May 22 - Langford revising OCP for first time in 17 years

Good morning !

I hope you’re all enjoying the slightly shorter week—thankfully the weekend is right around the corner. After the disappointing long-weekend weather, we’ve got a stretch of warm spring days ahead.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️ 17 / 8

Tomorrow: ⛅ 17 / 9

Day after: ⛅ 18 / 10

NEWS

CRD continues to create government agreements with First Nations, signs historic MOU with Tsawout Nation

The CRD and Tsawout (SȾÁUTW̱) First Nation signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) last week, creating an official framework for government-to-government decision making.

The MOU will ensure that the CRD integrates Tsawout’s perspectives and knowledge into CRD planning. This will provide service tailored to the nation’s needs from the district

Tsawout Chief Abraham Pelkey said the MOU advances “reconciliation in real time.”

“Although the Local Government Act states engaging or consulting with a First Nation government isn’t mandated, [the] CRD does it anyway,” Pelkey said. “We at SȾÁUTW̱ value this effort and our newfound relationship, now and into the future.” 

Cliff McNeil-Smith, chair of the CRD board, said the MOU shows the district’s commitment to working with the First Nation “in a spirit of partnership and respect.” 

The two governments will meet twice a year to review and approve ongoing priorities for the partnership. The current top priorities are environmental protection and restoration, reclaiming SENĆOŦEN placenames, heritage conservation, land-use strategies, and economic development and employment, among others.

New contracts for multiple South Island First Nations and Canadian governments

Two other W̱SÁNEĆ Nations—Tsartlip and Tseycum—signed a similar MOU with the CRD in April. Chief Tanya Jimmy of Tseycum Nation said the MOU was important in ensuring Tseycum people determine their future.

In February, the CRD signed an MOU with Pacheedaht Nation, with former CRD chair Colin Plant saying more partnerships with Island Indigenous communities would come.

The Tsawout Nation was also part of a new agreement between the federal and provincial governments and the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation (which includes Tsawout), signed earlier this year. The agreement declared W̱SÁNEĆ Nation to be the beneficiary and successor to the North Saanich and South Saanich Treaties—part of the Douglas Treaties—of 1852. Tsartlip Chief Don Tom said the agreement was a “long overdue” acknowledgement of his people’s oral history.

W̱SÁNEĆ people have long disagreed with the governments of BC and Canada about the purpose of the treaties. BC and Canada saw them as land purchase agreements; W̱SÁNEĆ oral histories hold that the treaties were to establish peaceful relationships without giving up the majority of their land.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Blanshard paving: Fort to Broughton today and tomorrow. One lane on Blanshard, Broughton closed. [City of Victoria] 

Missing teen: Jaxsen Swain was last seen Sat. in Colwood. [Info/photo]

NEWS

Langford’s new Official Community Plan proposal heads to public hearing

On Tue., council completed its first reading of its new OCP revision—the first since 2008—and plans to set a public hearing date in June. After the hearing, council can't receive any new info or make any density or land use changes to the OCP (unless it then holds another hearing).

Rather than targeting a specific year like most OCPs (such as that 2008 one or the upcoming View Royal 2050), the new Langford plan focuses on a population number: 100K residents. The city is currently at about 58K, but as one of Canada's fastest-growing municipalities it is projected to hit 100K by 2050.

The draft process began back in Oct. 2023 and had several rounds of public consultation. The resulting draft, introduced earlier this spring, maintains many of the priorities of the current (2008) plan but updates some of the timelines and details. It focuses on tackling what it calls the “Five Crises”: climate, housing affordability, equity, public health, and rising infrastructure costs.

The draft also incorporates feedback from the two recent rounds of resident input (particularly around affordability, traffic, greenspace, and property taxes) and outlines a shift in development.

Plan pitched as ‘turning point’ away from sprawl & toward a strategic plan for the core

It aims to reduce “greenfield" subdivisions and concentrate new development in the city core, main corridors, areas already earmarked for development, and areas that are already walkable / rollable / bikeable. It also adds more specifics on the building heights and uses that would be allowed in different areas.

Part of its philosophy is that absorbing another 40k residents will be more feasible if they are funnelled to parts of the city that already have infrastructure and amenities. 

City staff did flag, however, that Langford has already granted certain scale allowances to developers in areas such as Langford Lakes and that the OCP can't undo those (e.g. through downzoning) without risking “significant legal peril.”

Current proposed OCP makes tweaks to spring draft

Following a recent public survey, new changes include:

• regular reporting by city staff on OCP implementation 

• supports for non-profit affordable housing, including pre-zoning

• plans to create a housing strategy

• clarification that to reach maximum heights, developers must agree to conditions that benefit the public

• more flexibility around the rapid growth in South Langford

• use of trees to block street noise

Check out more OCP info here.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🍝 Best family-friendly restaurants in the Westshore. [Tasting Victoria]

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🚰 CRD wins ‘best’ tasting tap water in BC after taste test at the BC Water & Waste Association conference. [BCWWA]

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🐈 Fernwood Catwalk: Get to know the cats of the neighbourhood on this walking tour, May 31. 

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🗞️ In Other News

Rotating strikes over: Lifelabs union workers reach deal 
The BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) and the US-based company received binding recommendations for a new collective agreement that runs until Mar. 31, 2027. It includes a new wage structure and workload schedule, additional pay for working irregular shifts and mileage allowances. There are 14 Lifelabs laboratory testing centres in the CRD. The company said its 1,200 workers, who had conducted job action since Feb., were back on the job as of April 26 while the deal was being finalized. [CBC]

UnHappy Valley: Westshore elementary students take action to fix playground
Students and families of Happy Valley Elementary School say the playground is outdated, in need of repair, and lacks accessibility features. A new playground for the school would cost approx. $250K. Fundraisers are planned, including a fun fair next month, and students will be able to vote for their favourite design out of three options. [Goldstream Gazette]

Dog falls out of truck window downtown; SPCA calls for caution
The driver of a pickup was turning left from Blanshard onto Pandora on Wed. morning when a small dog, which had been peering from inside the rear passenger window, fell to the asphalt before bouncing, wagging its tail and taking off. Dashcam footage, posted on Reddit, drew the ire of animal lovers not impressed with the driver. It’s not clear whether the dog was reunited with its owner and the SPCA is investigating. Animal groups remind drivers to secure their dogs with a harness or in a carrier or crate. [CHEK]

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🗓️ Things to do

🎤 Mahesh Kale Live: One-night only: India's National Award-winning vocalist will perform at McPherson Playhouse tonight. 7:30pm. [Info]

🎶 Orchard Nights with Benson Town and The Tumblin’ Dice: Enjoy a night of live music under the stars at Junction Orchard tomorrow. 6pm. [Info]

🎨 Scattered Artists Spring Art Tour: A self-guided art tour featuring 32 artists across eight home studios in Saanich—explore original works, textiles, jewellery, pottery, and more. Sat. 11am. [Info]

🎉 Spring Into Westhills Block Party: Family-friendly fun in Langford with live music, food trucks, vendors, and activities for all ages. Ledgestone Crescent & Atlas Park. Sat. 11am. [Info]

📺 F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Trivia: Think you know Ross, Rachel, and the gang? Gather your crew for a themed trivia night dedicated to the hit sitcom at The Mint. Sat. 7pm. [Info]

🌳 Community clean-up at Westhills Park on Sat. at 8:45am. [Info]

🍶 Fired Up! Annual ceramics show & sale in Metchosin. Contemporary Works in Clay show is this weekend; this year features various explorations of atmospheric firing. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Wednesday’s headlines: Missing man’s remains found during drug investigation;  Another beached whale on the Island; What to do if you find a seal pup alone on the shore. [May 21]

Good shows: Victoria Day Parade and CFL game go off without hitch over long weekend. [CHEK]

VIU student going to court over suspension for pro-Palestinian protest. [Times Colonist] 

Botanical Beach in Juan de Fuca Park closure this weekend. [BC Gov’t]

Victoria Day Parade 1966: See photos of the parade from six decades ago, featuring winners of the Miss Victoria pageant. [Facebook photos]