2017 Shirley Christmas Craft Fair

Surfriders Beach Clean Up Schedule

Surfriders have scheduled several beach clean-ups in our area.

All clean-ups are at 11:00 am until 1:00 pm.

Sombrio: November 12, 2017
Muir Creek: December 10, 2017
China Beach: January 14, 2018
Port Renfrew, Gordon River mouth: February 11, 2018
French Beach: March 11, 2018
Whiffin Spit: April 8, 2018

Water Sustainability Presentation

Representatives from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Operations & Rural Development presented information on the Water Sustainability Act at a free event on October 18, 2017.

The presentation included information related to the new legislation, groundwater licensing, water availability, aquifer and well protection.

Presentation materials:

Water Sustainability Act And Licensing (PDF)
Wells And Groundwater Protection (PDF)

Please visit the provincial water program website for much more information.

Information taken from:
Juan de Fuca Electoral Area

OPSRRA General Meeting: WEST COAST AND OTTER POINT ROADS SAFETY, SPEED AND NOISE

Come and listen to our panel discussion, bring your questions and concerns as well as suggestions and ideas for improvement.

A Panel Discussion with:

Moderator:  Mike Hicks, Regional Director, Juan de Fuca Electoral Area

Welcome Message:  Bruce Fogg EA to Premier John Horgan

S/Sgt Jeff McArthur, RCMP
Al Wickheim, First Responder
Jan Lansing, Manager CVSE
Pam Jorgenson, RPF|Land Use Forester, TimberWest
Rob Moonen, CEO BC Forest Safety Council [added October 31, 2019]

Additional Guests:

Steve Bauer, Regional Manager CVSE
Guest from TimberWest TBA

Question Answer Period Following

Sunday, November 5, 2017
1:30-3:30 pm

JDF Local Area Services Building
#3-7450 Butler Road, Otter Point
 (Sooke Business Park)

Everyone Welcome Refreshments by Donation

The Long and Winding Road

People living in Otter Point, Shirley and Jordan River rely on West Coast or Otter Point Roads to get to and from their homes. Both roads roughly follow the old tracks of the carriage routes or logging roads they initially were and are infamous for their sharp curves, poorly banked corners, narrow gauge, minimal shoulders and poor sight lines. Add fog, rain, darkness, fallen trees, wildlife encounters and the need for dealing with challenging conditions increases. Additional traffic makes for even greater challenges.

Our area is a recreational mecca with its beaches, hiking trails, wilderness, and natural beauty not to mention great restaurants; the steady stream of weekend and holiday traffic attests to that. The roads themselves are a draw for motorcyclists and cyclists because of the unique challenges they present. More and more people are choosing to make their homes here, despite the relative remoteness, which means more commuters.  As well, with growing numbers of commercial and industrial vehicles on the road, the drive can be a demanding, frustrating, chaotic and dangerous experience. The associated increase in noise levels interferes with the quiet enjoyment of property people expect to have in a rural area.

We all want safe roads and to preserve our valued rural lifestyle. West Coast Road and Otter Point Roads are our major vital links.

Invasive plant removal: JdF CTS Saturday October 21, 2017

Juan de Fuca Community Trails Society and the Greater Victoria Green Team are working with the District of Sooke to remove English ivy and other invasive plants from Ed McGregor Park on Saturday, October 21, 2017 from 9:45am to 3:00pm. Join us for the day or part of it!

 

No experience is necessary. Bring your gloves hand  pruners, secetures and trowels. Some gloves and tools will be available. We will provide training and refreshments! 

 

For more information contact Rosemary Jorna, Juan de Fuca Community Trails at 250-642-2767, or  email jdf.cts@gmail.com or 

To sign up, please join the event at: https://www.meetup.com/Greater-Victoria-Green-Team/events/243335990/

 

Juan de Fuca  Community Trails has been successful in removing broom and other invasive species off the Whiffin Spit and keeping it off with a couple of quick sweeps  so we have turned our attention to Ed Mcgregor Park for a full day with large work party. The Greater Victoria Green team has been invaluable help. It would be great if Sooke residents could match the turn out from JdF Community Trails and the Green Team from Victoria in caring for Sooke’s Parks. 

CRD Agendas and Minutes Notification Service

The CRD has implemented a “subscribe” service that allows folks to register to receive email notification when agendas and minutes are posted to the CRD website.

 https://www.crd.bc.ca/about/board-committees/board-committees-and-commissions

 

Click on the link to the Board/Committee/Commission you are interested in and select subscribe.

Meeting: Safety, speed, and noise on Otter Point and West Coast Roads

I’ve been getting wonderful images daily from The Story People for years. But, one stopped me with its important question:

 Real Question ©2017 Brian Andreas

               brianandreas.com / story people.com

Of course, it could be answered on a global level, an environmental level, a political level. But I answered it on a local level.  Do I want to live in this West Coast Road/ Otter Point Road world where there is consistent speeding, terrible noise from trucks using jake brakes and motorcycles without mufflers? This beautiful world where the sound of birds disappears for hours at a time.

People tell me their stories: chasing after speeding motorcycles with a broom; standing in their path; having to wear ear protectors all the time when they are outside. People no longer walk the road, there are very few cyclists.
Companies in Victoria are afraid to deliver on the West Coast Road because there are so many people speeding.

What kind of world do we want?

Meeting: Safety, speed, and noise on Otter Point and West Coast Roads

November 5, 2017
1:15 to 3:00 P.M.
JDF building on Otter Point Road, 3-7450 Butler Road, Otter Point, BC

We’ve asked the following people to give short presentations:

• Shawn Haley-Ministry of Transportation
• Jeff McArthur-RCMP
• Al Wickheim-Emergency Preparedness
• Colleen Woodward-ICBC
• Truck Loggers Association representative.

There will be lots of time for questions, comments, and personal stories.
Bring them. What kind of world do we want?

Water Sustainability: Free CRD Meeting