June 3 - 2,800 homes coming to Royal Bay

Good morning !

The Westshore is one of the fastest-growing areas of the South Island and in the next 15-20 years, it will likely look much different than it does today. From new housing to art displays, we’ve got two big updates on the developing Royal Bay area of Colwood.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

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Today: ☀️ 18 / 10

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 20 / 10

Day after: 🌤️ 17 / 12

7-day forecast

NEWS

Housing construction begins on massive Royal Bay development

A new seaside community on the South Island is getting closer to becoming a reality. The first building of the Beachlands—a $1.2B building project in Colwood’s Royal Bay—opened this weekend. The 15K-square-foot Community Experience Centre will operate as a presentation and sales building for now, but eventually will become commercial space. 

Developers Reliance Properties and Seacliff Properties also have started construction on the subdivision’s initial homes, the first of 2,850 slated to be built on the property by 2040. It’s estimated that at least 4K people will eventually live in the Beachlands, with multiple neighbourhoods, a community centre, plazas, restaurants and retail stores, near 1.4 km of shoreline. The 134-acre property will have nearly 50 acres of park space, with walking paths, an amphitheatre, and picnic areas.

Roads, water systems, and sewer lines are currently being built as workers map out the new neighbourhoods. Foundations are also being laid for the first homes: 16 townhouses and one of two planned six-floor condominium buildings, a total of 181 units. 

The site was once a gravel and sand mine, which shipped materials to ports in the Salish Sea. Plans for property development on the site have been in the works since the 1990s.

Buildings will be constructed incrementally over at least 15 years, according to the development’s 2023 master plan, which says phasing and construction completion will take “several years to fully realize.”

The community also will have a new RBCM location for archived materials and a seniors’ assisted-living facility on Metchosin Road.

By the time the development is completed, Colwood’s population could double. Developers set aside land for a potential ferry port for commuters to sail directly to downtown Victoria, instead of adding more cars to the “Colwood crawl,” though it appears Colwood council will not be pushing for that. 

To pay homage to the community’s history and culture, the developers hired artist Alex Witcombe to construct new mammoth driftwood statues—replacing the ones that burned down last year—for Royal Beach where the Beachlands is located (read more about it in our second story).

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Missing teen: Jaxsen Swain, 15, has been missing since May 18. [RCMP]

Free bus travel tomorrow for Clean Air Day. [BC Transit]

Closure on Chatham, between Store and Government, to last until the fall while work is done on the sewage system. [City of Victoria]

Dashcam video wanted from Hwy1 head-on crash. [Saanich Police]

Our quarterly supporter drive just kicked off last week. Join the drive this month and support local journalism by supporting Capital Daily. Become a Capital Daily Insider member today and help bring local stories to life. 

NEWS

Colwood mammoths make comeback, rising from the ashes

As scientists pursue their plan to “de-extinct” the woolly mammoth with a possible breakthrough anticipated by 2029, a Comox Valley artist has beaten them to the pachyderm punch.

Alex Witcombe’s driftwood mammoth statues are back, gazing over Royal Beach in Colwood, something that has been making the rounds on social media.

“I’ve really enjoyed reading all of the responses to the mammoth’s return,” Witcombe tells Capital Daily. “There’s some heartwarming messages!”

It’s a meteoric return of sorts for the driftwood pieces, which Witcombe has been working on since Feb., seven months after they were burned to the ground in an act of vandalism.

Last July, West Shore RCMP arrested a 41-year-old suspect and recommended arson and mischief charges. 

Although it hurt a bit, Witcombe handled the defacement with aplomb and continues to feel compassion for the perpetrator.

“As someone who has been challenged with mental health issues before, I held a certain amount of sympathy for the person who vandalized the sculptures,” he says. “It doesn’t excuse the actions, but I understand what it’s like to experience some sort of mental breakdown.”

Witcombe says the new statues were crafted with “much more attention to detail and quality than the previous” renderings, which were sculpted in 2017, as you can tell from these photos courtesy of Doug Clement Photography.

Witcombe used driftwood found on the shores of Quadra Island and in Campbell River to construct the pieces, and says he prefers to keep the monetary cost of making the artworks to himself.

A graduate of the Emily Carr University of Art and Design program, Witcombe focuses on driftwood sculpting, designs and paints murals, and writes and illustrates children’s books.

He started Drifted Creations in 2016 and has created and installed hundreds of public art projects for private clients, businesses, and communities. 

Some of his work can be seen here. 

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⭐️ Capital Picks

📅 CityVibe summer guide. [City of Victoria] 

📸 Old Victoria: See the view of the Inner Harbour from the Parliament Buildings in 1900. [Facebook photo]

🗞️ In Other News

Victoria councillors look to prioritize downtown movie theatres
With downtown’s only two multiplexes slated for redevelopment, three councillors want city staff to research ways to support cinema in Victoria. The councillors argue that the city’s strategic plan aligns with the protection of cultural spaces, and the Odeon could potentially be designated a heritage building (it’s been operating since 1948). They also say the capital of BC should be supportive of one of the province’s most lucrative industries. The motion will be presented during Thu.’s committee of the whole meeting. [CHEK]

Local student signs with Pacific FC after fleeing war in Ukraine
Venny Chernyshev, 16, has been given a special dispensation to sign a CPL development contract (something usually reserved for domestic players) as he pursues permanent Canadian residency. The deal permits him to play four PFC games while preserving his amateur status and role on the Van Island Wave, with whom he won a BC U17 title last month. [Pacific FC] 

Greater Victoria’s first catwalk goes purrfectly 
When organizers categorically figured a lot of people would want to walk around Fernwood to meet neighbourhood cats, they weren’t kitten around. An estimated 400+ people took part in a city-kitty meetup on Sat. They walked a 7.6-kilometre route to make 21 stops and met up with 28 felines, which collectively made 252 cat lives that much better. [Black Press]

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🗓️ Things to do

🐠 Today at Royal BC Museum: See rarely seen items such as deep-sea creatures. [Noon-2pm] and watch documentary, Send Kelp, at the IMAX. [7:15pm]

🚴 Go By Bike Week Celebration Stations: Today’s stations will be at the UVic fountain (10am-12:30pm) and Royal Jubilee (3-5:30pm). Anyone on a bike, skateboard, scooter, or roller skates can enjoy prizes; free bike maintenance (at some stations); and refreshments. [Schedule / info]

🎵 Summer at Ship Point: Blasé Blasé: Enjoy live music, games, food trucks, and outdoor fun at Ship Point today. 5–6:30pm. [Info]

🌊 Canadian Ocean Research Presentation Night: Join Ocean Networks Canada for casual talks highlighting ocean-based research and climate solutions in Canada, at ONC’s Queenswood office, tonight. 7–8:30pm. [Info]

📚 Brian Thomas Isaac in Conversation with Kathryn Marlow: Join the acclaimed Indigenous author as he discusses his new novel, Bones of a Giant with CBC’s Kathryn Marlow at Munro’s Books tonight. 7pm. [Info]

🛍 Sooke District Annual Garage Sale: Shop this community sale at Sooke Community Hall, with proceeds going to Camp Shawnigan. Sat. 9am-1pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Sunday’s headlines: Bike week rides again; 10 new places to eat; Last week's top stories; Min. wage bump. [June 1]

Saturday’s headlines: John Lennon's old car is back at RBCM; Floyd’s Diner is on the move again; and a bachelor party goes badly. [May 31]

Suspected drunk driver caught going 174 km/h—double the speed limit—on Pat Bay Hwy, Saanich Police say.

Oilers begin Stanley Cup final rematch vs. Florida tomorrow. [Sportsnet]

The Bay is no more. [CityNews]

BC minimum wage has risen to $17.85 as of June 1.

That’s it!

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