TOGETHER WITH | | COMMUNITY EVENTS | 🎨 Plans for Family Day weekend? Emily Carr House, tomorrow from 10am-3pm, is holding an event with stories and crafts inspired by historic toys and pastimes. Entry is by donation, limited parking on site (additional free parking at Beacon Hill Park, a short walk away). | 🎭 Ride The Cyclone: The Canadian College of Performing Arts’ Studio Ensemble presents this home-grown musical sensation about six teens looking for a story. Performance Hall, Oak Bay. Tonight. 7:30pm. Tomorrow. 2pm & 7:30pm. | |
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| IN THE NEWS | 🚒 Second fire at Oak Bay High leads to evacuation. The fire was found Wednesday morning in a girls’ washroom, just four days after a fire in a boys’ washroom led the school to be evacuated and classes cancelled. Students were able to return to class on Tuesday, less than an hour after evacuation. The school’s principal says staff are working with the police and fire departments to investigate the incidents. [Times Colonist] | 🐕 Oak Bay Police explain why canine contract cost has more than doubled. As reported last week, Oak Bay’s police department has signed on with the Victoria and Saanich forces’ canine unit program. The four-year-old Integrated Canine Service has dogs available 24-7 to conduct searches, sniff out suspects—and even take them down. The Oak Bay Police Department said it will pay $89,684 as its partner-agency share of the bill, a substantial increase over the $37,500 it had been paying annually in a contract with the RCMP’s canine service. Deputy Chief Const. Kris Rice told Capital Daily that while the initial costs of the new service are higher, the new agreement provides the district with more value because it’s local—headquartered in Saanich—so response time is faster than the previous unit. [Capital Daily] | 🏊🏼♀️ Keeping UVic’s McKinnon Pool temporarily open would cost $5M. The pool has been closed since last Sept., to the frustration of students, staff, and community members who use it. The impending closures of the Crystal Pool and the downtown YMCA, for renos and relocation respectively, have increased the need for a community pool. After a public outcry, UVic ordered an engineering assessment to evaluate keeping the pool open for another four to five years. Recent results show a $5.1M cost, plus or minus 25% depending on market fluctuations. [CHEK] | 🍁 Canadian premiers were in Washington, DC this week to appeal tariff threats. The premiers met with senior White House officials on Wednesday. BC’s David Eby said they were clear that Canada becoming the 51st state was a “non-starter.” A White House official later said he "never agreed that Canada would not be the 51st state," only to pass this info along. The premiers said the meeting went well, with Eby calling it “constructive”. [CBC News] | ⛵️ Hope in Oak Bay: A local shared a photo of a woman (her grandmother) seen chatting with legendary comedian Bob Hope while his yacht was docked in Oak Bay Marina in the 1960s. [Facebook Photo] | | P.S. Did someone forward you this email*? Subscribe here. | | PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT | To join the conversation, become a member of the Oak Bay Local Facebook Group | | “Boom. Felt that!” | Several locals shared how they felt a 3.8 magnitude earthquake last night just before 10. While some reported they “didn’t feel a thing” others said they heard a large bang that made them think an upstairs neighbour had dropped something on the floor. Another local said that while they didn’t feel it, they did notice their dish rack rattled. Others in South Oak Bay said it sounded similar to a car crash just outside their home. Did you feel the earthquake? | | Did you feel the Thursday night earthquake? | | |
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| SPONSORED BY VICTORIA FOUNDATION | | Non-profit superheroes: apply for a community grant today | Are you looking to power up your non-profit or charity? Applications are now open for the Victoria Foundation's 2025 Community Grants Program until March 11! | This flagship initiative aims to strengthen the charitable sector's long-term resiliency on the South Island and beyond. Grants of up to $30,000 each are available to support organizations whose work creates positive change – from the arts to housing, climate, youth and senior services, and more. | Grants are prioritized for equity-deserving groups with strong financial need. Click here for more information on how to apply. |
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| | More popular posts | Rotary Club of Oak Bay displays Canadian Flags. Is anyone else in Oak Bay doing the push-up challenge? A wallet was found on the corner of Monteith and Canmore, and taken to the Oak Bay Police Department. Beware of the latest Marketplace scams. Rodent damage to a car, two months later.
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| Local connections help make renovations a reality | A community member a note thanking the people on the Oak Bay Local group who have offered advice and recommendations on making home renovations a reality in our community. The connections they’ve made on Oak Bay Local have led to some connections and beautiful transformations for a new community member from the Okanagan, and have led them to feel more at home here on the Island. | They thanked all of the locals who have offered suggestions on who to hire for home renovations, posting a note to the community that said the success of the project would not have been possible without these connections, which have made them feel welcomed here in Oak Bay. Check out some before and after photos below. | | |
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| SPONSORED BY SHAWNIGAN RETREATS | | Your winter escape on Vancouver Island | Shawnigan Retreats offers the perfect cozy retreat for family gatherings or romantic getaways this winter. Nestled by the serene Shawnigan Lake, our luxurious accommodations feature a sauna, hot tub, games room with ping pong, cards, and board games, and even a private pickleball court. Enjoy nearby hikes through breathtaking nature and unwind in comfort. With space for up to 18 guests, Shawnigan Retreats promises an unforgettable winter experience. | Explore Shawnigan Retreats and plan your winter getaway today. Learn more about Shawnigan Retreats. |
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| | IN OTHER NEWS | | Peninsula Streams Society shared an important discovery along Willows Beach | Volunteers Tony Otten and his microscopist daughter Susan Hensen (pictured above) made an egg-citing discovery this week with the first-ever detection of forage fish spawning at Willows Beach. It comes after years of negative samples, reinforcing the importance of long-term monitoring. | They say identifying these critical spawning beaches helps to fill basic knowledge gaps on these vital prey species, inform beach nourishment and restoration efforts, and advocate for policies that protect these declining habitats. | The work is funded by municipalities such as Oak Bay, as well as @pacificsalmonfoundation and TD Friends of the Environment. | |
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