This project will create new bus-on-shoulder facilities between the McKenzie interchange and the Colwood (terminating at the Island Highway intersection) to make transit an easier faster and more desirable option for people commuting in southern Vancouver Island During construction some traffic impacts and delays can be expected For up-to-date information, visit www.DriveBC.ca This will remain an active transit corridor during construction. Riders can check BC Transit alerts for changes to routes Construction is anticipated to start March 20 Major works are anticipated to start in April 2025 Further updates will be provided as the work progresses Improving this section of road will ensure a continuous and functional rapid bus system.  This project aligns with the South Island Transportation Strategy’s goal to construct more bus lanes along highways and other inter-regional service corridors and to develop the Rapid Transit Corridor along Highway 1 This work connects to improvements currently being made to the Colquitz Bridges Widening project and transit improvement work that BC Transit is completing from the Six Mile area to View Royal It will create a more reliable transit service for all users on this route from downtown Victoria to the Juan de Fuca Bus Exchange The section between McKenzie and Colwood is prone to traffic congestion Dedicated bus lanes will ease congestion along this busy route and keep riders moving especially in peak travel hours – saving commuters time fuel and money while improving reliability.  with the Government of British Columbia contributing $67 million in funding and the Government of Canada contributing $28 million in funding 2025 and will continue until late fall 2027 The project will provide two completely dedicated bus on shoulder facilities from the McKenzie Interchange to the Colwood interchange With an exclusive facility on the shoulder of Highway 1 busses are removed from the general-purpose traffic stream and congestion and riders are more assured to arrive at their destinations at scheduled arrival and departure times As traffic and congestion grows on Highway 1 rapid transit will continue to be able to travel on the shoulder bus facilities to avoid congestion and strengthen connections between communities Bus stops and stations are being designed to accommodate accessibility and active transportation needs for all travelers Reducing travel time and increasing ridership is expected to save over 400 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year That would be equivalent to taking over 100 single-occupancy vehicles off the road annually This reduction amount will increase dramatically as BC Transit electrifies the Victoria Regional Transit fleet. Additionally restoration of a Beaver Pond downstream of the Galloping Goose trail pedestrian bridge will provide offsetting measures for the bridge’s impact on riparian vegetation RapidBus is designed to deliver consistent and frequent bus service limiting stops to high passenger volume areas This project will accelerate RapidBus implementation making transit for the South Island faster and more reliable. These lanes will: Dedicated facilities can reduce delays for buses considerably resulting in reduced travel times and increased reliability. Dedicated bus facilities will EmailBusOnShoulders@gov.bc.caSubscribeEnter your email address to subscribe to updates of this page Email addresses are collected under section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, for the purpose of providing content updates. Questions about the collection of email addresses can be directed to the Manager of Corporate Web Did you find what you were looking for?YesNoThe B.C Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures We can help in over 220 languages and through other accessible options. Call, email or text us, or find a service centre Sign In Subscribe Now Greater Victoria residents can soon experience a unique Japanese tradition right here in Colwood.  Royal Roads University has announced that visitors to Hatley Park’s hand-crafted Teahouse will be able to enjoy matcha tea specially prepared by the Urasenke Tankokai Victoria Association over four seatings this summer "Guests will experience Chado — the way of Tea The term refers to the traditional Japanese tea ceremony which focuses on the preparation and serving of tea to guests in a mindful and aesthetic manner," Royal Roads communications officer Krista Boehnert explained.  Chado has been practiced since the 16th century Sei (Purity) and Jaku (Tranquility) cited as the fundamental principles of the ceremony.   the teahouse will accept bookings for the last Sunday of every month from May to September Four seatings will be offered at the teahouse on May 25 August 31 and September 28 with each ceremony welcoming up to eight guests.  The tea ceremonies come as the latest enhancement for the revitalization of the gardens at Hatley Park.  The new teahouse first opened in summer of 2024 and will provide a "serene venue on campus for formal tea ceremonies and special gatherings."  Some of Hatley Park's other summer offerings include daily guided walking tours of Hatley Castle and the gardens Tickets for tea ceremonies are $16 per person plus GST. Reservations will be required in advance. Bookings can be made through eventbrite.ca Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Colwood cyclists navigating Latoria Road may feel safer in the future as plans for protected bike lanes move forward Existing buffered bike lanes – painted lines on the road separating cars from cyclists – will be replaced with protective infrastructure such as precast concrete curbs The $166,000 project was endorsed by the City of Colwood at their May 1 meeting 170 metres of Latoria Road’s bike lanes have been earmarked to be retrofitted with protective curbs.  The project also involves the removal of a ‘parking scallop’ – located between Creekview Lane and Bezanton Way – connecting two bike lane segments At the April 22 meeting of the city’s Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee members agreed to recommend to council that the Latoria Road project be endorsed as a priority for 2025 The committee also recommended that staff consider extending the Latoria Road bike lane project from Bezanton Way to Latoria Creek Park The extension would mean a protected bike lane on Latoria Road from Veterans Memorial Parkway to Wishart Road It was also recommended by committee members that plans to convert buffered bike lanes on Goldstream Avenue More information was needed by some committee members about the potential impact protected bike lanes could have on parking Protected bike lanes for Mount View Avenue did not receive the support of the Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee A few members felt cyclists on the stretch of road do not need protection from other vehicles Taylor Wickman said he would rather the $22,000 earmarked for Mount View go towards “something more impactful.” Cynthia Day reminded committee members Mount View is used by residents as a “safe route” to Colwood Elementary School and the Hulitan Early Childhood Years Centre on Sooke Road committee members felt more information is needed before moving forward with any project for Mount View The city’s buffered-protected bike lane program was first initiated in 2023 with the objective of improving safety and comfort for cyclists the city trialled protected bike lanes on 310 metres of Painter Road Forty-seven residents took part in a public survey after the trial with 68 per cent “strongly supporting” the installation The city considered the committee’s recommendations at a special council meeting on May 1 approving them as part of their consent agenda According to a staff presentation, construction and installation could start later this year in October/November razzle-dazzle and all that jazz: The Black Wing Theatre Company is presenting its rendition of the ever-popular Chicago at Royal Bay Secondary School's Teechamitsa Theatre this May Chicago debuted on Broadway 50 years ago this June But it’s a story that dates back even further – to a 1926 play written by Maurine Dallas Watkins who based the work on her coverage of the real-life murder trials of Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner for the Chicago Tribune slays the man with whom she’s been having an affair To avoid conviction and plead her innocence she weaves a sensational story through the media alongside her criminal lawyer and I would just say that it is timelier than ever It is just as relevant as it was when it opened in the ’70s,” said the show’s director and choreographer “Which I think is the cool thing about theatre – how these messages and themes we write about are still relevant so many years later It’s cool that we are doing this 50 years later.” The political satire’s exploration of corruption in the criminal justice system and the concept of a “celebrity criminal” are certainly themes present in today’s cultural zeitgeist anticipation is beginning to build among the cast we’re adding all the elements that go into the show It’s beautiful to see it all coming together after months of hard work,” said Isabella Gorman a Grade 10 student taking on the role of Roxie Hart Gorman says this year’s show is an opportunity for her to continue honing her skills and build on what she began in musical theatre last year Her favourite part of the production has been learning about Chicago’s “hidden message.” “It’s about the way the world works and the truth behind it – and I think it shows that really well.” Shy Hamilton and Will Jackson – Grade 11 and 12 students portraying Velma Kelly and Billy Flynn respectively – are looking forward to taking on bigger roles than they have in the past “This is the biggest role I’ve ever had in a show I’m excited to see it all come together and get to have the moments that I’ve seen other people experience in my years of theatre,” said Hamilton “This show is very special to me because I’ve always loved it and I think it’s going to be a peak of my high school experience.” her co-star Jackson is looking forward to returning to the stage after an eight-year hiatus “It’s kind of jumping into the deep end in a lot of ways for me as this is my first lead role in any production but seeing it all come together has truly been an experience I won’t forget.” The large ensemble dance numbers – including their rendition of We Both Reached for the Gun – are among the production’s highlights for the cast “That’s Billy’s master plan coming together,” said Jackson He controls what’s happening and why this case is going this way being able to play that role is a big highlight.” Beyond learning about the show’s themes and honing their performance skills the cast says an appreciation for hard work will stay with them even after they’ve left the Black Wing Theatre Company “The full ensemble coming together is really powerful and I think it shows that if people all come together and work for one goal When Mayor Doug Kobayashi stepped up to the mic to speak in front of throngs of children he knew he needed to keep things brief – their attention was firmly fixed on what was behind him: Colwood’s newest attraction the crowd responding with cheers. “Kids always tell the truth.” Hailed as the Capital Region District’s largest playground boasts accessible and inclusive features for all youngsters sensory play structures and other nature inspired play elements much of it handcrafted on the south Island whose three-year-old daughter Camila Valdez Stroh was one of the many children to experience the playground for the first time “My daughter is one of the reasons I moved here … the great schools around the area “I don't think there's a better spot to live on the Island - you’ve got everything here.” The new playground is the first of many attractions to open in the 16-acre park visitors will be able to enjoy new walking trails connecting them to Latoria Creek Park a bike jump park “for the very brave” and a large open green space to relax “We are doing our best to make Colwood the most family-friendly community in the West Shore and Greater Victoria,” said Ben Mycroft from Path Developments the team who have been working in collaboration with the City of Colwood “Community well-being is one of Colwood's key strategic priorities and that's why we have this new playground,” added Kobayashi “This is what it's all about: kids and families getting outside The city already has plans to expand the 16-acre park Endorsed by the city in November last year the expansion concept plan allows for additional sports fields space for a potential future community centre and public washrooms the park is located next to a school site owned by School District 62 which will offer additional opportunities for playgrounds and playing fields “These new places in our community to gather and celebrate are all adding to the health and well-being of our entire community,” Kobayashi said Today we went to the Colwood Pacific Activity Centre to vote in the advance polls While we were in line for almost two hours it was a wonderful experience. We talked with many people while waiting.   sharing stories. It didn't matter what size what age we were or who we were voting for how cold it can be in the winter in Canada our families. We all had our reasons and a purpose to be there. To exercise our democratic right to vote in a consequential election in these uncertain times We all had the same goal: to protect our country and to vote for whoever we felt could best protect us and stand up against the bullies When it's so easy to get dragged into the social media cesspool of anger it was wonderful to experience the real beauty of our people and our country.  COLWOOD: BC Hydro has opened its first fast-charging hub on Vancouver Island with eight new charging ports for electric vehicles (EVs) in Colwood "This new electric vehicle charge hub in Colwood continues our work with BC Hydro and other partners to make cleaner options more accessible and affordable for all British Columbians," said Adrian Dix This hub site was built in collaboration with the City of Colwood and is located in the parking lot of Quarry Park at 3588 Quarry Street which can add up to 180 kilometres of driving to an average EV in about 10 minutes the units also offer dual charging or power sharing which allows two customers to use the same charger a 180-kilowatt charger can adjust to provide two 90-kilowatt charging units which allows up to eight EVs to use these four chargers at once "There is a growing community of EV drivers in the western communities and this new charge hub in Colwood will support them with access to reliable charging," said Darlene Rotchford "This location is also wheelchair accessible with a curbless design cable management systems and a lower display on the new chargers for better accessibility." The adoption of EVs across British Columbia has increased significantly with more than 180,000 EVs on the road in B.C BC Hydro predicts there will be between 700,000 and 900,000 EVs within the next 10 years "Expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Colwood is important for the growing number of EV owners in our community and helps to reduce our climate impacts and improve our air quality," said Doug Kobayashi "It also stimulates our local economy by attracting eco-conscious businesses and creating new learning and employment opportunities in technology and maintenance of renewable energy infrastructure." As BC Hydro continues to build its fast-charging network it plans to focus on building more hub sites with multiple chargers along highway corridors and highly populated areas to provide a faster and more convenient experience for its customers Future charge hubs are planned for Vancouver "British Columbians are embracing electric vehicles faster than any other jurisdiction in Canada and that's why we are continuing to make investments for growth within our current system and building out our fast-charging network across B.C.," said Chris O'Riley "These new chargers in Colwood will help support EV adoption and reduce range anxiety on Vancouver Island." Get the latest news and tips from BC Hydro directly to your inbox A thoughtful gesture from a stranger in a Colwood grocery store could be the catalyst for a wave kindness through the West Shore – and maybe beyond When Langford single dad Randall Alexander goes to the grocery store he does his best to ‘shop healthy’ for his two kids – four-year-old Leia and six-year-old Luke – while also being mindful of his modest budget But on a recent trip in early April to the Sooke Road Save-On-Foods Alexander miscalculated and found himself $20 over budget – leaving him facing some tough decisions just putting everything in the cart and trying to calculate everything … I wasn’t expecting it to go over the amount,” he said “I was only trying to spend like $30 or $34 at most.” Stepping out of line to quickly call family for help Alexander was unable to find the few bucks he needed to cover the bill “The lady that was behind me had ended up paying for my entire bill,” said Alexander “It was about $55 or something … completely unexpected never had anything like that happen to me before.” Alexander says he was unsure what to say to the lady simply offering her a hug as a way of saying thank you The drive home was also emotional for the dad “I was on the verge of tears the whole way home and then for most of the rest of the day as well … I just couldn’t believe that would happen.” Alexander wishes he had asked his Good Samaritan for her contact details so he could repay her in some way An appeal for information on Facebook to help identify her failed to turn up any leads the single dad is considering how he can ‘pay it forward’ and help others in the community “I was trying to think of maybe doing some yard work or something for people,” said the single dad who is setting up his own gardening business And after reading about the small community of people living in their recreational vehicles in Langford in the Goldstream Gazette Alexander says he also wants to reach out to them to explore how he can help in any small way he can “This experience has made me think that even helping that one person matters,” he said Alexander also hopes sharing his story might cause a ripple of kindness through the community “Just keep an eye out for people that need help,” he says But he’s still hopeful he might one day get the opportunity to ‘give back’ to the grocery store stranger who helped him on April 4 “Or even somebody that she knows that could use a little bit of help,” says Alexander BC Transit is taking steps to maintain its fleet of buses officially opening its new Provincial Distribution Centre in Colwood As BC Transit continues to expand its fleet to meet increasing ridership demands the new warehouse is a cornerstone of its plan to keep new and existing buses reliable and on the road “Our ridership continues to grow with more people choosing BC Transit since the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Aaron Lamb BC Transit’s VP of asset management and chief sustainability officer “To support this growth and manage our current needs we need more space to support the increased demand and longer lead times for parts.”   The new 30,000-square-foot warehouse is five times larger than BC Transit's previous parts warehouse and will be able to better accommodate storing nearly 500,000 total parts that keep the BC Transit's fleet operational.  Lamb says the new warehouse will support transit growth for the next 25 years meanwhile the previous distribution centre in Langford will be repurposed “We know that public transit strengthens neighbourhoods,” said George Anderson when speaking on the impact of the new facility “Every minute saved in getting a bus back on the road is a minute gained for someone trying to reach their destination This new distribution centre will ensure that our transit system is reliable and dependable so that everyone can access the services they need on time.”  The new distribution centre will also feature a new management system designed to get parts out faster and easier to all 58 BC transit systems across the province “This project is going to be a real difference for us in our ability to deliver reliable transit service,” said Erinn Pinkerton who explained a warehouse of such size was not common for transit agencies but is essential to facilitate the breadth of BC Transit’s operations This is the space we use to keep the buses running we need the right parts at the right time in the right place.”   The distribution centre was funded through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program with the federal government providing $2,209,483 to the program the provincial government investing $8,445,960 and local government contributing $10,194,951 for a total investment of $20.6 million.  The new centre will operate out of the new Wildcat Industrial Complex recently constructed in Colwood Lamb called it a “stroke of luck” that the space became available to end BC Transit's 13-year search for a new distribution centre space a mark of success for the project will remain its impact on riders if a bus doesn’t show up on the road because they don’t have the parts that’s never what we want to see,” said Lamb who outlined two main indicators of success as ensuring the parts are available to meet the schedule on the road and ensuring when parts are needed they are available.  If navigating the final year of high school wasn’t busy enough one Colwood teenager chose to add to her workload – organizing her very own environmental expo Grade 12 Belmont Secondary School student Taylor Gossman brought together a number of local environmental groups under one roof to allow the community to learn more about their work and how they can help Her initiative and commitment to raising awareness about climate change were recently celebrated at the Citizens Environment Network's annual environmental stewardship awards in Colwood (CENiC) “I really just wanted to make sure that people didn't feel alone in the battle against climate change because so often it's such an isolating thing,” the 17-year-old told the crowd gathered in Herm Williams Park which also included her proud parents, grandparents “I wanted to give people in my community the opportunity to interact with other like-minded individuals to interact with organizations that I thought might benefit from it and have people feel less alone in the ultimate battle.” Gossman also helped to plant a tree in her honour which CENiC hopes will inspire others to follow in her footsteps “I was very honoured,” Gossman told the Goldstream Gazette about hearing the news of her award But this is just the beginning for the environmentally conscious teenager who will head to the University of British Columbia to study geography "So I'm going to get that degree and hopefully do something to help the environment in my career," she said Also recognized for their efforts to help the environment were Women in Need (WIN) Resale Shop which raises money to provide programs and services to support women “All happening while contributing to a more environmentally friendly and sustainable economy,” said CENiC’s Carol Brown about WIN’s shop Receiving the environmental stewardship award in the organization category was the West Shore RCMP for their use of electric vehicles (EV) in their working police fleet One of only two detachments in Canada chosen to take part in the EV pilot project Brown explained that the use of EVs has helped West Shore RCMP reduce its carbon footprint and gas consumption “We very much appreciate that the RCMP took the initiative to request the pilot project and hope that the results lead to the expansion of EV police vehicles at other detachments,” said Brown Rounding off the celebration was Mayor Doug Kobayashi who was full of praise for the “phenomenal” work being done to support the local environment by the award winners and the community as a whole “There are so many good things being done by citizens,” he said “This is how it all starts – small success “Each and every one of you is making a difference.” People might say 'two heads are better than one' the whole community is asked to don their thinking caps to help brainstorm how the city can be improved Described by the city as a fun and interactive event the Ideas Fair invites Colwood residents to have conversations and share their thoughts with councillors, staff and each other on a wide range of topics And nothing is off the table; everything city-related is up for discussion with stations assigned to specific topics “This council is focused on listening to residents to better understand their needs and expectations,” said Mayor Doug Kobayashi in a news release “One way we do that is by hosting annual ideas fairs that spur meaningful conversation about topics that are important to our community.” The city's third annual Ideas Fair will be held on Saturday "You can't miss us – we'll be in the lease space right on Sooke Road in the corner unit near Save On Foods," said a city spokesperson About the Author: Goldstream News Gazette Staff Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines. Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account Colwood Mayor Doug Kobayashi posed for a picture with his municipality’s newest employee: a family doctor Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentShe’s Dr the first doctor recruited to what Colwood bills as Canada’s first municipally run health-care clinic The family doctor and sports medicine physician is moving to the suburb of the B.C She and her partner Steve have bought a house she is setting up practice this month and the clinic itself opens in February The goal is to have the Colwood clinic fully operational in two years providing family medical care for as many as half of the residents of the city of 22,000 A daily roundup of Opinion pieces from the Sun and beyond By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Informed Opinion will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Kobayashi says when he first suggested setting up the clinic With word now spreading about Colwood’s audacious experiment the mayor ended the year fielding inquiries emails — it is just going off like crazy from all the other municipalities,” he told Dirk Meissner of The Canadian Press “They call me curious about what the heck we are doing.” The clinic was Kobayashi’s response to a familiar crisis for many communities Colwood’s walk-in clinic was having trouble retaining staff and keeping its doors open Rather than pass the buck to higher levels of government in 2023 Kobayashi floated the idea of the city establishing its own clinic The initial response from the Health Ministry was favourable A city-run survey later that year found that the most important concern for 70 per cent of Colwood residents was lack of a family doctor the city funded a business-case for the project “You can build all the new facilities you want,” said Kobayashi “But if you can’t attract and retain the doctors Colwood council voted unanimously to approve the five-year experiment in partnership with private companies Agora Lifestyle Medicine and Pure Integrative Pharmacy The city is spending $500,000 in startup costs The space is leased from the pharmacy for a “shockingly low” rate according to the mayor The funding will be provided by the Health Ministry on the same basis as other clinics The doctors and support staff will all be municipal employees They’ll be part of the municipal pension plan the pension $130,000 after 30 years’ service One of the biggest selling points for doctors is relief from paperwork The Canadian Medical Association estimates that administrative burdens consume up to 40 per cent of a family doctor’s time “The city is well equipped to do the administration,” Kobayashi told Cindy E “We are taking away all of the business side for the doctors so they can practice being a physician for eight hours a day.” Stiller-Moldovan says the city has effectively eliminated the second job associated with family medicine — being a small business operator but for myself personally,” she told Canadian Press “I have a young daughter and a spouse and this really was a perfect model for me to focus on the thing which I really love to do — which is take care of patients.” Colwood targets recruits from outside B.C.: “Come for the exceptional seaside lifestyle and full municipal benefit package including paid vacation and maternity leave 100 per cent medical coverage and a defined pension.” Kobayashi expects the clinic to be fully staffed before two years are up He also expects to hit the target of providing family medical care for 10,000 Colwood residents on a preferential basis Health Minister Josie Osborne hails from a smaller Vancouver Island community herself — she was mayor of Tofino — and welcomed the Colwood experiment “When we see the kind of ingenuity and innovation that is happening in different communities — it just goes to show what hard work can do in benefiting people,” she told the CBC’s All Points West The Colwood clinic is getting underway just as Osborne’s ministry launches a review of primary care at the community level The exercise was prompted by the Green party which campaigned against the top-heavy bureaucracy in the health care system in favour of community care centres in every one of the province’s 93 ridings The concern was incorporated in the recent accord between the Greens and the NDP “Government will support the growth of the community health centre (CHC) model for primary care facilities,” it reads in part “Performance analysis of the health system is critical — Government will assess all elements of the primary care system But Colwood’s municipally run clinic surely belongs in the review as a possible model for the future transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account which has been on the minds of Colwood residents for decades A referendum in 1992 found the majority of locals preferred private septic systems over a sewer expansion funded by property taxes with 61 per cent taking part voting against This resulted in a patchwork of sewers across Colwood as new developments were approved and constructed A smaller referendum in 2001 gave a similar result who has signalled another vote could be on the horizon for the city Ward says city staff explained they have identified 57 catchment areas in Colwood currently without a sewer network which “optimistically” could cost an estimated $103 million to install Stressing no decisions have been made by the city Ward said councillors have asked staff to continue exploring the cost of sewer installation for the identified areas and its financial impact on residents “[And] how much of it will be taken care of by development over the course of the next 10 years or so,” he adds Information will then be presented to the community with a possible referendum on the decision in 2026 “We want to at least be able to put the information out there in such a way that the public is totally informed of what the potential is “All of the data would be readily available to citizens and ideally we'd put the decision in their hands.” Ward expects the topic to be a contentious issue again especially for those happy with their own private septic systems “I've heard from a couple of people who recently re-did their septic systems,” he said “They paid $17,000 and it's now good for decades in addition to that, to hook up to sewer seems completely illogical for them “So there are those who would be negatively impacted by a blanket move to sewer.” the majority of Colwood households – around 55 per cent – are currently served by septic systems Many of these private systems are said to be aging and in need of potential repair or replacement in the coming years.  Identified as one of the most pressing issues for residents the city endorsed a Sewer Master Plan update in 2023 City staff were directed to provide options for how sewer service could be expanded throughout Colwood detailing a phased approach that considers the cost existing infrastructure and growth expected for each area of the city.  For more information about Colwood’s Sewer Master Plan, visit the website: www.colwood.ca/local-government/strategies/sewer-master-plan Tucked out of sight on the shore of Esquimalt Lagoon which comes alive with creativity and culture the moment you step inside Managed by the Arts and Culture Colwood Society the Goldfinch Arts Centre is fast becoming a destination for anyone wanting to explore their creative side or get lost in thought admiring the talents of local artists “We're really trying to become an arts hub for the community,” said Sunny Ba “We don’t want to be ‘fine artsy’ and intimidating … we want to be more accessible to everyone – beginners to all sorts of skill levels.” the volunteer-run arts centre is hosting an exhibition showcasing the up and coming talent from Ecole Royal Bay Secondary School Completed by artists in Grades 9 through 12 the Echoes & Emblems exhibition showcases a variety of mediums "We gave them the space so that they can have this experience of having their works displayed," said Ba who notes this is the second exhibition curated by the school The students' art work is on display until May 4 with the gallery open to the public Thursday through to Sunday With 260 society members bursting with ideas Ba says activity will be "ramping up" at the centre this year Exhibitions have already been planned throughout the year with four member shows scheduled and a series of professional artists showing their work over the summer The society also plans to offer more classes at the centre "We want to keep busy with lots of activities The next member show in July is titled ‘Don't judge a book by its cover’ “People are going to submit pieces inspired by their favourite books … it will be their interpretation of what the cover should be.” the society will host its fourth annual Lagoon Arts and Culture Festival for the first time at the Goldfinch location we really want to bring people to the art centre … that’s going to be a great event,” says Ba about the Sept The Goldfinch Arts Centre is located at 170 Goldfinch Rd Free parking is available on site and the building is accessible. You can also access the building on foot or by bike from Lagoon Road or Anchorage Avenue For more information and to keep up-to-date with all the Arts and Culture Colwood Society news, visit the website: www.artsandculturecolwood.ca In a bid to make Earth Day more than just a fleeting moment scouts on the West Shore embarked on a learning experience that left the community cleaner The 10th Juan de Fuca Beaver Scouts had a few environment-themed meetings to go with Earth Day including visiting GFL's recycling transfer station in Langford the group of kids aged five to eight cleaned up the Colwood Creek Park “It is important for the Beavers to learn to give back to the community and one way kids this age can do this is by participating or engaging in a community clean up,” explained Ryan Swan “Beavers is an outdoor focused program with emphasis on the environment.  One of the lessons we teach in Beavers is This involves leaving the environment in a better condition than when you found it like picking up garbage on a trail campground or park.” Activities go towards their Earth Beaver Badge and their year end North Star Project.  Members of the 5th Juan de Fuca Scouts tackled trash on land adjacent to Allandale Road (between Veterans Memorial Parkway and Clement Road) collecting an impressive 358 pounds of litter The group borrowed litter picking gear from the City of Colwood to clean up the neighbourhood "that was in dire need of attention," said Laura King on behalf of the 5th Juan de Fuca Scouts.  Sign up for free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters The cost of 9-1-1 call-taking and police dispatch services will account for almost a third of Colwood’s tax hike in 2025 Of the proposed 7.9 per cent tax increase for residents next year the cost of funding the E-Comm 9-1-1 service amounts to 2.2 per cent Currently funded by the province and federal governments 100 per cent of the cost of the E-Comm 9-1-1 service is being passed on to Colwood and nine other South Island municipalities – including Langford the cost of the service in 2025 is expected to be $495,000 “Almost a third of Colwood’s municipal tax increase this year will be solely because of this decision by the province to download these costs,” said Coun Ian Ward speaking to Goldstream News Gazette “It's concerning … it has a real world impact on people right now that are struggling with housing costs and rising grocery costs and other things.” Originally managed by a local RCMP operational communication centre (OCC) the dispatch service was moved to E-Comm 9-1-1 in 2019 The province and federal governments will continue funding for RCMP OCC dispatch services in most areas across B.C All 10 mayors from the affected municipalities have previously asked for “province-wide equity,” appealing for a pause in the plans to offload the cost of the police dispatch service because a lot of the province doesn't have these costs and we've been selected to have to pay this,” said Ward “Colwood taxpayers will bear the brunt of this decision.” City of Colwood budget deliberations are currently underway and are scheduled to continue on Monday Black Press Media asked the candidates in Esquimalt-Colwood a series of three questions.  What do you see as the most pressing issue for your riding Greens: The most pressing issue in our riding is the lack of access to primary health care leaving too many families without a family doctor and relying on overburdened emergency rooms This crisis has impacted my family personally and reflects deep systemic issues Greens' platform offers achievable solutions to address the challenges faced by thousands without access to timely care I was honoured to receive the “Excellence in Health Promotion Award” from Doctors of B.C in 2023 for my work on initiatives that enhance health and safety in B.C I recognize that much more needs to be accomplished I have advocated for health-care spending to be tied to measurable outcomes ensuring that funds are allocated toward services that directly benefit patients Greens' commitment to transparency and includes reassessing the effectiveness of urgent and primary care centres while redirecting resources to strengthen frontline care I support an approach that emphasizes preventative care and integrates a team-based model including nurse practitioners and physician assistants we can reduce pressure on emergency services and provide more timely improving working conditions for health-care professionals is essential for retaining and attracting talent By addressing burnout and ensuring fair compensation we can build a more resilient health-care system I aim to ensure that everyone in our riding has access to the care they need.  Darlene Rotchford – B.C NDP: In my time on Esquimalt council and talking to people throughout Esquimalt-Colwood the top concerns people share are housing affordability and access to health care but housing is expensive and many residents still struggle to find a doctor. That’s why I’ve chosen to run with David Eby – he’s taking action to ensure everyone can afford a good home with actions like a crackdown on standalone short-term rentals and cutting red tape to unlock the construction of hundreds of thousands of middle-class homes I’m an addiction recovery worker who works in mental health and substance use – health care is close to my heart I’ve seen firsthand that we’re facing big challenges with the fallout from the pandemic and the shortage of doctors across Canada David Eby is taking action to train and hire more doctors nurses and health-care workers than ever before We’ve opened a new Urgent and Primary Care Centre in Esquimalt and hired over 800 new family doctors in B.C Over 400,000 people have been connected to family doctors and nurse practitioners — but we need to finish the job After seven years of David Eby and the NDP people no longer feel safe in their communities Gang-related shootings and violence are becoming increasingly frequent The streets are becoming more dangerous every day and this alliance has offered nothing but empty promises while communities suffer criminals know they can get away with anything The Eby-Trudeau alliance is more interested in protecting criminals than in protecting families John Rustad and the Conservative Party of B.C Increase funding for law enforcement agencies to empower them to take the fight to the gangs and organized crime We insist on harsher penalties for gang-related crimes and Implement strong legal consequences for gang members ensuring they are kept off the streets and away from vulnerable communities We will end revolving door justice and reform the justice system to ensure that repeat offenders and violent criminals face real Community investment to prevent gang recruitment: Provide funding to help at-risk communities and youth break free from the cycle of gangs How do you balance the need for housing affordability with homeowners’ desire to not lose money on their investment Rotchford: After decades of rampant speculation in the housing market finding an affordable place to call home in a community you love is one of the biggest challenges facing people in B.C I’ve heard too many stories of long-time residents being forced to leave our community because they couldn't find a new home in their budget. We want families to be able to stay in their neighbourhoods – not move away and health-care workers and teachers to be able to live close to work David Eby is taking on speculation and cutting red tape to unlock the construction of hundreds of thousands of middle-class homes the speculation tax alone has made 20,000 new homes available and experts project that our housing plan will deliver 300,000 middle-class homes for people We’re just starting to see some signs we’re turning the corner Wilson: Where you live is your home and it's important to protect that and make it affordable Conservatives have a plan to address the housing affordability crisis that has only gotten worse under the NDP which will streamline approval processes for new construction and deliver the largest tax cut on housing in B.C.’s history The Conservative Party’s plan includes immediate tax relief income taxes from $3,000 per month of housing costs offering significant relief to both renters and homeowners A Conservative government will also repeal hidden taxes on housing that increase construction costs by 30 to 40 per cent through the radical Step Code policy and Net-Zero mandate which also result in cookie-cutter homes with fewer windows and reduced livability We will also support transit-oriented communities complete communities with room for grocery stores and services within walking distance of homes address the shortage of housing that plagues B.C and immediately puts money into people’s pocket Currie: Balancing housing affordability with homeowners’ concerns about their investments requires a thoughtful and compassionate approach Housing should first and foremost be a place to live their home is also their most significant financial investment we need to increase housing supply in ways that enhance communities and improve affordability This includes expanding non-market housing options by supporting non-profit and housing co-ops with upfront investment and low-interest financing while ensuring we protect existing affordable housing stock By increasing the supply of affordable housing we can relieve pressure across the entire housing system This creates a positive ripple effect: more affordable housing means households can save and treating housing as a human right rather than an investment tool we can ensure that homes remain both affordable for new buyers and a stable investment for current homeowners This balanced approach will foster stronger How would your party meet the public’s demand for spending on health care without raising taxes or ballooning the deficit Wilson: To ensure that we improve health care access build housing and upgrade our transportation networks will take strong leadership that we haven’t seen in the last seven years under David Eby and the NDP We will hold government accountable by ensuring that dollars spent get the best result Health-care spending will follow the patient ensuring that they get better health care than the system that is currently crumbling under this NDP government We will build housing by unlocking the potential of the market by working with cities to get the approval process shortened for new housing projects we will get projects built on time and on budget projects such as the McKenzie Interchange frequently get delayed and their budgets spiral out of control that respects the taxpayer to get projects completed on time and on budget Currie: To meet the public’s demand for spending on health care and homelessness without raising taxes or increasing the deficit I advocate for a strategic approach centered on efficiency and accountability Investing in preventative measures – especially in health care and homelessness – can significantly reduce long-term costs by addressing issues before they escalate the cost of ER visits far exceeds that of primary care and crop loss can be mitigated through investments in community resilience We must prioritize reallocating existing resources and streamlining government spending to eliminate waste Conducting thorough audits of current expenditures will help identify areas where funds can be better utilized to address urgent public needs the Esquimalt Urgent Primary Care Centre spent $600,000 more on overhead in 2022-23 than budgeted yet it still cannot provide a single full-time family physician or nurse practitioner This highlights inefficiency and a lack of accountability Greens propose taxing windfall profits and making corporate taxes fairer impacting approximately 35 companies in B.C and potentially raising around $4.1 billion annually This approach promotes equity without putting additional pressure on taxpayers B.C.’s economy is one of the strongest in the country but we’re facing some big challenges We’re still feeling fallout from the pandemic and global inflation and high interest rates are hiking costs which means that many people are still struggling I know that people in our community are counting on a government that works for them and ensures they have the services they need to build a future for themselves and their families. Instead of tax cuts for the top 2% reduced car insurance and electricity costs I’ve heard from many parents in my community who are saving $900 a month in child care fees – which means they can return to work I also know from my time as a municipal councillor that local governments need a strong provincial partner to ensure that they can meet the needs of their communities Local businesses need infrastructure and amenities to grow and thrive David Eby will keep making smart investments to strengthen services so they’re there for people and businesses Sign up for a free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters About the Author: Greater Victoria News Staff From the fifth Black woman in RCMP history to attain the rank of inspector to a passionate advocate for Blau syndrome six of Royal Roads University’s most distinguished alumni will be honoured this May have sought to address challenges in workplaces communities and around the world.  “It brings me great pride to see the remarkable contributions they’ve made in communities near and far inspiring people with the courage to transform the world,” RRU president and vice-chancellor Philip Steenkamp said in a news release at RRU's Dogwood Auditorium in Colwood (2005 Sooke Rd.) Here are the alumni set to receive awards under various categories.  Veronica Fox (Master of Arts in Leadership 2010): The fifth Black woman in RCMP history to achieve the rank of inspector She has dedicated her career to empowering other women of colour to enter careers in policing and security.  Veni Iozzo (Master of Business Administration Iozzo has led significant enterprise-level initiatives and is an experienced internal and not-for-profit director and collaborative leader.  Dapo Bankole (Master of Arts in Leadership 2018): Bankole is the founder and president of Mopheth Systems Corp. an IT firm that creates software products such as Mentorfy – a platform for companies and organizations to create he is passionate about helping newcomers establish strong roots in Canada.  April Hicke (Graduate Certificate in Corporate Social Innovation 2023): Hicke challenges the status quo within the tech industry Through her role as co-founder and chief growth officer of talent-scouting company Toast she is advancing gender equity by helping women get careers and get ahead in tech while helping tech companies diversify their workforce.  Kevina Power (Master of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Management Her work requires her to find solutions to deeply entrenched social challenges and her efforts have helped build cross-cultural collaborations while driving towards equitable development.  Cheryl-Lynn Townsin (Master of Arts in Global Leadership educator and researcher on the impacts of Blau Syndrome to complications of the inflammatory disorder she co-founded the Cure Blau Syndrome Foundation which aims to improve awareness and raise funds for medical researchers.  For more information, visit: royalroads.ca/ACAA.  When Jess Thomsen was asked to share her story about becoming Colwood’s first female full-time career firefighter While Thomsen is proud of the accolade bestowed upon her in March she did not want to overshadow the men and women who work alongside her and those who came before her at Colwood’s Fire Department and I'm not the first really great firefighter to work at Colwood,” she said “There's been lots of people behind me who’ve worked just as hard and are doing the job the same as me But as she is the first female full-time career firefighter in Colwood’s nearly 80-year history Thomsen realizes this is a moment worthy of reflection “I do want to get it out there that this is happening in Colwood and we're moving in the right direction,” she says As the longest serving fire department in the West Shore some may wonder why it has taken Colwood so long to reach this milestone Langford has had female career firefighters for several years; while in Metchosin Stephanie Dunlop became the first paid female chief in B.C Thomsen says she feels timing and a smaller team of nine career firefighters might be why it hasn’t happened for Colwood sooner there are paid-on-call females that were there before me and are still there now,” she adds Thomsen remembers the fire department’s strong presence in the community “I used to go to the bonfires at Halloween I remember seeing Santa Claus when they came around with the fire trucks at Christmas,” she says “My best friend’s dad was a firefighter too.” But despite her strong ties to the fire department firefighting was never Thomsen’s first career choice She had plans to go to medical school after studying biomedical engineering at the University of Victoria her plans changed; deciding instead to take a break from studying That’s when she found herself drawn to the news Colwood Fire was hiring paid-on-call firefighters and kind of just never left,” said Thomsen “It wasn’t something that I'd been thinking about; it kind of just like fell into my lap and I ran with it.” Her training began in March 2022 and by December that year she was working on the night shift once a week Her next goal was to become a career firefighter As well as igniting a passion for her new career Thomsen also found familiarity in her new role Thomsen has always valued teamwork – something she finds in spades at the fire department “I think firefighting is about as close as you can get to a team sport as a career without actually being a team sport,” she says “So I really enjoy that aspect … and I really enjoy the hands-on aspect of the job.” Being one of a few females at Colwood Fire Thomsen says she has felt nothing but support from her male colleagues – the biggest obstacle on her journey to achieving her goal of career firefighter “The stigma that comes from working in a male-dominated field is you really feel like you have to prove yourself as a female at least in my experience … you feel like you have to prove your right to be there.” How did she prove this to herself? Thomson threw herself into training determined to gain the experience and qualifications she needed “That is in itself proof that I'm capable of doing this job … the more I put into my training the more it built my confidence to that point where I didn't feel like I had to prove myself It’s this message of confidence she hopes to pass on to others.  While she has made her friends and family proud Thomsen is aware her role as a firefighter may mean a whole lot more to others in the community “I would love to be the female that the little girls can look up to … see me with my ponytail and my fire gear on To help raise awareness of tsunami safety and preparedness Royal Roads University (RRU) and the City of Colwood are hosting the High Ground Hike A double rear-ender ground traffic to a halt in Colwood Tuesday (Feb The driver of an SUV exiting a parking lot on Island Highway rear-ended a vehicle stopped in the southbound lane pushing that vehicle into the one in front of it West Shore RCMP told the Goldstream Gazette The driver of a fourth vehicle hit the back of the original SUV pushing it even further into the vehicle in front of it Three of the four vehicles had to be towed from the scene near Juan de Fuca Rec Centre Two drivers – of the SUV and the vehicle that hit the SUV – were ticketed for following too closely Traffic was slowed down in the area for at least an hour while crews worked to clear the scene There was an “elephant in the room” at the West Shore RCMP’s town hall meeting: Langford’s recent decision to fund four new officers in their 2025 budget While the community was gathered to discuss their thoughts on policing priorities for the year ahead with RCMP leadership representatives the conversation often strayed into local politics with a number of residents noting their dissatisfaction with Langford’s decision who took direct aim at the “elephant in the room.” Criticizing Langford for not adhering to the cop-to-population ratio – a guide used to consider how many officers are needed for a community – Jordison called on her neighbours to “pay their share.” referencing the ‘cop-to-pop’ ratio as “an agreement between municipalities.” "I don't agree with each municipality not holding their own weight and I'm not prepared to take on that with our community.” The decision to increase RCMP funding to allow for four new cops instead of five was one of many made by Langford in an effort to reduce the tax hike for residents Starting with a proposed 14.51 percent increase Langford councillors finished with a 9.77 percent hike a figure the city said acknowledged the "uncertainty of current financial conditions and the need to be prudent." The City of Langford has also hit back at the recent criticism explaining they are “committed to ensuring public safety,” and supporting the RCMP the pop-to-cop ratio stands at 971:1 – the target ratio is 875:1 “The City of Langford values its strong and successful working relationship with the RCMP West Shore communities and the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations and is dedicated to maintaining strong support and funding for police services ensuring safety and prosperity for our thriving community," added the city spokesperson Addressing the tension in the room at the RCMP town hall if the concern for public safety was justified “I feel like there's a feeling in the community that the RCMP will not be able to safely support the community this year because of budget decisions," said one Langford resident addressing the tension in the room. "Is that what we're looking at?” While acknowledging more can be done with a larger police force the superintendent offered some words of reassurance “Collaboratively we'll work together to make sure that we are keeping your community safe and we will work with the resources that we have,” said Preston they will give everything they've got for this community.” the West Shore community also used the forum as an opportunity to share their thoughts on where the RCMP should focus its efforts in 2025 Preston and Inspector Stephen Rose presented to the 60-plus strong crowd a list of eight priorities for the West Shore RCMP deterring youth crime and enhancing best practices for sex-based offences Attendees were asked to select their key concerns from the list with many highlighting ‘organized crime and drug trafficking’ and the RCMP’s ‘mental health and crisis response teams’ as their priorities For Langford resident Mike Wignall it was “downtown crime and safety” top of his list "It feels like it's just a matter of time before something bad happens,” said the local business owner “Either that I get a break-in or one of my staff gets assaulted and that for me that's big time … it’s deteriorating chaos out there.” I can't pick one to be the most important,” said Hans Frederikson “They're all important to me because they're all interwoven One thing the attendees did agree on was their gratitude to the West Shore RCMP for their work in the community you keep our community on the rails and this detachment in particular … it’s hard to believe you guys are a national police force because you really feel like our police force,” said Wignall “Your openness and calmness and approachability “You should start a GoFundMe page,” joked another resident the RCMP will also be sharing the list of eight priorities for 2025 with the wider community via an online survey The Capital Regional District's attempt to launch a regional transportation service that will be funded through household taxes is drawing the ire of some community members The new service could requisition up to $20 million from CRD municipalities annually It aims to achieve three key objectives: increase walking cycling and transit use; reduce carbon pollution; and tackle congestion The proposed service was sent to the alternative approval process (AAP) at a March 12 CRD board meeting, where it faced some opposition from board members. arguing that the province is not providing enough help when it comes to Sooke's transportation and local solutions are needed This prompted former Colwood mayor Dave Saunders to speak out “You're not going to change the world with a $20-million new bureaucracy in a year,” said Saunders the district already pays into CRD’s transportation services The new transportation service would see that fee grow incrementally by $2 per year, with a maximum requisition of $75 per year per household. The increase comes just after Sooke announced a 15 per cent tax hike we don’t want to pay,’ but what are you going to do instead then?” said Tait Saunders would like to see municipalities work more closely with the provincial government rather than entrench the region in a new bureaucracy “Why are they duplicating a service that already exists?” said Saunders “There hasn’t been one leader to approach the Ministry of Transportation and the province and say ‘Let’s meet on a quarterly basis and develop a long-term attempts to work with the province have seen little momentum We request meetings — they’re unwilling to meet What if we invite them to attend and they have nothing to share?” said Tait “As a small municipality within the region even losing out on transit services because there are always growing demands elsewhere.”  Tait worries the district may be left behind more people must commute out of town as business development falls behind residential development infrastructure continues to develop in other regions and resources such as double-decker buses have been moved out of Sooke to facilitate rapid transit in other areas Recent accidents, such as those on Highway 1 have exposed the potential for paralysis of the region's transportation infrastructure there needs to be collaboration throughout the region with all municipalities,” said Tait who adds without it, “The system will fail and not meet the demands of the future.” While Saunders agrees transportation needs to be improved he takes issue with how the CRD has approached it “I believe it should be a referendum-type question with a strong business case put forward to the citizens and let the citizens decide,” he said “When you bring things back to your council table the citizens provide input and your council provides input.” the last time the regional transport service plan was discussed at council was on Sept The AAP requires at least 10 per cent of the CRD’s electorate to complete an elector response form voicing opposition to the bylaw the CRD must hold a referendum or reconsider the proposal Saunders feels the AAP is a way to bypass the electorate and should be done away with “It's a sneaky way to circumvent actual public participation in a very serious question related to taxes says the AAP represents an opportunity to test the waters and determine if a referendum is necessary She further acknowledged that while it may not be the best method to introduce such a service it was ultimately a board decision and one that presents a path forward “Doing nothing isn’t going to improve anything for our residents,” said Tait A new animal control bylaw could offer more clarity about the definition of "dangerous" for future “dog bite” investigations carried out by the Capital Regional District (CRD) But a Colwood dog attack victim says the proposed new 'Animal Responsibility Bylaw’ is not enough to ensure public safety Cindy Andrew says she had to “pursue” the CRD "three times" to thoroughly investigate a dog attack involving her and her dog Farley in December which ultimately found the attacking animal did not meet the ‘dangerous dog’ criteria which offers a new “middle ground” designation of “aggressive,” Andrew says the investigation process is also in need of urgent review “My experience has really shone a light on this … I think there's work to be done,” she said “This is about public safety … when incidents occur are the appropriate laws and processes in place to ensure public safety of pets and people?” When her duck-tolling retriever was attacked by a larger dog Andrew was left with a broken nose and concussion following the melee that ensued for several minutes Both Andrew and dog Farley were also bitten by the attacking canine When she was told the attacking animal did not meet the ‘dangerous dog’ criteria, Andrew appealed the decision with the City of Colwood who contract CRD Animal Services to enforce its Animal Control Bylaw which found that the city’s bylaw model and “subjective metric” for determining whether a dog is dangerous have “too high a threshold.” we have realized that our current Animal Control Bylaw does not contain sufficient tools that we (or our contracted agency) need to assess and classify these situations,” said Colwood’s bylaw manager Byron Grant in an email shared with Goldstream Gazette According to the CRD's draft bylaw – which has come about because of Andrew’s experience and “several” other incidents – an unprovoked dog causing “non-serious or minor injury” to a person or another domestic animal the Community Charter defines a 'dangerous dog' as one that has killed or seriously injured a person or domestic animal or can be defined so if an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe it is likely to kill or seriously injure a person Grant said in an email that an "aggressive" designation would have “likely satisfied all stakeholders in Andrew's case." But Andrew feels adding an “aggressive” category will only serve to “muddy the waters” of future investigations "How is adding another category going to help?" she said "How about you just do a good job working with the categories we have right now Because … how much do we distinguish between aggressive dogs and dangerous dogs In areas where the CRD is contracted to enforce animal control bylaws—including Langford and Highlands—the municipality would need to agree to adopt the ‘Animal Responsibility Bylaw’ who notes the new bylaw could create “consistency and clarity” for municipalities in the CRD “I expect this collaboration will result in us adopting what is recommended since our team is collaborating closely on these changes,” she said While Andrew is appreciative of Colwood’s quick response to her complaint The CRD said they cannot comment on Andrew's case as they "believe she has launched [a] more formal complaint," something Andrew says she has not done Imagine a life where the soothing rhythm of the ocean sets the pace community thrives and every day offers a connection to nature.. 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Learn more at royalbay.ca The Arts & Culture Colwood Society is set to welcome visitors to its 16th annual Bloom Exhibition from March 20 to April 13 Law’s work is also featured on the event’s promotional poster An opening reception is scheduled for March 23 featuring live music by JR & the Bad Ox Band explore the exhibition (170 Goldfinch Rd.) and browse new items in the society’s gift shop Spring hours are Thursday to Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. More information is available at artsandculturecolwood.ca Sign up below for unlimited digital access for 30 days receive our daily news alerts & breaking news An elementary school teacher in Colwood has been charged with accessing child pornography The school district has named Giles Borland as the teacher facing the charge Borland has been employed by the school district since 2016, most recently working at David Cameron Elementary as a music teacher. Prior to this Borland has not been in a classroom during the 2024-2025 school year according to a statement on the school district's website The school district says they took immediate action after they were informed of Borland's charge on Feb superintendent Paul Block exercised his authority under the School Act to suspend Mr "He is also not authorized to practice under the Teacher Regulation Branch while this matter is under review." While this matter is before the courts, the school district says they wish to be as transparent as possible within the legal parameters they must follow.  we are committed to keeping our community informed to the fullest extent possible," they said The school district has said a range of support resources are available for students and families we strongly encourage families to connect with their child's teacher Anyone with information relevant to the case have been told to contact the Central Saanich Police Service at 250 652 4441 VancouverNewsVancouver Island city hires its 1st municipally employed family doctorBy The Canadian PressPublished: December 18, 2024 at 6:42PM EST Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved They say 'everybody needs good neighbours' and in Colwood they are only a footstep away To celebrate a community packed full of kindness and good deeds the City of Colwood has launched a new program that encourages residents to recognize neighbours who go out of their way to make life better for others "Maybe they went above and beyond to help when needed," said the city in a news release "Or they offer their time and experience generously Perhaps they are simply someone who makes our community better because they are always positive and have a kind word." Nominated 'Good Neighbours' will receive a letter of acknowledgement from Mayor Doug Kobayashi as well as their story shared with the community and connected community," said Kobayashi "This was confirmed in our 2023 Life in Colwood survey where 81 per cent of residents described Colwood as a friendly city Creating ways for residents to recognize good neighbours is a simple but meaningful way to foster that sense of community." If you would like to recognize someone as a 'Good Neighbour', the city has a simple form which can be completed online: www.colwood.ca/GoodNeighbour "We look forward to sharing stories of Good Neighbours and the good feelings they bring," said the city Enjoying Reading The Goldstream News Gazette Enter your email to connect to 30 more days worth of stories by journalists living & working in the West Shore area Thank you for supporting local journalism A dog which left a Colwood woman with a broken nose has been classed as ‘not dangerous’ by a Capital Region District (CRD) investigation The news has come as a surprise for Cindy Andrew who has asked the City of Colwood to review its own Animal Control Bylaw and assist her with an appeal to the CRD She feels the definition of a 'dangerous dog' as described in B.C.'s Community Charter does not take into account the 'intent' of the animal which she says poses a risk to public safety Describing the unprovoked “vicious attack” bolted from a house in pursuit of her pet Farley “In the melee that ensued for several minutes I was knocked down and broke my nose,” said Andrew speaking at a City of Colwood meeting Monday (Jan “I have many cuts and bruises and a bite on my knee and Farley had a bite wound on his armpit and bruising in his abdomen.” the attacking dog was eventually restrained ambulance and the CRD were soon on the scene expecting “serious repercussions” for the offending dog and its owner but was left disappointed when the CRD said the animal did not meet the ‘dangerous dog’ criteria a ‘dangerous dog’ is a canine that has killed or seriously injured a person; or has killed or seriously injured a domestic animal while in a public place or on private property A dog can also be defined as dangerous if an animal control officer has “reasonable grounds to believe it is likely to kill or seriously injure a person.” Colwood’s Animal Control Bylaw uses the Community Charter’s definition for a ‘dangerous dog’ including the use of a muzzle and leash when the animal is in a public place The City of Colwood contracts CRD Animal Services to enforce its Animal Control Bylaw.  we believe the dog in question poses a significant threat to humans and other animals and should be considered dangerous,” said Andrew.  “While the level of injury may not meet the ‘serious injury or death’ criteria is it intent we should consider or simply the physical outcome?” Mayor Doug Kobayashi told Andrew the city would review its bylaw – a motion unanimously approved by councillors No One Else Covers The West Shore Like The Goldstream News Gazette Don’t miss out on reading the latest local provincial and national news. Join our community and receive daily news alerts & breaking news Students at a Colwood school are taking time out from mapping their futures to help build a map which could be “critical” in helping protect Greater Victoria from flooding In partnership with the Resilient Urban Systems and Habitat (RUSH) Initiative Grade 11 and 12 Royal Bay Secondary School students have been making a note of local ‘rain gardens’ which help absorb stormwater runoff from surfaces such as roofs and roads Join thousands of other like-minded readers and sign up below to gain immediate & unlimited access to our news for the next 30 days – plus start receiving our newsletters