Sign In Subscribe Now Legion members are celebrating the one year anniversary of the new location of the Esquimalt Branch which had first closed its doors in 2018 after selling their property Legion members and "VIPs" had the opportunity to celebrate the new location which is on Admirals Road in a mixed-use residential building "Reactivation has been ongoing and we're relearning how to do things," said Ian Wiggs an executive member of the branch. "Membership has come way up once we reopened People are excited. We are doing very well much better now with all our volunteers, and people seem to be happy and having a good time when we've been doing functions." Esquimalt Dockyard Branch 172 opened in 1944 For decades they were in the same building, but due to financial hardships and an ever-aging building the property was bought by Vista Independent Living in 2018 "It came to a point where it was just not financially feasible to be running the building in the state it was in," said Wiggs "So a decision was made to find a developer and have them purchase the building and the property on the condition that they build us a legion." the branch was given permission to hold events at CFB Esquimalt before moving into the new space It now sits on the ground-floor of the Chartwell Vista Retirement Community which offers rentals and assisted-living for their residents the branch has been seeing more community support notably hosting an all-day live music event fundraising for Veterans House where they raised upwards of $2,500 for the charity "Our primary purpose is to support veterans and their families, and members of the Canadian Armed Forces can help us do that by becoming members of the Legion," he concluded "And the other big thing is you no longer have to be a veteran or connected to a veteran to be a member of a legion." Sign up for a free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters 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 You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 233 of 234 polls are reporting as of 4:22 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 233 of 234 polls are reporting as of 4:22 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election is projected to win in Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke is in second place with 20,309 votes (28.55%) and Maja Tait Garrison was first elected to the House of Commons in 2011 29,819 voters cast ballots at advance polls Looking for another riding? Here are the full results for the 2025 federal election. The Liberals have 169 races called in their favour They have 8,535,128 votes and 43.69 per cent of the popular vote The Conservatives have 144 races called in their favour They have 8,059,938 votes and 41.26 per cent of the popular vote The Bloc Québécois have 22 races called in their favour They have 1,232,095 votes and 6.31 per cent of the popular vote The New Democrats have seven races called in their favour They have 1,231,198 votes and 6.3 per cent of the popular vote The Greens have one race called in their favour They have 243,471 votes and 1.25 per cent of the popular vote There were three independents and four vacancies in the 338-seat Commons the Commons has grown by five ridings starting with this election This article was automatically generated using data provided by Canadian Press and will update as riding results become available Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Curl BC is delighted to announce that we are returning to Esquimalt’s Archie Browning Sport Centre Arena to host the 2026 BC Men’s & Women’s Curling Championships The Archie Browning Centre was also the host site for these Championships in 2024 the 2026 BC U20 Championships will be held at the same time in the same venue at the Esquimalt Curling Club with the playoffs held on arena ice the Township of Esquimalt and the Greater Victoria Sport Tourism Commission for their collaboration in bringing this event back to Greater Victoria A reminder to the Presidents of Member Facilities, or their designates, to register for the Curl BC AGM which will be held from 7:00 to 8:00 pm, Thursday, June 5 by Zoom. Click here to register We also strongly encourage club representatives to register for the Business of Curling Symposium which will be held June 6 to 8 at the Kelowna Curling Club. Click here to register Congratulations to the BC teams who achieved great results at the national level and congratulations to our scholarship winners: We hope to see many of you from June 6 to 8 in Kelowna sbraley@curlbc.ca Stephanie McLean will be riding the Liberal wave to Ottawa as the new member of Parliament for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke ahead of the Conservatives’ Grant Cool with 20,309 (28.5%) the Greens’ Ben Homer-Dixon at 1,960 and David Schaafsma of the Christian Heritage Party with 205 McLean thanked her supporters at the Liberals' watch party held in Vic West “Thank you all for your support and for being here I'm so grateful to the people of Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke for putting their faith and trust in me to be able to represent them in the House of Commons.” Looking forward to representing her constituency on Parliament Hill McLean reiterated that Mark Carney is the best leader Canada could have chosen in these tumultuous political times someone experienced in the economy to stand up to Donald Trump and they know that that man is Mark Carney.” emotions were running high at the Liberal Party rally at the Victoria Scottish Community Centre and this one means something special – a majority to keep us moving forward." While the Liberals took the lead across the country some Conservative voters expressed their disappointment.  “I have been against the Liberals for a decade,” said Al Pellett Greater Victoria resident and longtime Conservative supporter I don't like anything about the Liberal Party I don't like anything about their dirty tricks I was definitely hoping for considerable change.” even though the results were not what she had expected. Tait has served on Sooke council for 17 years and will return to her position as Sooke mayor – a position she was planning to step down from “We worked really hard and I’m proud of the campaign [we led],” she said “I’m grateful for all the support and for the work of the volunteers As she reflected on her work over the past few weeks Tait highlighted the importance of connecting with voters.  “It's always important to continue listening and connecting with residents,” she said and we will see how the parties deliver on their commitments to local governments.” and minister of Service Alberta and status of women. The Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding she has now won was previously represented by NDP MP Randall Garrison who chose not to seek re-election after serving since 2015 accounting for 42.8 per cent of the total The Liberal candidate received 14,466 votes (22.1 per cent) while the Conservative candidate garnered 13,885 votes (21.2 per cent) the riding is made up of voters from Saanich About the Author: Greater Victoria News Staff 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 It’s been a late night and early morning for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke’s newly elected MP Stephanie McLean.  After winning almost half of her riding’s votes – 20 points ahead of the Conservatives’ Grant Cool – McLean celebrated her landslide win with her party family and loved ones after a weeks-long campaign “Last night was absolutely amazing,” she told Saanich News on April 29 So many people put in hours and hours of hard work To see our work pan out is very satisfying.” But McLean doesn't have much time to bask in the thrill of an election victory she knows she has her work cut out ahead of her “This election wasn’t a sunny-day-type of election This is a situation where we're facing very serious threats A labour lawyer by trade and former Alberta MLA she said her focus is now locked in on her constituency abilities and experience to the prime minister and my colleagues,” said McLean “I’ll do whatever I can to be available and to represent Canadians and our Canadian identity.” While she acknowledged the challenges ahead McLean said she will prioritize working with fellow MPs to protect the economy at the federal provincial and local levels from the impacts of Trump’s trade war “Affordability has been a serious challenge for Canadians and Donald Trump is intent on making it worse,” said McLean “[We will be] finding ways to make life more affordable in the wake of Donald Trump's plans and looking to the expertise of Prime Minister Carney to be able to deliver that for the constituents of Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke.” McLean had 36,123 votes (49.4 per cent) ahead of the Conservatives’ Grant Cool with 21,014 (28.7 per cent) Maja Tait of the NDP with 13,631 (18.6 per cent) David Schaafsma of the Christian Heritage Party with 159 Independent Param Bhatti at 150 and Communist Robert Crooks with 136 but she never imagined returning to politics after leaving her home province of Alberta A graduate of the University of Calgary’s law school McLean served as minister of status of women and minister of Service Alberta from 2015 to 2019 under Rachel Notley’s NDP government.  and three dogs have lived for the past six years McLean felt the itch to get involved with her community.  “I was tired of sitting there doomscrolling feeling like there was nothing I could do,” she said.  she joined the board of the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke Federal Liberal Association as a volunteer and proud “Colwoodian.” Little did she know that shortly after the election campaign launched in late March Mark Carney’s team would approach her to fill the Liberal vacancy in the riding “It wasn't my intention to get back into politics,” said McLean “But when you're called upon to serve at this kind of time McLean says that her electoral campaign has been better than she would have thought.  “The momentum has been huge and swift,” said McLean “The reception at the doors is absolutely incredible It's a lot of fun when you have this kind of momentum and I just know that it's going to keep growing.” After years of experience as an MLA in Alberta and decades of work in labour and employment law McLean believes she is the best candidate to represent her riding at the national level “I'm really proud of a lot of the work that I did [in Alberta] and I helped to oversee the province during really tough economic times for the province,” she said “That experience really serves at this point in the country's history where we are facing incredible threats from Donald Trump and the Americans on our sovereignty and our economic prosperity.” Putting Canada's economic future and sovereignty at the forefront of her campaign McLean highlighted the need to support Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt the third-largest in Canada and home to the Pacific fleet “Carney's commitment to increasing defence spending and protecting our borders – particularly the Arctic – is a key element of this election,” she said.  McLean is committed to dedicating her time to building and strengthening the community Whether it’s partaking in a weekly book club with friends hiking the South Island trails with her husband or taking cold dips in the Esquimalt Lagoon McLean ultimately feels lucky to represent this riding.  “I wanted to call this place home since I was a small child and I'm so grateful that I get to do so,” said McLean.  In the leadup to the April 28 federal election Black Press Media asked the candidates in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke a series of three questions What would your party do to safeguard South Island workers and businesses from the fallout of tariffs As your Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke member of Parliament I’ll fight to make sure money from counter-tariffs goes straight to the workers and local businesses that need it These are our neighbours and the heart of the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke economy and tax relief for those hit hardest.  I’ll also push to remove trade barriers between provinces so our businesses can grow across Canada It’s not just about dealing with today’s problems – it’s about creating a stronger more self-reliant future for our communities This can be achieved only by working together to ensure a realistic and sustainable future for our communities in the riding.  and stand up to Trump from a position of strength protect seniors’ savings and build a Canada where a lifetime of hard work means a secure retirement Canada urgently needs to increase its level of economic sovereignty and a crucial step in that process is guaranteeing federal support for the businesses and workers nationwide who would bear the financial brunt the goal at the federal level for economic security should be reforming our current systems to be more self-reliant and mutually cooperative while designing policies that will help us weather not only the present storm This includes financial support for vulnerable industries and businesses in the short term changes to our national industries to increase domestic sale of materials and maintaining stable trade with reliable partners Prime Minister Carney has pledged that by July 1 a Liberal government will eliminate all internal federal trade barriers which will create billions of dollars in economic growth across our country and help create thousands of good-paying jobs We will create Canadawide work credentials so that training received in B.C can be used in any other province and vice versa while making whatever investments it takes to protect Canadian jobs a Liberal government will continue to focus on diversifying our trade and defence alliances to continue to reduce our historic reliance on the United States in various sectors During this campaign and once I am elected I will connect regularly with our local business leaders to ensure I am receiving their feedback so that we can continue to add their ideas and feedback into the actions we take is standing up for South Island workers and businesses against the damaging effects of international tariffs Buy Canadian" plan ensures that Canadian jobs are protected by prioritizing local procurement policies and supporting unionized jobs We will use every dollar collected from retaliatory tariffs to directly support impacted industries we will expand Employment Insurance (EI) benefits making them more accessible and generous so workers have a safety net during economic uncertainty By investing in value-added processing and incentivizing local production we aim to reduce reliance on foreign markets while creating sustainable jobs here at home What do you see as the best way to address the cost-of-living crisis The current cost-of-living crisis is the product of several systemic failures simultaneously intersecting so any effective solution cannot be one that only addresses one or two facets of the larger problem The Green Party’s proposed approach aims to tackle housing prices and wealth inequality with a series of policies that all Canadians will benefit from Our aim is to enshrine housing as a fundamental human right and to that end prevent large corporations from buying up houses and make sure affordable housing remains affordable indefinitely We’ll support this initiative through income tax relief for those experiencing financial insecurity while creating additional tax brackets for the wealthiest Canadians to ensure their social contributions are proportional to their income and ensuring that there are no unreasonable barriers to work A Liberal government will build 500,000 new homes across Canada every year eliminate provincial credential barriers and trade barriers and eliminate the GST on first-time home purchases for homes sold for under $1 million as someone who has worked to protect workers and end predatory lending I will also have a special focus in my work in Parliament to end unfair practices by employers and lenders that take money out of your pocket More and more families in the South Island are struggling with skyrocketing costs for essentials like housing they’re doing everything right and still struggling to get ahead We need to ensure that we are lowering costs for hard-working families and that’s exactly what the NDP is focused on we propose cutting the GST on essential items such as groceries and children's clothing while implementing price caps on basic food items to prevent corporate profiteering Our plan also includes building affordable housing banning corporate landlords from buying up homes and strengthening rent controls to ensure housing is a human right we will introduce an excess profits tax on corporations making record profits during this crisis These steps will ease financial pressures on families while addressing systemic inequalities in our economy Families in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke are facing tough choices – like choosing between groceries and mortgage payments I’ll cut personal income tax from 15% to 12.75% saving workers $900 annually and two-income families $1,800 I’ll remove GST on homes under $1.3 million to make homeownership more accessible.  I’ll push for housing development on federal lands we can create an affordable future where everyone thrives.  what would you do to ensure Canada’s seniors continue to have access to the services they need I worked closely with seniors across the province to ensure that service delivery was meeting them where they were at A big part of that will be removing the barriers that cross-provincial and internationally trained care workers face in finding work in British Columbia protecting existing service centres from conservative cuts and working closely with local leaders and seniors groups to listen to emerging and evolving needs develop proposals that we can take into the budget process Pierre Poilievre voted against increasing OAS and dental care – I will work hard to protect these important supports Seniors in the South Island deserve dignity and access to quality services The NDP will expand public health care by introducing universal pharmacare and dental care programs ensuring seniors can afford essential medications and treatments without financial strain We will also invest in long-term care by transitioning facilities away from for-profit operators and ensuring they are publicly funded and operated with proper staffing ratios we’ll increase funding for home care services so seniors can age comfortably in their communities By boosting Old Age Security (OAS) benefits and ensuring affordable housing options tailored for seniors we will create a safety net that values their contributions and guarantees their well-being I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with many seniors in the riding I’m reminded that our seniors built the community and many served our country Our seniors deserve efficient health care and financial security that honours their hard work It is troubling to witness our health-care system continues to deteriorate with services Three-year waits for family doctors and seniors travelling off-island for basic care are unacceptable I’ll fight to eliminate the 13 different licensing bureaucracies that keep qualified health-care professionals from serving you.  and my plan will put seniors back in control of their retirement with meaningful tax relief allowing working seniors to earn up to $34,000 tax-free They will be able to keep RRSPs growing until age 73 instead of 71 It’s simply wrong that low-income seniors face effective 50% tax rates through GIS clawbacks Your prudence and work ethic should be rewarded My party is also offering a $5,000 TFSA top-up for funds invested in Canadian businesses It will help us become more self-reliant and sovereign as we stand on our own two feet and stand up to the Americans.  Supporting an aging population necessitates strong social services The Green Party has plans to tackle all of these issues An ideal starting point is strengthening the existing national health system while supporting the implementation of universal long-term care and targeted guaranteed livable Income for people living with disabilities as part of addressing the cost-of-living crisis prospective voters were being turned away at the door of the Chief Petty Officers Mess in Esquimalt More than 150 residents crammed into the room Monday night (April 14) eagerly waiting to hear the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke candidates speak it can seem like politics is just a dirty game and the three people there tonight really seemed to care about the community,” said Angela Andersen “I came away thinking that was an excellent message to share with people.” the Liberal Party’s Stephanie McLean and the Green Party’s Ben Homer-Dixon Communist Party candidate Robert Crooks also attended the event Absent was Conservative candidate Grant Cool who declined due to prior commitments.  just 20 years old and in his first year at UVic began by highlighting the work of his veteran grandfathers when they were deployed at 20 He shared a desire to follow in their footsteps – although he described a more modern foe: not a nation “It has gone unaddressed by the other parties Our province is on fire every summer and I won’t stand idly by,” Homer-Dixon said Stephanie McLean spoke about her work as a former Alberta minister “This community has embraced me and my family since we moved in 2019 “I have spent my career working to help others we need to send a strong group to Ottawa behind Mark Carney.” Tait leaned on her connection to the community and decade of municipal service “This is an important election; I’ve walked many steps in this riding and I’m thankful for the people who’ve spoken to me and shared their anxieties,” Tait said “I’m with the NDP because it is the party that puts people first.” These themes carried through much of the candidates’ discussion president and community commitment frequently anchoring their perspectives candidates were asked about the importance of cross-party collaboration All shared the view that such collaboration would be essential – especially in the face of Trump’s tariffs “You can agree without being disagreeable if you put communities first,” said Tait Homer-Dixon shared a story about an encounter with a Conservative supporter who approached him with questions Homer-Dixon said the man appreciated what the Green candidate had to say “Co-operation and communication are the key The candidates appeared to share ample common ground They expressed a need for more doctors and funding when asked about the issue and she is taking fewer patients to account for admin work,” said Tait who expressed a need for an intergovernmental approach and better dental and pharmacare Homer-Dixon echoed this while stressing the need for more mental health support “Our Canadian way of health care deserves to be protected Everyone should have a family doctor,” said McLean who specified the Liberals would direct funding toward hiring more doctors Questions on climate change yielded more varied perspectives Homer-Dixon called for complete divestment from the fossil fuel industry while transitioning related jobs to sustainable energy and development in both urban and agricultural areas the entire system needs a complete overhaul It can be done – I fully believe it can be done – but this is a massive issue that needs to be addressed urgently McLean acknowledged the threat of climate change but quickly reminded attendees of Donald Trump’s threats against Canadian sovereignty he wants to weaken us so that he can own us,” she said She further explained the need to draw on Indigenous knowledge and modern technology to mitigate climate change Tait spoke about climate impacts in Indigenous communities “A child asked me if I had a magic wand as an MP explaining that 35 long-term boil-water advisories remain in Canada – particularly impacting Indigenous communities Most attendees said they enjoyed the event and appreciated hearing the candidates’ perspectives But some left unsure exactly how those goals would be achieved Many expressed disappointment that the Conservatives were not represented “It was interesting the Communist Party candidate was there but he was not allowed to participate in the debate the Conservative Party candidate was invited but chose not to show up,” said attendee Siwan Tastan candidates emphasized the central themes driving their campaigns “You can count on me to stand up to Donald Trump and to give the Island a voice in Ottawa,” said McLean “Is the two-party system working down south?” she asked “I need to stand for those who may not have a voice I’m a hockey mom and I know when it’s time for elbows out.” Homer-Dixon concluded by acknowledging that what he may lack in age or experience “I choose to fight for a future I know is possible.” and there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy it From finding a new favorite park this spring or a new program for the summer and the early-opening Adventure Park to pirate-themed barbecues fun ways to connect with your community this May Stay up-to-date with all the happenings in Esquimalt with the community calendar at esquimalt.ca Community support is growing for a family left homeless after an Esquimalt home was destroyed by fire early Sunday (April 27) morning Esquimalt Fire Department was called to a fully involved house fire in the north end of the district shortly after 3 a.m with CFB Esquimalt and Victoria Fire Department serving as backup crews confirmed all occupants made it out safely which appeared to have started outside the home caused significant damage to multiple vehicles and the structure of the home,” the department said “Efforts to fight the fire were made even more difficult by live damaged power lines arcing and threatening to fall An online fundraiser created later in the day raised more than $6,000 for the Lawrence family by Monday morning and Baxter made it out safely — but they have lost nearly everything they own,” the fundraising page reads “We are raising funds to help them rebuild their lives: replacing their two vehicles and helping with basic essentials like clothing will go directly toward helping them get back on their feet.” Find the fundraiser at GoFundMe.com and raised in the remote northern town of Moosonee — a First Nations community on the shores of Hudson Bay — Grant Cool described his upbringing as deeply formative The son of a nurse and a forest ranger-turned-entrepreneur and mayor Cool said having been raised in an environment that demanded resourcefulness “Being in that kind of environment where you didn't have all the kinds of services we have here you had to figure out and do things,” he said Cool said another seminal moment came when he met some of the Apollo astronauts who visited his father’s hunting camp.  “That was a very defining thing for me,” said Cool I was always on a trajectory to become an aerospace engineer and I was lucky to see that dream come true.” Cool earned his PhD and quickly hit the ground running.  One of his first major projects was helping develop the Canadarm for the International Space Station he proceeded to map parts of the Arctic Ocean and later co-founded a U.S.-based aircraft manufacturing company building low-greenhouse-gas-emissions aircraft the engineer and entrepreneur decided to take a step back.  After moving from Alberta to Vancouver Island in 2020 he passed the reins of the company to his business partner the father of six began paying closer attention to the world around him and to the situation in Canada.  With friends running as Conservative candidates encouraging him to leap into politics the final push came last summer when all his now-adult children gathered at his home After hearing them express doubts about their financial future and whether they’d ever be able to afford a home Cool felt this generation had fewer opportunities than his own “That really started to get to me and I said I just can't sit on the sidelines any longer,’” said Cool “I've benefited so much from being a Canadian Even though I've worked almost exclusively outside the country We stayed here so our kids could grow up and be Canadians and I just wanted… to see that legacy being passed on to them.” With his background as a professional troubleshooter and problem-solver Cool believes he’s well-suited to lead the riding.  “It may seem like things are very bad right now but we're Canadians; we can get things done,” said Cool “I learned as an engineer to work with a problem every day Cool heard concerns about the need for additional infrastructure he said his first promise would be to listen to constituents to better represent them on Parliament Hill.  “We have to have proper representation here in the riding Message Invalid character found in the request target [/campaign-politics/episode/vote-2025---esquimaltsaanichsookesaanichgulf-islands?id\u003d8c81db96-0f44-455d-9a21-272a2e9fa312 ] The valid characters are defined in RFC 7230 and RFC 3986 Description The server cannot or will not process the request due to something that is perceived to be a client error (e.g. Note The full stack trace of the root cause is available in the server logs and climate change were among the key issues discussed by Esquimalt–Saanich–Sooke candidates during the riding’s first all-candidate forum amid the 2025 federal election campaign The Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce and the Otter Point Jordan River Residents and Ratepayers Association hosted the event at Sooke Community Hall on April 13.  only four of the seven candidates running in this year’s election were present. Maja Tait (NDP) and Parmar Bhatti (Independent) took part in the event and Nikita Heurtier (PPC) were absent.  The two-hour event opened with a question on housing and affordability. Homer-Dixon proposed a national affordable housing plan while curbing foreign influence on the Canadian housing market. Bhatti proposed a federally backed municipal trust fund to support non-market housing co-ops while Tait called for greater inter-governmental cooperation scrapping the Liberal accelerator program and replacing it with a national housing strategy Crooks labelled “housing as a human right” and called for building federally funded and publicly owned housing When asked about investing in local infrastructure to promote economic growth in the region Tait said she would seek to reform both Employment Insurance and how GST for small businesses placing women at the forefront of her politics. Crooks favoured bringing back manufacturing and secondary industries to stimulate local economies.  Homer-Dixon called for increased investment in green energy infrastructure public transit to reduce reliance on “car-centric urban design” and emphasized the need for greater urban density and climate-resilient infrastructure candidates were asked how they would reduce inter-provincial trade barriers to support local businesses Homer-Dixon pushed for a promotion of domestic resources to encourage the Canadian economy and Arguing that “small businesses are the backbone of this riding,” Tait argued that the latter deserved fewer barriers to deal with other provinces reduce the regulatory inconsistencies while bolstering local entrepreneurs,” she said.  proposing that reducing inter-provincial trade barriers would only benefit “finance capitalists.”  “This is what corporate interests want to get rid of,” he said “This is not gonna be good for small businesses This is gonna be good for big corporations “I think we should be careful about what we're asking for… I'm not convinced that it'll be better for small businesses.” Responding to a question on truth and reconciliation and the candidates’ plans to address decolonization Bhatti said he would advocate for an approach rooted in respect of Indigenous leadership with sustained actions rather than “symbolic gestures,” while pushing for a full implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 recommendations.  Tait called for listening to the riding’s Indigenous leaders in informing her approach.  “All of the Nations have a voice that needs to be heard and for all of us to recognize the harms of the residential school and the healing that must come with that but it continues to this day,” she said.  Homer-Dixon fully supported First Nations' rights as well as the revision of the constitution to better reflect their importance.  The forum concluded with a question about how each candidate plans to address the ongoing opioid crisis Tait proposed a dual approach of working with the police agencies as well as pushing for readily available treatment providing substance users with the support they need Crooks argued that policing isn’t the solution to the issue.  “We need to understand that the drug addiction crisis is a health problem and not a criminal problem,” he said Homer-Dixon supported a harm reduction and treatment approach to deal with the crisis.  We can try to police the problem away [and] target the cause “What we need right now is a focus on rehabilitation Tait said she was “disappointed” that the riding’s other contenders did not attend the event.  with the election just over two weeks tomorrow for all of us to be able to compare and contrast the various platforms,” she said.  Esquimal-Saanich-Sooke residents can vote in advance from April 18 to 21.  As the April 28 federal election approaches our community newspapers have been closely covering the candidates. With many upcoming voters reviewing their options, Black Press Media has compiled coverage of the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding into one convenient resource below The Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding is comprised of part of Saanich Juan de Fuca, the district municipalities of Esquimalt Metchosin and Sooke, the City of Colwood, the Town of View Royal, Becher Bay Indian Reserve No. 1 New Songhees Indian Reserve No. 1A and T'Sou‑ke Indian Reserve The riding has a population of about 128,644 as of the 2021 Statistics Canada census The seat has been held by the NDP's Randall Garrison since 2015 Black Press Media asked the candidates in the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding a series of three questions. Their responses can be found here.  Black Press Media featured personal profiles from several candidates to offer a more intimate look at who they are and how they connect with the community.  Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke candidates also faced off at several all-candidates meetings, Want to know keep up-to-date on what's happening in Victoria exceeding the number of hopefuls in the 2022 election The byelection victor will replace now-MLA Darlene Rotchford and serve out the remaining year-and-a-half in that seat There are more contenders for this seat than the entire 2022 election—Esquimalt has six council seats and only seven candidates vying for spots in 2022 The odd man out that year was Chris Munkacsi a provincial worker and small business owner Neither he nor mayoral runner-up Sonya Gracey—a nurse and 2005-2008 Victoria councillor—ran this time This Saturday, residents can vote, or drop off mail-in ballots, from 8am to 8pm today at the Esquimalt Rec gym (527 Fraser) Stay connected to your city with the Capital Daily newsletter There are eight candidates vying for the single seat A daily summary of what's happening in Victoria VancouverNewsEsquimalt is booming, targetting 800 new housing units this yearBy Anna McMillanPublished: April 29, 2025 at 9:15PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Voters in the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding will have a chance to hear from the candidates at a public forum on Monday The Public Service Alliance of Canada is hosting the event at the Chief Petty Officers' Mess in Esquimalt (1575 Lyall St.) which aims to engage voters ahead of the upcoming federal election The event is scheduled to run from 7 to 8 p.m Ben Homer-Dixon (Green) Grant Cool (Conservative) Nikita Heurtier (PPC) and Robert Crooks (Communist) are invited to discuss key issues and take questions from the community "This event will be open to PSAC BC union members and the general public We encourage everyone in the area to attend – whether you’re a first-time voter or a seasoned participant in elections your voice and vote matter," according to a post from organizers Spring is in the air, and that means it’s time to declutter, refresh your home, wardrobe and celebrate sustainability! Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 26, as the Archie Browning Sports Centre transforms into a treasure hunter’s paradise for Esquimalt’s gigantic garage sale Whether you're looking to clear out your garage freshen up your wardrobe or score some amazing deals Esquimalt’s largest garage sale is taking over both the curling and hockey arenas ensuring there’s space for a wide variety of pre-loved goods From household items and sporting equipment to books Needing a little something to fuel your shopping trip and the Lions Club will all be on site with some delicious food and beverage options offering a variety of recycling stations and educational opportunities This series will spotlight the many amazing initiatives taking place in the community that locals can become involved with.  These incredible community events are a fantastic way to shop smartly all while connecting with friends and neighbours selling your gently used items or learning how to make a positive impact on the environment there’s something for everyone at Esquimalt’s gigantic garage sale and Earth Week celebration For more details and the full pop-up schedule, visit esquimalt.ca/registration Vancouver WatchConstruction boom, changing demographics in Esquimalt, B.C.BC0429_ESQUIMALT01CTV News Vancouver Island recently moved its office from Victoria to Esquimalt. The news team used the move as an opportunity to get a state-of-the-union from the township’s mayor. Ben Homer-Dixon began paying attention to politics in 2016. While that may feel recent it's worth noting he was 11 years old at the time.  he's 20 and wrapping up his first year at the University of Victoria While other students may be planning summer trips or internships Homer-Dixon will be running as the Green Party candidate in the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding.  While Homer-Dixon has long held ambition to enter into politics it was not something he expected to come so soon.  there was a lot of being in the right place at the right time," he said His journey began at a TEDx event at Royal Roads University where Homer-Dixon experienced one of his proudest moments, giving a speech entitled 'Saving the World Isn't Someone Else's Problem.'  "It's the main thing that inspired me to go out there and talk to people and make my voice heard about things that matter to me." The speech caught the attention of Green Party leader Elizabeth May around the time that the current ESS candidate had dropped out.  and I decided I would step up to fill the void," he said At UVic, Homer-Dixon studies geography with a specific interest in physical geography.  I'm very interested in the ocean, I'm very interest in land forms I'm interested in the processes that make our world turn literally and figuratively." This interest not only motivated Homer-Dixon's academic career "I felt an urge to step up to the plate and do my part protecting [the earth] especially with climate change being such a significant issue all around the world," he said.  "You see it a lot in British Columbia with the smoke we've been getting in the summers That was probably the point when I realized Homer-Dixon says many of the challenges he has faced have come from a feeling of powerlessness he experienced among his peers.  "We can believe all the 'right things,' we can do everything right We can do everything we're supposed to be doing to make the world a better place It's not a great feeling to have," Homer-Dixon said.  "I want to be able to do something."  While being a 20-year-old political candidate has its challenges like having to justify his capabilities and competency before even talking politics it's something he finds essential.  "Younger generations are the ones who are going to be bearing the brunt of climate change economic and geopolitical concerns," he said.  "I understand the apprehension that a guy in his 20s might not be most qualified to help run the country, but I do think it's important the future generations represented on a federal level Voters in the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding can cast their ballots in the federal election as early as Friday Sunday and Monday (April 19-21) from 9 a.m Electors must vote only at their assigned polling place This is different from the process in some provincial elections where electors can vote at any polling location Voters can find the address for their assigned polling station on the back of their voter information card by visiting elections.ca or by calling 1-800-463-6868 electors must prove their identity and address The list of accepted ID can be found online Another early-voting option is to vote at any Elections Canada office by April 22 at 6 p.m The locations in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke can be found online The offices are open seven days a week: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m Residents can also vote by mail using the special ballot process The deadline to apply to vote by special ballot is Tuesday and the marked ballot must be returned by election day – Monday Visit the Elections Canada website to apply to vote by mail Candidates running in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke are: Param Bhatti candidates are working to reach every voter they can Voters in the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding will have an opportunity to connect with their local candidates at an upcoming all-candidates meeting in Sooke.  Jordan River Residents and Ratepayers Association will host the event at Sooke Community Hall on Sunday Nikita Heurtier (PPC) and Robert Crooks (Communist) are expected to take part "This event offers an important opportunity for residents to hear directly from the candidates and engage in discussions about the future of our region," said Deb Schnek the executive director of the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce.  the Township of Esquimalt will choose a new council member among eight candidates and local engineer James Myers is looking to make his way into the top spot this community spirit is exactly what we fell in love with I'm an engineer and my work has taken me all over Canada and the United States Nowhere else have we encountered Esquimalt's friendliness and sense of community spirit," he noted in an emailed statement Myers is running on a platform of strategic community development providing accessible and affordable housing to new and established residents as well as maintaining parks and community venues "I intend to leverage my engineering and business skills to keep Esquimalt awesome honouring the efforts that past generations made to build this community I envision a future Esquimalt that cares for our seniors and opens its doors for incoming families The 2025 Esquimalt byelection general voting day is scheduled for Saturday with two advance voting days – March 26 and April 2 – and mail ballots adding additional voting opportunities for Esquimalt residents Esquimalt residents got the opportunity to meet byelection candidates at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre on Tuesday Eight candidates are fighting to fill the seat on Esquimalt council left vacant after former councillor Darlene Rotchford won a seat in the B.C Legislature in the October provincial election Shawn Stewart and Kody Thomson – have been door-knocking talking to residents and campaigning in an attempt to secure their seat Applications for voting by mail have been accepted since Feb Mail ballots are no longer being mailed out but they may be picked up from Esquimalt Municipal Hall until 4:30 p.m Completed ballots need to be received by the chief election officer by 8 p.m There is an advanced voting opportunity on Wednesday March 26 at Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavillion at 1070 Tillicum Rd The second opportunity will be on Wednesday April 2 at Archie Browning Sports Centre Curling Arena at 1151 Esquimalt Rd General voting day is on Saturday, April 5 at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre gym at 527 Fraser St. from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Those looking for more information on the byelection can visit www.esquimalt.ca/government-bylaws/elections Esquimalt voters are set to head to the polls April 5 to cast their ballot for one of eight candidates vying for a spot around the town council table. Victoria News asked every candidate what are the biggest or most important issues facing Esquimalt residents right now and other undesirable side effects related to urban renewal/development with both short- and long-term outlooks; needing to consider all angles as best as can to keep Esquimalt healthy vibrant and running well for all its residents There will need to be an ongoing focus on traffic This may include adapting our policing model The needs of all our residents must be factored in We will also continue to need to involve other key players related to the community's well-being and with that growth comes challenges — particularly rising property taxes and pressure on our infrastructure While we need to invest in services and amenities to support our expanding community we must do so in a way that keeps life affordable for residents I will work with my fellow council for smart budgeting and long-term planning to manage these costs Increasing our infrastructure reserve will help us avoid sudden tax spikes and ensure we’re prepared for future needs With the province calling for increased housing we must also ensure the infrastructure required to support that growth is in place I will continue to encourage developers to contribute amenities like gyms and public gathering areas to reduce strain on existing facilities I will advocate to higher levels of government for infrastructure grants Equally important is transparent governance and collaboration with residents and working together to find solutions that reflect our community’s values and finds solutions – and I’m ready to do that again for Esquimalt Esquimalt is facing significant financial challenges Key projects like the Public Safety Building Improvements are essential for maintaining essential infrastructure but the resulting debt repayments create ongoing pressure on our municipal budget While the alternative approval process allows for efficient approval it raises concerns about the level of public involvement in such crucial financial decisions rising costs for services and infrastructure maintenance are outpacing our revenue growth leaving us overly reliant on property taxes to fund services and limiting our ability to diversify revenue streams we must focus on attracting development that brings in businesses and supports economic growth reducing our reliance on property taxes and providing more flexibility long-term investments will ensure that every dollar spent brings lasting value we need a balanced approach – one that focuses on finding new revenue sources and ensuring that we manage resources responsibly Esquimalt’s future depends on making smart sustainable financial decisions for the long term Demographic rotation is the biggest change that Esquimalt needs to prepare for the township has likely fulfilled the citizens' needs in a stepwise fashion as young families slowly transformed into empty nests This stepwise approach will no longer work as Esquimalt renews its generational lifecycle so we need to ensure that we are building an Esquimalt that has facilities but also has enough flexibility that these can be converted to serve families when the time comes Our seniors created Esquimalt’s friendliness and sense of community It will be up to new families and citizens to keep this amazing vibe going and volunteering go a long way to build community With township budgets tightening and new citizens arriving I think that it’s more important than ever to maintain funding for the facilities and programs that keep this amazing sense of community alive The biggest problem in Esquimalt right now is small-picture resulting in a lack of proper planning so that decisions are being made without adequate data or forecasts We all are paying for it in lowering the standard of living and higher taxes I come from a technology background and understand that data is available to not just see where we are as a community but also to measure the effects council decisions have and the effects of changes out multiple years for things like traffic I would require that decision be considered against data and long-term forecasts. I will also require that there be a plan to measure results after a change has been made with an option to change back if need be Cost of living and the lack of affordable housing remain the biggest challenges for Esquimalt residents While council has approved numerous large-scale developments in recent years it will take time for construction to finish and impact the housing market I will push to ease restrictions on small- and medium-scale housing and small accessory homes to single-family lots Current zoning rules and township procedural barriers discourage small-scale builders from filling this "missing middle" housing gap By pre-emptively removing parking minimums and upzoning single-family lots we will lower small-scale development costs without burdening taxpayers or pushing the problem to the next decade We need more housing and a variety of housing types to provide affordable housing options for all current and future Esquimaltonians Affordable housing is essential to addressing other issues from attracting family doctors to helping residents start businesses to reducing poverty I will bring much-needed representation from younger residents and renters to council as well as my engineering and infrastructure management experience With less than two years before the next general election I believe the biggest issue currently facing Esquimalt is navigating the complex challenges of housing affordability and infrastructure development while ensuring that all levels of government work together to support our community Esquimalt requires strong leadership that can build effective partnerships with provincial and federal governments to secure funding and ensure we are not overlooked in regional planning My professional background in inter-governmental relations positions me uniquely to address this challenge I have spent my career fostering collaboration between governments and non-governmental organizations and ensuring that community priorities are heard at higher levels of decision-making These skills would allow me to advocate effectively for Esquimalt whether it’s securing resources for affordable housing projects I would bring my expertise in building bridges between governments to ensure Esquimalt’s voice is strong and that we continue to thrive as a vibrant and inclusive community with two advance voting days – March 26 and April 2 – and mail ballots adding additional voting opportunities Candidate Ed Avery did not respond to Victoria News inquiries Victoria Police are seeking public assistance following a house fire in Esquimalt that displaced a family.  Patrol officers in Esquimalt first observed a fire on Inskip Street near Tillicum and Craigflower Roads on April 27 just after 3:15 a.m. promptly alerting the fire department.  detectives have arrested one person in connection with the fire Now authorities are looking to speak with any potential witnesses and ask anyone with information on the case to come forward.  Anyone in the area of the intersection of Tillicum and Craigflower roads between 2:20 and 4 a.m on April 27 who may have dash camera footage or who may have CCTV footage from their home or business is asked to call the E-Comm Report Desk at (250) 995-7654 extension 1 and reference the file number 25-15052.  To report anonymously, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at victoriacrimestoppers.ca.       and further details cannot 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