May 30 - Province puts Langford on housing targets list

Good morning !

It’s the last Friday of the month. Wow. May certainly has zoomed by.
Is it just me, or do spring/summer months travel at the speed of a jet while the colder months seem to chug along like an old Buick?

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 22 / 11 

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 15 / 8

Sunday: 🌤️ 15 / 10

NEWS

Province adds Langford to its housing target list

Langford is among 10 municipalities to join the list of districts for which the BC government has set housing targets—and the Westshore city isn’t happy about it. 

“This decision fails to recognize the city’s long-standing leadership in housing development and growth management since incorporation, and unfairly penalizes a municipality that has consistently exceeded expectations,” the city said on its website.

In 2023, the provincial government enacted the Housing Supply Act, which enabled it to establish housing targets for communities based on need and projected growth.

Langford argues it is growing—with a population expected to almost double to 100K from the current 58K in the next 20 years—and it’s making the appropriate preparations, projecting that it will need 17K new homes to be built over the next two decades. 

Its proposed new Official Community Plan (OCP), which is on the cusp of being adopted, “embraces high density development in well-connected urban areas, such as the downtown core, surpasses requirements in the province’s small-scale multi-unit housing legislation, and addresses household affordability challenges,” the city said in its posted response.

At the same time, it says, the province continues to impose housing targets and is downloading more costs to local government, such as E-Comm 9-1-1, which it says increases the burden on taxpayers.

In the response, Langford refers to itself as “the model municipality” and says long-term sustainability requires the province to invest in the infrastructure and services.

The province says 16,130 net new homes have been built across the first 30 municipalities put on the list, which includes Victoria, Saanich, and Oak Bay.

Victoria greatly exceeded its 2024 goal of 659 housing units by building 1,477 between October 2023 and last October, and was 30% of the way to meeting its five-year provincial target of 4,902 homes.

Saanich was given a five-year target of 4,610 new units, and as of November, was behind its goal, having built 338 net new homes of the 440 units expected for the first year.

Oak Bay built 16 new units, although 56 were required, and that prompted the province to appoint an adviser who, earlier this month, called out the municipality on its housing record. The province then ordered Oak Bay to make bylaw changes to hit its target of 665 units by 2028. 

Esquimalt and Central Saanich were well ahead of their targets, while Sidney, Colwood, View Royal, and North Saanich were all far behind. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Cougar alert: The animal was spotted yesterday, near GNS Senior, at the border of Oak Bay and Victoria.

Naval exercises off Esquimalt Lagoon. See story below.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

EVENTS

Your guide to Ocean Week Victoria 2025 events

Ocean Week Victoria is Victoria’s week-long celebration, tied to World Ocean Day, featuring vibrant community events focused on ocean conservation, education, and fun. Running June 1–8, this year’s Ocean Week features more than 35 ocean-themed activities presented by more than 25 local organizations.

Expect interactive stations and festivals at Beacon Park in Sidney, the Gorge Waterway Nature House in Esquimalt, Fort Rodd Hill, and a final celebration at Fisherman’s Wharf on Sun., June 8, along with a packed lineup of workshops, tours, arts and crafts, trivia night, and more. 

Learn about the waters that surround our beautiful Island while having fun and exploring the city.

Check out the full list of events here.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🏫 Spectrum Community School’s 50th anniversary party tonight. 

🎨 Sooke Fine Arts Show call for artists: Artists can submit high-calibre, original works showcasing creativity and technical skill. Submissions close June 1. [Info]

🥍 Victoria Shamrocks host Burnaby Lakers. [Tonight at the Q]

🏅 Honorary Citizen Award nominations now open. [City of Victoria]

🗞️ In Other News

Navy training near Esquimalt Lagoon ‘no cause for concern’
The Royal Canadian Navy will have all kinds of “assets” out on the water again today as personnel conduct training drills. Those booming sounds you may have heard yesterday were blank rounds being fired. It’ll happen again from 9am to 3pm, as well as Mon.-Thu. next week. You also may hear some noise emanating from Bentinck Island, south of Metchosin. The Navy is conducting training exercises at the Canadian Forces’ Rocky Point land-based demolition range from 9am to 4pm today and again during those hours, Mon.-Thu. next week. [CHEK]

31 vehicles damaged in Fernwood, police investigating
Someone went on a vandalism rampage last weekend, nailing a bunch of vehicles over several blocks. Most of the damage was to the passenger side windows. A passerby called police early Sat. morning to report a dozen vehicles damaged on Begbie near Pandora. The car carnage on Begbie spread from Stanley to Shakespeare. More vehicles—parked on Pandora between Cook and Fort and on Stanley from Begbie to Balmoral—were also damaged. [VicPD]

4 children, 2 adults rescued after getting lost on Port Alberni trail
The group unintentionally wandered off the Hole in the Wall trail, ending up off-course in the dense forest. Crews used ropes to guide the family out, helping the children aged three to eight navigate the terrain. Volunteers were there to carry the small children over creeks. The Alberni Valley Rescue Squad is reminding people to thoroughly prepare before hiking in the area, as Hole in the Wall has many trails and logging roads that can lead people off the designated path. [Global]

SPONSORED BY TEDXVICTORIA

Join us June 10 at TEDxVictoria

Save your seat to hear stories from the woman who overwintered solo in the Arctic, a Dene author reviving Indigenous law through storytelling, and more inspiring speakers. This year’s theme, Ripples, explores how even the smallest action can send waves through communities and generations. Last year sold out, don’t wait!

🗓️ Things to do

🍻 Fridays at the Station: A summer pop-up with live music, BC craft beer, local food trucks, and a market with local businesses and artisan studios. Langford Station. Today. [Info]

🎺 Mimosa: A bilingual Vancouver quintet performing jazz, Brazilian sambas, and French chansons in its unique sound. Hermann’s. Tonight. 7pm. [Info]

🎞 The Sound of Music: Celebrate the 60th anniversary of the beloved film with iconic songs like “Do-Re-Mi” and “My Favourite Things” with Triple Threat Performing Arts Society. Charlie White Theatre. Today-Sun. [Info]

🎶 Folktoria 2025: A two-day free festival celebrating folk culture with music, dance, and crafts at Centennial Square. Tomorrow and Sun. 12–8pm. [Info]

💃 Dance Unlimited Recital: A vibrant evening of dance showcasing talented performers. McPherson Playhouse. Tomorrow. 1:30am and 5pm. [Info]

🏳️‍🌈 Songs for the Gorge: Celebrate Ocean Week with an evening of live music and drag performances featuring local artists. Banfield Park. Tomorrow. 12-3pm. [Info]

🍅 Goldstream Farmers Market in Langford: With music from John Bones at Veterans Memorial Park. Tomorrow. 10am-2pm. [Info]

🎻 Daniel Lapp’s Fiddle Celebration Tour: Featuring Daniel Lapp, Quinn Bachand, Adrian Dolan, and Adam Dobres. Woodbox Records launch party. Tonight in Courtney. Tomorrow. Victoria Conservatory of Music. 7:30pm. [Info]

🐟 Community Day at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea: Visit the aquarium by donation for a day of ocean-themed fun. Sun. 10am-4:30pm. [Info]  

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: Cougar captured in Sidney; New cancer care at Royal Jubilee; Langford’s Fridays at the Station. [May 29]

Fire bans: Category 2 and 3 fires now banned in the Coastal Fire Centre, which includes the Island. Campfires still allowed for now. [BC Gov’t.]

Bill 15 passed on Wed. Capital Daily reported on local leaders’ concerns about the infrastructure bill earlier this week.

Thrown rocks damage homes, cars in Colwood: man arrested. [Times Colonist]

Sooke byelection: Nominations close on June 6. [Info]

National AccessAbility Week has begun. [Info]

Vancouver Island named in Top 15 destinations to visit in Canada. [Lonely Planet]

Tree with albinism seen in Mystic Vale. [Facebook photos]

That’s it!

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