an advertisement. The Publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors thatdonotlessenthevalueofan advertisement.

bcclassifieds.com cannot be responsible for errors after the first day of publication of any advertisement. Notice of errors on the first day should immediately be called to the attention of the Classified Department to be corrected for thefollowingedition.

bcclassifieds.com reserves the right to revise, edit, classify or reject any advertisement and to retain any answers directed to the bcclassifieds.com Box Reply Service and to repay the customer the sum paid for the advertisementandboxrental.

DISCRIMINATORY LEGISLATION

Advertisers are reminded that provincial legislation forbids the publicationofanyadvertisement which discriminates against any person because of race, religion, sex, colour, nationality, ancestry or place of origin, age, andphysicalormentaldisability, unless the condition is justified by a bona fide requirement for theworkinvolved.

COPYRIGHT Copyright

HDL is an award-winning logging company onVancouver Island, BC that conducts stumpto-dump harvesting and road construction operationsforavarietyofforestlicenseeclients. Reporting to the President, the Controller will be responsible for managing and overseeing all financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in accounting and finance, as well as excellent communication and leadership skills. The ideal candidate will have Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance and/or a combination of education and experience including a CPA designation or equivalent certification and a minimum of 5 years of experience in accountingorfinance.ProficiencyinMicrosoft Office and other accounting software is essential. HDL offers a competitive salary ($90,000-110,000 depending on experience) and extended benefits package.

Justin Rigsby at justin.rigsby@hdlogging.com

Foundation supports local salmon recovery efforts

B.C. group sees highest demand ever for salmon stewardship project funding

More salmon habitat restoration efforts and expanded educational opportunities are coming to Greater Victoria through new funding ahead of Wild Salmon Day on June 1.

The Pacific Salmon Foundation has provided Greater Victoria with $152,000 for several community-led salmon stewardship projects.

One of the projects benefiting from the funding is the Peninsula Streams Society’s ongoing salmon habitat restoration of the Colquitz River.

The funds will also help the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary expand its salmon display at the Nature House and grow the site’s educational programs.

The latter will bring together community members of all ages to learn about the salmon anatomy, diet, life cycles and more.

Grants provided through the Pacific Salmon Foundation’s funding will also engage local students with salmon through art and hands-on experiences.

The foundation has been dolling out money through its Community

LegalNotice

Salmon Program for over three decades as that initiative aims to empower volunteers, stream keepers, Indigenous communities and schools to help conserve and recover Pacific

salmon and their habitats.

More than 100 conservation projects applied for the Community Salmon Program this year, marking the highest number of funding

LegalNotice

INACCORDANCEWITHTHEWAREHOUSELIENACT,WESTSHORETOWING LTDWILLSELLTHEFOLLOWING:

1995HondaAccord

VIN#1HGCD5617SA82848

RegisteredtoJamesHickey 2009PontiacTorrent

VIN#2CKDL33FX96245394

RegisteredtoKristopherMcGibbon 2003NissanAltima

VIN#1N4AL11E13C225211

RegisteredtoEricMorrison 2019Mazda3 VIN#JM1BPALM3K1118629

RegisteredtoRicardoMuir& 2006Chrysler300

VIN#2C3LA53G36H305727

RegisteredtoMichaelReidie

2003DodgeRam1500

VIN#1D7HU18N03S215941

RegisteredtoRonaldSmith 2020JeepCherokee

VIN#1C4PJMBX3LD558631

RegisteredtoMicahMcClure& TheBankofNovaScotia

Thesalewilltakeplaceat 1247ParkdaleDr, Victoria,B.C.onJune19,2024@11am Foroffersandinfo call 250-474-1369

INACCORDANCEWITHTHE WARE-HOUSELIENACT, WESTSHORETOWINGLTD WILLSELLTHEFOLLOWING:

1997FordExplorer

VIN#1FMDU35P6VZB28786

RegisteredtoMichaelWright

1994Chevrolet1500

VIN#2GCEC19K8R1282400

RegisteredtoTristenWyen

2014DodgeCaravan

VIN#1C4RDGBG5ER369867

RegisteredtoShanoss Lawrence

2006DodgeCaravan

VIN#1D4GP45R46B566591

RegisteredtoSolisGarcia

Thesalewilltakeplaceat1247 ParkdaleDr,Victoria,B.C.on June19,2024@11am Foroffersandinfocall 250-474-1369

request ever received in the initiative’s history.

“We are humbled by the dedication of the many grassroots stewardship organizations and volunteers who

envision and mobilize these projects, and we are particularly humbled by the projects advanced by Indigenous communities, given their deep history and commitment to salmon,” Pacific Salmon Foundation CEO Michael Meneer said in a news release.

The program’s primary funding source comes from the proceeds of a conservation stamp anglers must buy with their saltwater fishing licence.

The province and donors also provide support, but Meneer noted that due to the high demand from local stewardship projects, the foundation saw a funding gap of about $500,000 this year.

He urged the public to support the program as the CEO said salmon need help now more than ever.

B.C. established Wild Salmon Day in 2019 and eight cities, including Victoria, have recognized the June 1 distinction through proclamations this year.

Nathan Cullen, B.C.’s minister responsible for water, mines and resource stewardship, called the Community Salmon Program an exciting model of grassroots action for bringing back wild salmon to streams across the province.

“B.C. is proud to support Indigenous communities and stream keepers in their growing efforts to restore salmon populations and conserve vital habitats through this program,” he said in a release.

Peninsula Streams Society members Kyle Armstrong and Austin Nolan attend to Greater Victoria streams. The group has received funding for its salmon habitat restoration of Colquitz River. (Courtesy of Brandon Deepwell and Graham Dorsay/Pacific Salmon Foundation)