Sign In Subscribe Now get set and raise some money for charity at the annual Sarah Beckett Memorial Run Taking place on Sunday (May 11) at Langford's Starlight Stadium walk or stroll a three or five kilometre route – children and dogs are also welcome to take part The Starlight Stadium business pavilion opens at 8 a.m. This is the fifth anniversary of the event organized in memory of West Shore RCMP officer Sarah Beckett who was killed in the line of duty in 2016 "Sarah created a positive and hard-working legacy within all of the communities she worked in Island District and West Shore – and most importantly she was a wonderful mother to her two sons," says a news release from the Sarah Beckett Memorial Run committee "This event brings together community members from across the country and the first responder family to celebrate her life and legacy and ensure she is never forgotten." Money raised from this year's event will be donated to BGCSVI (formerly known as the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Victoria) and the Goldstream Food Bank.  Those unable to attend the memorial run at Starlight Stadium can choose to register instead for the virtual event, which can be completed anytime and anywhere they choose. A registration package for virtual runners will be mailed out prior to the event.  was awarded a King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of the legacy he has created in honour of his wife tens of thousands of dollars have been raised for local groups Register and learn more online at sarahbeckettmemorialrun.com 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 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 As the sun shone on Langford Lake on Saturday (May 3), locals gathered for the fifth memorial walk in honour of Andre Courtemanche who died by suicide in 2021 following an ongoing struggle with anxiety and depression.  have campaigned to raise awareness about mental health roadblocks to care and the resources available to those in need of support “We wanted to make a change and give hope,” said Glenn “No one should have to suffer the undue stigma of mental illness we can bring awareness and reduce the stigma so that others can receive the help that they need.” navigating the mental health care system was frustrating and difficult According to recent data from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), B.C reports the highest rates of mental health stigma and discrimination in Canada – a barrier that continues to prevent many from seeking help British Columbians also continue to experience greater-than-average barriers to mental health Representatives from the CMHA, the Human-Nature Counselling Society and mental health outreach team Thrive were among those there to provide information about mental health supports in Greater Victoria “Part of what's so important about events like these is to remind folks that there is hope for those who are still with us,” said Maria Weaver CMHA’s director of suicide prevention and life promotion in B.C “I think an event like this really symbolizes .. how many people there are who really care and who are here to talk openly about mental health Some 30 people gathered to take part in the 4.5-kilometre walk very sweet thing to have in Andre's memory,” she said “His parents do an amazing job to get the support behind it and get a message out.”  Bella’s mother Kayla expressed a similar sentiment.  making it public where people don’t have to shy away and we can all talk about it,” she said “Look at everybody who's here – everybody has a voice.”  attendees gathered around Denise and Glenn who shared a few words about their son and the annual event "We have to start treating mental health like physical health with empathy urgency and support," said Glenn. "Talk to each other Andre's family has created the Andre Courtemanche Green Ribbon Scholarship – a $1,000 grant for students who have experienced mental health issues in their first or second year of college or university The money raised at this year’s memorial walk will go towards supporting mental health causes Langford Fire Rescue says there were no injuries after a blaze at a industrial building in Langford in the 800-block of Station Avenue on Thursday Deputy Chief Scott Davidson said View Royal Langford and Colwood fire departments responded to the fire at Kennametal Inc The fire is believed to have started in a dust collector and hopper inside the building "The building occupants pulled the fire alarm and evacuated and the firefighters were thankfully not injured," said Davidson The fire was extinguished later in the evening The one hopper and dust collector is damaged however the building will likely reopen on Monday Sign up for a free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Cowichan—Malahat—Langford 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 300 of 300 polls are reporting as of 4:22 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 300 of 300 polls are reporting as of 4:22 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election is projected to win in Cowichan—Malahat—Langford Kibble has 28,375 of 76,191 votes (37.24%) is in second place with 24,870 votes (32.64%) and Blair Herbert MacGregor has represented the riding since 2015 29,602 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 The West End icon discusses her first Broadway appearance since she was a nine-year-old Rosemary Maggiore Few performers have had a career as enduring as West End star Bonnie Langford Langford first took the stage as a child star winning the British talent series Opportunity Knocks at just six years old She made her West End debut in Scarlett in 1972 and made her Broadway at the age of nine in as Baby June in Gypsy she’s carved out a dynamic career that has spanned decades and genres with television roles in EastEnders and Doctor Who and playing iconic musical-theater characters like Ado Annie Now, she’s part of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends an all-star Broadway celebration of the legendary composer’s work Langford reflects on the lessons she learned as a child on stage and why singing “I’m Still Here” means more to her now than ever This conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity we had a public dress rehearsal which was open to members of Equity so it was absolutely packed with all the pros from London who were just so exuberant so effusive in their praise and their reactions We thought we’d done a wonderful job We went into the auditorium of Piccadilly Theatre after the show you’re all marvelous.” And he said that it was the most terrible performance “I never want to see a performance like that again It’s about the hardships that people go through.” I apologize because I think I probably led everybody on.” And of course we just fell in love with her even more than we already had it would be very easy to lose the sight of the truth And Stephen writes from his heart and from the truth One of the things that we discussed was the fact that a lot of us are not used to being in an ensemble anymore A lot of us are used to just walking on and being in the spotlight What’s important is that we’re all friends whether we know one another very well or not The show is born out of respect and love for talent and friendship This is why I absolutely love singing “I’m Still Here.” It’s saying that you’ve been through it And when it looks like everything’s been great and when it looks like you’ve got to a certain age and you’ve got it all sorted and we’re all just still going along he came to see a matinee and everyone was terrified that Cameron was there wait!” Cameron comes running onto the stage while they’re doing the reset for the evening show and he’s going “There’s one thing I’d really love you to do a split.” I howled with laughter I’ve got this dress on that weighs about 10 tons I could only do it if I rolled onto the floor and then did a split.” And he went “No Luke Kempner said he had an out of body experience because he was standing there in his full Thenardier gear on the stage in London watching Cameron Mackintosh show me how to do a split The musical opens at the Imperial Theatre on April 10 Get the best deals and latest updates on theater and shows by signing up for TheaterMania's newsletter today B.C.) – The City of Langford celebrated the official opening of Porcher Park on Tuesday and a soon-to-be-established community garden Porcher Park is set to be a valuable addition to Langford’s downtown core The event saw participation from community members and included distribution of complimentary seed packages Porcher Park was dedicated to the City in 1971 as a wildlife refuge and underwent significant expansion and renewal after receiving approval in the City’s 2024 budget the City acquired three adjacent properties—two on Wren Place and one on Brock Avenue—to enhance the park and improve accessibility for Langford residents “The expansion of Porcher Park brings access to much-needed green space for residents of Langford’s downtown core We extend our gratitude to all the volunteers who donated their time to restore the park and ensure it thrives for generations to come,” said Scott Goodmanson The City of Langford collaborated with the Greater Victoria Green Team and FireSmart BC to restore Porcher Park Refuge to its natural state by removing invasive plants and planting native ones Three volunteer events have been held since Fall 2023 during which many invasive plants such as English Ivy and over 300 native plants were planted to help prevent the return of invasives “Seeing Porcher Park transform through community-powered restoration has been nothing short of inspiring It’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when people and nature connect We are so excited to keep growing this relationship—and this park—together,” said Kaitlin Warren Identifying and implementing food security initiatives, such as the Porcher Park Community Garden, is in alignment with the objectives in Langford’s 2023-2027 Strategic Plan the park enhances the quality of life for residents by improving access to the natural environment The community garden at Porcher Park is the first of its kind in the city and will be operated by Urban Food Resilience Initiatives Society (UFRIS) which was awarded the Request for Proposal (RFP) to manage the initiative UFRIS is a non-profit organization based in Langford that supports urban households with the cost of food through a range of projects and programs “The new Porcher Park Community Garden is a forward step for households and neighbourhoods in Langford growing even a small amount of fresh food helps with good nutrition and economic resilience,” said Mary Brooke “Thanks to the vision of Langford Mayor and Council this garden will provide residents with a space to grow food with zero carbon footprint from garden to kitchen.” Residents are invited to enter a garden-selection lottery for Porcher Park plots Those with gardening expertise are encouraged to volunteer and mentor new gardeners The City is currently developing a Parks & Trails Master Plan and is seeking public input through a survey available at LetsChatLangford.ca/Parks Community members are encouraged to provide their input about parks and trails in Langford by participating in the survey Visit LetsChatLangford.ca to know more MEDIA CONTACTHarriet D’Costa,Communications AdvisorCell: 250-661-9346Email: (function(){var ml="ocaginrldfm%.e04",mi=":=842;?>72539068*protected email* × Conservative Jeff Kibble has won the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding over longtime NDP incumbent Alistair MacGregor Liberal Blair Herbert had 21,447 votes and the Green Party's Kathleen Code had 1,499 "I am humbled by the support we've seen across the riding I see their pain and the suffering and the challenges that they face and and my commitment is to represent them to the best of our ability here in the riding," he said "My focus has always been rebuilding our economy and the positive changes that we can do from Ottawa that will help our health care system and help those struggling to feed their families "Our political landscape has changed significantly and we're now facing a minority government so that will be interesting times and it's early days right now to see how that will all play out but that's my commitment to our riding and and all of our amazing constituents." It was a night of mixed emotions for Kibble whose strong local showing was tempered by watching Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre deliver his concession speech He's a great speaker and his speech was very good and he's still delivering the same message about Conservatives fighting for Canadians but we'll have to see in the next few days how things play out MacGregor was in North Cowichan at a watch party with a few dozen supporters watching the numbers roll in The mood became sombre as the night wore on “I’ve never failed to be absolutely floored and humbled by the sheer number of amazing people that come out and work every single time and this is no different,” MacGregor said “Being your Member of Parliament for the last nine and a half years that was an honour that I will always treasure I’ve called this place my home for the last 35 years To represent the place and the people that I grew up in and surrounded myself around so I don't want anyone to hold that on them." Herbert held an intimate watch party in Duncan.  but a long campaign because we were running full out for five or six weeks," Herbert said "I would recommend this to anybody to do this This is the third time I've run and it was a very positive experience When you're going around talking to people at the doors and the feedback that we're getting from the people at the doors is really actually very uplifting it was evident early that the green candidate "I'm not surprised at all," she admitted on election night There was such consternation through voters who were afraid of a Conservative win in this particular riding and a good many voters who would vote Green said they had to vote NDP to make sure the Conservative fellow did not win." While she said she would have loved to have had a bigger vote share "I've felt that everywhere I've gone and I've felt that online," she added "We will continue to work through our riding association and we'll continue to keep working for the citizens who hold dear the values of social and environmental justice." National leader Elizabeth May was the only Green candidate to win a seat but Code thinks she'll still have an impact.  "I'm disappointed that there aren't more Greens but Elizabeth May is such an incredible leader and we certainly need her leadership in the years to come She's pretty good at increasing her sphere of influence as part of government and a tremendous budget and I'm sure through her we'll make great contributions in government." the riding is made up of voters in Langford The seat had been held by MacGregor since 2015 Members of Langford Fastball were left scratching their heads in disbelief when they discovered the organization had fallen victim to a “weird” crime Between 45 to 60 metres of outfield fencing was stolen from Langford’s Centennial Park sometime between 11 p.m president of the youth fastball association “It's just such a weird thing to take – a big disappointed that someone actually needed a fence that bad As to why the culprit or culprits took the fencing “I guess someone could use it at their house to keep something in or maybe someone just thinks it's valuable “I would doubt that someone's going to like go put it up at a different ball diamond To replace the fence brand new from a supplier in the U.S. the club is considering purchasing two second-hand fences from an association in Langley for around $2,500 so we could probably afford it and not hurt ourselves too badly but that's something I need to look into.” One good thing to come out of the experience has been the community response with a wave of support and outrage for the club An appeal for information on the club’s Facebook page has been shared online almost 100 times “Stealing from children should be a capital of-fence,” said one supporter One member of the community has also reached out to offer the club help with replacing the fence But while the club rides the wave of community support and considers how to replace the fence Walushka hopes the thief will have an attack of conscience maybe someone has a change of heart and realizes that they've just stolen from a bunch of little kids." Anyone with information can call West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 Dylan Garand is heading back to the international stage – and for the Langford-born goaltender there’s no jersey quite like the one with the Maple Leaf on the front The 22-year-old has been named to Team Canada for the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship a 16-day tournament that runs May 10–25 in Stockholm and Herning Canada opens the tournament against Slovenia and will also face Latvia A product of the Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association Garand has long been on Hockey Canada’s radar He previously backstopped Canada at the 2021 and 2022 World Junior Championships and played for Canada Red at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge he’s set to take the next step – this time with the senior national team “We are excited to unveil the first 15 players who will wear the Maple Leaf at the 2025 IIHF World Championship as this is a very competitive and talented group that provides a strong foundation of NHL and international experience and success,” Team Canada general manager Kyle Dubas said Garand is the lone goaltender named to the roster though more names are expected as NHL teams are eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs.  “We know these 15 players will give our team a chance to compete for a gold medal as they represent Canada with pride in Stockholm and Herning,” Dubas added “We look forward to continuing to build our roster following the conclusion of round one of the playoffs.” Garand’s path to the national stage began humbly on Vancouver Island His first taste of junior hockey came with the Campbell River Storm of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League where he made four playoff appearances during the 2017–18 season He posted a 3-1-0 record and a stingy 2.01 goals-against average helping the Storm in their pursuit of the Brent Patterson Memorial Trophy he became a cornerstone in the crease for the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) compiling an 89-31-7 record with a 2.34 goals-against average and 12 shutouts – numbers that place him among the franchise’s all-time greats between the pipes was a crowning moment: he was named WHL Goaltender of the Year and took home honours as the Canadian Hockey League’s top netminder Drafted in the fourth round by the New York Rangers in 2020 Garand has spent the past four seasons developing in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Hartford Wolf Pack His 2024–25 season was his most complete yet he went 20-10-9 and earned a spot in the AHL All-Star Game That road isn’t easy – especially in New York where Igor Shesterkin has locked down the starter’s role and veteran Jonathan Quick provides stability as backup But Garand continues to do what he always has: build his case He also brings championship experience to the Canadian dressing room Garand owns three international medals – gold in 2022 silver in 2018 and 2021 – from his time in Hockey Canada’s national program That pedigree could prove vital for a Canadian squad looking to rebound from last year’s fourth-place finish where they fell short in the bronze medal game against Sweden the 2024 NHL Draft first overall pick is set to make his senior national team debut Former Canucks captain Bo Horvat and Port Moody’s Kent Johnson – a former BCHL standout – are also on the initial roster The tournament is also a proving ground for players hoping to land a spot on Canada’s 2026 Olympic roster for the Milano-Cortina Games Since the championship’s inception in 1931 VancouverNewsLangford neighbourhood celebrates opening of new playground, community gardenBy Yvonne RaymondPublished: April 22, 2025 at 8:17PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved In the leadup to the April 28 federal election Black Press Media asked the candidates in Cowichan-Malahat-Langford a series of three questions What would your party do to safeguard South Island workers and businesses from the fallout from tariffs Tariffs are posing great concerns as Trump waffles between one position and another The bottom line is that Canada must find more trustworthy and consistent trading partners I am very proud of the way Canadians have universally decided not to buy American goods or travel there for vacations Our local economy will benefit greatly from all the money spent at home The Green Party is ready to roll up its sleeves and protect South Island workers farmers and businesses through its Protecting Canada document economic and legal remedies designed to protect Canadians We propose the creation of an economic NATO increase our shipbuilding and submarine capacities suspend the $80 billion F35 acquisition and create well-paying jobs for a 130,000 civilian Federal Home Guard We propose creating a Federal Strategic Reserve of aluminum potash so that we can build public housing We would guarantee strong financial support for small- and medium-sized businesses impacted by tariffs and other American threats A two-pronged approach is needed to address the anticipated tariffs – retaliatory tariffs and investment in Canadians. Both actions will help safeguard South Island workers and businesses from the fallout of tariffs tariffs are a violation of trade agreements and require serious trade and economic responses I support dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs aimed where they will be felt the hardest in the United States with the least impact in Canada we need to boost investment and support Canadian workers. Working with the business community and other levels of government I will explore ways to diversify trading relationships and build new sources of jobs and growth based on our natural resources Rather than 13 different provincial and territorial economies we can create one amazing national economy Removing barriers to internal trade alone would lower prices for consumers by reducing trade costs and would expand our economy by up to $200 billion I ask for your vote. Only by having a seat at the national table can we champion growth for our riding.  Jeff Kibble did not respond to the questions and a real sense of betrayal regarding the actions of U.S But underneath is a growing resolve and desire to support Canadian workers With nine years experience of serving my constituents I want to safeguard South Island workers and businesses by implementing a federal Buy Canadian and bringing together all levels of government and business to develop a National Industrial Strategy aimed at boosting critical domestic manufacturing capacity The NDP is committed to providing our workers a robust and easy-to-access Employment Insurance system to protect them and job transition plans so people can find good jobs close to home The NDP would help small businesses and industries navigate uncertain economic waters by working with provinces to eliminate inter-provincial trade barriers reducing the small business tax rate from 9% to 8% and capping high credit card merchant fees at a maximum of 1% Workers and small and medium-sized businesses deserve a government that fights for them – under the NDP people will always come before corporate interests What do you see as the best way to address the cost-of-living crisis This riding has an average home price of approximately $850,000; a price out of reach for many The Liberal government will build more affordable homes with Canada’s most ambitious plan since the Second World War The Liberal government of the day built tens of thousands of affordable homes for returning veterans and their families Canada has solved a housing crisis before; we can do it again Skyrocketing rents are often the product of supply and demand  Our investment in new homes will increase supply and The Liberal party is cutting taxes to put money in the pockets of Canadian families More than 22 million Canadians will benefit directly from this tax cut which is targeted to help middle- and low-income Canadians  82% of those who benefit earn less than $80,000 annually.  and his goal from day one has been for Canada’s economy to be the fastest growing in the G7 A strong economy will create higher-paying jobs and improve affordability It is important that we acknowledge this is a time when people are really struggling to afford the most basic necessities of life many of the major corporate players in key economic sectors have enjoyed record net profits in the last few years directly at the expense of people in our communities Record profits at a time of so much hardship for so many points to the culture of corporate deference that has grown under successive Liberal and Conservative federal governments The NDP knows that tackling the cost-of-living crisis requires the courage to stand up to billionaires I plan to address the cost of living with a permanent GST cut on essentials; a price cap on essentials; legislation to crack down on price gouging and shrinkflation; and with fairer taxation on excess profits It is time to make big corporations pay their fair share We’ll build hundreds of thousands of affordable homes so people can find a place they can afford New Democrats already delivered universal dental care and will push to finish pharmacare and affordable childcare I am here to fight for workers and families – not corporate profits The cost-of-living issue requires an immediate response along with the political will to make an honest difference for millions of Canadians While corporations make bigger profits and find ways to hide their billions the Greens are advocating the elimination of all federal income taxes on earnings under $40,000 This transformative change will make sure working Canadians keep more of what they earn strengthen local businesses and revitalize communities by ensuring Canadians have more disposable income to spend – and help break the cycle of debt for those forced to spend more than they earn on basic necessities this means around $3,644 more in their pocket each year Corporations will no longer be afforded the big subsidies they demand and the Greens will close the loopholes that allow for wealth disparity The Greens also advocate for public programs that provide universal health care and pharmaceuticals free education and access to public housing that will ease the financial strain on Canadians from coast to coast to coast A Basic Guaranteed Income will also become available There will be more announcements coming in the next two weeks what would you do to ensure Canada’s seniors continue to have access to the services they need Seniors on the South Island – and across Canada – deserve to live with dignity and respect Not only did seniors help build Canada into what it is today but they are valued and contributing members and expertise to help make our communities such amazing places to live and health care remain top concerns for seniors in our region New Democrats will protect pensions and make sure no senior ever has to worry about losing their retirement security We’ll invest in long-term care and expand home care so seniors can stay at home longer if they choose We’ll push to deliver universal pharmacare so no senior ever has to skip medication because they can’t afford it We’ll create national care standards to improve long-term care including improving wages and workplace conditions for personal support workers and make housing more affordable so seniors aren’t forced out of their communities These policy pledges would be part of a new Safe Long-Term Care Act and the result of working with provinces to ensure that federal funding for home care is tied to established national standards It is time that we treat our elders with the dignity and respect they deserve Our elders have a lifetime of learning and wisdom to share with the younger generations We must start building generational housing so that there is a transfer of that knowledge We must honour them and ensure that they have everything they need to live their days in comfort and respect seniors would greatly benefit from the public programs the Greens are advocating for all Canadians Seniors often require a higher level of medical care and all care would be available through our universal health care programs For-profit health care will be avoided at all costs the Greens would install stable and secure funding for universal health care from coast to coast to coast expanding services to include mental health an expansion of home and community care housing and food security Access to universal pharmacare and dental services will ensure seniors don’t have to make painful decisions between paying the bills and looking after their health needs And we would expand paid leave to include elder care The answer provided to the earlier question is also relevant to supporting South Island seniors. Specifically lowering rent costs and growing the economy will put more money in the pockets of seniors so that they can access the services they need I will listen to the voice of seniors and work with Liberal leader Mark Carney to support them and ensure they continue to have access to the services they need Langford Council approved the 2025 budget with a tax increase of 9.77% The approved budget increase includes nine firefighters costs transferred to the City from the Province for E-Comm (dispatch services for emergency services) and significant infrastructure projects including phase one of the Latoria Road sidewalk and bike lane project Council asked staff to bring back further information related to the projected tax increases in 2026 to 2029 of the Five-Year Financial Plan to a Committee of the Whole meeting to be held on April 8 2025.“Council worked diligently to reduce the 2025 budget from 14.51% to 9.77%,” stated Scott Goodmanson “Council believes this budget strikes a balance between continuing to invest in the community and maintaining service levels while acknowledging the uncertainty of current financial conditions and the need to be prudent.”The draft Financial Plan was first presented to Mayor and Council at the Committee of the Whole meeting on February 20th which included a proposed tax increase of 14.51% for the year 2025 During an additional Committee of the Whole meeting on March 4th Mayor and Council took the opportunity to reflect on public input and recommended a reduced budget and tax increase of 9.77% for 2025.   Council will consider the first three readings of the Financial Plan Bylaw and the 2025 Tax Rates Bylaw on Tuesday April 22nd Regular Council Meeting and will consider adoption of these Bylaws during Monday For further information visit Langford.ca/Budget MEDIA CONTACTDonna PetrieSenior Manager, Communications and Economic DevelopmentEmail: document.getElementById("eeb-37814-53977").innerHTML = eval(decodeURIComponent("%27%64%70%65%74%72%69%65%40%6c%61%6e%67%66%6f%72%64%2e%63%61%27"))*protected email* Tangled up in city planning red tape are the dreams of one multi-generational Langford family When Jesse Harris purchased two acres of land on Klahanie Drive in south Langford in 2021 he thought he was one step closer to finding a forever home for four generations of his family “We truly have had this vision since I was a kid,” said Harris who recalls the idea was first floated at a family meeting when he was around eight years old “My dad compared the idea to mom's favourite TV show But just like the fictional Newman family who faced opposition from rival family the Abbotts Standing in the family’s way of achieving their dream is the City of Langford and its official community plan (OCP) the OCP is hailed by the city as a document that “sets the direction for future growth” for Langford; but for the Harris family it could potentially stunt their ambitions the city put the brakes on Harris’ rezoning application to allow for a subdivision of his two-acre property so he could build a second home Councillors voted 4-3 to not consider the application "given the official community plan refresh work that is currently underway." Concern was also raised as Harris’s property is currently on a septic field His application would have required a 'precedent-setting' variance to bylaws which state all new subdivisions in Langford have to be hooked up to municipal sewer lines It could take up to 20 years for Klahanie Drive to be connected to sewer who also believes there is already a precedent for new single-family home developments using septic “I live in one – a detached duplex on septic," said Harris about his home on Jenkins Avenue which he hopes to sell one day if his family's ambitions are realized Harris was told he could reapply with the same application once the OCP refresh has been completed But when the city released the draft version of its refreshed OCP in March Harris found nothing had changed – the plan says “Subdivision and development must be connected to community sewer and water services.” “This makes absolutely no sense,” said Harris  “I'm not going to go back with the same application because nothing in the OCP really changed from before – [the land] is still a ‘neighbourhood’ Harris now suspects the council was “kicking the can down the road” in September “By pushing [my application] into the future they can say they are going by the new OCP versus the old one,” he said While waiting for news about the refreshed OCP Harris has pursued other avenues for his application including receiving advice from council staff The city’s director of development services advised Harris he could apply for rezoning to allow for a detached duplex while also asking the council to give his property the same consideration as the previous council gave his Jenkins home in 2010 which would allow him to develop Klahanie without sanitary sewers A suggestion Harris took full advantage of submitting a second application in November he received a letter from chief administrative officer Darren Kiedyk telling him the application for a detached duplex would not be considered by council as his first attempt has already been denied “ … it would be inappropriate for staff to accept any similar applications for council to consider until the official community plan refresh work has been completed,” wrote Kiedyk in a letter shared with Goldstream Gazette Harris says further attempts made by him to communicate with city staff have been stonewalled "No one will talk to me," he said. "No one will return emails They have frozen me out ... I'm in this limbo land." a City of Langford spokesperson said the decision made by council in September 2024 “has not changed.” Despite the many setbacks and the rising costs incurred which Harris estimates have already reached around $30,000 the family intends to continue navigating the planning process in the hope they can find a solution “I plan to continue with the application for the detached duplex as soon as they unfreeze my ability to do so,” said Harris being together as a family is more important than the money “I don't want to pay these application fees if this is something that I truly want to do.” Welcome to Woodlands Park—Langford’s newest urban sanctuary Thanks to the vision of longtime residents Ralph Stoerzer and Laura Kiehl over 6 acres in the heart of the city will soon become a passive urban park for the residents of Langford and will include additional trails and gardens Inspired by the world’s greatest urban gardens Woodlands Park will enrich Langford’s downtown core and create a barrier free legacy for generations to enjoy The City has created a video which articulates the background and vision of Woodlands Park told by the stewards of the land More information will be added to this page as the project progresses WOODLANDS PARK VIDEO WOODLANDS PARK MAP “Ralph and Laura’s vision and significant contribution to the community will create an accessible urban oasis that benefits both current and future generations This once in a generation initiative will transform Langford’s downtown by adding much needed greenspace trails and gardens while preserving the biodiversity and mature tree canopy for residents to enjoy I look forward to Woodlands Park providing year-round opportunities for friends and family to come together with nature in Langford’s downtown core.” B.C.) – The City of Langford is enhancing its downtown core by adding over six acres of greenspace through the acquisition of Woodlands Park unanimously approved by Council In-Camera in December 2024 as highlighted by the City’s Parks Needs Assessment and Official Community Plan Refresh public input Woodlands Park has been privately operated as a manufactured home park for almost 60 years This significant property in downtown Langford features mature trees stewarded by longtime Langford residents Ralph Stoerzer and Laura Kiehl which is significantly less than its appraised value of $18.125 million This transfer of land reflects their vision and desire to leave a lasting legacy for the residents of Langford while meeting their need to retire and plan for their next phase of life The City will issue a donation receipt to the operators of $8.325 million which is the difference between the appraised value and the purchase price The City anticipates that the restoration of the urban oasis will begin in the spring of 2030 and will include additional trails and gardens and the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle will provide inspiration for the future design of Woodlands Park To respectfully wind down the manufactured home park operations over the next five years Council has approved a robust set of supports for existing tenants of Woodlands Park that exceeds the requirements of the provincial Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act Tenants will have the option of continuing to reside in Woodlands Park for up to five years at which time the City will purchase each manufactured home for the assessed value plus 10% should the tenant not be able to or want to relocate their manufactured home Tenants can also request that the City purchase their manufactured home at any time over the next five years  at the assessed value plus 10% if the tenants’ life circumstances require an earlier move the City will budget up to $1 million annually to purchase homes as tenants are ready to move To ensure a smooth transition for existing tenants the City has appointed a dedicated Tenant Liaison to assist throughout this process “Ralph and Laura’s vision and significant contribution to the community will create an accessible urban oasis that benefits both current and future generations,” said Scott Goodmanson “This once in a generation initiative will transform Langford’s downtown by adding much needed greenspace The City will fund $7 million of the $9.8 million purchase price through the Growing Communities Fund a provincial grant received by the City in March 2023 In addition to the $1 million to be budgeted annually for tenant supports between 2025-2029 along with the future transformation of the urban park in 2030 will require an additional tax increase of approximately 1.75% in 2029 Langford Council will consider first three readings of a Park Dedication Bylaw for Woodlands Park on January 13 This bylaw will designate the land as a permanent “green oasis” in the downtown core of Langford ensuring it remains freely accessible to everyone and provides a peaceful and tranquil environment featuring a horticultural-style garden and an overstory of trees ATTENTION MEDIA: To respect the privacy of tenants and the operator media and the public are asked to refrain from entering Woodlands Park The operator will not be taking media interviews A member of City Council will be available for media interviews on January 9th and 10th upon request City of Langford Council with Woodlands Park stewards Ralph Stoerzer and Laura Kiehl.(From left to right Missing from photo: Councillor Mark Morley) located in downtown Langford at 848 Hockley Avenue A tranquil winding pathway at Woodlands Park A bench within the botanical gardens at Woodlands Park Woodlands Park features a wide range of plant and flower species A botanical flowerbed at Woodlands Park.WOODLANDS PARK STORY: The City has created a video which articulates the background and vision of Woodlands Park told by the stewards of the land, Ralph Stoerzer and Laura Kiehl. Media are invited to use the video clips to support their story. The video can be downloaded HERE IMAGES: Additional photos of the property are available to view at Langford.ca/Woodlands For further information for existing tenants, the general public and media, visit: Langford.ca/Woodlands Media Contact:Cell: 250-661-9346Email: (function(){var ml="an4fgr0%lstho.dc",mi=";>?=?0",o="";for(var j=0,l=mi.length;j*protected email* This game is part of the BC Lions commitment to bring the excitement of the CFL game to different communities across our great province We will continue to host our Training Camp in Kamloops BC and will have our Pre-Season Game in Langford on Vancouver Island The Game will be hosted at Starlight Stadium in Langford the field will be set up to meet CFL regulations The CFL and BC Lions chose RAP as part of the CFL’s Touchdown Series which has hosted the National teams of both Men’s and Women’s Rugby and Soccer is home to the Canadian Junior Football’s Westshore Rebels Tickets will go on sale on to the public Tuesday March 11th through Ticketmaster.ca or at BCLIONS.COM Season ticket holders will receive priority access to tickets for this game Starlight Stadium has 18 beautiful private suites that hold 15-25 people Please call 604.589.ROAR for information on premium suites for the game Check back prior to game day for an event schedule and more details on pre-game festivities Lions Football Punjabi and across the province on the Lions Audio Network for those wanting to go over for the game and back in the same day BC Ferries regular sailings will accommodate that We do suggest making a reservation early to ensure your spot free parking is available at Starlight Stadium Fans can find accommodation, dining, and entertainment options HERE. and team merchandise will be sold at the stadium © 2025 CFL ENTERPRISES LP. All rights reserved. Terms Of Use Privacy Policy The BC Lions announced on Tuesday that our Langford pre-season game against the Calgary Stampeders on Monday May 19 has sold out 12 minutes after the 10:00 am public sale “Following the success of Touchdown Pacific it’s evident the region is jacked up for BC Lions football,” says Lions president Duane Vienneau “We have great fans on Vancouver Island and Amar Doman is proud to bring the club back in 2025.” The Lions in Langford clash takes place at Starlight Stadium to wrap up the Victoria Day weekend The 2024 Touchdown Pacific game saw the Lions defeat Ottawa 38-12 at Royal Athletic Park near downtown Victoria The Lions’ first regular season game on Vancouver Island drew a crowd of over 14,000 fans The Labour Day weekend contest was the main event following an exciting three-day festival in the provincial capital with fans in attendance from all over Canada B.C.) – At the December 16th Council meeting Langford Council voted unanimously to purchase the Westhills Langford Aquatic Centre and associated 186-space parking lot The building is home to the YW/YMCA aquatic centre The decision was made after a thorough due diligence process and several opportunities for public input During deliberations Council emphasized the importance of offering a variety of recreational services for residents of all ages and stages of life They noted that while recreation centres are not profitable they are a fundamental part of local government services for residents The purchase price of the property is $35 million The property’s 2024 assessed value is $35,146,000 and the facility’s insured value is over $44 million both of which affirm its fair market value Neither valuation includes the parking lot with 186 spaces The decision of Council was heavily based on the significant cost savings to the Langford taxpayer of approximately $10.2 million over the next 17 years and $121 million over the lifespan of the building compared to continuing under the current arrangement The decision of Council was also driven by the desire to secure the recreation asset beyond the remaining 17 years of the existing agreements the City is responsible for covering any financial lease obligations above and beyond the originally committed $950,000 in additional financial supports to the YW/YMCA this results in $1.9 million in total annual supports closely aligning with the YW/YMCA’s current annual rent In addition to anticipated rent increases built into the lease there are an anticipated $14.8 million in lifecycle costs over the same period both of which remain unbudgeted for by the YW/YMCA and represent potential future financial implications to the City based on the terms of the tripartite agreement $9.5 million of the purchase price will be funded by the Growing Communities Fund (a portion of the $16.4 million Provincial grant received by the City in March 2023) $20 million of the purchase price will be financed through a five-year loan through the Municipal Finance Authority of BC and the remainder will be funded through property taxes collected/to be collected in 2023 The five-year short-term loan is projected to save taxpayers approximately $7.5 million in interest compared to a longer-term the additional taxes enable the City to build financial capacity for asset management or other initiatives with approximately $7.6 million available annually after 2029 The repayment of the short-term loan requires annual tax increases of approximately 1.75% from 2025 to 2028 While Council’s decision focused on the building purchase rather than the operations of the aquatic centre they acknowledged the need for ongoing discussions to enhance recreational services for residents Langford will take possession of the building and parking lot on April 1 To review associated Council meeting recordings, reports, and frequently asked questions, visit LetsChatLangford.ca/YMCA MEDIA CONTACTHarriet D’CostaCommunications AdvisorCell: 250-661-9346Email: (function(){var ml="nl.igoef4adc%0rm",mi="?6:39:2;9",o="";for(var j=0,l=mi.length;j*protected email* BC)- The BC Lions are heading back to Vancouver Island in 2025 The football club and City of Langford announced today that our pre-season opener will take place at Starlight Stadium on Monday May 19 when we battle the Calgary Stampeders at 1:00 pm “It’s a major milestone for our owner Amar Doman and the entire organization to stage a game in Langford,” says Lions’ president Duane Vienneau “Vancouver Island boasts a very passionate segment of our fan base Last year’s Touchdown Pacific in Victoria served as a great reminder at our far-reaching Lions fans are across our great province.” “The City is thrilled to announce this game and looks forward to welcoming the BC Lions and their dedicated fans to Starlight Stadium,” stated Langford mayor Scott Goodmanson “We recognise that large sporting events such as this not only bring significant exposure to Langford but also contribute substantially to the local economy This event also provides a unique opportunity for residents to witness professional sports right here in their own city.”  The Lions embark on the Island following the first week of 2025 Training Camp in Kamloops before returning to the Tournament Capital for the duration of camp and wrapping up our pre-season schedule at the Edmonton Elks on Friday Game day at Starlight Stadium also includes a fun menu of fan activities ranging from musical entertainment BC Lions season ticket members will be able to opt in for their seats to the Langford pre-season  game A general public sale for any remaining seats will begin on Tuesday, March 11. Click HERE for more details The Annual Langford Light Up returns for another year with even more sparkle The fun kicks off early at The Langford Station Arts & Cultural District with exciting activities *free hot dogs and hot chocolate are while supplies last or park in one of Langford’s free parking lots such as The Langford Station and Claude Road parking lots Head to Veterans Memorial Park for a magical holiday carousel ride Watch the lights sparkle as you enjoy the carousel and finish off your adventure exploring the park enjoy hot drinks from Morningstar Coffee’s mobile cart and holiday carollers there will be volunteers on site collecting donations of non-perishable food items for the Goldstream Food Bank What’s more exciting than a Lego exhibit A special holiday Lego exhibit at Westshore Town Centre this exhibit is sure to get you into the holiday spirit Donations for the Goldstream Food Bank are encouraged Grab your friends and family and enjoy an afternoon screening of holiday favourite The Polar Express at Cineplex Odeon West Shore plus a bonus screening at Westin Bear Mountain Resort Donations for the Goldstream Food Bank are welcome Cineplex Odeon West Shore Screenings: Westin Bear Mountain Resort Screening: Reserve tickets for the Westin Bear Mountain screening here.  SD62 teens can enjoy free outdoor ice skating at City Centre Park on certain Saturdays Ice skating attendees can enjoy a special on s’mores – 2 for $5 SD62 Student ID required for entry to teen-only outdoor ice skating (ages 12 to 18) Hundreds and hundreds of tinsel ornaments and holiday lights The award-winning Tinsel Gazebo is back for a second year at the Veterans Memorial Park gazebo in downtown Langford Surround yourself with holiday magic and snap a few photos that will literally sparkle Plus, look for additional holiday light photo opportunities at The Langford Station and in front of the Westin Bear Mountain Resort. When posting your photos on Facebook and Instagram make sure to tag @CityofLangford and use #WinterInLangford for a chance to be featured on our page a professional ice carver will be onsite at The Langford Station Arts and Culture District carving a block of ice into a work of art right in front of your eyes The ice carver will also be present at the Langford Light-Up at The Langford Station – don’t miss this amazing work of live art holiday-themed activity to do with your kids Download our Langford Winter Festival colouring sheet Consider donating to the Goldstream Foodbank this holiday season and help make a difference in your community The Goldstream Foodbank has been in operation since 1983 and helps hundreds of families and individuals each year Your monetary dollar donation goes much further at a wholesale level because the food bank has better purchasing power Approximately every dollar donated allows them to purchase two dollars worth of food there are many outdoor activity opportunities available in Langford Throw on your winter coat and scarf and take a stroll around the Ed Nixon Trail Every year the Outdoor Skating Rink at City Centre Park is transformed into a winter wonderland full of lights and decorations The Park offers full food and beverage service from City Centre Grille and has cabanas and helmets available to help visitors make the most of their time on ice Register here. Head to the YMCA/ YWCA for a free family swim Enjoy a free 1 hour Family Coding Workshop with Code Ninjas Spots are limited so make sure to register in advance to secure your spot Register now. THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SILVER SPONSORS: THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS IN-KIND SPONSORS: announced that the City of Langford will receive approximately $7.1 million from the ChildCareBC 2024-25 New Spaces Fund grant to establish 73 childcare spaces in a new development being built on 2805 Carlow Road “In high-growth communities like Langford throughout B.C. our government is helping hard-working British Columbians save thousands of dollars a year by making critical investments in child care,” said Lisa Beare B.C.’s Minister of Education and Child Care “Thanks to our investment of an additional $7 million dollars from the New Spaces Fund to the City of Langford hundreds of families in the area will have access to affordable Minister of Forests and MLA for Langford-Highlands who were delighted to receive the good news This funding announcement builds on the $6.2 million grant from the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund the City received last summer for 49 new childcare spaces The ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund is jointly supported by provincial investments and federal funding under the 2021-2022 to 2030-2031 Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement The City is in the process of finalizing the location for these 49 new spaces Engaging in discussions and building working relationships with different levels of government during a UBCM conference was an important factor in obtaining these grants “Increasing childcare spaces is a top priority for Council, as outlined in Langford’s first Strategic Plan These ongoing collaborative efforts with partners aim to address the needs of Langford’s growing population especially as more families move to the area,” said Scott Goodmanson This announcement builds on the previously announced Indigenous Housing Fund project, which plans to include 40 housing units and a 73-unit childcare center at the Carlow Road site, in partnership with M’akola Housing Society—the largest Indigenous housing provider in B.C The project is currently within the design and development process with BC Housing The City of Langford acknowledges the important role of the Centennial Centre for Arts, Culture & Community, which is currently located at this site and operated by West Shore Parks & Recreation Society This Centre is widely used for a variety of arts activities The City is collaborating with partners to find the best solution for a new location Further details will be provided in the coming months “Council is dedicated to constructing a state-of-the-art studio of comparable size whether as part of this project or at an alternative location I want to assure residents that the City fully appreciates the significance and value of the art studio within this community and we will find a solution that works best for the community,” added Mayor Goodmanson The City is currently developing an Arts and Culture Strategy to identify opportunities for expanded arts and cultural activities in Langford, supporting the needs of a growing and diverse community. For more information, please register at LetsChatLangford.ca MEDIA CONTACTHarriet D’Costa,Communications AdvisorCell: 250-661-9346Email: document.getElementById("eeb-66180-460318").innerHTML = eval(decodeURIComponent("%27%6d%65%64%69%61%40%6c%61%6e%67%66%6f%72%64%2e%63%61%27"))*protected email* B.C.) – The City of Langford is excited to announce the reopening of the Centennial Park tennis courts The Centennial Park tennis courts replacement project began last summer as part of the 2024 Parks Capital budget “The Centennial Park tennis courts have been in use since before Langford became a city in 1992 the courts have been resurfaced several times The City decided it was time for a complete rebuild,” said Scott Goodmanson “The courts have been improved and provide another opportunity for no-cost recreation for everyone.” The facility upgrade aligns with the objectives outlined in Council’s 2023-2027 Strategic Plan including the enhancement of community quality of life By renovating Langford’s only tennis courts the City ensures that this recreational asset will serve the community now and into the future The survey will remain open until April 27 at 11:59 p.m Community members are invited to share their thoughts on parks and trails in Langford by participating in the survey For more information, please visit LetsChatLangford.ca MEDIA CONTACTHarriet D’Costa,Communications AdvisorCell: 250-661-9346Email: (function(){var ml="ena4rildg.0f%cmo",mi=">0752*protected email* Langford (oblique strain) placed on injured listApril 9th CHICAGO -- The baseball gods giveth and the baseball gods taketh away who was removed from Tuesday's game after his fourth at-bat said he felt something in his side during the team's off-day on Thursday back in Texas and he played the rest of the homestand and the first game in Chicago He then felt it again during the first swinging strike of that final at-bat in the seventh inning Tuesday night Langford said he lobbied with the staff to avoid the injured list but with just eight games in the next 10 days they felt like this was the best thing to get the irritation knocked out early in the season “This is one of the things you don't really feel when you're just sitting around I'm shooting [to come back] for [the Athletics'] series after the homestand The 23-year-old missed about a week of Spring Training due to a mild left oblique strain but he said this injury feels much less severe than that one Langford hit a game-tying home run and a double in the Rangers’ eventual 10-6 loss to the Cubs and he was slashing .244/.333/.561 at the conclusion of the game He was leading the club with four homers and was tied for the team lead with six RBIs at the time of his placement on the injured list “It's frustrating any time you get hurt especially when we're playing really well Election fever gripped students at Langford’s Spencer Middle School who took park in a mock federal election over 300 Spencer Middle students cast their vote in the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding Liberal Blair Herbert and Kathy Code of the Green Party Coming out on top with 129 votes (41.48 per cent) from Spencer Middle students was Kibble followed by Herbert with 77 (24.76 per cent) MacGregor 55 votes (17.68 per cent) and Code 50 votes (16.08 per cent) And it was the same result across the riding with Kibble winning 36.61 per cent of the vote his closest rival being NDP’s MacGregor with 26.39 per cent of votes tallied The school was one of more than 7,100 across all 343 electoral districts who took part in ‘Student Vote Canada’ organized by the national civic education charity CIVIX The mock election encourages Canada's youth to engage in the political discussion about which party should lead the country for the next four years The national results of the student vote brought more good news for the Conservatives Liberals trailed behind winning 145 More than 900,000 elementary intermediate and high school students participated housing and the rising cost of living were front and centre in the minds of many of the Spencer Middle students so I kind of worry a lot about that,” said 13-year-old Taylor Cain it's not in good shape right now … my mom's been telling me about how they're really short staffed .. so I think that definitely needs improvement.” A sentiment echoed by 13-year-old Abigail Okobi who wants people to have access to the help they need sooner “The wait time to get help [in emergency] is quite crazy,” she said was another pressing issue for students President Donald Trump's tariffs and his comments that Canada should become the 51st state of America "He wants to take over our country and I'm a patriot," said 12-year-old Dryden Lynn pointing to the slogan on his baseball cap As for the official result of Canada’s federal election Spencer Middle students predict good news for the Liberal Party – not the Conservatives who had little support among the students interviewed by Goldstream Gazette “We had to read up on some of the things they [Conservatives] stand for on different issues like housing and health care and I don't really agree with what they're saying,” said Natalie Bodman “I think Liberal would be pretty great if they would win,” added Lori Garnet who praised the party’s proposal to introduce legislation to protect children from online exploitation and sextortion Comparing party leaders Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre, Grade 7 student Cain thinks the Liberals have the advantage on the Conservatives “I think Carney would do better because he's an economist and he knows how to manage a crisis,“ he said pointing to Carney’s time as Governor of the Bank of England which coincided with the U.K.'s exit from the European Union “Where Poilievre is more of a spirit rallier – he knows how to get people patriotic “But I think right now we need more of a person who can actually get things done.” (Langford, B.C.) –  The City of Langford is thrilled to offer a diverse range of free activities for Family Day weekend for the second consecutive year Following the tremendous success of last year’s events the City is committed to providing both residents and visitors with a variety of family-friendly activities Family Day events in Langford will begin from Friday “Family Day is a special day to be present and spend time with loved ones,” said Scott Goodmanson “The City is excited to offer a fun line-up of free activities for the community to enjoy without the expense We hope this event will provide an opportunity for residents to discover new activities and create lasting memories.” New additions to the exciting lineup include free board game sessions on Monday, Feb.17th between 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. at the recently opened Outpost Board Game Café located at #109 the cafe is rapidly gaining popularity among board game enthusiasts with a large selection of board games and puzzles for all ages New this year, the City of Langford has partnered with Cineplex Odeon Westshore Cinemas to offer complimentary movie screenings. Enjoy selected screenings of Kung Fu Panda and Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire on Saturday, Feb.15th at 10 a.m. and Sunday, Feb.16th at 1 p.m. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information to plan your movie outing visit: Cineplex Movie Screenings – Family Day Weekend The Westshore RCMP and Langford Fire Department are teaming up to host a street hockey event at Veterans Memorial Park on Monday The event will feature two hockey arenas for drop-in games and juice. The drop-in street hockey event is open for all ages and does not require prior registration Participants are requested to bring their own hockey sticks Westshore Town Centre will feature a variety of family-friendly activities and captivating performances on Saturday specifically designed to entertain younger audiences The lineup includes interactive story time sessions with princesses and superheroes magic performances by Derek “Magic” Johnson a sing-along with artist Melody Moonshaker and Music with Phil The City of Langford would like to thank its generous sponsors, Westhills, Verity Construction, and West Shore Environmental Services whose generous contributions have made it possible to provide Family Day activities at no cost. While all of these events are free, the City encourages residents to consider donating to the Goldstream Food Bank, either at specific events that offer the opportunity to donate or online For more information and a full list of Family Day weekend events happening in Langford visit: Family Day Weekend in Langford – City of Langford MEDIA CONTACT:Harriet D’Costa,Communications AdvisorCell: 250-661-9346Email: document.getElementById("eeb-787833-860036").innerHTML = eval(decodeURIComponent("%27%68%64%63%6f%73%74%61%40%6c%61%6e%67%66%6f%72%64%2e%63%61%27"))*protected email* The candidates in the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding for the federal election that will be held on April 28 were asked five key questions that are important to voters in the riding Liberal candidate Blair Herbert offered these responses: Where do you stand on U.S tariffs and Canada-U.S The United States tariffs are a clear violation of trade agreements and require serious trade and economic responses I support dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs aimed where they will be felt the hardest in the U.S we need to boost investment and support Canadian workers through this difficult moment If we cannot rely on our American neighbours we must diversify trading relationships and build new sources of jobs and growth based on our natural resources One last thought to pass on to readers is this; difficult times can present amazing opportunities The swell of national pride and a united Canadian economy are two of those opportunities I believe we can create one amazing national economy Major tax cuts are being proposed during this election campaign; do you think that this will have impacts on the ability for the government to fund social programs with the loss of revenue The Liberal middle-class tax cuts are one part of a larger economic strategy but we can make it easier for Canadians to weather the storm This tax cut will put more money back in the pockets of Canadians and more than 22 million Canadians will benefit directly from it This tax cut will help middle and low-income Canadians benefit the most It’s estimated that 82 per cent of those who benefit earn less than $80,000 a year and more than five million parents with kids will benefit It’s not the intent for these tax cuts to be paid for by cuts to social programs Mark Carney is a world-class economist and his goal from day one has been for Canada’s economy to be the fastest growing in the G7 A strong economy will create higher paying jobs A stronger economy allows the government to invest in these tax-cuts without having to cut social programs The affordability of housing in Canada is being hotly debated by candidates How can you as an MP and the federal government help Canadians buy homes and pay their skyrocketing rents This riding has an average home price of approximately $850,000; a price far out of reach for many Mark Carney announced that a new Liberal government would build more homes Canadians can afford the Liberal government of the day built tens of thousands of affordable homes for returning veterans and their families.  A new Liberal government will double the pace of construction to almost 500,000 homes annually creating a positive economic spin-off by partnering with builders for the construction of projects and supporting apprenticeship opportunities to grow our trades workforce This initiative builds on the Liberals' commitment to eliminate the GST for first-time home buyers on homes at or under $1 million This investment will increase the housing supply which should drive down rents What would you do to help the environment and fight climate change Canadians are focused on and worried about the threat to our sovereignty and impact on the economy the last thing on their minds might be the environment I consider my impact on the environment with my own day-to-day actions and ask you to do the same Small actions matter; take reusable bags when you go to the grocery store recycle cardboard and plastic with your curbside pick up shop at second-hand stores and reuse containers before buying new ones There are many environmentally friendly actions that are low cost (or no cost) that we can all do and There are two sides to the opioid crisis that I would work on as MP I believe we need a treatment-centred and evidence-based approach to the opioid epidemic that addresses its main causes When people who use drugs decide they want to make a change and commit to a treatment plan I want to ensure that there is a place available to them versus being put on a wait list that only puts them at greater risk.  a new re-elected Liberal government will introduce a comprehensive strategy to address substance use to end the opioids crisis; invest $500 million to support provinces and territories in providing access to a range of treatments; and support provinces and territories in creating standards for treatment programs so Canadians can access quality and evidence-based support when they need it I am aware of the impact this epidemic has on businesses and residents I want to be at the table with local governments exploring solutions that support communities while we work to end the crisis Jeff Kibble has turned the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding Conservative blue while the NDP’s Alistair MacGregor sits at 24,462 (32.7 per cent) and the Green Party’s Kathleen Code has 1,477 I see their pain and the suffering and the challenges that they face and my commitment is to represent them to the best of our ability here in the riding," said Kibble He said his focus has always been rebuilding the economy and bringing positive change to Ottawa "that will help our health-care system and that's what's really important to me." He said the political landscape has changed significantly and the Liberal minority government will bring some interesting times "It's all about building community and helping each other whether it's neighbours helping each other or federal government policy helping the riding." "He's a great speaker and his speech was very good As the numbers rolled in at Bear Mountain Resort lifelong Conservative supporter and former Langford mayor Stew Young liked Kibble’s chances Highlands resident and longtime Conservative supporter Al Pellett wasn't pleased with the national results that saw the Liberals projected to form the next government “I have been against the Liberals for a decade I don't like anything about the Liberal Party I don't like anything about their tricks and their dirty tricks," said Pellett “I was definitely hoping for considerable change … guess the way I'm feeling is if we end up with minority government we could be back at the polls here in six to eight months or maybe a little bit longer.” MacGregor was in North Cowichan at a watch party with a few dozen upbeat supporters watching the numbers roll in.  “I’ve never failed to be absolutely floored and humbled by the sheer number of amazing people that come out and work every single time adding that being the riding's MP for nearly 10 years "was an honour that I will always treasure." “I’ve called this place my home for the last 35 years – to represent the place and the people that I grew up in and surrounded myself around it was evident early that the Green candidate "We will continue to work through our riding association and we'll continue to keep working for the citizens who hold dear the values of social and environmental justice." Elizabeth May was the only Green candidate to win a seat but Code thinks she'll still have an impact.  "I'm disappointed that there aren't more Greens but Elizabeth May is such an incredible leader and we certainly need her leadership in the years to come She's pretty good at increasing her sphere of influence as part of the government and we have a tremendous platform and a tremendous budget. I'm sure through her we'll make great contributions in government." The seat has been held by NDP MP Alistair MacGregor since 2015 Out of an abundance of caution, and in response to unacceptable behaviour by some members of the public, the City of Langford has issued the following notice (below) on its website and has requested the attendance of two RCMP officers at tonight’s Council meeting The City believes these measures are regrettable but necessary The City has statutory obligations under the Workers Compensation Act as well as pursuant to the Respectful Workplace Policy City of Langford Violence Prevention Program to protect the physical and psychological safety of staff and members of the public during public meetings Recent feedback from some members of staff indicates increasing concerns for their personal safety.Across British Columbia and throughout the country local governments are being compelled to take proactive measures such as these to protect staff and members of the public from physical threats and verbal assaults which can hinder the expression of all voices during Council meetings It is regrettable that these steps are necessary as the City actively encourages the sharing of diverse views some members of the public have chosen to express their views in a manner that cannot and must not continue.While it is important to ensure everyone has a voice it is equally important to safeguard the democratic process and the ability of citizens to participate freely without fear of retaliation from those with opposing views Public Notice: A Reminder of Appropriate Conduct in Council Chambers As a result of the recent inappropriate behavior and outbursts from some members of the public during Council proceedings members of the community have expressed that they do not feel safe attending in person or speaking to items during City Council meetings Council values input from all members of the public; however or any other disruptive or aggressive behaviour which staff or other members of the public may find intimidating The City will take all steps necessary to ensure that City Hall and a safe place for all members of the community to attend Senior Manager of Communications & Economic Development (function(){var ml="cagfon%e4t.d0irlp",mi=";@79>=768;:01",o="";for(var j=0,l=mi.length;j*protected email* | 250-478-7882 (Langford, B.C.) –  Today at 2 p.m. Langford will open its 14th trail, “Flipside,” at the Langford Gravity Zone and Nature Trails Park Spanning 750 meters and built by Allman Dirtworks Flipside is an intermediate “blue flow” trail suitable for mid-level riders The Flipside trail promises an exhilarating experience with its jumps It is accessible from the “Wonderland” access trail and connects to the southern parking lot located at 4200 West Shore Parkway “This new trail is an exciting addition to our growing community and supports our efforts of positioning Langford as a destination for biking and outdoor recreation in British Columbia,” said Scott Goodmanson the City will be seeking community input for the Parks and Trails Master Plan This feedback will guide future planning decisions to enhance our parks and outdoor spaces.” The Langford Gravity Zone and Nature Trails Park features a variety of biking and hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty offering breathtaking viewpoints and winding paths beneath massive tree canopies Each trail within the Park has been named by the trail builders making it an exciting and collaborative hub for the biking community.  along with the Jordie Lunn Bike Park is a popular spot in Langford attracting residents and visitors alike with its combination of dirt jumps and hiking and mountain bike trails all in one central destination MEDIA CONTACT:Harriet D’Costa,Communications Advisor Email: document.getElementById("eeb-529915-431363").innerHTML = eval(decodeURIComponent("%27%6d%65%64%69%61%40%6c%61%6e%67%66%6f%72%64%2e%63%61%27"))*protected email* announced a pre-season game against the Calgary Stampeders This announcement follows the successful Touchdown Pacific event in Victoria last summer during which the BC Lions had the opportunity to practice on the turf at Starlight Stadium Last year’s Touchdown Pacific in Victoria served as a great reminder at our far-reaching Lions fans are across our great province.” and their dedicated fans to Starlight Stadium,” stated Langford Mayor to witness professional sports right here in their own city.” Game day at Starlight Stadium will also include a fun line-up of pre-game fan activities including live music A general public ticket sale will begin on Tuesday Local businesses interested in sponsoring the game can contact (function(){var ml="tcad0o%gi.lper4fn",mi="3;4:2@7?5=3912",o="";for(var j=0,l=mi.length;j*protected email* MEDIA CONTACTS:BC Lions Football LP Matt Baker Senior Manager of Communications & Content (function(){var ml="a%nb.04slcomierk",mi=";30?=>165398<:2749:;",o="";for(var j=0,l=mi.length;j*protected email* City of Langford Harriet D’Costa, Communications AdvisorCell: 250-661-9346 (function(){var ml="gtdaocn.f0rl4h%s",mi="=254?13>*protected email* B.C.) – The City of Langford is excited to announce the return of the Food Truck and Music Festival for the third consecutive year the event has expanded to Veterans Memorial Park on the second day of the two-day festival at The Langford Station (720 Station Ave) and on Saturday at The Langford Station and Veterans Memorial Park (Aldwynd Road) The festival will showcase a variety of food trucks and vendors along with games and activities to entertain all age groups Loose Bones and The County Line while indulging in delicious meals from over 20 food trucks Look out for local magician Jason Verners performing magic on the go play one of the many games organized and stop by the photo booth to capture all the fun hop between The Station and Veterans Memorial Park to enjoy more food options Additional activities at The Station include a henna artist “Langford is gearing up for another incredible weekend It’s the perfect opportunity for families and visitors to come together and enjoy everything the community has to offer,” said Scott Goodmanson To accommodate the large gathering of event attendees Station Avenue between 741 and 721 Station Avenue will be closed to traffic Friday September 20th and will re-open after 11:00 p.m The City of Langford invites residents and visitors to join the festival with family and friends Activities at Veterans Memorial Park (Saturday only): MEDIA CONTACT:City of LangfordHarriet D’Costa, Communications AdvisorCell: 250-661-9346Email: document.getElementById("eeb-380908-585647").innerHTML = eval(decodeURIComponent("%27%68%64%63%6f%73%74%61%40%6c%61%6e%67%66%6f%72%64%2e%63%61%27"))*protected email* You’re Invited to the City of Langford’s Ideas Fair on Saturday Engage with members of Langford staff and subject matter consultants at the City of Langford’s Ideas Fair Learn more about current master plans under development and provide your input around community planning initiatives Light refreshments and an activity area for children will be available Bicycle and Vehicle Parking and EV Charging Available at the Langford Station Culture and Community will soon make way for housing and childcare facilities Owned and managed by West Shore Parks and Recreation construction will begin at the centre’s site for 40 affordable housing units and a new childcare centre which will be the home of 73 new “affordable” childcare spaces Keith Yachuca said relocation of the facilities at the Centennial Centre will be discussed with West Shore Parks and Recreation and it is hoped they will be kept in the downtown core of Langford News of the housing and childcare project has been welcomed by the City of Langford "This is an area that needs spots for children," said Mayor Scott Goodmanson. "This area is all residential .. it is only going to get more densified as time goes so having both the daycare at the bottom [of the building] and then the housing above is going to be fantastic for present residents and future residents coming in." the province was investing $62 million to create 750 new licensed childcare spaces across B.C. Also announced was the creation of 770 new $10-per-day childcare spaces According to Minister of Education and Child Care Lisa Beare 140 new childcare spaces have been introduced in Langford And the city has benefited from over $37 million invested into reducing childcare fees “So that's money back in families' pockets that makes a difference for families,” she said Beare described the housing and childcare boost as an exciting project that will involve the collaboration of the city “I look forward to seeing this project take root here in the community because we know how important it is to have safe affordable childcare for families everywhere,” said Beare Located steps away from Spencer Middle School where he attended as a student “not so long ago,” the project has struck a chord with Langford-Highlands MLA Ravi Parmar who said the growth in the West Shore’s population has created a “need for infrastructure.” “What’s really exciting … is this is really such an important corridor for Langford … This is an incredible area seeing a lot of growth and with growth, responsibility is needed to be able to manage that,” he said he wants more for the city he calls “the best place on earth.” “We are just getting started – more schools This represents the first time a survey has been conducted as part of the budget process and is in keeping with Council’s commitment to meaningful community engagement Every year, the City of Langford adopts a Five-year Financial Plan (budget), as required by Provincial Legislation. This plan reflects Council’s fiscal priorities and the complexity of maintaining and improving services for a rapidly growing city. The 2025-2029 Proposed Five Year Financial Plan will be made available to the public at the February 20, 2025, Committee of the Whole meeting. “This is the first ever budget survey conducted by the City I encourage every member of the community to participate by sharing their thoughts with Council Community feedback is invaluable and will contribute to shaping the services and programs that truly benefit our community,” said Scott Goodmanson The budget survey will remain open until the end of the day on February 9 The results of this survey will be presented during the Committee of the Whole meeting on February 20 The City encourages the community to participate in the survey as it is one of the considerations for Council when approving a budget that reflects the community’s priorities and values For a full list of 2025 budget meetings, and how to participate please visit: Langford.ca/Budget MEDIA CONTACT:Donna Petrie, Senior Manager, Communications and Economic DevelopmentPhone: 250-478-7882 | Email: (function(){var ml="gnd%a.0flpoeit4rc",mi="29;=?<;3>684107:?25@4",o="";for(var j=0,l=mi.length;j*protected email* entrepreneurship and community engagement has earned Langford the number two spot in a countdown of B.C.’s most economic resilient cities Western Canada's leading business magazine the list ranked 50 cities across the province with a population of at least 10,000 according to their job prospects and business opportunities Langford placed just behind Sidney in the top spot and ahead of Central Saanich in third Saanich and Victoria also featured in the top 10 grassroots approach to economic development has contributed to its success including support for local businesses encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship a commitment to community engagement and supporting diverse economic activities,” said a city spokesperson in a news release The ranking was calculated by using criteria such as population growth The ranking also evaluated data on economic diversity household financial vulnerability and residents' sense of belonging before assigning a score to each city Langford’s economy spans a number of sectors including technology which all contribute to a “balanced and resilient economic structure.”  “These aspects were significant during the global pandemic when Langford’s economy adapted and performed well amid unpredictable conditions,” says the city This is not the first time Langford has received recognition for having a strong economy Langford was named one of the most livable Canadian cities for entrepreneurs in a countdown by the Globe and Mail last year accessible transportation and a supportive business environment with other West Shore communities snatching places in the top five – View Royal in the top spot and Colwood in fifth economic development has been identified as a key priority area and in June Langford will begin work on its first formal Economic Development Strategy The full economic resilient cities list can be viewed at: bcbusiness.ca (Langford, B.C.) – At the Council Meeting on April 7, 2025, Langford Council endorsed the Construction Impact Management Strategy and supported, with immediate effect, an early guidance framework for proactively managing construction impacts across Langford This framework aims to practically minimize neighbourhood disruptions and promote good neighbour practices among developers and contractors from the outset of construction The Construction Impact Management Strategy is a key component of the upcoming Good Neighbour Policy It aims to balance construction impacts like noise and road closures with the expectation that contractors function as good neighbours This involves effective communication between developers and residents to reduce disruptions and minimize impacts to neighbourhoods The primary goal of both the Strategy and Policy identified as a key priority in the Council’s Strategic Plan and business activities in a manner that maintains reasonable livability throughout construction for nearby residents “We have heard from residents about the effects of noise and construction-related issues impacting their daily lives,” said Scott Goodmanson “While we work to implement the new Strategy it is important to also acknowledge the efforts of those developers already implementing and following industry best practices we are committed to sustainable development that prioritizes quality of life for residents.” The Construction Impact Management Strategy follows a seven-step, data-driven approach:1. Promote the ‘early guidance’ for construction impact management Integrate the construction Bylaw Enforcement Officer position Commence proactive education and enforcement measures Draft new bylaws/amendments in order of public priority Concurrently draft the Good Neighbour Policy Seek input from key partners and the Sustainable Development Advisory Committee Bring forward results for Council consideration and adoption The City encourages all developers and contractors to refer to the early guidance document It serves as an interim measure until the Good Neighbour Policy and accompanying bylaws are implemented over the next year The City commits to a fair and balanced approach during this transition period understanding that further engagement is required with key partners from the business and development community For questions about the Construction Impact Management Strategy contact the Engineering Department at City Hall or email document.getElementById("eeb-835065-252556").innerHTML = eval(decodeURIComponent("%27%45%6e%67%69%6e%65%65%72%69%6e%67%40%4c%61%6e%67%66%6f%72%64%2e%63%61%27"))*protected email* Click here to watch the staff presentation at the April 7 MEDIA CONTACTHarriet D’Costa,Communications Advisor Cell: 250-661-9346Email: document.getElementById("eeb-120945-410911").innerHTML = eval(decodeURIComponent("%27%6d%65%64%69%61%40%6c%61%6e%67%66%6f%72%64%2e%63%61%27"))*protected email*