Oak Bay News, January 13, 2016

Wednesday, January 13, 2016 oakbaynews.com

Retirement boundFinancial leader retires after 28 years on the job

Page A3

NEWS: Slick shortcut path a muddy mess /A5COMMUNITY: Bird count breaks record /A10BOOKS: Kids' titles to beat the winter doldrums /A11

OAK BAYNEWS

Christine van ReeuwykOak Bay News

Sailing coach Steve McBride insists Reece Myerscough has salt water in his veins.

The Oak Bay 18-year-old takes to the waves in myriad ways, including kiteboard, surf board and laser sailboat, where he’s seen major success this season culminating the B.C. Sailing title of Outstanding Youth of the Year.

A mechanical engineering student at Camo-sun College, Myerscough was surprised but pleased by the award he attributes to a sum-mer season of success.

“I like the racing, I really enjoy racing.

It’s been a good summer for racing,” Myer-scough said. “You have to really know how to read the wind well and you have to be fit. I’m getting there.”

Fitness for him was the key to success and a focus this season. The teen added a few gym workouts a week and made sure to incorporate core exercises to achieve the goal.

“It’s time and effort, mostly. For me the biggest thing was fitness,” he said. “I can do really well in light wind events, as soon as the wind picked up I wasn’t fit enough to keep up. I worked on that this year and it paid off.”

He finished 16th of 150 boats in the Youth Laser Worlds this summer in Kingston, On.;

second in youth nationals, losing top spot by only a few points; won B.C.s in Squamish and topped multiple local events in Vancou-ver. Previously he has competed overseas as well, once racing for a month in Malaysia.

“He’s very in tune with the environment and that’s very critical in this sport,” McBride said.

All his favoured sports incorporate the surf, currents, wind and waves; he’s an avid kiteboarder and surfer which both add to his understanding of the sea.

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PLEASE SEE: Athlete enjoys ‘village of sailing coaches’

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Oak Bay racer Reece Myerscough rounds a mark during the 2014 US Nationals.

CRD’s wastewater committee to peruse the numbers todayChristine van ReeuwykOak Bay News

In the wake of some big numbers last month, Capital Regional District staff offered the Eastside Wastewa-ter Treatment and Resource Recov-ery Select Committee some alter-nate cost sharing formulas to those historically used in the region.

Generally infrastructure is paid for by the municipality that benefits most.

For example, said Coun. Kevin Murdoch, who attended the Jan. 6 Eastside meeting as Oak Bay alter-nate, the east-west connector ser-vices Oak Bay and at the time Oak Bay paid the bulk of the cost.

CALWMC members saw poten-tial costs in that user-pay format – estimates outlining a number of scenarios as they’ve yet to decide on technology or siting – during its Dec. 16 meeting. They tasked staff with bringing forward some fleshed out numbers, and other options that for varying reasons, members of the Eastside committee weren’t sold on. The committee opted to recommend to the CALWMC that status quo was the way to go.

Eastside sewage group supports cost-sharing status quo

PLEASE SEE: Payment change would impact

Oak Bay, Page A3

Oak Bay teen named B.C. Sailing's outstanding youth of the year

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A2 •www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - OAK BAY NEWS

POLICE NEWSIN BRIEF

Video footage leads to suspect

Police are following foot-age leads after a man entered Casey’s Market on St. Patrick Street and stole almost $300 worth of scratch-and-win tickets on Dec. 31.

Police have identified a sus-pect from video footage and con-tinue to investigate.

Boat swiped to start 2016

The new year started with a stolen boat at Oak Bay Marina Jan. 1.

Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying the thief or

thieves and remind boat owners to report any suspicious activi-ties near the marina.

Lock your carsPolice remind the public to

ensure their vehicles are locked and that nothing of value is left inside after a report of two unlocked vehicles being entered overnight Dec. 29 in the Tod Road area.

Remove all valuables, includ-ing charging cords, police advise.

Parked car hit and runPolice are seeking witnesses

after a grey 2014 Hyundai Accent parked in 2500 block of Cran-

more Road was hit. The damage was discovered the morning of Dec. 30.

Roadside screening nets suspension

Oak Bay Police conducted an impaired driving roadblock on Cedar Hill X Road at Crestview Road.

A driver attempted to avoid the roadblock and was subse-quently stopped.

An odour of liquor was detected and the driver pro-duced a warn reading in a road-side screening. The driver’s license was suspended for three [email protected]

Got a story?Share it with readers of the Oak Bay News. email: [email protected].

The recent earthquake prompted emergency service personnel to remind people about when – and when not – to call 9-1-1. Oak Bay Fire passed along Vancouver E-Comm’s 2015 list of top 10 rea-sons to not call 9-1-1.

The emergency line is only for emergencies and not information, they note. When used as such, it consumes valuable resources that could be used for true emergencies..

“My job is to treat every call as an emergency, no matter how illogical it may seem on the sur-face,” says 9-1-1 call-taker Harrison Kwan, recipi-ent of this year’s top nuisance call. “We are trained to ask questions in case a caller is in distress and can’t speak freely. It’s only when I’m completely satisfied that the call is not a real emergency that I can disconnect and go back to answering other 9-1-1 calls. And that takes time.” 1. Requesting the number for a tire dealership. 2. Reporting an issue with a vending machine. 3. Asking for the non-emergency line. 4. Because a car parked too close to theirs. 5. “My son won’t put his seatbelt on.”6. Coffee shop is refusing to refill coffee. 7. Asking if it’s okay to park on the street.8. “My roommate used my toothbrush.” 9. Asking for help getting a basketball out of a tree. 10. Reporting that their building’s air system is too loud and they can’t sleep.

[email protected]

When NOT to call 9-1-1

OAK BAY NEWS - Wednesday, January 13, 2016 www.oakbaynews.com • A3OAK BAY NEWS - Wednesday, January 13, 2016 www.oakbaynews.com • A3

“It would have a sig-nificantly negative impact on Saanich, Oak Bay and Vic-toria,” Mur-doch said. “I don’t think anybody claimed the current system is perfect, I just don’t think it’s bad enough … It’s reasonably fair; it’s served us well for 20 years. It’s not one of those things that’s the highest prior-ity right now.”

To change the cost-sharing would also require a time-consuming bylaw alteration.

“For there to be a change to that bylaw would be a long time to get the details worked out,” he added, noting that it requires a two-thirds majority vote by participating municipalities to change a bylaw.

The committee didn’t agree unani-mously to make the recommendation to retain the current cost-sharing for-mat – three members opposed the motion.

Two members opposed receiving the report for information. The committee also referred the recommendation to maintain the current cost-sharing to their Westside counterparts who met Friday.

“The user-pay model makes sense to me, it makes sense intuitively, it makes sense pragmatically,” Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps, committee chair, said dur-ing the meeting. “I see it as extremely fair.”

Helps noted they’ll likely revisit the options during the CALWMC meeting scheduled for today (Jan. 13) at 9 a.m.

[email protected]

Coun. Kevin Murdoch

Continued from Page A1

Payment change would impact Oak Bay

Director of Financial Services retires this month after 28 years on the job


An adding machine sits on the desk of the financial leader’s office at Oak Bay municipal hall.

Patricia Walker jokes she’s a bit “old school” like that. She uses an adding machine, loves bind-ers and has papers everywhere. The machine will likely go too once she retires Jan. 31.

“Patricia has been a stalwart in guiding the affairs of the district for over two decades,” said Mayor Nils Jensen. “She’s been a model employee throughout. Her loyalty, diligence and energy will be dearly missed.”

Walker started as deputy treasurer on July 27, 1987, coming from a job with the province, climbing into the municipal treasurer’s seat three years later.

“I always joke I got the job because of the accent, but they kept me on,” she said in her south London lilt.

She’ll retire from the position recently renamed Director of Financial Services.

“The biggest changes are technology,” she said of her 28-year stint. “When I started, the room next to (my office) was the computer room,” she said. A computer and printer took up the whole room, and everyone shared.

Though as deputy treasurer in her early years, she did get some quality time with the bulky dot-matrix printer they called

“the shake, rattle and roll,” a name Walker admits they may have borrowed from Esquimalt who had the same machine.

“The deputy treasurer was responsible for nurs-ing the printer overnight,” Walker said.

As a shared resource, the finance department couldn’t tie up the machine all day printing tax notices. They started the lengthy print job at 4 p.m. and it often ran into the wee

hours of the morning, feeding paper and fixing jams.

These days they have multiple machines that scan, print and fax.

Over her nearly three decades the role of the finance department hasn’t changed all that much, but it has expanded some, as all the departments work more closely together.

“The finance department, we’re obviously perform-ing a service to the community, but we’re also perform-ing a service to the other departments, making sure they have the information they need to do their jobs.”

One of the many things Walker looks forward to after 28 years tackling the books for Oak Bay is a spring holiday. “Because the finan-cial year is the way it is I haven’t been able to travel Janu-ary to June,” Walker said. So she plans to spring a trip on her husband, to see the tulips in Holland. Gar-dening, books, walk-ing and even some trips to Oak Bay Rec are also on the lei-

surely agenda. “I probably have two years worth of

Downton Abbey to watch before I get into this year’s,” she said with a chuckle.

Again a bit old school, Walker’s prepared a binder filled with Oak Bay insider info for her replacement Debbie Carter.

“I live in the community so I’m expecting phone calls,” Walker said. “I’ll be around.”

Carter assumes the role of Director of Financial Services for the district of Oak Bay this month. Carter was Executive Direc-tor Corporate Finance and Senior Financial Officer with the Ministry of Human Services with the Province of Alberta. Prior to that, she held positions as Chief Financial Officer with the City of Leduc, District of Sooke and served as Manager of Customer Ser-vices and Administration with the Capital Regional District.

Retirement, as it so often is, is bittersweet for Walker.

“I work with a great bunch of people,” she said. “People work hard here and every-body tries to do the best job they can. I’m proud of them.”

[email protected]

Financial leader leaves the roost

Did you know?n Patricia Walker’s association with Oak Bay goes even five years beyond that first job with the district. Around 1982 she articled with a chartered accountant firm on an Oak Bay audit.

Christine van Reeuwyk/Oak Bay News

Patricia Walker retires as Director of Financial Services for Oak Bay on Jan. 31 after 28 years working for the municipality.

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A4 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - OAK BAY NEWSA4 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - OAK BAY NEWS

Oak Bay Fire report

■ Between Monday, Dec. 28 and Sunday, Jan. 4, Oak Bay Fire Department members responded to 24 calls for assistance:

15 Medical aid5 Residential/ commercial alarm bells3 Public assistance1 Electrical wires down

Kendra WongVictoria News

The dirt shimmers silver, dragons soar and one girl is tasked with stopping under-world beasts from stealing people’s shad-ows to nourish the hungry land.

This may sound like the beginning of a J.R.R. Tolkien novel, but it’s a world that has come directly from eight-year-old Maggie Wehrle’s imagination.

Maggie’s story, The Underground Festival,won first place in her age category as part of the recent Canadian National Institute for the Blind’s annual braille creative writ-ing contest. “I was really happy. I was really glad,” said Maggie, a Fairfield resident who is blind, about winning the contest.

Maggie placed second the previous two years for stories about her father and his pet pug, and one about three bears and a shark. But this year she took home the top prize for the four-page story that took her two weeks to write.

CNIB’s Alexandra Korinowsky said Maggie’s imaginative story told with astounding maturity impressed the judges.

A self-professed book worm, Maggie’s love for reading and writing began early. Her parents, Trevor and Melissa, used to read her Dr. Seuss books and The Chronicles of Narnia before she could under-stand. Now, Maggie has flown through a number of books including The Lemony Snicket series, Alice in Wonderland, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and The Hobbit and is currently reading The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

After finishing the Harry Potter series, Maggie was inspired to pick up her Perkins brailler to create her

own fantasy worlds on paper.“I like just being able to put my ideas onto a piece

of paper. It’s fun,” she said. Her mother Melissa, who is also a fan of fantasy

books, said she can hear the sound of Maggie’s brailler early in the morning.

“Just the way that she uses braille is quite amaz-ing. The fact that she finds a passion in writing, I’m super proud of her,” Melissa said.

“I’m happy she’s found braille really useful in that way that it’s not just something she’s using with curricular activities. I wake up in the morning and she’s writing. It’s a creative outlet for her.”

Since winning the contest, Maggie’s love of writ-ing hasn’t slowed down. She is currently working on a story about a college girl and her overweight cat.

[email protected]


Oak Bay Fire started the year with a new face at the helm of its charitable organization.

Firefighter Jason Hodge took over from Greg Swan as exec-utive director of Oak Bay Fire Fighters Charitable Foundation.

“It’s a new challenge I look for-ward to,” said Hodge, who marks three years with the department next week.

The first big task was the tree chipping, which he notes has taken on some popularity as an area fundraiser. The founda-tion raised $3,900, a bit down from last year, in the two-day,

by-donation chipping. Bartlett Tree Experts donated

equipment and time. “All our money goes back into

the community,” Hodge said. “Whatever we get we try to divvy up evenly.”

The foundation funds pro-grams at each of the schools in Oak Bay, including bursaries for students at Oak Bay High, and has previously funded programs that benefit the community such as Oak Bay Emergency Program and Oak Bay Sea Rescue Society.

Learn more about the firefight-ers charitable foundation at oak-bayfirefighters.com.

[email protected]

Firefighters chip into the community

Oak Bay Firefighter Jason Hodge is the executive director of the Oak Bay Fire Fighters Charitable Foundation.

Submitted photo

Maggie Wehrle, 8, won first place for her story, The Underground Festival, in the CNIB’s annual braille creative writing contest.

Girl earns creative writing honour“Just the way that she uses braille is quite amazing. The fact that she finds a passion in writing, I’m super proud of her,”

– Melissa Wehrle

Got a story?Share it with readers of the Oak Bay News. email: [email protected].

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Thick, slick mud makes an impromptu path adjacent to Bowker Creek Walkway danger-ous says one reg-ular walker and Oak Bay resident.

“It’s just mud, it wasn't designed as a pathway,” said Ron Smyth.

With the regu-lar path closed on the other side of the water-way during the Bowker Creek Initiative work, pedestrian traf-fic is rerouted to Armstrong Road. However, a gate opening onto

the high school track is a popular route, one Smyth prefers.

“If you’re walk-ing with little kids, why walk the road if there’s a proper trail,” said Smyth, who takes his grand-children through the area between Hampshire Road and the high school track several times a week.

“We slip slide our way through the mud. It’s pretty hazard-ous,” Smyth said. “They'll probably have a grand opening (of the Bowker trail) … but meanwhile those of us with

kids and oth-ers who access the rec centre are forced to

Slick shortcut makes muddy mess for walkers

Christine van Reeuwyk photo

Ron Smyth at the muddy temporary pathway serving walkers during work on Bowker Creek.

walk through the mud that gets worse and worse every

day as more people traverse it."

He hopes to see some wood chips put down, similar to what's used on Henderson trails. The municipal-ity dropped gravel in a few more dangerous sections to offer trac-tion for pedestrians and did a follow up walk-through last week.

“We also anticipated that the new section was going to be open by now and it’s not,” said Chris Hyde-Lay, manager of parks services for Oak Bay. “We are going to try to make it less muddy. We may go in with some wood chips or some-thing like that if the new trail is delayed for a period of time.”

The restoration proj-ect for the portion of Bowker behind Oak Bay High includes a winding creek that mimics a more natural water course, native

plantings, an accessi-ble pathway, a viewing area and an outdoor classroom.

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Bowker Walkway closed for improvements; shortcut a soggy mess

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EDITORIAL Janet Gairdner PublisherJennifer Blyth Editor Penny Sakamoto Group Publisher

The OAK BAY NEWS is published by Black Press Ltd. | 207A-2187 Oak Bay Ave., Oak Bay, B.C. V8R 1G1 | Phone: 250-598-4123 • Web: oakbaynews.com

What do you think? Give us your comments by e-mail: [email protected]. All letters must have a name and a telephone number for verification.

OAK BAYNEWS

OUR VIEW

First responders given clear signal

The Capital Region sent a clear signal to emergency service personnel last week.

The Capital Region Emergency Service Telecommunications (CREST) has reached a 13.1-million deal with Motorola Solutions Canada for new digital infrastructure for its radio telecommunications. The “next generation” of technology will replace the existing radio system that serves 50 emergency response agencies within the Capital Region, including Oak Bay police and fire departments.

The new radio system will provide first responders with enhanced audio clarity while enhancing the coverage area.

Oak Bay Fire Chief Dave Cockle noted that testing in areas that previously had limited radio communications, such as some underground parking areas and other concrete buildings, has shown a definite improvement.

“Fire and police have been working with CREST for a little over a year – knowing this was coming – to ensure we have the best radio capability we can get for the dollars spent. The radios are loud and clear and have good bandwidth for us.”

The system is identical to the one that will be use by E-Comm in the Lower Mainland, meaning emergency providers in both regions will be able to support each other during a major event, noted Oak Bay Police Chief Andy Brinton.

The new radio system is part of a $24.5-million investment by CREST that will also see the installation of new transmission towers, lines and further equipment upgrades. It’s an investment that’s sure to pay dividends in the event of an emergency.

More than 7.5 million calls go through the system covering police, fire departments and ambulance services in the region, representing one call every four seconds. Last week’s announcement rings loud and clear that CREST is committed to ensuring first responders have a radio system capable of handling those needs.

Jennifer BlythEditor

[email protected]

Christine van ReeuwykReporter

[email protected]

Janet GairdnerPublisher

[email protected]

Victoria CalvoCreative

[email protected]

Cindy Brown Circulation

[email protected]

Oak Bay News is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please contact: [email protected] or 250-480-3239. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the web site at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.

Avatar, the future-fantasy blockbuster that beat Titanic as all-time Hollywood box office champ, has finally been unseated by the latest Star Wars space opera.

I watched Avatar on TV over the holidays for the first time since its 2009 release, and was able to see past the bombastic special effects to examine it for what it is, an anti-capitalist propaganda film.

Psychopathic military commander teams with evil mining executive to blast and slaughter their way to a chunk of rare mineral, ridic-ulously named “unobtainium.” Giant tree, home of highly evolved Na’vi peo-ple and their delicate jungle ecosystem, is toppled for sadistic fun and profit, before nature’s collective strikes back.

Canadian director James Cameron helped the global anti-development network use the movie in its celebrity attack on the Alberta oil industry. Now it's being employed again in B.C., in an effort to revive the 1990s “war in the woods” that led to the creation of Car-manah Walbran Provincial Park.

Protest tactics are being refined. Tar-geting just outside the boundary of the vast park established 20 years ago, giant trees are named and an Avatar-style nar-rative of unbridled greed is spoon-fed to

urban media.There’s a “Tolkien Giant” now,

although I’m reliably informed it is not one of those trees that gets up and walks around in the Lord of the Rings movies. This tree is also protected from logging, as are most of the poster trees used for propaganda and fun-draising.

The network uses multi-ple front groups. Vancouver-based Wilderness Committee stages urban protests and issues news releases, while Ecojustice lawyers fight forest company injunctions against direct actions that disrupt

legal logging. An employee of the B.C. branch plant of Sierra Club apparently co-ordinates media and protesters.

A 1990s remnant called Friends of Carmanah-Walbran issued a state-ment Nov. 9 announcing “autonomous action” by three protesters to disrupt logging. Not their guys, you understand, just masked individuals willing to lock themselves to equipment or wander into a road-building blast zone, forcing work to stop for safety reasons.

These are among the actions that forced the logging company to go to court for an injunction.

Cast in the role of evil corporation is Teal-Jones Group, a B.C. forest com-pany trying to operate in what is now

the most environmentally restricted for-est in the world. It keeps about 2,000 people employed in logging and its saw-mills in Surrey, where investments have been made to handle second-growth coastal timber as well as what little old-growth they are allowed to harvest.

Protesters have dubbed their latest target, the tiny 3.2 hectare cutblock 4424, “Black Diamond Grove” for media and fundraising purposes.

Teal-Jones forester Chris Harvey pro-vided me some information to coun-ter protester claims. Block 4424 isn’t being logged, although it was permitted last fall. Protesters are targeting other operations, none of which are in the contentious Walbran “bite” area next to the park.

Teal-Jones has not only received per-mits and worked with environmental organizations, its operations are inde-pendently certified by the Canadian Standards Association.

A B.C. Supreme Court judge granted an extension of the injunction protect-ing Teal-Jones’ operations on Jan. 4. The judge wasn’t swayed by protest-ers packing the Victoria courtroom, and upheld a 50-metre safety zone around working equipment in the Walbran Val-ley until the end of March.

Tom Fletcher is legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press. Email: [email protected]

Avatar sequel bombs in Walbran

Tom FletcherB.C. Views


LETTERS

The Oak Bay News welcomes your opinions and comments.

To put readers on equal footing, and to be sure that all opinions are heard, please keep letters to less than 300 words.

The News reserves the right to edit letters for style, legality, length and taste.

Send your letters to:Mail: Letters to the Editor, Oak Bay

News, 207A - 2187 Oak Bay Ave., Victoria, B.C., V8R 1G1Email: [email protected]

Letters to the Editor

Thank you to community angels after Boxing Day spill

Boxing Day I was out on my usual brisk walk when my shoe caught the edge of a partially hidden curb and down I went, near Cadboro Bay Road and Todd Road.

Within moments a flock of angels appeared, a gentle man soothed me and rubbed my back so gently, he spoke with another man and they said it looked like I needed

an ambulance. I agreed and asked that someone fetch my husband at our house one block away. I gave my address and they brought him to me.

Meanwhile, a sweet lady held my right hand and put something just under my face and told me to be gentle. I think her name was Linda.

To all you dear, consider-ate, compassionate souls thank you, thank you, thank you.

My fractured pelvis is heal-ing, my fractured elbow too.

With gratitude, Marney Armitage

Oak Bay

Give children a reprieve from injustice discussions

Re: Students create museum for the marginalized (Oak Bay News, Jan. 6)

Oh, how our society has evolved.

In times past young people were given a reprieve until at least university age before being bombarded with white guilt for the injustices of prior generations by the apologist movement.

Nowadays we’re hitting them hard... in Grade 7!

The question is: why stop there? Should our ultimate goal not be for the first two words learned in kindergar-ten to be “I’m sorry?”

D. GramlichOak Bay

Coun. Kevin Murdoch shared this photo from Oak Bay’s Jan. 1 ‘active levee.’ Residents joined mayor and council for the annual New Year’s Day walk that finished at Oak Bay Rec Centre for refreshments in the Sports View Lounge. Submit your high-resolution photos to [email protected].

Reader Photo of the Week

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20/20 describes normal visual clarity or sharp-ness measured at a distance of 20 feet from an object. If you have 20/20 vision, you can see clearly at 20 feet what should normally be seen at that distance. If you have 20/100 vision, it means that you must be as close as 20 feet to see what a per-son with normal vision can see at 100 feet. In the metric system, 6/6 is the equivalent of 20/20.

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What’s Up for January 2016? A full moon, a bin-ocular comet and the winter circle of stars.

A full moon is scheduled for Jan. 24. The moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illumi-nated. This full moon was known by early Coast Salish as the Full Wolf Moon because this was the time of year when hungry wolf packs howled outside their vil-lages. If you’re at Cattle Point Star Park, I expect you’ll hear Oak Bay’s own coastal wolf, Staqeya, howling from Discov-ery Island. The Salish say he can be heard as far as the High-lands. Some say he howls with joy at the full moon. Others say he howls with loneliness ,urging female wolves to come live with him on the islands.

Mid-month, midnight through pre-dawn is prime time for viewing comet Catalina, also near Ursa Major this month. It should be visible in binoculars if you have a dark sky, but a telescope would be ideal. From Jan. 14 to 17, the comet will pass two stunning galaxies, M51, the Whirlpool galaxy and M101, a fainter spiral galaxy. These will be gorgeous in a telescope against a clear, crisp winter’s night.

Winter is also the best time to view the constel-lation Orion in the southeastern sky toward Seattle. Even from Cattle Point Star Park, you’ll see its stars have different colours. No telescope needed. Just look up a few hours after sunset. Orion’s shoulder star Betelgeuse is a red giant while its opposite knee is blue. Below the familiar belt stars is the Orion Nebula, a star-forming region easily visible with binoculars.

The colourful stars of Orion are part of the Win-ter Circle of Stars. Let’s start with Orion’s Blue star Rigel, and work clockwise to create the circle. At 6 o’clock, notice the brilliant white of Sirius, the brightest star in our northern hemisphere skies.

Next up is faint yellow Procyon at 8 o’clock, and the colourful Gemini Twins Pollux and Castor at 10 o’clock. Brighter Pollux is faint orange and Castor is white. Yellow Capella appears at 12 o’clock. Finally at 2 o’clock, stunning orange Aldebaran, near the Pleiades in the constellation Taurus the Bull. In the middle of our circle lies red Betelgeuse. A star’s colour reveals its temperature and age. The hotter a star, the more blue light it produces. The cooler the star, the more red light it produces. Medium-hot stars like our sun are yellow. Learn all about NASA’s studies of the stars and much more at NASA.Gov

Summarized from “What’s Up In January 2016” by NASA announcer and astronomer Jane Houston Jones with specific permission for localization to Cat-tle Point Urban Star Park and the Oak Bay News. By Bill Smith and the RASCals of Cattle Point, volun-teers at Cattle Point DARK SKY Urban Star Park.

January’s starry nights

Bill SmithDark Skies


Loranne Hilton takes the helm at Highlands next month.

Oak Bay's current director of corporate services and deputy chief administrative officer, Hil-ton makes the move to her new chief administrative/financial officer position on with High-lands in February.

“We are thrilled for Loranne, this is a great opportunity for her,” said Helen Koning, Oak Bay CAO.

“It's a huge loss for the district of Oak Bay she’s served the dis-trict well for the decades she’s worked here.”

Hilton has worked 20 years in Oak Bay.

“We think it's a great fit,” said

Highlands Mayor Ken Williams, noting Hilton has an inside knowledge of the community, having previously worked for that district.

“Loranne brings a wealth of local government experience to the Highlands.”

Hilton's last day with Oak Bay is Feb. 2. She starts in Highlands on Feb. 15.

“This is all relatively new news so we’re working in terms of how replacement will take place,” Koning said. “Our loss, Highlands’ gain, but we’re very happy for her.”

– with files from Goldstream News [email protected]

Highlands snags Oak Bay staffer

Loranne Hilton


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“All those things are con-nected. It’s a neat combination of all those sports, he under-stands stuff is happening before it happens,” McBride said.

“Reece takes risks, but he doesn’t because he understands what's going on. People think he’s lucky but he’s not – he’s cal-culating. … You can’t teach that stuff.”

McBride, who has coached the teen off and on since Myer-scough started the program at 10, is among the many who still guide the young Oak Bay man.

Myerscough is a member of both a Victoria and a Vancou-ver team. He trains with national coach Eric Stibbe, Al Clarke out of Vancouver and local RVYC coaches McBride and Erik Van-derpol.

“I think that’s one of the strengths of his program really,” McBride said.

“We say the same thing but it’s just how a different coach approaches something. He

learns from everybody. … It’s like the village of sailing coaches raising the athlete.”

“His support network from his family is phenom-enal. Reece is very aware of it and I think he’s very grate-ful for the stuff his family does to sup-port him,” McBride said, adding the younger sailor also shows appreciation for his extended family of teammates and coaches.

“Reece is one of those guys who’s amiable and friendly, a joker on the dock. That lends a whole bunch to him, people want to sail with him, people want to train with him.”

Myerscough said he’s watch-ing keenly as kiteboarding inches into the Olympic Games.

The International Sailing Asso-ciation council voted in 2012 to replace windsurfing with kite-surfing for the 2016 Games – that

decision was overturned later that year.

“That might be a goal, to qual-ify,” he said. “I really like surf-

ing a lot, they all contribute to each other.”

Wi n d s u r f i n g , Laser, Laser Radial, Finn, 470, and 49er are all slated for this summer’s Olympic Games.

“That would be a phenomenal niche for him, he grew up with that sport, he’s been there since it started,”

McBride said. “He’s probably been at the

forefront of it for a lot of it.” The next big sailing event

for Myerscough, if he attends, would be a February race in Florida.

The top BC Sailing award of Outstanding Youth Athlete rec-ognizes performance, sportman-ship and [email protected]

Melges 24 Worlds coming to Victoria for the first time

The Royal Victoria Yacht Club hosts the 2018 Melges 24 World Championships in 2018 – a first for Canada.

The regatta will run under the authoriza-tion of the Interna-tional Melges 24 Class Association.

RVYC is the home to the largest Melges 24 Fleet in Canada, and in 2014 hosted the highly successful Melges 24 Canadian Champion-ships that attracted 36 boats and featured epic racing off the waterfront of Victoria.

The concept for the Melges 24 sport boat was developed by Buddy Melges in 1992 after he was an integral

part of the crew that won the America’s Cup in San Diego.

Past World Cham-pionships have been held in Europe, the US and Australia. This is the first time they will be held in Canada.

The annual regatta is one of the most presti-gious one-design regat-tas in the world with the participants includ-ing Olympic medalists, America’s Cup sailors and Volvo Round the World racers.

The 2016 Melges 24 Worlds will be held in Miami, Florida and though the event is still a year away almost 100 boats are registered, including one from Vic-toria.

Regatta chair John Edwards is on the look-out for volunteers to help make this the best Melges 24 World Cham-pionship ever.

For more informa-tion, email 2018melge-

Yacht club seeks volunteers for prestigious sailing race

Continued from Page A1

Athlete enjoys ‘village of sailing coaches’

“You have to really know how to read the wind well and you have to be fit. I’m getting there.”– Reece Myerscough

[email protected] or call 250-216- 2478.

[email protected]

Got a sports story?Sports news to share?Special event or big game coming up?The Oak Bay News wants to hear about it.Email the details to editor Jennifer Blyth at [email protected] or call 250-480-3239.Submissions of game or event results and high-resolution images are also welcome for consideration.Please be sure to include a contact name and phone number or email address.


What’s Up for January 2016? A full moon, a bin-ocular comet and the winter circle of stars.

A full moon is scheduled for Jan. 24. The moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illumi-nated. This full moon was known by early Coast Salish as the Full Wolf Moon because this was the time of year when hungry wolf packs howled outside their vil-lages. If you’re at Cattle Point Star Park, I expect you’ll hear Oak Bay’s own coastal wolf, Staqeya, howling from Discov-ery Island. The Salish say he can be heard as far as the High-lands. Some say he howls with joy at the full moon. Others say he howls with loneliness ,urging female wolves to come live with him on the islands.

Mid-month, midnight through pre-dawn is prime time for viewing comet Catalina, also near Ursa Major this month. It should be visible in binoculars if you have a dark sky, but a telescope would be ideal. From Jan. 14 to 17, the comet will pass two stunning galaxies, M51, the Whirlpool galaxy and M101, a fainter spiral galaxy. These will be gorgeous in a telescope against a clear, crisp winter’s night.

Winter is also the best time to view the constel-lation Orion in the southeastern sky toward Seattle. Even from Cattle Point Star Park, you’ll see its stars have different colours. No telescope needed. Just look up a few hours after sunset. Orion’s shoulder star Betelgeuse is a red giant while its opposite knee is blue. Below the familiar belt stars is the Orion Nebula, a star-forming region easily visible with binoculars.

The colourful stars of Orion are part of the Win-ter Circle of Stars. Let’s start with Orion’s Blue star Rigel, and work clockwise to create the circle. At 6 o’clock, notice the brilliant white of Sirius, the brightest star in our northern hemisphere skies.

Next up is faint yellow Procyon at 8 o’clock, and the colourful Gemini Twins Pollux and Castor at 10 o’clock. Brighter Pollux is faint orange and Castor is white. Yellow Capella appears at 12 o’clock. Finally at 2 o’clock, stunning orange Aldebaran, near the Pleiades in the constellation Taurus the Bull. In the middle of our circle lies red Betelgeuse. A star’s colour reveals its temperature and age. The hotter a star, the more blue light it produces. The cooler the star, the more red light it produces. Medium-hot stars like our sun are yellow. Learn all about NASA’s studies of the stars and much more at NASA.Gov

Summarized from “What’s Up In January 2016” by NASA announcer and astronomer Jane Houston Jones with specific permission for localization to Cat-tle Point Urban Star Park and the Oak Bay News. By Bill Smith and the RASCals of Cattle Point, volun-teers at Cattle Point DARK SKY Urban Star Park.

January’s starry nights

Bill SmithDark Skies


Loranne Hilton takes the helm at Highlands next month.

Oak Bay's current director of corporate services and deputy chief administrative officer, Hil-ton makes the move to her new chief administrative/financial officer position on with High-lands in February.

“We are thrilled for Loranne, this is a great opportunity for her,” said Helen Koning, Oak Bay CAO.

“It's a huge loss for the district of Oak Bay she’s served the dis-trict well for the decades she’s worked here.”

Hilton has worked 20 years in Oak Bay.

“We think it's a great fit,” said

Highlands Mayor Ken Williams, noting Hilton has an inside knowledge of the community, having previously worked for that district.

“Loranne brings a wealth of local government experience to the Highlands.”

Hilton's last day with Oak Bay is Feb. 2. She starts in Highlands on Feb. 15.

“This is all relatively new news so we’re working in terms of how replacement will take place,” Koning said. “Our loss, Highlands’ gain, but we’re very happy for her.”

– with files from Goldstream News [email protected]

Highlands snags Oak Bay staffer

Loranne Hilton


Winner Brent Chan

(left) of Brentwood

Bay with Associate

Group Publisher

Oliver Sommer.

Jessica, Lucas and Alexia Sogai pictured with

Associate Group Publisher Oliver Sommer.

Missing from picture is Warren Sogai.

Winner Ben Driesen of North Saanich

with Oliver Sommer.

Winner Brent Chan

(left) of Brentwood

Bay with Associate

Group Publisher

Oliver


























































with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.with Oliver Sommer.

Oliver Sommer.

Oliver Sommer.

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(left) of Brentwood

Bay with Associate

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Jessica, Lucas and Alexia Sogai pictured with

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Missing from picture is Warren Sogai.

Sommer.

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Becoming a newspaper carrier is an excellent

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Currently we are hiring in your area and we are

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If anyone in your family is interested in being a

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Falcon rounds out 86 spotted species during annual bird count

A warm and sunny day saw 17 fans of feathers head out for the 2015 Oak Bay Christmas Bird Count, under the lead of Geoffrey Newell.

The team counted 4,756 birds and a record-breaking 86 species in the amazing and ecologi-cally important Uplands Park and Oak Bay water-front. This smashes the old record from last year of 82. Highlights included Harris’s Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Rock Sandpiper, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Northern Shrike, Merlin, Pere-grine Falcon, Eurasian Wigeon and Western Mead-owlark.

“The results of these counts show important trends in bird populations,” said Newell. “In B.C.,

swans, geese and ducks have overall increased significantly in the last few years. Loons, grebes, cormorants and gulls, on the other hand, have sharply declined. This is largely due to the over-fishing of herring in the past.”

Shorebirds have also decreased in recent years, but the numbers were surprisingly high for the Oak Bay count. Dec. 19 tallies included 221 Black-bellied Plovers, 165 Dunlin, 64 Surfbirds, 57 Black Oystercatchers and 44 Black Turnstones.

“Oak Bay would be aptly named The Shorebird Capital of Vancouver Island as it is home to the only large wintering population of these birds in the region,” Newell said.

In the final minutes of the count, two team mem-bers seemingly conjured up an important missing bird, a Peregrine Falcon. The team celebrated with a high fives all around and shouts of “Way to go Team Oak Bay.”

[email protected]

Bird count breaks 2014 record

This rare Harris’s Sparrow was caught on camera by Geoffrey Newell during the Oak Bay Christmas Bird Count.

Submitted


IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BLACK PRESS COMMUNITY NEWS MEDIA

Take your first step to the international stage!Applications now being accepted for Miss Teen BC, Miss BC & Mrs BC!

To apply visit your community newspaper website and click on contests.

Transit terminals are being considered on Humboldt between Douglas and Blanshard, and along Government Street by the Legislature and Royal BC Museum Archive.

BC Transit’s President & CEO will be presenting the options at the James Bay Neighbourhood Association monthly meeting.

6032

Transit Terminal Options

Victoria RegionalTransit Commission

Wednesday, January 13 7:00 – 9:00 pm New Horizons, 234 Menzies Street or visit: www.bctransit.com/victoria

Tell us what you

think!


Just in time for Family Literacy Week, here’s a family-friendly list of interesting and intriguing titles on the shelves at the Oak Bay branch of the Greater Victo-ria Public Library.

Each January, Fam-ily Literacy Week cel-ebrates adults and children reading and learning together, and encourages Canadi-ans to spend at least 15 minutes enjoying a learning activity as a family every day. Pro-grams are scheduled at libraries all over Victoria, and here in Oak Bay, families can enjoy a “Make Your Own Story Cube” program Jan. 25.

• Baby Read-Aloud Basics: Fun and Interactive Ways to Help Your Little One Discover the World of Words, by Caro-line J. Blakemore and Barbara Weston Ramirez – Winner of the iParenting Media Award, this book will give parents and care-givers all of the guidance and information they need to instill a lifelong love of reading and learning.

• The Book With No Pic-tures, by B.J. Novak – Cleverly irreverent and irresistibly silly, The Book with No Pictures is one that kids will beg to hear again and again. (And parents will be happy to oblige.)

• Completely Clementine, by

Sara Pennypacker – Clementine is for any kids and parents who can’t get enough of Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary. Clementine is just as fresh and funny in this

seventh and final title in the series as she was in the first book.

• Listen, Slowly, by Thanhhà Lai – This remarkable novel from the New York Times bestselling author fol-lows a young girl as she travels to faraway lands and learns the true meaning of family.

• Little You, by Richard Van Camp – Van Camp, internationally renowned story-teller and bestselling author, has partnered with talented illustra-tor Julie Flett to create a tender board book for babies and tod-dlers that honours the child in everyone.

• My Family Tree and Me, by Dušan Petrivic – This one-of-a-kind picture book provides a beautifully simple introduction to the concept of family ances-try. It uses two stories in one to explore a small boy’s family tree.

• The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen, by Susin Nielsen – 13-year-old Henry’s happy, ordinary life comes to an abrupt halt when his older brother, Jesse, picks up their father’s hunting rifle and leaves the house one morning. What follows shatters Henry’s family,

who are forced to resume their lives in a new city. Nielsen has created a fantastic new char-acter in Henry, whose journal entries are infused with humour and provide a riveting read.

• What Ship is Not a Ship? by Harriet Ziefert – The fun guess-ing games inside this book use clever word groupings that list three things that are alike and one that it is different and invites kids into a call-and-response dynamic. Picture clues will help kids figure out which thing is dif-ferent and begin to grasp fine-tuned nuances of word parts, roots and meanings.

• When a Dad Says “I Love You,” by Douglas Wood – How do you like to hear “I love you”? This cozy picture book is a sunny testament to the bond between father and child and shows all the ways dads can say it best.

• Very Short Tall Tales to Read Together, by Mary Ann Hoberman – This book uses a variety of reading techniques to invite young children to read along with peers or an adult. With clear, colour-coded typog-raphy, and sly, lively illustra-tions, this collection is sure to entertain while encouraging reading skills and interaction with others.

Sarah Isbister is the Children and Family Literacy Librarian at the Oak Bay Branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library.

Books to celebrate Family Literacy Week

Sarah IsbisterPage Turners

Team Feliz Navidad are the 2015 Champions raising the Oak Bay Xmas Cup for the first time.

Led by “Doc Muirsey” and their goaltender Leighton Williams of the Westshore Wolves, they beat out Team Hanukkah in a competitive 5-3 final.

“Everyone had a great time including all of our players, family, friends and fans,” said organizer

Sean Tackaberry. Team Festivus beat Team Christmas in the third

place game 11-5.The four team tournament raised beyond $8,000

for the Archie Courtnall Centre in support of men-tal health care and services.

[email protected]

Tourney raises $8,000+ for mental health

Localnews.

Localshopping.

Your localpaper.

Invites you to enjoy a wonderful performance by

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Community Calendar

Wednesday, Jan. 13 Volkssport – Monday and Wednesday morning walks. Registration at 8:45 a.m.; walk at 9 a.m. For the current schedule call Rick, 250-478-7020 or Jan, 250-665-6062.

Victoria Women’s Newcomers Club – January Luncheon, 11:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Victoria Golf Club, 1110 Beach Dr. Cost: $29 New to Victoria? Come and have lunch and learn about the city and club. Info/registration, vicdaynewcomers.ca

Friday, Jan. 15Drop-in Family Storytime – from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Fridays at the Oak Bay branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library, 1442 Monterey Ave. No registration required.

The Sutcliffes in concert – Upstairs Lounge Concert Series continues at Oak Bay Rec Centre. Doors at 6 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m. All ages welcome. Tickets $15 from Oak Bay Rec or beaconridgeproductions.com

Saturday, Jan. 16 Volkssport 5/10km Walk – Meet at Pearkes Rec Centre, 3100 Tillicum Rd. Register at 9:30 a.m. for 10 a.m. walk. Info: Hazel, 250-385-5439.

Neighbourhood Learning Centre Open House Celebration – Tour the facility and meet the staff. Mayor’s opening remarks at 2:15 p.m. followed by food and refreshments. All welcome. Visit the Rainforest Room for after school programs, Paddington Day Care, plus space for fitness classes, including indoor boot camp, step and yoga in the activity rooms. Explore the Youth Centre and birthday party space. Local artists will have art on display.

Sea Cider Wassail Celebrations –11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse, 2487 Mt. St. Michael Rd. Enjoy fun-filled, family events, guided tours of the cidery and orchard, kids’ crafts and activities, prizes and giveaways, complimentary welcome glass of cider, Morris dancers and Mummers play. Cider and food tickets available for purchase. Info: seacider.ca

Home Grown: Jazz in Canada – Victoria’s Patrick Boyle Quartet performs original jazz and music by Canadian composers, incl. Mike Murley, Jeff Johnston, Moe Koffman, Terry Promane, Barry Elmes and Victoria trombone legend Ian McDougall, 8 p.m., UVic’s Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, B-Wing,

MacLaurin Building. Tickets $18/$14 from the UVic Ticket Centre (250-721-8480 or tickets.uvic.ca) and at the door.

Sunday, Jan. 17 Kiwanis Sunday Morning Breakfast – Oak Bay Kiwanis hosts fundraising breakfast, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Kiwanis Willows Beach Tea Room, $10. Proceeds support Oak Bay Kiwanis Pavilion Care Facility.

International Guitar Night 2016 – The world’s foremost acoustic guitarists perform original compositions and exchange musical ideas in a public concert setting, 7:30 p.m. at UVic’s Farquhar Auditorium. Tickets $35/adult and $25/senior/student/alumni, from 250-721-8480 or tickets.uvic.ca.

Share your community event email your community calendar item to [email protected].

John Ewing photo

Oak Bay Fire Chief and Kiwanian Dave Cockle cooks Sunday breakfast at the Kiwanis Willows Beach Tea Room. Breakfast runs from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays through the end of March.

Capital Regional District Notice to ElectorsWithin the Capital Regional DistrictAlternative Approval Process for CRD Bylaw 4042 - Authorizing the disposal of a portion of the Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park ReserveNotice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the Capital Regional District (“CRD”) proposes to adopt Bylaw No. 4042, “Capital Regional District Disposition of Part of Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park Reserve Bylaw No. 1, 2015.” The purpose of Bylaw No. 4042 is to authorize the sale or exchange of a 902m2 (0.09 hectare) parcel in the Sooke Hills Regional Park Reserve, more particularly described as that portion of Lot 21, District Lot 8, Block 453 and Block 352, Malahat District, Plan VIP84067. The intention is to exchange this parcel of land for a similarly sized and nearby parcel owned by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. This parcel will become dedicated road. This exchange is critical to complete the necessary land transactions to ensure that construction of the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail is completed in 2017.Take further notice that the CRD may proceed with Bylaw No. 4042 unless at least 28,055 electors within the CRD indicate by signing the elector response forms, that the Board must obtain the assent of the electors by way of referendum before proceeding to adopt Bylaw No. 4042.The elector response form must be in the form as established by the CRD and forms are available from the CRD on request. The only persons entitled to sign elector response forms are electors of the area to which the alternative approval process opportunity applies. The alternative approval process opportunity applies within the regional parks service area, which is comprised of all the municipalities and electoral areas in the Capital Regional District, as follows: Central Saanich, Colwood, Esquimalt, Highlands, Langford, Oak Bay, Metchosin, North Saanich, Saanich, Sidney, Sooke, Victoria, View Royal; and Juan de Fuca, Salt Spring Island and Southern Gulf Islands electoral areas.The deadline for delivering the original signed elector response forms, in relation to Bylaw No. 4042, to the CRD is 4:00 pm on Monday, February 22, 2016. Forms must be received by the deadline to be counted.The CRD has estimated that the total number of electors within the service area is 280,551 and that 10% of that number or 28,055 electors must submit elector response forms to prevent the CRD from enacting Bylaw No. 4042 without the assent of the electors by referendum.Further technical information concerning Bylaw No. 4042 may be obtained from Stephen Henderson, Manager, Real Estate, 625 Fisgard Street, Victoria, 250.360.3136, [email protected], during regular office hours Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays) from the date of this notice until February 22, 2016.Qualifications for Resident and Non-Resident Property ElectorsResident Elector: You are entitled to submit an elector response form as a Resident Elector if you are 18 years or older on the date of submission of the elector response form, are a Canadian citizen, have resided in British Columbia for 6 months and in the Capital Regional District for at least 30 days prior to signing the elector response form.Non-Resident Property Elector: You may submit an elector response form as a Non-Resident Property Elector if you are 18 years or older on the date of submission of the elector response form, are a Canadian citizen, have resided in British Columbia for 6 months, have owned and held registered title to property in the Capital Regional District for 30 days and do NOT qualify as a Resident Elector. If there is more than one registered owner of the property (either as joint tenants or tenants in common) only one individual may, with the written consent of the majority, submit an elector response form.To obtain an elector response form, or for questions about the elector approval process, please contact CRD Legislative and Information Services, PO Box 1000, 625 Fisgard Street, 5th Floor, Victoria, BC V8W 2S6 or by telephone at 250.360.3642 from 8:30 am-4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.A copy of the elector response form may be downloaded from:www.crd.bc.ca/about/how-we-are-governed/elections-other-votingElector response forms may also be obtained at the CRD offices listed below. A copy of Bylaw No. 4042 and a copy of this Notice may be inspected during regular office hours, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (unless specified otherwise below), Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays) from the date of this notice until February 22, 2016 at the following locations:• public notice board in the lobby of CRD headquarters, 625 Fisgard Street, Victoria• Panorama Recreation Centre, 1885 Forest Park Drive, North Saanich• Juan de Fuca Local Area Services office, #3-7450 Butler Road, Sooke• Integrated Water Services, 479 Island Highway, Victoria• SSI Administration (PARC) Office, 145 Vesuvius Bay Road, Salt Spring Island• Building Inspection, 4605 Bedwell Harbour Road, Pender Island (8:30 am-noon)• on the CRD website:

for Bylaw No. 4042: www.crd.bc.ca/about/document-library/Documents/bylaws/bylawssubjecttoreferendumoralternativeapprovalprocess for this Notice: www.crd.bc.ca/about/how-we-are-governed/elections-other-voting

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u Tour the facility and meet the recreation staff u See the Oak Bay Community Artists’ exhibitionu Everyone Welcomeu Mayor’s opening remarks at 2:15pm

followed by food and refreshments

You are invited to the

Neighbourhood Learning Centre Open House

Saturday, January 16th

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of the Oak Bay High School

Neighbourhood Learning Centre 2121�Cadboro�Bay�RoadParking�available�adjacent�toOak Bay Recreation Centre1975�Bee�Streetrecreation.oakbay.ca • 250-595-7946

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BRAIN WELLNESS:The Secret to LongevityFind out about our exciting upcoming event at Berwick House. Watch your Saanich, Victoria, Oak Bay and Goldstream Newspapers January 20th for more information.


Sip, sample, savour and learn at Whisky FestivalLong-time festival volunteer offers his tips to enjoy the festivalJennifer BlythOak Bay News

A taste of the old world and the new comes to town this week with the annual Victoria Whisky Festi-val, Thursday to Satur-day (Jan. 14 to 16).

Now in its 11th year, the festival attracts enthusiasts from around the world. In addition to tasting both newly released drams and old favourites, attendees can learn about each distiller’s process and what cre-ates striking and subtle differences between whiskies.

That education aspect is a key com-ponent to the festival, says Dave McMillan.

The 19-year veteran of Oak Bay Police retired last year and made one of his first post-retirement vaca-tions a working holi-day in Scotland at the Springbank Whiskey Academy.

There he joined aficionados from Den-mark, Italy, France and elsewhere to work and learn in the distillery.

McMillan has volun-teered with the festival for eight years. His appreciation for the amber nectar began after receiving some whiskey as a gift. He began learning more, and that led him to the festival.

“I got more involved, and started tasting more and learning more about it,” he says, noting he appreciates the cultural aspects that tie into his Scot-

tish heritage. “I also enjoy learning and getting edu-cated. Each distillery has its own story and its own kind of whisky.”

Growing from that first festival, which featured 100 whiskies at the grand tasting and four master-classes, the festival now presents eight consumer tastings on Thursday and Friday, the Canadian Whisky Awards dinner, and 36 masterclasses on Saturday.

Held at the Hotel Grand Pacific, the event con-cludes with the Grand Tasting Saturday evening. Festival proceeds are donated to charitable organizations.

While whisky apprecia-tion used to be seen as an older person’s activity, more enthusiasts are in their 20s and 30s today, says McMillan. People are also becoming more con-

fident in their tastings. “It’s an experience that really elicits memo-ries,” he says.

“It’s not about the drinking, it’s about the flavours,” he adds, advising festival-goers to focus on the taste, and make use of the spittoons available. “My motto is you don’t drink whisky, you taste it.”

Lawrence Graham, Victoria Whisky Festi-val president, says with so many new whiskies, people are looking to build their knowledge.

“Rather than buy-ing their same favou-rite whiskies they are becoming more adven-turous, armed with a knowledge of the pro-cess and the results that creates,” he says. “People are more and more curious about whiskies from Canada, the United States, Japan, India as well as from Scotland.”

This year’s festival will showcase more than 250 whiskies crafted in 50 distilleries from Scotland, Ire-land, England, Canada,

United States, Japan, Taiwan, India and France.

Thursday also brings the sixth annual Cana-dian Whisky Awards, celebrating the best Canadian whisky from across the country, selected. Winners will be posted at canadian-whisky.org.

Rides home are also available for attendees.

For additional infor-mation and a schedule of festival activities, see victoriawhiskyfestival.com [email protected]

Jen Steele Photography

Dave McMillan, a retired Oak Bay police officer, has volunteered at the Victoria Whisky Festival for many years.

A14 • www.oakbaynews.com Wednesday, January 13, 2016 - OAK BAY NEWSA14 www.oakbaynews.com Wed, Jan 13, 2016, Oak Bay News

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

INFORMATION

CANADA BENEFIT Group - Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability? Get up to $40,000 from the Canadian Government. Toll-free 1-888-511-2250 or www.canada-benefi t.ca/free-assessment

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EXPLORE MIDDLE Eastern Music. Small informal group of musicians & singers looking for others to play with us, any instrument; willingness to learn Turkish & Arabic songs. we meet in Topaz/ Quadra area. Call Robert 250-383-7364.

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LOST 3 bags with Walk In Comfort shoes inside. If found please call. (250)656-7802. Reward!

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ZONE CHECKERSThe Oak Bay News and the Victoria News are looking to hire Zone Checkers to service our growing distribution needs in Victoria (North Park/Oak-lands) and Oak Bay. The right candidates must have excel-lent communication and or-ganizational skills. Basic knowledge of MS Word, Excel and Outlook Express is recom-mended. Your attention to de-tail and ability to work with minimal supervision sets you apart from other applicants. Duties include supervision of newspaper carriers, recruit-ment and hiring of new car-riers, canvassing new areas of delivery, monitoring carrier performance and follow-up on reader delivery concerns. A re-liable vehicle is a must. A Vul-nerable Sector Criminal Record Check is also manda-tory. These part-time positions are ideal for applicants available for afternoon and weekend shifts. Please email your resume to Cindy Brown, Victoria and Oak Bay News Circulation Coordinator: [email protected] phone calls please.

HELP WANTED

VOLUNTEERS

JAMES BAY Community Pro-ject seeks volunteers for the wonderful Community Closet Thrift Store, for a few hours a week in a fun and rewarding environment. Cash and retail opportunities, as well as sort-ing and organizing opportu-nities are available. Please call 250-386-2269.

LDABC THE Learning Curve in Victoria provides support to children and youth struggling with learning challenges in a safe, positive environment and has two volunteer positions available. One volunteer would work directly with children and youth to develop reading, writ-ing, or academic skills and or complete homework. The oth-er volunteer would provide a warm welcome to families and assist with program intake and coordination. Please call 250-386-2269.

THE ALZHEIMER Society of BC is looking for skilled and keen individuals who can ap-ply their administrative savvy to manage a variety of admin-istrative tasks that help their staff deliver services in the community. Be part of a team that is working on behalf of people affected by Alzheimer disease and other dementias. If this sounds like you and you are available for a 2- to 3-hour shift, weekly or fortnightly, please call 250-386-2269.

PERSONAL SERVICES

ART/MUSIC/DANCING

EXPLORE MIDDLE Eastern Music. Small informal group of musicians & singers looking for others to play with us, any instrument; willingness to learn Turkish & Arabic songs. we meet in Topaz/ Quadra area. Call Robert 250-383-7364.

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KRIPALU MASSAGE, Reiki, Acupressure, Chair Massage. I have relaxed clients that have been with me for 5-12 years. See testimonials on website. Women only. Located in beautiful setting off the Gorge. Call 250-514-6223 or www.andreakober.com

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RETOUCH, RESTORE, Edit Photos. Home Movies to DVD. Also, Portraiture, Baby, Family + Maternity. 250-475-3332. www.cwpics.com

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

FREE ITEMS

FREE BEIGE fl owered couch & love seat in good condition. Call (250)477-2035.

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YAMAHA RECEIVER+ juke box style CD player (holds 110 CD’s), $85. 250-370-2905.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

AGREEMENTIt is agreed by any display or Classified Advertiser requesting space that the liability of the paper in the event of failure to publish an advertisement shall be limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for that portion of the advertising space occupied by the incorrect item only, and that there shall be no liability in any event beyond the amount paid for such advertisement. The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement.

Used.ca cannot be responsible for errors after the first day of publication of any advertisement. Notice of errors on the first day should immediately be called to the attention of the Classified Department to be corrected for the following edition.

Used.ca reserves the right to revise, edit, classify or reject any advertisement and to retain any answers directed to the Used.ca Box Reply Service and to repay the customer the sum paid for the advertisement and box rental.

DISCRIMINATORYLEGISLATIONAdvertisers are reminded that Provincial legislation forbids the publication of any advertisement which discriminates against any person because of race, religion, sex, color, nationality, ancestry or place of origin, or age, unless the condition is justified by a bona fide requirement for the work involved.

COPYRIGHTCopyright and/or properties subsist in all advertisements and in all other material appearing in this edition of Used.ca. Permission to reproduce wholly or in part and in any form whatsoever, particularly by a photographic or offset process in a publication must be obtained in writing from the publisher. Any unauthorized reproduction will be subject to recourse in law.

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INDEX IN BRIEFFAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRAVEL

EMPLOYMENT

BUSINESS SERVICES

PETS & LIVESTOCK


REAL ESTATE

RENTALS

AUTOMOTIVE

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT

LEGAL NOTICES

To advertise in print:Call: 250-388-3535 Email: classifi [email protected]: blackpressused.ca Career ads: localworkbc.ca

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RENTALS

MISCELLANEOUS FOR RENT

PARKING SPACE near Lans-downe Camosun College. 3 min. walk to campus. Only $75/mo. Save $55/mo (or more for long-term). Chris, 250-595-0370.

TRANSPORTATION

AUTO SERVICES

FREE REMOVAL of all vehi-cles, cash paid for some. Any condition. Call (250)889-5383

CARS

2009 PONTIAC Vibe- charcoal grey, black interior, 4cylinder auto, A/C, cruise, P/W, extra options. 52,353km, exc cond. $10,200. (250)580-4104.

MOTORCYCLES

2008 HONDA Motorcycle, 919 (red). Only 22,000 km. Just serviced. No drops. $4,900. Call (250)361-0052.

HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES

BUSINESS SERVICES

HAVE YOU been denied Canada Pension Plan disability benefi ts? The Disability Claims Advocacy Clinic can help you appeal. Call 1-877-793-3222 or visit www.dcac.ca [email protected]

CLEANING SERVICES

AFFORDABLE! SUPPLIES & vacuum incld’d. All lower Is-land areas. 250-385-5869.

ELECTRICAL

250-361-6193 Quality Electric Reno’s, res & comm. No job too small. Lic# 22779.

KENDRA’S ELECTRICAL Company. Res/Com. Lic #86952. Call 250-415-7991.

NORTHERN SUN Electric Comm/Res. Work Guaran-teed. Any size job. Call (250)888-6160. Lic#13981.


FENCING

ALL TYPES of fencing, re-pairs. Reliable, on-time. Free estimates. Call 250-888-8637.

GARDENING

DPM SERVICES- lawn & gar-den, seasonal pruning, clean ups, landscape, power wash, etc. 15yrs exp. (250)883-8141.

GREAT TIME for pruning. Fruit, ornamental & native trees. Call Maxse for results. Senior disc. 250-634-0347.

GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS

250-380-7778 GRAND Xterior Cleaning. Repairs, Gutters, de-moss, roofs windows, PWash, Christmas lights.

(250)889-5794. DIAMOND Dave- window, gutter cleaning, roof-de-moss, gutter guards, power washing. Free estimate


HANDYPERSONS

RENO SPECIALISTCarpentry, drywall,

plumbing, tiling, electric. Kitchen & bath.

20 yrs exp. Fully insured.Alain 250-744-8453. www.justrenoz.com

HAULING AND SALVAGE

$20 & Up Garbage & Garden waste removal. Senior Disc. Free estimates. 250-812-2279.CLEAN-UP SPECIAL. You load bins, size 12 yard $100 plus dump fee or we do it all. Call 250-361-6164.PARRY’S HAULING We haul it all - FREE estimates. Call Wes 250-812-7774.SAVE-A-LOT HAULING Furniture, appliance, garden waste, we take it all! Always lowest rate, senior discount. Brad 250-217-9578.


HAULING AND SALVAGE

Refuse Sam✓Garbage Removal

✓O.A.P RatesAttics, Basements,

Compost, Construction Clean up,

DemolitionFast & Friendly Service

.

Call Craig or Mike250-216-5865


HOME IMPROVEMENTS

RENOVATIONS SPECIALIST decks, fence Doors, windows, painting, drywall. Kitchen, bath, suites. 250-217-8131

MASONRY & BRICKWORK

CBS MASONRY BBB. WCB. Chimneys, fi replaces,fl agstone rock, concrete, natural & ve-neered stone. Replace, re-build, restore, renew! Free competitive est. www.cbsma-sonry.com; Call (250)589-9942, (250)294-9942.RAIN HAPPENS Landscape & Stonework. Call Nicolaas at (250)920-5108.

& MOVING STORAGE

(250)858-6747. WRIGHT Bros Moving & Hauling. Free Est $75=(2men&3tontruck)Sr Disc.Done Right Moving $85/hr. A+ BBB. Senior Disc. No travel time before/after local moves. Penny 250-418-1747


PAINTING

A PROFESSIONAL Woman painter. Karen Bales Painting & Wall coverings. Over 25yrs exp. Free est. 250-514-5220.

HIGH QUALITY and FAST. Professional Painting. $20./hr. Free est. Glenn 778-967-3607.

OLD TIMER. Quality old fash-ioned service. Great rates. Ex-cellent references. Call Al at 250-474-6924, 250-888-7187.

PLUMBING

FREE ESTIMATES. Rea-sonable. Reliable. No job too small. Call 250-388-5544.

FULL SERVICE Plumbing from Parker Dean. Fast, re-liable, 24/7 service. Take $50 off your next job if you present this ad. Vancouver area. 1-800-573-2928.

CLASSIFIED ADS WORK!Call 250.388.3535


UPHOLSTERY

UPHOLSTER- Furn. repairs, scratches, fi x springs, marine,commercial. 250-480-9822.

WINDOW CLEANING

250-380-7778 GRAND Xterior Cleaning. Repairs, Gutters,de-moss, roofs windows,PWash, Christmas lights.

BOB’S WINDOW Cleaning, Gutters. Over 25 yrs. Licensed& affordable. 250-884-7066.

DAVE’S WINDOW Cleaning.Windows, Gutters, Sweeping,Roofs, Roof Demossing, Pres-sure Washing. 250-361-6190.

Service DirectoryBrowse more at:

Complete guide to professional services in your community

250-388-3535

ALL YOU NEED IN PRINT AND ONLINE

250-388-3535

DO YOU OFFER HOME SERVICES?

Don’t be missed, our readers are looking for you!

250-388-3535

fi l here please

Janet Gairdner Publisher

direct 250.480.3251 email [email protected]

Publishes February

24th

WomenOAK BAY

I N B U S I N E S S

L O C A L W O M E NM A K I N G A D I F F E R E N C E

for details of our Women in Business eventin February!

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Booking deadline: February, 17th

...to WINgreat prizes

go to our website and click on

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Vibration exercise at Vibes decreases stress on the joints and increases muscle recruitment by up to 60 per cent over conven-tional strength training, making the workout faster and more ef� cient.

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“Since joining Vibes OB only one month ago I have less joint pain, better balance and increased strength. Since my hip replacement in 2012 I had been inactive. I am amazed at how quickly my strength and wellness has improved. I thank the trainers for modifying the workout to accommodate my new hip!” – Maureen A.

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www.oakbaynews.com

Find good vibrations at Vibes Oak Bay

LIVINGFitness for a new year and new you: Feel the difference, see the bene� ts

Alan Worsfold PhotographyFrom left, Jayson, Lynne and Hilary

Oak Bay’s guide to maintaining the mind, body and soul

LIVINGHealthy

Laser Treatments for Fungal NailsDr Gregg Congdon & Dr Bill Mirchoff

Doctors of Podiatric Medicine

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For advertisingopportunities,

contact:

JanetGairdner PUBLISHER

direct 250.480.3251email [email protected]

Join ourHealthyLivingPageEvery week in the

Wednesday issue of the Oak Bay News