Jan 15 - Langford has cops in the council; 1 person banned

Good morning !

Our first story shows how things have become tense in Langford with confirmation the council had two RCMP officers in chambers for Mon. night’s council meeting. Our second story explains why the Uptown area is going to be bustling this summer.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

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NEWS

RCMP attend Langford council meeting: 1 person banned from chambers for 3 months

Due to “an increase in inappropriate behaviour and conduct over the past year” at council meetings, two officers were in the chambers Mon. night as security, a city spokesperson confirmed yesterday. 

“This decision was made as a precautionary measure, aimed at ensuring the physical and psychological safety of staff and members of the public while maintaining safe and uninterrupted public participation in [the] Council meetings,” the spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement. 

In an in-camera meeting that followed, the council voted unanimously to ban a member of the public from attending council meetings in person for three months effective immediately. The individual’s name was not immediately made public but they have been notified, the spokesperson wrote.

“The decision was based on more than one incident and was deemed concerning enough for [the] Council to have to take this action.”

CHEK News reports “several dozen protesters”—some wearing T-shirts that read “resign” on them—congregated outside Langford City Hall to protest after the BC privacy commissioner ruled the council had breached privacy standards by disclosing the personal information of a Langford resident who happened to be in a dispute with the son of Coun. Lillian Szpak.

In 2021, Ed Court filed a complaint, alleging Szpak had acquired his personal information from the city’s bylaw department. 

City staff has since undergone privacy training but the organizer of Mon. night’s demonstration told CHEK News Szpak needs to be held accountable.

“People have been fired for less than that,” Sandy Sifert told CHEK. “People have stepped down for less than that.”

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

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NEWS

Uptown transit hub slated to open this summer

Construction on Uptown’s planned transit hub is officially underway, with the project slated for completion this summer.

The transit hub will connect active transportation routes, including the Lochside and Galloping Goose trails, to the roadway, with four new sheltered bus stops and dedicated bus lanes. Bus routes will connect to downtown Victoria, UVic, the Westshore, and the Peninsula, and the hub eventually will become the principal RapidBus exchange for the region. 

Windley Contracting Ltd. of Nanaimo was awarded the project contract last fall.

The hub also will feature additional housing. Last year, former BC transportation minister Rob Fleming said the development would provide “hundreds of new housing units,” creating a “compact community” with commercial and public spaces. The federal government said the project will improve transit reliability. 

Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock has been a vocal proponent of the 15-minute city, an urban planning approach that places essentials, like grocery stores and post offices, within walking distance of residents. The hub aligns with this goal, as laid out in the updated Saanich Official Community Plan.

Last fall, the province announced it would fund $15.5M for the project, while the federal government pitched in $4.5M. Earlier last year, the province purchased the land near the Uptown Shopping Centre for the development, spending $7.5M for the former Budget Rent-a-Car lot on Harriet and $1.8M for a lot on Crease.

SPONSORED BY DESTINATION GREATER VICTORIA AND THE BCRFA - VICTORIA BRANCH

A much-loved foodie festival returns to Victoria

That's right... Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria returns Jan. 24 - Feb. 9!

This year is seeing the highest participation in Dine Around history, with nearly 60 participating restaurants & 100+ menus. For 17 days, eateries highlight their best dishes through three-course menus at deliciously low prices.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🔥 Fighting LA fires: See cockpit footage of Coulson Aviation, Port Alberni firefighting company, as its team fights the Palisades fire. [Facebook video]

🍼 Olive Fertility Centre has opened a new clinic in Victoria. Click here to read Dr. Riki Dayan's five tips for making 2025 a fertile year.*

🦢 One of these geese is not like the other: A white goose is seen with a flock of Canada geese in Comox. [Facebook video]

💻 Join digital marketing’s top innovators for an action-packaged day at CDM Summit in Victoria, on Jan. 23.*

🎨 Indigenous art: See a mask carved and painted by Victoria-based Kwakwaka'wakw artist Rande Cook. [Facebook photos] 

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

McLoughlin Point wastewater treatment plant to bypass sewage during maintenance
Usually, wastewater at the facility undergoes three levels of treatment while the solid waste is hauled off to the Hartland Landfill where it’s turned into biosolids. But during the three-week maintenance period in late March, sewage will get just the primary treatment stage and be released at an outfall 2km out into the Juan de Fuca Strait. [CHEK]

Christy Clark decides not to run for federal Liberal leadership
The former BC premier says there’s not enough time between now and March 9—the date the Liberals have chosen to pick a replacement for outgoing leader Justin Trudeau—to mount a successful campaign. Clark has been studying French but she says it’s not where it needs to be to connect with the francophone portion of the Canadian electorate. Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne also bowed out today. [Vancouver Sun]

Police watchdog to investigate Sun. vehicle crash in Victoria
The Independent Investigations Office of BC will look into how and why two people were injured in a crash moments after police tried to stop a van they say was driving on the wrong side of the road. VicPD say officers activated their emergency lights and sirens but the van kept going where it crashed near the intersection of Bay and Esquimalt at around 3am. The van’s driver and passenger suffered minor injuries, VicPD said. [CTV]

Underwater volcano off BC coast primed to erupt
Thankfully, the Axial Seamount—some 470km southwest of Victoria—is not likely to affect humans, but it could help scientists better understand what triggers volcanic eruptions. Found along the Juan de Fuca Ride, it’s considered one of the most active underwater volcanos in the North Pacific Ocean. Its proximity to the earth’s tectonic plates will offer better data on eruptions than volcanoes found on land. [Times Colonist]

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🗓️ Things to do

💃 Flamenco Guitar Evening: An evening of flamenco music, featuring Gareth Owen, Jake Lee, and singer Jafelin Palacios "La Niña de Bolivar.” The Mint. Tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

🎷 The Noah Becker Quartet: See the quartet led by alto saxophonist Noah Becker, known for his dynamic and engaging playing. Hermann's. Tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

🤠 Steven Lee Olsen: Country Night In Canada: Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Steven Lee Olsen brings his Canadian tour to the Charlie White Theatre in Sidney. Tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

🤣 Jeremy Hotz: Très Misérables: See the Canadian comedian, and his chihuahua Shackleton, in their new show—filled with Jeremy’s iconic miserable jokes and mishaps—at McPherson Playhouse. Fri. 7:30pm. [Info]

🎭 Whose Live Anyway?: See improv legends from Whose Line Is It Anyway—including two original cast members—at the Royal Theatre. Tomorrow and Fri. 8pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Tuesday’s headlines: Langford council brings in RCMP for council meeting; BC parks are ready for camping reservations; BC will plant 47M fewer trees. [Jan. 14]

Alleged assault: Cadboro Bay beach dog leash argument escalates. [Times Colonist]

Oak Bay Marina sold to Vancouver businessman. [CHEK]

Full moon appears atop totem pole in Beacon Hill Park. [Doug Clement] 

$5 Tuesdays at Cineplex theatres. [Until Feb. 11]

Winter pickleball courts available at Victoria Conference Centre. [Until Sat.]   

Price of domestic postage stamp has gone up by 25 cents.

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