Goldstream News Gazette, December 27, 2013

Friday, December 27, 2013 www.vicnews.com

Photo momentsSometimes a picture says a thousand words

Page A7

BIG CHANGE: A few things grew over the year A3LITTLE CHANGE: Some stories stayed stagnant A5ONLINE: What did social media say in 2013 A8

NEWSGAZ E T T EGOLDSTREAM

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GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE - Friday, December 27, 2013 www.vicnews.com • A3GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE - Friday, December 27, 2013 www.vicnews.com • A3

Changes have been made on the West Shore this year, after all it’s the fast growing area in the

region.A big one this year

was the opening of the Leigh Road interchange, June 15.

The opening of the interchange closed access from the Trans Canada Highway and Spencer Road. Now access to Goldstream Avenue is only pos-sible from with Leigh or Millstream Road over-passes.

The interchange cost $25 mil-lion paid for primarily by five private developers on Bear Moun-tain and South Skirt Mountain. The province is also chipped in $4 million.

A long awaited change came in the spring as ground broke for the two new high schools on the West Shore.

The new Belmont secondary school is being built at the for-mer site of Glen Lake elementary school and the Royal Bay second-ary school is being build at Royal

Bay, that was an operational gravel pit for 100 years.

“This is $50 million and it is 10 times more important than

any interchange,” said Mayor Stew Young at the groundbreaking, June 27.

The groundbreaking for the Colwood school was on Sept. 27 and included a visit from Tour de France cyclist Ryder Hesjedal whom the school’s road, Ryder Hesjedal Way, will be named after.

“This is what it’s all about,” said Peter Fass-

bender, minister of education. “It’s about the future of our young people, it’s about opening new doors of opportunity and provid-ing facilities that will help them on their education journey.”

Both schools are set to open in September 2016.

The City of Langford spent some time in 2013 enhancing two of its lakes with a new boat launch at Langford Lake as well as expanding the beach and playground area there. Glen Lake Beach Park was also created and

gave a new home to the play-ground formerly at the Glen Lake elementary school.

Opportunities for West Shore youths expanded this year, including positions for at-risk youth partnering with Pacific Centre Services Association. The association opened Skookum Food and Coffee in December providing jobs and training for 10 youth from the community.

All of the youth employees of Skookum Coffee will be referred through the association’s youth programs at the West Shore Child, Youth and Family Centre.

The Colwood Rotary play-ground at West Shore Parks and Recreation also broke ground, but fundraising is still ongoing to move onto Phase 2 of the project. As of now an area has been dug out, but the ground covering and playground equipment has yet to be added.

Capital City Centre in Colwood was earmarked for the largest development on Vancouver Island is at a standstill.

League Financial Partners, the group behind the Colwood devel-opment, filed for a Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, Oct. 18.

The application for creditor protection was extended to June 28, 2014. During that time League is selling some its assets, not

including Capital City Centre.Russ Cameron of Colwood Fire

Rescue found retirement after 35.5 years of service, while the other four fire chiefs on the West Shore remain the same. Cameron was the city’s longest serving fire chief and started out as a volun-teer firefighter when he was 18 years old.

“This is my life and it’s been my career. I’ve lived and breathed this for 24 hours a day for 35 years,” said Cameron a few days before he retired Sept. 30.

Kerry Smith, Colwood’s former deputy chief took over the role of Colwood fire chief and has worked at the department for 23 years.

The View Royal fire department will have some changes of its own in the year to come. The depart-ment’s new fire hall’s ground-breaking occurred on Aug. 15.

“It’s an exciting day for View Royal,” said fire Chief Paul Hurst at the ceremony. “It’s a culmina-tion of many, many, many years of work and to have it finally come together and do a groundbreak-ing. We’re on our way. I’ve always waited for this day.”

The project was slated for completion after 33 weeks and the department expects to move in April 2014.

The process to approve the fire hall project was not without con-

troversy and hurdles. An initial loan request of $7.9 million was rejected by residents through an Alternative Approval Process in July 2012, forcing the referendum. The entire process produced some heated council debates and numerous letters to the News Gazette arguing both for and against the expenditure.

Malahat improvements filled the summer months with barriers added along with some fencing to prevent rock slides from blocking the road or causing damage.

An $8 million upgrade that included barriers between north and south bound lanes was com-pleted in the summer of 2013.

“This section of highway has seen too many accidents and we’ve heard from first respond-ers and residents about the need for continued improvements and that’s what we’re doing,” said Christy Clark, in October during the seventh annual Vancouver Island Economic Alliance Summit.

Starting in 2014 another $145 million is slated to be put in the highway for more safety improve-ments. The work will include another 2.3 kilometres of median barriers north of Shawinigan Lake Road and a one-kilometre south-bound passing lane extension and improvements to Whittaker Road and Holker Place intersections. [email protected]

Charla HuberReporting

West Shore saw abundant change

2013

James Xiang Photo

Langford Mayor Stew Young leads an entourage of old vehicles up the northbound off-ramp at the new Leigh Road interchange as the first vehicle through the new infrastructure in June.

Kyle Wells/News staff

Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton and West Shore-raised cyclist Ryder Hesjedal unveil a sign for the future Ryder Hesjedal Way, which will provide access to the new Royal Bay secondary school.

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Though a great many things were reported in the pages of the Gold-stream News Gazette in

2013, there were a few issues notable for what hasn’t changed over the course of a year.

Articles throughout 2012 lamented the continued lack of emergency or transitional hous-ing for youth in the West Shore.

Here we are again.While strides have certainly

been made with the Thresh-old Housing Society taking the reigns from the West Shore Youth Housing Task Force in getting an initiative off the ground, the fact remains there is still no housing.

For another winter youth who leave their homes for one rea-son or another have nowhere to go other than downtown, with all that comes with it.

Controversy surrounding the 40 Days for Life, and its related vigils outside of the Vancouver Island Women’s Clinic in View Royal, continued in 2013, as it has since 2011.

In 2013 Esquimalt-Royal Roads MLA Maurine Karagia-nis announced she would be appealing to the provincial gov-ernment to increase the bubble around clinics which perform abortions, ostensibly push-ing vigil participants out of the area.

Members of the vigil have denounced the idea as a vio-lation of their rights of free speech, while those in support say women should be able to visit the clinic without being bothered.

Tensions reached a boiling point when a protestor alleg-edly entered the clinic, an inci-dent still under investigation by West Shore RCMP.

The debate continues and another 40-day vigil is likely in March.

One thing that hasn’t

changed will be considered a success story by many and a disappointing failure by a few.

A proposed development in the Royal Bay area of Col-wood was shot down by a City of Colwood committee after neighbouring residents loudly opposed the density of the development.

About 100 residents showed up to a committee meeting to voice their concerns with the project and in the end the com-mittee voted to tell the devel-oper to go back to the drawing board. The application was ulti-mately withdrawn, leaving the future of the parcel of land an unknown.

The Capital Regional Dis-trict’s sewage treatment is still the biggest question mark for the entire region, but in the West Shore the question is still, what’s the cost?

Colwood especially is still in a bad way, trying to figure out how much to pay and how to pay it. Initial capital costs already threaten to increase costs by 100 per cent to cur-rent sewage users or a two per cent increase to all if spread out among the tax base.

With major components of the project still up in the air (including the most basic: where it will be), the final cost and timeline for the project are still unknown.

Commuters travelling to and from the West Shore during peak periods of traffic know all to well one staple that hasn’t changed: the Colwood Crawl.

Although many ideas are still being tossed around on how to ease the traffic congestion, they all remain talk, with no ini-tiatives gaining any noticeable traction in 2013. In fact, there are even fewer options now with the commuter ferry from the West Shore to CFB Esqui-malt cancelled in April due to low ridership.

Talk surrounding the rebirth of the E&N Railroad or the cre-ation of light rail transportation, or of any alternative to jamming our roads with cars, have been noticeably quiet recently.

Perhaps the voice of the cyclist, still championing the convenience and benefits of the Galloping Goose Trail, can now be [email protected]

Kyle WellsReporting

Issues notable for lack of change


Choose Life Victoria president Steve Weatherbe, right, and 40 Days for Life co-ordinator Alex Berns stand across the street from the View Royal health clinic.

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A6 • www.vicnews.com Friday, December 27, 2013 - GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTEA6 • www.vicnews.com Friday, December 27, 2013 - GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE

VIEWPOINTPenny Sakamoto Group PublisherKevin Laird Editorial DirectorChristine van Reeuwyk Interim Editor Oliver Sommer Advertising Director

The Goldstream News Gazette is published every Wednesday and Friday by Black Press Ltd., 177-777-Goldstream Ave., Victoria, B.C. V9B 2X4. Phone: 250-478--9552. Web: www.vicnews.com

2013CCNABLUE

RIBBON

The News Gazette is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. If talking with the editor does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org.

OUR VIEW

As the year winds down, here are some of our reflections on the past and hopes for the future of the West Shore.

Special thanks and blessings should go out the following groups and leaders who helped make the West Shore a spe-cial place in 2013 and no doubt will continue doing so in 2014:

The volunteers and coaches who make the West Shore athletic activi-ties so vibrant and acces-sible for our children and youth. Ever been to a cold poorly lit hockey arena at 5 a.m.? Those coaches, managers, referees and helpers, not to mention the hockey moms and dads who trans-port their kids, are all volunteering. Add to this list soccer, rugby, base-ball, T-ball etc… Well you get the picture; the West Shore is a hotbed of sports activities. We have one of the highest rates of volunteerism in the province – a sure sign of a healthy community.

Our municipal leaders. While we wish they would collaborate more, they all work hard to represent their communities in ways that their constituents want. It is one of the strengths of the West Shore that each community is different from one another and our elected offi-cials keenly protect and celebrate each community’s interests and strengths.

All our small businesses that battle every day to deliver quality goods and services to their

customers. Be they retailers, professional services, wholesalers or manufacturers, in this day and

age being small is harder than ever because more attention often goes to large national brands and businesses. But big isn’t always better. Most of the new jobs in Canada are coming from businesses with fewer than 50 employees. These West Shore firms bring many jobs to us with more expected in the years to come. These start-ups are typically entrepreneurs

who leveraged their homes and borrowed from relatives to start up their dreams. Kudos to these folks with the courage to follow their passions and because they know survival depends upon treating you, their customers, right.

All our local non-profits including Pacific Centre Families, the Goldstream Food Bank and Worklink – along with many others. These folks are a vital part of the fabric of our culture and society supporting those less fortunate than most of us. A healthy community should first be measured on how it helps its neighbours and secondly, on the more traditional measures of success, and we are glad to report that the West Shore is a very neighbourly place.

For 2014 we make the following New Year’s wishes:

Continued recovery for our local economies and consumer confidence, so that West Shore

retailers, developers, farmers, artists and businesses can get stronger and stronger as they still continue to come out of the recession. There continues to be many new businesses opening up in the West Shore and we wish the very best for them for 2014.

We’d like to extend a special shout out to all our friends and neighbours in our local First Nations for a healthy 2014. Many of these friends have families and colleagues who continue to suffer the challenges of difficult economic and social circumstances. Their leaders are working hard to turn that around.

A heartfelt wish for our local com-munities and municipal leaders to continue to learn to collaborate and co-operate on any number of fronts. This is a positive response to annual cries for amalgamation and can only produce more efficiencies and cost savings and better customer service across the region.

Lastly, we’d like to extend New Year’s wishes to our remarkable young West Shore families (and the grandparents who are following them out) who continue to pour into this community, working hard, commuting where required, juggling their family pressures and somehow still filling West Shore facilities and events with smiling faces and good cheer.

You are the reason we are all here – have a fantastic, safe and prosper-ous New Year for 2014!

Dan Spinner is CEO of West Shore Chamber of Commerce

[email protected]

Dan SpinnerWest Shore Chamber

Wishing West Shore well in 2014

Last year full of surprises

Ah, the end of the year, a time for reflection and enjoying that one, last (really, we mean it) shortbread cookie.

It’s also a great time to look back and compare what we thought might materialize in the Capital Region over the year and what actually occurred.

We started 2013 looking ahead to a provincial election and undeniably (or so we thought) a new political direction for the province. Oops. We weren’t the only ones surprised by the outcome of the election which saw Christy Clark’s Liberals returned to power.

As we poked through our predictions for the year looking for the outcomes, one thing became pretty clear: 2013 was the year of new beginnings.

We saw the secondary sewage treatment project take tangible steps forward including the Capital Regional District’s purchase of the Viewfield Road site in Esquimalt. OK, that didn’t pan out so well. After spending some $17 million on the property, the citizens of Esquimalt, led by Mayor Barb Desjardins, closed the lid on that idea.

Other start-ups that have moved ahead in proper order include the replacement of the Johnson Street Bridge.

With early construction work on the new bridge taking place while the Blue Bridge remains open, commuters face minimal disruption.

Speaking of bridges, we can’t say it’s been the same easy ride for the Craigflower Bridge reconstruction.

With work starting in April, residents and business owners expected the bridge to re-open Dec. 1. With construction delays attributed to a North American steel shortage making it difficult to acquire materials, and the discovery that the bridge, as planned, would end up seismically unsafe, the span that connects View Royal to Saanich will not re-open until May.

Though commuters may not be happy, students in the region will be cheerful on two counts. There were no disruptions due to job action in 2013 and new schools are on the way.

The West Shore will finally see the construction of two much-needed high schools. They include the new Belmont secondary being built at the former site of Glen Lake elementary school and Royal Bay secondary school being build on what was an operational gravel pit for 100 years.

And in Oak Bay, the new Oak Bay High is well underway adjacent to the century-old building. All three broke ground this spring.

Two municipalities stuck their necks out on the deer issue this year. Central Saanich and Oak Bay have both okayed deer culls. While all residents are not on board with the idea, at least decisions have been made at an executive level – hopefully we can look forward to more of that in 2014.

Questionof the week? Last Week

we asked you:

Did you follow through on your New Year’s resolutions this year?

Answer online at www.vicnews.com

Will you be spending time with family and/or friends on Christmas Day?

YES 69% NO 23% MAYBE 8%


Images of

2013We’re always happy

to share reader pho-tos, whether we can get it in the paper, online at VicNews.com (under the West Shore neighbourhood) or even on Facebook.

Share your view of the community with us. Email [email protected]

Stew Radford photo

Rylan Brotherson in the SideStep Skate Demo at West Shore Skate Park, Aug. 10.


The crowd gets into Awolnation with crowd surfing at Rock the Shores in July.

Timothy Baillargeon, 8, right, and Austin Turner, 11, host a small ground breaking of their own for the Rotary Picnic Playground.

Charla Huber/News staff

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Make recycling one of your New Year’s Resolutions.‘Tis the perfect season to reduce, reuse and recycle. This year, help prevent recycling worker injuries by remembering to use only CRD approved blue boxes and blue bags for your holiday recycling. Flatten and cut large cardboard boxes to size, bundle them together with string or twine and get it all to the curb by 7:30 am sharp. It’s the right thing to do for the environment. And for the people who work every day to make it better. Wishing you a happy “blue” holiday season.

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With the end of the year upon us, this is a time to reflect on the major events and moments of 2013. And thanks to social media we no longer have to use our actual memories to achieve this. So here, in chronological order, are some of the Gold-stream News Gazette’s most talked about, liked, commented, shared etc. Facebook posts of 2013:

- A posted photo and article on the Pacific Insti-tute of Sport Excel-lence donating 20 new track bikes for Greater Victoria Velodrome Association programs on March 6 got a huge amount of traffic, with some 2,241 people viewing the post and 14 sharing it.

- A post on March 27 about nine-year-old Katrina Van Winkle thanking View Royal firefighters and, par-ticularly, Chief Paul Hurst, got a lot of attention and a great many “likes.” Hurst had pulled the unconscious girl out of a house fire the week before she and her classmates went to the fire hall for a personal thank you.

- Apparently photos of firefighters are a big draw on Facebook, with a post on Colwood’s bravest out to collect money for Muscular Dystrophy Can-ada earning nearly 1,000 hits back in May.

- A gas leak on Jacklin Road on May 27 caused the road to be closed and Gazette readers clearly turned to our Facebook page for the latest, with over 1,000 people finding out when the road had reopened from a post.

- Both those at and missing out on Rock the Shores 2013 took to Facebook for live updates and

photos from the two-day music festival.- Sometimes social media can be useful in the

simplest of ways, for instance in helping spread the word about high levels of bacteria in Glen Lake in July. Over 800 people saw that post, with many passing the word along by sharing the link.

- A prison break from William Head Institu-tion in September had over 1,000 people taking

to Facebook to see a mug shot of the considered-danger-ous escapees. Luck-ily the two men were scooped up by the authorities in short order and are back behind bars. Another thought-to-be break-out 10 days later got more than 2,000 hits. This time the inmate was found still on prison grounds.

- A photo of reporter Charla Huber repel-ling down the side of downtown’s CIBC

building for charity in September brought in a lot of supportive likes and comments.

- Nearly 1,500 people saw a Facebook post link-ing to a story about a young man who had missed Halloween due to the flu. His entire neighbour-hood took part in a late Halloween just for him, so he could still go door-to-door and get candy.

- Earlier in December, a story on the Langford Caprice closing down on Jan. 5, 2014 saw nearly 2,000 views and brought in comments from many lamenting the loss of the cinema. “This was the only affordable place in town,” wrote Teresa Lon-sdale.


Top 10 Facebook posts

File Photo

A post about a nine-year-old girl thanking View Royal Fire and Rescue for saving her life was one of the most popular of the year on Facebook.

WHO ARE WE? A couple of local Victoria collectors who realized an honest, reliable service was needed whereby folks could take advantage of the current high prices of gold and silver coins, jewelry and collectibles.

With low overhead and our belief in honest dealing we can provide the highest market quotes and can back up all our offers - there are no secrets. If you’d like more information on gold and silver and how it all works, feel free to call Clay at 250-589-7497 or visit www.lccoins.ca.

PLEASE DO NOT CLEAN YOUR COINSCONDITIONS OF SELLING 1. Seller must be 25 years of age. No exceptions.2. All items bought are paid for in cash.3. Due to market fluctuations the prices on all silver and gold buillion items, including scrap silver coins, are subject to change without notice.4. All collectors’ coins and notes must be in at least minimum condition. E & O.E.

WRIST WATCHES & POCKET WATCHESWe buy old wrist watches and pocket watches, working or not working, mostly for parts. We also buy: Rolex, Patek Philippe - Any gold watches._________________________________________________________

SELL US YOUR GOLDWe buy gold in any form, condition or quantity.• Wedding Rings • Gold Pins & Earrings• Gold Chains (any condition)• Any item made of gold• Gold teeth regardless of condition• Gold watches - cash for broken old gold

We melt and recycle all gold and silverso condition is unimportant._________________________________________________________

SELL US YOUR SILVERWe buy all sterling, European, Continental and American silverware, jewellery, industrial silver, Franklin and other private mint silver, jewellers’ fillings, etc., regardless of condition or quantity. We buy anything made of solid silver than can be recycled. Prices based on current bullion market bid prices._________________________________________________________

SELL US YOUR JEWELLERYWe are interested in purchasing scrap jewellery. Gold, silver and platinum rings, bracelets, lockets, brooches, cameos, necklaces, earrings and other items are all wanted. We buy anything made of solid gold, silver or platinum that can be recycled._________________________________________________________

INQUIRIES INVITEDPlease feel free to come in and ask us any questions you may have regarding watches, coins, military items, jewellery, gold and silver items. We have reference books that can answer most questions.

SILVER COINSCanadian Silver Dollars 1967 & prior ........... $11.00 and up .50 cents 1967 & prior ................. $4.75 and up .25 cents 1966 & prior ................. $2.40 each .25 cents 1967 ............................ $1.75 each .25 cents 1968 Silver .................. $1.50 each .10 cents 1966 & prior ................. $.90 each .10 cents 1967 ............................ $.60 each .10 cents 1968 Silver .................. $.60 eachUSA Silver Dollars 1935 & prior ........... $18.00 and up .50 cents 1964 & prior ................. $5.75 and up .25 cents 1964 & prior ................. $2.90 each .10 cents 1964 & prior ................. $1.00 each

Canadian Gold Maple Leafs 1 oz. $1270 ea. Canadian Silver Maple Leafs 1 oz. $21.50 ea. Prices based on $1270 Can. Gold and $20.50 Can. Silver. Prices subject to daily fluctuations of the market price and may change without notice. EOE

COLLECTOR’S COINSOne Cent 1922 Canadian 1¢ copper ..... $9.00 and up 1923 Canadian 1¢ copper ..... $15.00 and up 1924 Canadian 1¢ copper ..... $4.00 and up 1925 Canadian 1¢ copper ..... $12.00 and upFive Cents 1921 Canadian 5¢ silver ....... $1,500.00 and up 1925 Canadian 5¢ ................ $40.00 and up 1926 Canadian 5¢ Far 6 ....... $60.00 and upTwenty Cents 1858..................................... $25.00 and upFifty Cents 1947 Canadian M L .............. $12.00 and up 1948 Canadian ..................... $50.00 and upSilver Dollars 1945..................................... $90.00 and up 1947 M L ............................. $100.00 and up 1948 .................................... $600.00 and up

COINS & PAPER MONEYWe buy all coins, tokens, paper money and Banknotes of Canada, The Provinces, USA and the world._______________________________________________________________

GOLD COINSWe buy all gold coins from all countries worldwide. Prices based on coin condition and gold value. Inquires invited. No obligation_______________________________________________________________

WORLD COINSWe buy all foreign coins, new and old, including silver coins, gold coins, collectors’ coins, government issue sets, merchants’ tokens and others. Particular interest in crown or silver dollar sized coins.

Prices based on $1270 Gold9K $12.75 per gram10K $14.10 per gram14K $19.75 per gram18K $25.50 per gram22K $31.00 per gramSterling Silver $.48 per gram

University Heights Mall on Shelbourne St. (next to Home Depot)

250.590.GOLD (4653)

www.lccoins.ca

COINS & PAPER MONEYWe buy all coins, tokens, paper money and Banknotes of Canada, The Provinces, USA and the world.

LC COINSIS BUYING!GET CASH FOR THE NEW YEAR!

SELL YOUR SCRAP GOLD NOW! WE PAY FANTASTIC PRICES!For your convenience we also make

HOUSE CALLS Please make an appointment with our buyer.


1. Guerrilla gardener land-scapes Admirals Road with marijuana (July 29) - 17,960 unique visits. Find this story at vic-news.com/news/217437291.html

2. Hotrods ticketed at popu-lar collector car hangout in Saanich (July 23) - 10,623 UV. Find this story at vicnews.com/news/216692331.html

3. You Win, Hollywood: Van-couver’s Gary Fung forced to

shut down IsoHunt (Oct. 19) - 8,051 UV. Find this story at vic-news.com/business/ 228472911.html

4. Center of the Universe in Saanich to close at the end of summer (June 20) - 6,519 UV. Find this story at vicnews.com/news/212384661.html

5. Shipping container explodes in Saanich after pro-pane leak (April 26) - 4,159 UV.

Find this story at vicnews.com/news/204847131.html

6. Fire engulfs Tudor House Pub (July 16) - 4,015 UV. Find this story at vicnews.com/news/ 215678221.html

7. Victoria News unveils 2013 Best of the City (June 27) - 3,729 UV. Find this story at vicnews.com/news /213399341.html

8. Mega yacht Athena makes stop in Victoria (June 6) - 3,602

UV. Find this story at vicnews.com/news/210494861.html

9. Cyclist injured by wire hanging across hiking trail in rural Victoria (June 6) - 3,240 UV. Find this story at vicnews.com/news/210444241.html

10. Missile launcher found in Hartland recycling bin (Sept. 10) - 2,971 UV. Find this story at vic-news.com/news/223149081.html

[email protected]

Top 10 stories that took off online in 2013

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James BayDon’s Food Market Little Gem GroceryMac’s Store Menzies Pharmasave MenziesThrifty Foods

Jubilee AreaCamosun College Bookstore RJH Parking OfficeJubilee Pharmacy

Langford7-Eleven Jacklin CanWest EssoForbes Pharmacy Goldstream Forbes Pharmacy Millstream Goldstream Food Market Mac’s Store Jacklin Petro Canada MillstreamShoppers Drug Mart Jacklin Pharmasave MillstreamStreamside GroceryThe Market on MillstreamWestern Foods Westshore Lotto Centre

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Oak BayCasey’s Market Estevan PharmacyMunicipality of Oak Bay Pharmasave Oak Bay Shopper’s Drug Mart

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SookePeoples Drug Mart Shoppers Drug Mart Village Food Market

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Uptown Area7-Eleven Carey Central EssoUptown Guest Services Save On Foods Shoppers Drug Mart

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A10 • www.vicnews.com Friday, December 27, 2013 - GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE - Friday, December 27, 2013 www.vicnews.com • A11

Mark Your Calendars

October – Black Press Women in Business Awards & Gala. Info: [email protected] early October – Savour the local bounty at the Metchosin and Langford Farmers’ Markets.Oct. 13 – Happy Thanksgiving! Oct. 11 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. www.bulldoggreen.caLate October – The annual Ghosts of Victoria Festival offers some special spooky activities around the region.Late October – Head to Goldstream Park to take in the fall Salmon Run.Oct. 31 – Happy Halloween! Find family fun at local firehalls and City Centre Park. Watch the Goldstream News Gazette for details about local events.

November – Browse your West Shore Recreation Active Living Guide for seasonal events and activities, www.westshorerecreation.caDon’t forget those in need – support the West Shore Food Bank this holiday season.Nov. 2 – Fall back: Daylight Savings Time ends.Nov. 8 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. Nov. 11 – Remembrance Day at Veterans Memorial Park,www.cityoflangford.caNov. 22 – Take on the Bear Mountain 10K, www.bearmountain10k.caWatch for Santa’s arrival at Westshore Town Centre, www. westshoretowncentre.comLocal artists & artisans gear up for the holiday season

December – Head to Westhills Arena for outdoor ice skating. Dec. 6 – Island Equipment Operators’ annual Lighted Truck Convoy, www.ieoa.caEarly December – Christmas Light-up at Veterans Park, www.cityoflangford.caDecember – Watch for the Fleet Diving Unit Christmas Hamper Turkey Run.Dec. 13 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. Dec. 21 – Santa Run with the Metchosin Fire Department, www.metchosinfire.caDec. 25 – Merry Christmas!Dec. 31 – Farewell 2014, Welcome 2015!

January calendar of EVENTS

October calendar of EVENTS

February calendar of EVENTS

November calendar of EVENTS

March calendar of EVENTS

July calendar of EVENTS

August calendar of EVENTS

September calendar of EVENTS

April calendar of EVENTS

May calendar of EVENTS

June calendar of EVENTS

December calendar of EVENTS

Highlighting local events in the Westshore throughout 2014

Jan. 1 – Scouts’ Polar Bear Swim at Camp Bernard. www.victoriascouts.caJan. 3 – Free skate for SD62 students, 4 to 6 pm at City Centre Park, www.eagleridgecentre.comJan. 3, 4, 11, 17, 18, 24 & 26 – Victoria Grizzlies play at Bear Mountain Arena. www.victoriagrizzlies.comJan. 4 & 5 – JDF Venturers’ Tree Chipping fundraiser by donation, 10am to 4pm at Luxton Fairgrounds.Jan. 4 & 5 – BC Lions’ Tree chipping at & Westshore Town Centre & Sooke Home Hardware.Jan. 11 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. Jan. 11 – Highlands Folk Coffee House, 7 pm, Caleb Pike House, featuring Karel Roessingh, highlands.bc.caJan. 25 – Metchosin’s Got Talent, Pearson College.Jan. 28 – Free Coast Capital Swim, JDF Pool, www.westshorerecreation.ca

Feb. 1 – Enchanting Wedding Show, 10am to 4pm, Bear Mountain Arena.Feb. 2 – Westshore Rebels Superbowl Party fundraiser, Langford Legion, westshorerebelsfootball.comFeb. 8 – Metchosin Agriculture Workshop, municipal grounds, www.district.metchosin.bc.caFeb. 8 – Highlands Folk Coffee House, 7 pm, Caleb Pike House, featuring Wire Tap, highlands.bc.caFeb. 8, 9, 21 & 23 – Victoria Grizzlies play at Bear Mountain Arena, www.victoriagrizzlies.comFeb. 9 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. www.bulldoggreen.caFeb. 10 – Family Day swims & skates at JDF Recreation www.westshorerecreation.caFeb. 21 – Pro-D skate (12:30 to 1:30 pm) and swim (3 to 5 pm) at JDF Recreation, www.westshorerecreation.ca

TBA – Victoria Grizzlies playoffs at Bear Mountain Arena. www.victoriagrizzlies.comMarch 7 – Pro-D Swim, 3 to 5 pm at JDF Recreation, www.westshorerecreation.caMarch. 8 – Highlands Folk Coffee House, 7 pm, Caleb Pike House, highlands.bc.caMarch 9 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. March 9 – Spring forward for Daylight Savings.March 15 – Baden-Powell Dinner & Silent Auction, Royal Colwood Golf Club, www.victoriascouts.ca March 15 to 23 – Spring Break for SD 62, www.sd62.bc.caMarch 25 – Free Coast Capital Swim, 7:30 to 8:30 pm, Juan de Fuca Recreation, www.westshorerecreation.ca

May 10 – Highlands Folk Coffee House, 7 pm, Caleb Pike House, featuring Wire Tap, highlands.bc.caMay 11 – Mother’s Day Paint-in, Hatley Park. May 11 – Metchosin Farmer’s Market opens for the season, 11am to 2pm Sundays through October. May 10 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon.May 17 & 18 (TBC) – Historic Military Encampment at Fort Rodd Hill.May 17 to 19 – Luxton Pro Rodeo. May 24 & 25 – Fired Up! Pottery show & sale, Metchosin Community Hall, www.firedup.caMay 25 – Highlands Market opens, 10am to 1pm, Caleb Pike Heritage Park.May 31 – Community Garage Sale, 10 am to 2 pm, JDF Curling Rink, www.westshorerecreation.ca

Visit the Goldstream Station Market, Saturdays, 10am to 2pm on Bryn Maur Rd, downtown Langford. Support your Victoria Shamrocks at Bear MountainJune 1 – Sooke Secret Garden Tour, sookesecretgardens.comJune 1 – 2014 Victoria Goddess Run, Langford City Park, victoriagoddess.comJune 14 – Highlands Folk Coffee House, 7 pm, Caleb Pike House, highlands.bc.caJune 14 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. June 14 – Relay for Life, City Centre Park, 6pm to 6am, convio.cancer.caJune 15 – Saunders Subaru Victoria Triathlon, Elk Lake.June 28 – Run or Dye 5K, JDF Lower Fields, ca.runordye.com

June 25 to July 6 – Showcase III, featuring Coast Collective associate membersJuly – Music in the Park, Sundays 2 to 4pm at Veterans Park, www.cityoflangford.caJuly 1 – Canada Day celebrations at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Sites. July – Watch for the Classy Caddies Vintage Cadillac Car Show at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site.July 12 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. July 13 – Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra’s Philharmonic Fling, Ed. McGregor Park, www.sookephil.caJuly 26 to Aug. 5 – Sooke Fine Arts Show, Seaparc Leisure CentreJuly 27 – Colwood Rotary Art & Wine Festival, Fort Rodd Hill

Support your Victoria Rebels football team at Westhills Stadium at City Centre Park, westshorerebelsfootball.comAug. 4 – BC Day – watch for local events & activities. Aug. 9 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. August – Medieval Village at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site.Aug. 24 – Ryder Hesjedal’s Tour de Victoria, www.tourdevictoria.comLabour Day is almost here...Time for back to school shopping!Harvest time: Savour the flavours at your local farmer’s markets in Metchosin, Langford and the Highlands.

Support your Juan de Fuca Grizzlies at Bear Mountain Arena. www.victoriagrizzlies.comSept. 2 – Back to school!Sept. 7 – English Car Affair in the Park, Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site.Sept. 7 – Metchosin Day, Metchosin Municipal Grounds.Sept. 12 to 14 – Luxton Fair at the Luxton Fairgrounds,www.luxtonfair.caSept. 13 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. Sept. 14 – Highland Fling, Caleb Pike Heritage Park, www.calebpikeheritagepark.orgSept. 20 – Gorge Waterway Clean-Up, burnsidegorge.caSeptember – Fort Rodd Hill Lantern Tour, 250-478-4389.

March 26 to April 13 – Blooms, at the Coast Collective GalleryApril 8 – BikeJam, 9 am to 4 pm at JDF lower fields, www.schoolbikeleague.comApril 12 – Highlands Folk Coffee House, 7 pm, Caleb Pike House, highlands.bc.caApril 12 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. April 18 – Good FridayApril 19 – Kinette Easter Egg Hunt, 10am at Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre.April 25 to 27 – Victoria Spring Home Expo, Juan de Fuca Rec Centre, www.homeshowtime.com Enjoy the spring wildflowers in the West Shore...including Colwood’s St. John the Baptist Church, St. Mary’s Church in Metchosin and Mill Hill Park.

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Registration Begins

December 4th at 6:00 AM

January – April 2015 GuideAvailable December 3

Registration Begins

April 3rd at 6:00 AM

May – August 2014 GuideReleased April 2

Registration Begins

August 7th at 6:00 AM

Sept – Dec 2014 GuideReleased August 6

2714 Sooke Road, Langford

250-478-8012Doing it Right!

Westshore Division 250-478-8374

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A10 • www.vicnews.com Friday, December 27, 2013 - GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE - Friday, December 27, 2013 www.vicnews.com • A11

Mark Your Calendars

October – Black Press Women in Business Awards & Gala. Info: [email protected] early October – Savour the local bounty at the Metchosin and Langford Farmers’ Markets.Oct. 13 – Happy Thanksgiving! Oct. 11 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. www.bulldoggreen.caLate October – The annual Ghosts of Victoria Festival offers some special spooky activities around the region.Late October – Head to Goldstream Park to take in the fall Salmon Run.Oct. 31 – Happy Halloween! Find family fun at local firehalls and City Centre Park. Watch the Goldstream News Gazette for details about local events.

November – Browse your West Shore Recreation Active Living Guide for seasonal events and activities, www.westshorerecreation.caDon’t forget those in need – support the West Shore Food Bank this holiday season.Nov. 2 – Fall back: Daylight Savings Time ends.Nov. 8 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. Nov. 11 – Remembrance Day at Veterans Memorial Park,www.cityoflangford.caNov. 22 – Take on the Bear Mountain 10K, www.bearmountain10k.caWatch for Santa’s arrival at Westshore Town Centre, www. westshoretowncentre.comLocal artists & artisans gear up for the holiday season

December – Head to Westhills Arena for outdoor ice skating. Dec. 6 – Island Equipment Operators’ annual Lighted Truck Convoy, www.ieoa.caEarly December – Christmas Light-up at Veterans Park, www.cityoflangford.caDecember – Watch for the Fleet Diving Unit Christmas Hamper Turkey Run.Dec. 13 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. Dec. 21 – Santa Run with the Metchosin Fire Department, www.metchosinfire.caDec. 25 – Merry Christmas!Dec. 31 – Farewell 2014, Welcome 2015!

January calendar of EVENTS

October calendar of EVENTS

February calendar of EVENTS

November calendar of EVENTS

March calendar of EVENTS

July calendar of EVENTS

August calendar of EVENTS

September calendar of EVENTS

April calendar of EVENTS

May calendar of EVENTS

June calendar of EVENTS

December calendar of EVENTS

Highlighting local events in the Westshore throughout 2014

Jan. 1 – Scouts’ Polar Bear Swim at Camp Bernard. www.victoriascouts.caJan. 3 – Free skate for SD62 students, 4 to 6 pm at City Centre Park, www.eagleridgecentre.comJan. 3, 4, 11, 17, 18, 24 & 26 – Victoria Grizzlies play at Bear Mountain Arena. www.victoriagrizzlies.comJan. 4 & 5 – JDF Venturers’ Tree Chipping fundraiser by donation, 10am to 4pm at Luxton Fairgrounds.Jan. 4 & 5 – BC Lions’ Tree chipping at & Westshore Town Centre & Sooke Home Hardware.Jan. 11 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. Jan. 11 – Highlands Folk Coffee House, 7 pm, Caleb Pike House, featuring Karel Roessingh, highlands.bc.caJan. 25 – Metchosin’s Got Talent, Pearson College.Jan. 28 – Free Coast Capital Swim, JDF Pool, www.westshorerecreation.ca

Feb. 1 – Enchanting Wedding Show, 10am to 4pm, Bear Mountain Arena.Feb. 2 – Westshore Rebels Superbowl Party fundraiser, Langford Legion, westshorerebelsfootball.comFeb. 8 – Metchosin Agriculture Workshop, municipal grounds, www.district.metchosin.bc.caFeb. 8 – Highlands Folk Coffee House, 7 pm, Caleb Pike House, featuring Wire Tap, highlands.bc.caFeb. 8, 9, 21 & 23 – Victoria Grizzlies play at Bear Mountain Arena, www.victoriagrizzlies.comFeb. 9 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. www.bulldoggreen.caFeb. 10 – Family Day swims & skates at JDF Recreation www.westshorerecreation.caFeb. 21 – Pro-D skate (12:30 to 1:30 pm) and swim (3 to 5 pm) at JDF Recreation, www.westshorerecreation.ca

TBA – Victoria Grizzlies playoffs at Bear Mountain Arena. www.victoriagrizzlies.comMarch 7 – Pro-D Swim, 3 to 5 pm at JDF Recreation, www.westshorerecreation.caMarch. 8 – Highlands Folk Coffee House, 7 pm, Caleb Pike House, highlands.bc.caMarch 9 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. March 9 – Spring forward for Daylight Savings.March 15 – Baden-Powell Dinner & Silent Auction, Royal Colwood Golf Club, www.victoriascouts.ca March 15 to 23 – Spring Break for SD 62, www.sd62.bc.caMarch 25 – Free Coast Capital Swim, 7:30 to 8:30 pm, Juan de Fuca Recreation, www.westshorerecreation.ca

May 10 – Highlands Folk Coffee House, 7 pm, Caleb Pike House, featuring Wire Tap, highlands.bc.caMay 11 – Mother’s Day Paint-in, Hatley Park. May 11 – Metchosin Farmer’s Market opens for the season, 11am to 2pm Sundays through October. May 10 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon.May 17 & 18 (TBC) – Historic Military Encampment at Fort Rodd Hill.May 17 to 19 – Luxton Pro Rodeo. May 24 & 25 – Fired Up! Pottery show & sale, Metchosin Community Hall, www.firedup.caMay 25 – Highlands Market opens, 10am to 1pm, Caleb Pike Heritage Park.May 31 – Community Garage Sale, 10 am to 2 pm, JDF Curling Rink, www.westshorerecreation.ca

Visit the Goldstream Station Market, Saturdays, 10am to 2pm on Bryn Maur Rd, downtown Langford. Support your Victoria Shamrocks at Bear MountainJune 1 – Sooke Secret Garden Tour, sookesecretgardens.comJune 1 – 2014 Victoria Goddess Run, Langford City Park, victoriagoddess.comJune 14 – Highlands Folk Coffee House, 7 pm, Caleb Pike House, highlands.bc.caJune 14 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. June 14 – Relay for Life, City Centre Park, 6pm to 6am, convio.cancer.caJune 15 – Saunders Subaru Victoria Triathlon, Elk Lake.June 28 – Run or Dye 5K, JDF Lower Fields, ca.runordye.com

June 25 to July 6 – Showcase III, featuring Coast Collective associate membersJuly – Music in the Park, Sundays 2 to 4pm at Veterans Park, www.cityoflangford.caJuly 1 – Canada Day celebrations at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Sites. July – Watch for the Classy Caddies Vintage Cadillac Car Show at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site.July 12 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. July 13 – Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra’s Philharmonic Fling, Ed. McGregor Park, www.sookephil.caJuly 26 to Aug. 5 – Sooke Fine Arts Show, Seaparc Leisure CentreJuly 27 – Colwood Rotary Art & Wine Festival, Fort Rodd Hill

Support your Victoria Rebels football team at Westhills Stadium at City Centre Park, westshorerebelsfootball.comAug. 4 – BC Day – watch for local events & activities. Aug. 9 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. August – Medieval Village at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site.Aug. 24 – Ryder Hesjedal’s Tour de Victoria, www.tourdevictoria.comLabour Day is almost here...Time for back to school shopping!Harvest time: Savour the flavours at your local farmer’s markets in Metchosin, Langford and the Highlands.

Support your Juan de Fuca Grizzlies at Bear Mountain Arena. www.victoriagrizzlies.comSept. 2 – Back to school!Sept. 7 – English Car Affair in the Park, Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site.Sept. 7 – Metchosin Day, Metchosin Municipal Grounds.Sept. 12 to 14 – Luxton Fair at the Luxton Fairgrounds,www.luxtonfair.caSept. 13 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. Sept. 14 – Highland Fling, Caleb Pike Heritage Park, www.calebpikeheritagepark.orgSept. 20 – Gorge Waterway Clean-Up, burnsidegorge.caSeptember – Fort Rodd Hill Lantern Tour, 250-478-4389.

March 26 to April 13 – Blooms, at the Coast Collective GalleryApril 8 – BikeJam, 9 am to 4 pm at JDF lower fields, www.schoolbikeleague.comApril 12 – Highlands Folk Coffee House, 7 pm, Caleb Pike House, highlands.bc.caApril 12 – Bulldog GREEN recycling depot, Belmont Secondary, 9am to noon. April 18 – Good FridayApril 19 – Kinette Easter Egg Hunt, 10am at Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre.April 25 to 27 – Victoria Spring Home Expo, Juan de Fuca Rec Centre, www.homeshowtime.com Enjoy the spring wildflowers in the West Shore...including Colwood’s St. John the Baptist Church, St. Mary’s Church in Metchosin and Mill Hill Park.

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A12 • www.vicnews.com Friday, December 27, 2013 - OAK BAY NEWS

ONLINEmondaymag.com

Updated with the latest happenings

2013 IN ARTS

monday’s weekendvictoria’s ultimate get out guide

kyLE wELLs phOtO Sam Roberts returned to Rock the Shores in 2013 after lightning cut his set short in 2012. The two-day rock festival at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre’s lower fields saw the likes of Weezer, City and Colour, Matthew Good and 54-40, along with 12,500 fans and proved a success thanks to massive support from the West Shore community. Half of the tickets sold were to residents of the West Shore, and while organizers Atomique encouraged cycling and worked with BC Transit to add extra buses in light of congestion fears, they weren’t expecting to see empty parking spaces directly outside the venue. Two-thirds of attendees took alternate forms of transportation to the festival.

sUppLIEd phOtO The local long-form improvisers of Paper Street Theatre, led by artistic director Dave Morris, took home Pick of the Fringe at the Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival in 2013 for their Improvised Quentin Tarantino. Some 18,000 people attended the festival’s independent theatre shows and outdoor events hosted by Intrepid Theatre in August and September 2013, with another 1,800 coming out to see solo performers from around the globe during last May’s Uno Fest. Up next for Intrepid is Winterlab, Jan. 25 - Feb. 1.

Monday Magazine saw a year of big changes.

On June 27the magazine transformed from an alternative weekly to a comprehensive arts and entertainment guide. Black press’ Greater Victoria community newspapers — Victoria News, Saanich News, Oak Bay News and the Goldstream News

Gazette – all began hosting an expanded, Monday-approved arts and enter-tainment section on wednesdays and Fridays.

Alongside the voice of arts writer Mary Ellen Green, effervescent film reviewer Robert Moyes and the ever-popular horoscopes by Georgia Nichols, Monday began featuring popular CtV entertainment reporter Adam sawatsky, arts maven Janis La Couvée, independent film advice from Victoria Film Fest director kathy kay, the contemporary musings of CBC Radio host Jo-Ann Roberts, tips from interior design consultant sheri peterson, comedic relief from Mike delamont, fashion it-girl Emma yardley and well-known gastronaut don Genova.

The Victoria Film Festival saw another record-breaking year, selling out 22 feature screenings over the 10 days for the 19th edition of the festival. The year also brought the renovation and reopening of The Vic Theatre, just prior to the closure of the Empire Capitol 6 Theatre, a screening venue for the festival, as well as its headquarters. The VFF also continued with The Art of the Cocktail festival for a fifth year and Free-B Film Festival.

GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE - Friday, December 27, 2013 www.vicnews.com • A13

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DON DENTON PHOTO Courtney Love was for many an unexpected addition to Rifflandia 6’s lineup of 170 acts at Royal Athletic Park and 14 stages across town, on a lineup as eclectic as the festival fashion. Headliners included Death From Above 1979, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Stars, Matt & Kim and James Murphy and Pat Mahoney, of DFA/LCD Soundsystem fame. Visitors to RAP not only experienced a range of sounds, Victoria’s fickle climate also came out to play, with lightning temporarily stalling the action on the final day at RAP. Some 12,500 spectators came out daily, with 36 per cent from outside of Victoria. Rifflandia, and all that it entails across artistic mediums, grows each year, with organizer Atomique Productions planning the same for 2014.

OAK BAY NEWS - Friday, December 27, 2013 www.vicnews.com • A13

ONLINEmondaymag.com

Robert Moyes’ � lm reviews and listings

The Catholic Church’s infamously savage treatment of unwed mothers in Ireland has already been examined in harrowing films such as The Magdalene Sisters. Talented English director Stephen Frears (The Queen) once again joins forces with the superb Judi Dench to tackle the same subject with a lighter and more nuanced approach in Philomena. This is the true-life story of a pregnant girl who ended up in the “care” of nuns who used her as slave labour in their laundry for four years and ulti-mately sold her baby for a handsome profit. That was five decades ago, and Philomena – now a retired nurse – decides that she wants to track down her long-lost son.

Enter Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan), an ex-journalist looking for a writing project. After initially dismissing her story as mere “human interest” piffle beneath his notice, this altar boy-turned-atheist makes the initially cynical decision that he has a marketable book on his hands and heads off to the nunnery in question to start the search. A cover-up is clearly at work, Sixsmith develops a growing sense of outrage, and the jaundiced journalist and the gentle and still-devout Philomena jet off to America to follow up on the only clue they have.

Despite the sometimes-harsh content of the film, this is an odd-couple comedy as much as anything – a marvelously sly and touching duet between two talented actors (one of whom is pretty much guaranteed to get her seventh Oscar nomination). Coogan is a cult comedian known for his quirky and droll performances. He co-wrote this script in order to get himself a more mainstream role, and he makes the most of his character, a highly intelligent and occa-sionally snotty man whose spleen seems larger than his heart. Marvelously paired opposite Dench, a simple but wise woman filled with grace rather than anger, they anchor a delight-fully bittersweet film that entertains as it edu-cates.

Rating: ★★★1/2

A Bereft Heart

And here’s a second movie also about feel-ings, albeit feelings mostly comprising Ouch! and Ow! as fists and boots thud home. Welcome to Homefront, the latest action flick starring Jason Statham, the amiable brute with fists of fury and that sexy English growl.

In this outing Statham stars as Phil Broker, a recent widower and ex-DEA agent who moves to a small town in Louisiana with his 10-year-old daughter, Maddy. Despite sincere efforts to fit in, Broker is backed into a corner and stands up for himself and his daughter. That choice lands him in trouble with the town’s resident drug lord, “Gator” Bodine (James Franco). After a few skirmishes where Gator’s thugs get a thumping, the ante gets upped considerably when some very scary goons from Broker’s DEA past are invited to town to take their revenge on the man who tore apart their drug syndi-cate a few years earlier. The result is a climactic paroxysm of violence that should entertain fans of Guy Action Cinema hoping to see virtue tri-umph and the bad guys do down hard.

As genre moviemaking goes, this is mostly routine stuff, albeit done with businesslike effi-ciency. The plot builds tension in a logical and organic way, the body count isn’t ludicrously excessive, and there is a nice use of backwoods Louisiana as an exotic setting. Statham delivers a satisfactory performance – let’s face it, he can do this stuff in his sleep – but the secondary casting holds a few surprises. The pretty and pert Kate Bosworth (Blue Crush) shucks her girl-next-door persona to play a hollow-eyed skank as Gator’s drug-addled sister. And winsome Winona Ryder makes for a scary “meth whore” and sometime partner of Gator. Not a Christmas movie exactly, but at least Broker and Maddy have a loving father-daughter relationship.

Rating: ★★1/2(Philomena continues at the Odeon &

Landmark Cinema 4; Homefront continues at SilverCity & Westshore)

Trapiche is one of the biggest produc-

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ers in Argentina, and their portfolio includes some interesting small-lot wines. Case in point is Extravaganza, a red blend of the varietals Malbec, Bonarda, and Syrah. Medium bodied and full in the mouth, this fruit-forward charmer features notes of ripe cherry and red berry lifted with hints of espresso and spice. This is a sophisticated wine, and a great buy at the current sale price of $15.

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More than 1,500 Monday readers cast votes in 44 categories for the 11th annual M Awards, with the difference between favourite artists in some categories separated only by a vote or two. Those who took home a yellow ukulele award in 2013 included:

Favourite band: Current SwellFavourite solo artist: Steph MacPhersonFavourite album: Let it Go, Jon and RoySong of the year: “Vibrant Scene,” Jon and

RoyFavourite emerging artist/band: The ArchersFavourite overall production: Little Shop of

Horrors, Blue Bridge Repertory TheatreFavourite performer: Sara-Jeanne HosieFavourite director: Jacob Richmond, Little Shop

of Horrors, Blue Bridge Repertory TheatreFavourite dance performance by a local compa-

ny: Romp! in the Square, Suddenly Dance TheatreFavourite comedy performer: Mike DelamontFavourite spoken word artist: Jeremy LovedayFavourite art show: Donkey/Kong, Wolf/Sheep

ArthouseFavourite visual artist: Kristen “Urbanheart”

GrantFavourite emerging visual artist: Carollyne

YardleyFavourite local filmmaker: Scott AmosFavourite fiction book: Floating like the Dead,

Yasuko ThanhFavourite non-fiction book: The Zero-Mile Diet,

Carolyn HerriotFavourite boozy event: Great Canadian Beer

FestivalFavourite film event: Victoria Film FestivalFavourite music event or festival: RifflandiaFavourite non-music event or festival: Fringe

FestivalFavourite not-for-profit: Canadian College of

Performing Arts

Your favourites in 2013

Visit us at goldstreamgazette.com


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Visit us at goldstreamgazette.com

Travis PatersonNews staff

We present to you a selection of stories we felt represent the year in Greater Victoria sports.

Sadly, we regret that not everyone who deserves it will make our list, so please, feel free to share your season’s high-lights with us at Victoria News on Facebook and Twitter.

Also, be sure to revisit our archives at vicnews.com, where our stories live forever.

Volleyball player Shanice Mar-celle ended her CIS career with the UBC Thunderbirds on a bit of a high note, to put it mildy. The leftside hitter was named the MVP of CIS volleyball for

the second time in her five year career and was named the CIS University Athlete of the Year.

The award is chosen from the MVP athletes of all CIS sports. A Spectrum Community School grad, Marcelle went on to play in the national volleyball program and pro game in Europe.

She also accomplished the rare feat of winning a CIS cham-pionship in each and every year she played for UBC.

Meanwhile in Victoria, Fergus Hall embarked on his university career by suiting up for the UVic Vikes rugby team.

The Glenlyon Norfolk School product thrived under the tute-lage of school coach Winston Stanley, one of Canada’s greatest rugby internationals, and a fel-

low Oak Bay resident. Hall was named B.C.’s High

School Athlete of the Year. He played for Team B.C. at the Las Vegas International Sevens youth tournament and is a starter for the Vikes in the CDI Premier Rugby League. Hall played full-back in the 2013 Barnard Cup Island rugby championship and kicked a try conversion and two penalty goals, despite losing to James Bay.

Ryder Hesjedal came under fire in Canadian media when the book by Danish cyclist Michael Rasmussen, Yellow Fever, told of the author introducing synthetic erythropoietin (EPO), which boosts the red-blood cell count, to Victoria cyclists Hesjedal and Seamus McGrath during their world series mountain biking season in 2003. The media reac-tion forced out a public admis-sion of guilt from Hesjedal and McGrath, though they are only the latest cyclists to do so.

SPORTSA16 • www.vicnews.com Friday, December 27, 2013 - VICTORIA NEWS

YEAR IN REVIEW

Reporter Travis Paterson revisits some of the bigger Victoria sports headlines from 2013

Photo by Randy Neville

Fergus Hall joined the UVic Vikes rugby team and nearly helped them win the Barnard Cup Island title.

Richard Lam / UBC Athletics

UBC Thunderbirds volleyball player Shanice Marcelle was named the CIS University Athlete of the Year. We never knew her as there is no CIS volleyball on the Island.

Best of the best in 2013

Garmin Sharp

What we learned: We still love Ryder Hesjedal.

There are few tales stranger than that of Bill Bestwicks’ mid-season dismissal, which is why he’s among our 2013 newsmak-ers.

Maybe it’s because it was so recent, but nothing else came with as much disappointment as Bestwick’s firing.

As for Bestwick: his players like him, his assistant coach Ciag Didmon (still) likes him and the fans like him. But appar-ently, there is more to winning in hockey than, er, winning. No sensible reason was ever given as to why Bill Bestwick was dismissed by the Victoria Grizzlies except for the obvious: that the team is saving money by not paying him, and believes in Didmon enough to put their

future in his hands. Regardless, there was no

stranger and more compel-

ling hockey tale than that of Bestwick’s. He spun magic to turn the Grizzlies into a team that held first place in the B.C. Hockey League for a good chunk of the 2012-13 season and then defeated the Powell River Kings in the playoffs before losing to the Alberni Bulldogs in overtime of the fifth and final game of the second round playoff series.

Everything Bestwick touched in his short time here, just about 16 months, turned to gold. The good news is Didmon (and maybe it’s what made Bestwick expendable in the first place) was in on all of Bestwick’s deci-sions and has a firm grip on what the Grizzlies need to do to get into the BCHL final for the first time in a long time.

The heroics of Bill Bestwick and strange ending to his abrupt term

Sharon Tiffin/News staff

The wizard Bestwick molded and shaped the Grizzlies into an exciting, winning club.

Tools

GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE - Friday, December 27, 2013 www.vicnews.com • A15Goldstream News Gazette Fri, Dec 27, 2013 www.goldstreamgazette.com A15

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VOLUNTEERS

BC CANCER Agency needs energetic, outgoing café volun-teers with positive attitude, weekdays, 3-hour shifts for minimum of 6 months, age 18 and up. Training provided. Call Volunteer Victoria at 250-386-2269.

BIG BROTHERS Big Sisters needs In-School Mentoring volunteers to spend one hour per week with a child at an elementary school. The hour is spent during school hours do-ing crafts, playing sports or games, or just chatting. Call Volunteer Victoria at 250-386-2269.

VOLUNTEERS

THE WOMEN’S Sexual As-sault Centre needs offi ce and admin. volunteers to answer phones, greet clients, and as-sist in various administrative tasks. Weekly half-day shift for 6 to 12 months preferred. Oth-er positions available. Call Vol-unteer Victoria at 250-386-2269.

PERSONAL SERVICES

MIND BODY & SPIRIT

Kripalu full body massage. Release your stress now. Over 13 years experience. Gift Cer-tifi cates. Women only. Holiday special. Professional. 250-514 -6223, www.andreakober.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES

PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO

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

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

BURIAL PLOTS

2 ADULT interment spaces at Hatley Memorial Gardens. Lots 215 & 216 in Colwood G. $4900. 1(520)825-1773.

FUEL/FIREWOOD

ARBUTUS, CYPRESS, fi r, hardwoods. Seasoned. Call 250-661-7391.

GREAT DEAL FIREWOOD. Winter Special. Split & Deliv-ered. Call 250-881-4842.

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

FIGURINES: ROYAL Doulton, Coalport, Armani, Mrs. Albee, & misc artists - some very old, some more recent editions. Call (250)474-2774.

HOT TUB (SPA) COVERS. Best price. Best quality. All shapes & colours available. 1-866-652-6837 www.thecoverguy.com/newspaper?

NEWSPRINT ROLLENDS- $2-$10. Fridays only, 8:30am to 4:30pm. #200-770 Enter-prise Cres, Victoria. Gold-stream Press Division.

PENTAX CAMERA with 3 lenses and fl ash, good cond. 4 Michelin 17” snow tires, used 2 seasons. (250)479-5208.

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

LARGE DOLL HOUSE (30”x36”) & Country Store (16”x25”) Both furnished with many collectibles inside & out. Can sell separately. Best offer. Come & see! (250)592-1690.

MISCELLANEOUS WANTED

ANTIQUES, BOOKS, col-lectibles, furniture, china, jew-elry. Estates/private libraries purchased. Galleon Books & Antiques, 250-655-0700

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

STEINWAY- BOSTON Studio Grand, model 178, ebony, 6 years, immaculate, references. Home studio professional quality. Custom cover includ-ed. $15,000. Serious enquiries only please (250)594-5072.

REAL ESTATE

APARTMENT/CONDOS

NANAIMO WATERFRONT 2nd fl oor condo. 1500 sq.ft. LR/DR/2bdrms with view, den, gas FP, secure bldg. 2 under-ground parking spaces. Main-tenance fee includes hot wa-ter/gas/landscaping. 1 pet OK. $339,900 (250)753-9123

DUPLEX/4-PLEX

OPEN HOUSE- Sat & Sun, every weekend, 1-4pm. New Duplex’s For Sale, Duncan, BC at 5909 & 5911 Stone Haven Rd, in Stone Manor Es-tate’s (behind Hospital). 1850sq ft each, 3 bdrms, 4 bath, 5 appls and much more. $309,000. Call Gord (250)710-1947

FOR SALE BY OWNER

LADYSMITH HANDYMAN Special. 3bdrms up, lrg LR, double garage, lrg storage. Ocean & city view. 1bdrm suite down. Owner will carry mortgage. $1200 month; or rent for $1,800 month. (250)753-0160.

NANAIMO 3 HOUSES. Gor-geous Ocean & City views. Easy to buy. Reasonable Down! Owner will carry mort-gage. 250-753-0160

SMALL ADS GET BIG RESULTS! Call 250.388.3535

REAL ESTATE

FOR SALE BY OWNER

SAANICH WEST- 1246 Has-tings St, 3 bdrm Rancher, 2 garage, dining/living/family rooms, 2 bath (ensuite), F/P, appls incld, new roof. Walking distance to Interurban cam-pus. Reduced price, $460,000. Call 250-477-4600.

MOBILE HOMES & PARKS

OTTER POINT RV Trailer Park. 40’ park model trailer (no pad fees) 3 slide outs + 30’x52’ lot, fi nished deck & shed in new cond. Reduced to $117,900. obo. Owner willing to look at fi nancing. Call (306)290-8764.

RENTALS

APARTMENT/CONDO

1 & 2 Bdrm suites & cabins. Perched on a cliffside with panoramic ocean vista, over-looking The Saanich Inlet. Se-rene & secure. All amenities on-site, fi rewood. $500-$1200 inclds utils. Monthly/Weekly. Pets ok with refs. 25 min com-mute to downtown Victoria. Must have references! Call 250-478-9231.

MOBILE HOMES & PADS

LOT FOR Rent vacant mobile home pad. SL Home Park. Call 250-743-7535.

SUITES, LOWER

MARIGOLD- the coziest 1 bdrm, W/S, shared W/D, quiet. NS/NP. $850. 250-727-6217.

NORTH NANAIMO: Attention Students/Working Profession-als: semi-furn private suite. New fl oors & paint. Shared lndry. FREE hydro & cable. N/S, No Partiers. $800/mo. Dec. 15th. 250-756-9746

WATERFRONT. NORTH Saa-nich. Large 2-bdrm, 2 bath. $1800./mo inclds utils. Pos-sibly small boat moorage +. Pet OK. N/S. (250)656-5999.

TRANSPORTATION

ANTIQUE/CLASSICS

1966 CHEVY Pick up, 1/2 tonshort box, burgundy. 3 in thetree, 6 cylinder. Good condi-tion, runs great, comes withsecond set of winter tires andrims. Second owner for last 45years, in Victoria. $6,000 obo.Call: 250-479-0441 or email:[email protected]

AUTO FINANCING

AUTO SERVICES

$$$ TOP CA$H PAID $$$. ForALL unwanted Vehicles, anycondition. Call (250)885-1427.

SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES

VTRUCKS & ANS

1990 TOYOTA 4x4. Extended cab, V6, 5-spd. 227,000 km.White, great truck! $6500. Call(250)479-3680.

Your community. Your classifieds.

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fax 250.388-0202 email [email protected]

SOOKENEWSMIRROR

$2997plus tax

SELL YOUR STUFF!Private Party Merchandise Ad1" PHOTO + 5 LINES (99¢ extra lines) Runs till it sells, up to 8 weeks!

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Call 1-855-678-7833 today for more details.

Looking for the perfect fit?

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HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES

ACCOUNTING/TAX/BOOKKEEPING

ACCOUNTINGVida Samimi

Certifi ed General Accountant

Bookkeeping, Audit,Payroll, HST. Set up &

Training. E-FileTAX

250-477-4601

CARPENTRY

BENOIT CONSTRUCTION. Reno’s & Additions. Windows, Doors, Decks. 250-479-0748.

INSTCARPET ALLATION

CARPET, LINO installation re-stretches & repairs. 30 years exp. Glen, 250-474-1024.

CLEANING SERVICES

HOUSEKEEPER EXPERI-ENCED, reliable. References. 250-920-6516, 250-881-7444.

ELECTRICAL

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

AT&T ELECTRIC. Renova-tions. Residential & Commer-cial. Knob & tube replacement. #26125. (250)744-4550.

GNC ELECTRIC Res/Comm. Reasonable rates for quality work. #43619. 250-883-7632.


ELECTRICAL

KENDRA’S ELECTRICAL Co. #86952. No Job too Small. Kendra, 250-415-7991.

FENCING

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

GARDENING

10% OFF! Fall Cleanups, Raking, Pruning, Hauling, Mowing. (250)479-6495.

250-479-7950FREE ESTIMATES

• Lawn Maintenance• Landscaping• Hedge Trimming• Tree Pruning• Yard Cleanups• Gardening/Weeding • Aeration, Odd JobsNO SURPRISES NO MESS

www.hollandave.ca

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

GARDEN OVERGROWN? Weeding, lawn cuts, clean-ups, pruning. John Kaiser 250-478-7314, 250-812-8236.


GARDENING

GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS

250-507-6543. AL’S V.I.P. Gutter Cleaning, guards, pow-er washing, de-moss, Insured.

ABBA EXTERIORS Gutter cleaning & repairs. Seniors discounts. WCB, Insured. Free estimates. (778)433-9275.

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

HANDYPERSONS

BIG BEAR Handyman. Paint-ing, household repairs. Free estimate. Barry 250-896-6071.

WESTSHORE HANDYMAN SERVICES- Electrical, plumb-ing, carpentry, drywall repairs, haul-aways, clean-ups. Senior discount. Bob, 250-818-3529.


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.

FAMILY MAN Hauling. Call Chris for all your hauling needs. 250-920-8463.

JUNK BOX- We Do All The Loading

JUNK REMOVAL 7 days / wk.Fast Service, Best Prices!! Free quotes. (250)857-JUNK.

PARRY’S HAULING We haul it all - FREE estimates. Call Shawn 250-812-7774

SAVE-A-LOT HAULING Furniture, appliance, garden waste, we take it all! Always lowest rate, senior discount. Brad 250-217-9578.


HOME IMPROVEMENTS

CARPENTRY, DRYWALL, kitchen/bath, wood fl oors, tiles, plumbing, renos 250-213-6877

INTERIOR DESIGN

VIRGO INTERIORS- Certifi ed Interior decorator specializing in color schemes that work the fi rst time. Call (250)[email protected]

MASONRY & BRICKWORK

BILL’S MASONRY. Brick, tiles, pavers. All masonry & Chimney re-pointing. F/P re-pairs. 250-478-0186.

CBS MASONRY BBB. WCB. Chimneys, Fireplaces, Flag-stone Rock, Concrete Pavers, Natural & Veneered Stone. Replace, Rebuild, Renew! “Quality is our Guarantee”. Free Competitive Estimates. (250)294-9942/(250)589-9942. www.cbsmasonry.com

& MOVING STORAGE

2 BURLEY MEN MOVING. $85/hr for 2 men (no before or after travel time charges on lo-cal moves. Please call Scott or Joshua, (250)686-6507.

D O N E R I G H T M OV I N G . C A $80/hr. Senior Discount. Free Est’s. No travel time before or after. BBB accredited. Call Tyl-er at 250-418-1747.


PAINTING

A2Z PAINTING. Free esti-mates. Quality Interior Paint-ing. Call Erin (250)294-5422.

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

PLUMBING

EXPERIENCED JOURNEY-MAN Plumber. Renos, New Construction & Service. Fair rates. Insured. Reliable, friendly. Great references. Call Mike at KNA (250)880-0104.

FELIX PLUMBING. Over 35 years experience. Reasonable rates. Call 250-514-2376.

PRESSURE WASHING

DRIVEWAYS, WALKWAYS, Decks, etc. Reasonable rates. 250-744-8588, Norm.


UPHOLSTERY

UPHOLSTERER NEEDS work. Your fabric or mine.250-480-7937.

WINDOW CLEANING

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

SERVICE DIRECTORYwww.bcclassified.com 250.388.3535

ISRENOVATING

ON YOUR NEW YEAR’S

“TO-DO”LIST? Find an expert

in your community

www.bcclassifi ed.

com

fi l here please

VICTORIA606 Speed Ave, $215,000Saturday & Sunday 1-3Royal LePage Coast Capital RealtyScott Munro, 250 477-53535-1027 Belmont Ave, $639,000Saturday Jan 4, 1-3DFH Real Estate Ltd.Dennis Guevin, 250-477-7291

ESQUIMALT404-520 Foster St, $199,900!Dec 28 & Jan 4 11-1Pemberton HolmesRick Couvelier, 250-477-0921

SAANICH EASTMidtown ParkSaturday & Sunday 12-4RE/MAX AllianceRon Neal, 250-386-8181

SAANICH WEST3795 Burnside Pl, $549,900Saturday January 4 1-3DFH Real Estate Ltd.Jenn Raappana, 250-590-3921

SAANICH PENINSULA110-10461 Resthaven, $164,900Sun Dec 29 & Sun Jan 5 11-1Pemberton HolmesRick Couvelier, 250-477-0921

WEST SHORE 3379 Vision Way, $339,900Saturday, Dec. 28 & Sunday, Dec. 29 1-3Saturday Jan. 4 & Sunday Jan. 5 1-3DFH Real Estate Ltd.Mike Hartshorne, 250-590-3921

3467 Happy Valley Rd.Saturday, Jan. 4 & Sunday, Jan. 5 12-4DFH Real Estate Ltd.Mike Hartshorne, 250-889-4445

3377 Vision Way, $339,900Saturday & Sunday Dec 28/29th & Jan 4/5th 1-3DFH Real Estate Ltd.Jenn Raappana, 250-590-3921

3008 Dornier Rd.Saturday, Jan. 4 & Sunday Jan. 5 12-4DFH Real Estate Ltd.Mike Hartshorne, 250-889-4445

OPEN HOUSES | DEC. 27, 2013 - JAN. 8, 2014 more details in Real Estate Victoria, available FREE on news stands now

Select your home.Select your mortgage.

Oak Bay 250-370-7601Westshore 250-391-2933

Victoria 250-483-1360Sidney 250-655-0632

www.vericoselect.comChatterton Way 250-479-0688

Season’sGreetings

John GrahamAdvertising Consultant

250.480.3227 ~ [email protected]

Nobody can beat Homefinder!

Ask your realtor to advertisein Homefi nder!

Call John Graham 250.480.3227


[email protected]

Nob

HomeFinderFind a place to call home


Tasteful Decor, Upscale Finishes, Granite Counters,Wood Floors, Secured Parking, High Ceilings,Stainless Appliances, Window Treatments, Much more…

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Go to www.LameenaTerrace.comfor complete details!Unit #317 - 2 BR and Den

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Camosun 250.744.3301BRAD GREGORY





Tasteful Decor

Designer Finishes

Granite Counters

Wood Floors

Secured Parking

High Ceilings


Ice Makers

Custom Lighting

Garden Patios

Vaulted Ceilings

Window Blinds

Great

Value!

Prices

from

$219,900 to $299,900

GST Included








Tasteful Decor

Designer Finishes

Granite Counters

Wood Floors

Secured Parking

High Ceilings


Ice Makers

Custom Lighting

Garden Patios

Vaulted Ceilings

Window Blinds

Great

Value!

Prices

from

$219,900 to $299,900

GST Included








Tasteful Decor

Designer Finishes

Granite Counters

Wood Floors

Secured Parking

High Ceilings


Ice Makers

Custom Lighting

Garden Patios

Vaulted Ceilings

Window Blinds

Great

Value!

Prices

from

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GST Included







250.744.3301Brad Gregory

OPENHOUSEThursday - Monday

1- 4:00pm

As we roll into the fifth week pub-lishing HomeFinder, we’re discover-ing there are always exceptions to well-established rules.

Take December, for example. The number of listings traditionally drop a little lower as home sellers take a break for the holidays. But not every-one is content to focus mainly on socializing and enjoying some well-earned time off, as we discovered in a recent email from a HomeFinder reader.

This correspondent told us about a townhome listing he and his wife checked out just before Christmas 2012 in Langford. Turned out it was a foreclosure sale and to make a long story short, they put in a relatively lowball offer and it went unchal-

lenged during the required court pro-ceedings.

We wondered just how common their experience is in Greater Victo-ria. Apparently not very, according to local realtor Dale Sheppard, who has worked on a number of foreclosure sales over the years.

“For the most part (the home) gen-erally goes for fair market value,” he says.

There’s various reasons for that, Sheppard explains. Not only are lend-ing institutions mandated to get as much as possible for the home, he says, once an offer is accepted and conditions lifted – as with traditional vendor home sales – the accepted price is then made public and a court date set. That information usually attracts other potential buyers who usually drive the price up.

Sheppard says the final decision on who gets the home lies with the presiding officer of the court, but it frequently goes to the highest bidder.

Come court time – hearings are almost always held in “chambers” upstairs in the Victoria Law Courts

building – the process somewhat resembles an auction. Additional bids to the original are presented and made known to all in attendance. Then, to level the playing field, the interested parties are sent out of the room to determine their final bid, which is put in a sealed envelope before everyone comes back into chambers.

“Sometimes people will overpay for a foreclosure, because they get caught up in the whirlwind of (the bid process),” Sheppard says, adding it can be challenging for novices to know just how much to bid. “That’s why it’s important to work with a realtor who can give you the realistic fair market value of a home.”

While it’s anyone’s guess who might show up at a foreclosure hearing, he believes that the initial “buyer” of such homes have a “home-field advantage” of sorts. By that, he means they’ve presumably done all the work, like having the appropriate inspections done and removing any outstanding conditions to be able to purchase the home.

The number of people actively keeping track of foreclosure sales today in Greater Victoria has dwin-dled from the heavy growth period – in terms of prices – of 2001 and 2008, Sheppard says. With the mar-ket holding prices relatively flat, “flipping” houses doesn’t happen as often, he adds.

“There’s a lot of buyers who ideally would like to do that if the opportu-nity arose,” he says, “but most are aware that it’s not the market for that right now.”

– Don Descoteau

WHAT SHOULD

I KEEP IN MIND

BEFORE PUTTING

AN OFFER ON MY

DREAM HOME?

HomeFinderFind a place to call home

BUYING TIP | Consult a realtor to help guide you through the foreclosure sale process

Foreclosure sales: more than meets the eye

» 248» 342» 3,670

1. Are we pre-qualified for a mortgage?

2. Is the home in a neighbour-hood that works for us?

3. What’s that smell?4. Is it really a good deal?5. How much are closing

expenses?6. What furnishings do I have

that may not fit?7. Are there any pending legal

issues on this home?8. Have I had the home

inspected?9. What is the appraised

value of the home (not the assessment)?

total properties sold or deals pending (all Categories) tHis MontH

total neW listings tHis MontH (all Categories)

total nuMber of HoMes CurrentlY listed

GREATER VICTORIA MARKET UPDATE »as of DEC. 20 CourtEsy ViCtoria rEal EstatE BoarD

The chances of paying below market price on a home aren’t as great as you might think

Thinkstock photo

Q:


250.480.3227 ~ [email protected]

Nobody can beat Homefinder!

Ask your realtor to advertisein Homefi nder!

Call John Graham 250.480.3227


Quiet Home in the Country$585,000 Eastern HighlandsEnjoy country living on 3.98 acres with room for ex-tended family and your visitors. Open plan kitchen andfamily room and two bedrooms on main with Frenchdoors leading to large deck with private space for hottub. Two separate one bedroom suites, one above thegarage complete with its own bathroom and officespace. The complete separate second suite is on thelower level of the main house. Lots of parking and theflat level landscaped acreage.

Privacy, Views, Suite & Shop$850,000 Metchosin - Olympic ViewEnjoy privacy, ocean, mountain and city views on 3acres in Metchosin with separate suite, separateshop and lots of room in spacious open plan offeringover 3,500 square feet for family living and enter-taining too! Excellent value and rare opportunity toenjoy this much living space, land, VIEWS, and hugedetached fully equipped separate shop.

Unique does not describe it!$584,900 SE QuadraThis 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom is situated on a large lot inconvenient area of town. New kitchen with built in doubleovens, quartz and stainless steel countertops, and newappliances. Vaulted ceilings, extensive use of laminateflooring,and numerous skylights. Main floor is an openconcept living area, lower level has a family room andgarden doors to fenced private back yard.

Spectacular Dean Park Home$2,488,888 North SaanichSituated at the top of Dean Park with fantastic 180degree views of Sidney and the Gulf Islands through22’ living room windows. This custom built homeboasts over 5000 sqft with in floor radiant heatthroughout the whole house; engineered to the high-est standards with 7 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms.Features include jacuzzi tub, heated stone and woodfloors, and 400 amp service. With a gourmet kitchendetails resonate throughout.

$2,287.46 per month OAC




Elevated Building Site withBeautiful Outlook

$495,000 Prospect LakeDiscover this amazing five acre homesite readyfor your dream home and immerse yourself innature. Tucked well back from the road on theother side of the Interurban Trail. Serviced andready to build with driveway in, city water, andperc tested. Building site is elevated. Sellermay carry financing for qualified buyer/builder.

Large, Pristine Two Bedroom &Den Condo

$289,900 Langford ProperThis condo has 9’ ceilings and Oak hardwoodfloors in all main living areas. Granite countertops and stainless Frigidaire appliances.Heated tile flooring and soaker tubs in each ofthe two full bathrooms. Master bedroom withwalk through closet. Roof top patio, securedunderground parking. Short walking distance toshopping, restaurants and all amenities.

Updated 55+ Home in Desirable Park$98,500 Central SaanichEnjoy easy care living with nothing to do butmove right in and enjoy this well maintainedtwo bedroom and two bathroom home in avery well run, desirable 55+ park. Masterbedroom with walk-in tub ensuite plus twoclosets! Updated laminate flooring plus amix of thermo and storm windows and it’searthquake proofed too!

SOLD

$385.16 per month OAC

Quality New CondosFrom $299,888 Saanich EastWalk to Mayfair or Uptown, downtown isjust minutes away. Ultra-modern stylingcombines with all the conveniences incl in-unit laundry, undrgrnd parking & pet-friendly. Stainless steel appliances, quartzcounters and underhung sinks. Geothermalin-floor heating, green rebate, & decoratingallowance. Move in February 2014

Walk to Oak Bay Village$539,000 Oak Bay - South Oak BayWalk just a few steps to popular Oak Bay Villageshops & services. Amazing opportunity for couplewanting to downsize, yet remain in very desirableneighbourhood. Main flr incl spacious living roomw/fireplace, lrg kitchen, master bedroom w/ensuite& 2nd bdrm. Deck overlooking gardens. Downstairsincl storage areas, workshop, laundry & dbl garage.Well managed 50+ Townhome Development.

Attention Snowbird Investors!$399,900 James Bay-VictoriaAmazing water & mountain views from this9th floor corner south west facing 2 bed-room suite. Panoramic floor to ceiling win-dows. Oswego is deeded, whole-owner-ship recreational condo with all theservice’s & amenities of a hotel. Com-pletely furnished with high end finishings.

Harbour & Mountain Views in Bayview 1$572,500 Victoria WestEnjoy amazing mountain, city and harbourviews from this SE facing luxurious suite. Op-portunity in prestigious built building, an InnerHarbour property radiating quality and ele-gance. Two bedrooms plus a den, high ceilings,all appliances, air conditioning and Concierge.Walking distance to waterfront walkway. Excel-lent value, aggressively priced to sell and noGST.



www.MidtownPark.ca

Private and Sunny ExecutiveCountry Home Plus Suite

$709,000 Metchosin Albert Head/Witty’s LagoonEnjoy this custom built architecturally designedhome of nearly 4,000 sqft on quiet acre. Mainfloor master suite with access to expansivebrick patio with hot tub. Sunny kitchen with is-land, dining and LR. Three BRs up and legalself-contained furnished 1 BR suite over triplecar garage. Extensive landscaping, workshop,and lots of recent upgrades.

Updated Two Bedroom$189,000 Saanich West - TillicumMove right in to this updated 2 BR third floorcondo conveniently located. Spacious livingroom with cozy wood burning fireplace and cov-ered balcony. Recent new carpets, tiled bath-room floor plus new fixtures and vanity,baseboard heaters and deck lumber also new.Galley kitchen could benefit from updating andis available for immediate possession. Includesparking. Rentals and cats allowed, no age re-strictions.

Entire Floor of Character Conversion!$269,900 Victoria-Central ParkThis 2 bedroom 2 bathroom unit is over 940square feet. Front and back exterior doors ANDwindows on all four sides. Bright kitchen hascounter space which flows into the dining roomand large living room. Laminate flooringthroughout main living area, stainless steel ap-pliances, and the balance of a New Home War-ranty. This home has in-suite laundry, parkingstall, and allows large dogs!

Ocean View Spacious Condo 8th Floor$365,000 James BayEnjoy ocean, mountain views from this1,250 sqft 2 bedroom and 2 full bathroomhome. Quality built with no pets or rentalsand only 4 suites per floor. Huge living anddining area with lots of light. Monthly feescover heat, hot water, pool, hot tub, coveredparking, rooftop observation deck, caretaker,insurance, landscaping, garbage, two ele-vators, and a guest suite.


$739.03 per month OAC



Disclaimer: *Mortgage Payments OAC and subject to change without notice based on 20% down payment (as little as 5% down required), 25 year amortization @ 3.3% 6294833

SOLD

SOLD

Character 4-Plex Near OceanGreat Revenue Property

$885,000 Victoria - James BayRevenue Conversion with four self-containedsuites off Dallas Road and the oceanfront! Verywell maintained & updated, this is turn-key withexcellent tenants in place (under market rents).Two 2 BR suites and 2-1 BRs plus additionalbasement storage and coin-op laundry. Thor-oughly updated systems including baseboardelectric heat, some thermo windows and more.

“To the world, you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.”

-Dr. Seuss

We hope the coming year end finds you and those close to youin good health and spirits. It’s been a very full and truly amazingyear for the Neal Estate Team; We have so much to be thankfulfor and so much to look forward to in 2014.

Wishing you all the best this holiday season.

SOLD


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829 McCallum Road, Victoria, BC250-474-4490Located behind Costco in the newFour Points by Sheraton Gateway Hotel.

New Years Eve at West Shore’shottest new restaurant!

Great Food, Great Service, Great Pub!Mention this ad and receive 15% off your food all December.

Ring in the New Year’s in Style. Live music, the best 4 course dinner the West Shore has to offer, in Langford’s hottest night-time destination. Make your reservations now.

778-265-5464102 – 716 Goldstream Avenue

ALL 2013 & OLDER SHOES ALL WINTER RIDING GEAR

25% OFF 250-590-6960

104 - 800 Kelly Rd • www.oakbaybikes.com

Sale ends Dec. 31, 2013

Tuesday, Dec 31st

New Year’s Eve PartyFeaturing: The Replacements

Come and see what your local Restaurant/Pub has to offer.

“There’s always something happening at Ma’s place.”

Come and see what your local Come and see what your local Come and see what your local Restaurant/Pub has to offer.

“There’s always something happening at Ma’s place.”

New Year’s Eve PartyNew Year’s Eve PartyNew Year’s Eve PartyNew Year’s Eve PartyNew Year’s Eve PartyNew Year’s Eve PartyNew Year’s Eve PartyNew Year’s Eve PartyNew Year’s Eve PartyNew Year’s Eve PartyNew Year’s Eve PartyFeaturing: The ReplacementsFeaturing: The ReplacementsFeaturing: The ReplacementsFeaturing: The ReplacementsFeaturing: The ReplacementsFeaturing: The ReplacementsFeaturing: The ReplacementsFeaturing: The ReplacementsFeaturing: The Replacements

Come and see what your local Come and see what your local Come and see what your local Restaurant/Pub has to offer. Restaurant/Pub has to offer. Restaurant/Pub has to offer.

“There’s always something “There’s always something “There’s always something “There’s always something happening at Ma’s place.”happening at Ma’s place.”

2903 Sooke Lake Rd | 250 478-3512

For many, the time between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is a welcome respite from the hustle

and bustle of the holiday season.

These are days perfect for winter walks and skating excursions, for afternoons at the park and hillside hikes to work off some of those holiday leftovers.And while white Christmases might be few and far be-tween here on the West Shore, there’s something to be said for a Canadian locale that offers the possibility of a late December paddle or New Year’s Eve turn around the links!So, what’s on the community calendar over the next week? Here’s a few ideas...Join CRD Parks naturalists for Who’s Hooting, a guided walk at Langford’s Mill Hill Park Dec. 29 for those age � ve and older. Meet at 1 p.m. at the information kiosk in the parking lot off Atkins Avenue for this 90-minute stroll and come learn more about local owls.Other excellent choices for a winter walk include Thetis Lake Park in View Royal (also ideal for a quiet winter paddle) and Gold-stream, but why not choose a park you might not have explored before? Other West Shore options include Matheson Lake in Metchosin, with its four-kilometre loop trail adjacent to the Galloping Goose, and Francis/King Regional Park, which straddles the Highlands and Saanich with its varied hiking trails through a towering West Coast forest.

Join the folks at West Shore Recreation for a whole host of ways to get moving this winter, with a holiday schedule packed with public swims and skates, plus a New Year’s Eve Twoonie Skate at Juan de Fuca Arena from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 31. The pool and weightroom are also open until 3 p.m. Dec. 31 with Twoonie admis-sion all day. Why wait for New Year’s Day to embark on your pledge to get active!Keep it up Jan. 3, when City Centre Park invites School District 62 students to enjoy a free skate from 4 to 6 p.m., complete with pizza, hot chocolate and give-aways.Happy New Year!Still looking for the perfect way to ring in the New Year? The West Shore is packed with possibilities, from the always fun Ma Miller’s Neighbourhood Pub,

where great food and good music are the order of the day, to the warm, inviting atmo-sphere at Inferno Chophouse at the Four Points by Sheraton, where you can enjoy a delicious multi-course dinner and live music. Looking for something a little different? Try a New Year’s Eve dinner and bowling package from the Galloping Goose Grille and Langford Lanes, or check out the � fth annual Family New Year’s Party at Eagle Ridge Centre at City Centre Park.Wherever you choose to celebrate the

New Year, whether at home with friends or out on the town, be sure to plan ahead to get home safely.Here’s to 2014!

� ve and older. Meet at 1 p.m. at the information kiosk

with its four-kilometre loop trail adjacent to the

Park, which straddles the Highlands and Saanich with its varied hiking trails through a towering

always fun Ma Miller’s Neighbourhood Pub, where great food and good music are the order of the day, to the warm, inviting atmo-sphere at Inferno Chophouse at the Four Points by Sheraton, where you can enjoy a delicious multi-course dinner and live music. Looking for something a little different? Try a New Year’s Eve dinner and bowling package from the Galloping Goose Grille and Langford Lanes, or check out the � fth annual Family New Year’s Party at Eagle Ridge Centre at City Centre Park.Wherever you choose to celebrate the

New Year, whether at home with friends or out on the

Farewell 2013; welcome 2014!Here’s to a West Shore New Year


Documents

Goldstream News Gazette, December 27, 2013