TOGETHER WITH | | COMMUNITY EVENTS | ⛹️♂️ The new spring/summer Oak Bay Active Living program guide is available for viewing here. | 🛍 Garage/Estate Sale this weekend: Saturday, April 26 & Sunday, April 27 from 9:30am to 4pm, 1120 St. Louis Street, South Oak Bay. You will find lots of furniture, crystal glasses, bowls, copper bowls, and general household items. Cash is preferred, but e-transfer is available for larger priced items. | 🎶 Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9: Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Victoria Chamber Orchestra and the 90th anniversary of the Victoria Choral Society with a powerful performance at UVic’s Farquhar Auditorium. Saturday, May 3. |
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| | IN THE NEWS | ☑️ Election information for Oak Bay residents. Eight candidates are vying to win the riding, a strongly held NDP zone since 2006. Capital Daily has compiled information on each candidate for the Victoria riding, which includes Victoria, Oak Bay, and parts of Saanich. The latest census data pegs the electoral area’s population at 123,482, of which 100,230 are eligible to vote on or before Monday, April 28. [Capital Daily] | 💰Parties have all now released their costed platforms: NDP, Liberals, Greens, and finally the Conservatives. See Capital Daily’s 2025 Election Hub. | 🤔 Tight races are expected in several Island ridings. [CTV] | 🥵 Vancouver Island could be a ‘hot spot’ for strategic voting, as several parties are competitive. There are seven ridings on Vancouver Island, which have traditionally swung back and forth from the Conservatives to the NDP. However, the Green Party is also competitive in the region. There hasn't been a Liberal MP elected on the Island since 2011, but pollsters say that could change with this election as Mark Carney and the Liberals have gained new support. [CBC] | 🏢 New Camosun dorm could count toward Oak Bay's housing quota. Camosun College's 432-bed dorm, announced last summer, would be the college’s first-ever student residence. The school plans to build it on an unused parking lot on Foul Bay, which sits on the Oak Bay border. Oak Bay has fallen short of its BC-mandated annual construction targets after having completed just 16 units against a target of 56 for a completion rate of 29%. [Capital Daily] | 📚 Any extra kids’ books? If you are spring cleaning and come across some children’s books you no longer need, please share them with the children of Oak Bay at our Kids’ Free Little Library on Bowker! It is looking a little empty these days. [Oak Bay Local] | 🔌Oak Bay is making EV chargers mandatory in new homes. The community is joining 33 others in BC that are making the chargers mandatory with new construction, which was approved at a council meeting on April 14. [Saanich News] | 🌸 Experience the exclusive LED therapy with the Blossom Facial at Pure Day Spa—erase the years, restore your glow, and reveal radiant, firmer skin. Relax with courtyard views and enjoy free parking.* | ✍🏽 The Victoria Foundation is celebrating 20 years of the Victoria’s Vital Signs program. Take part in the region’s annual checkup and enter the draw to win a $100 gift card to Country Grocer. Read the full article here.* | *Sponsored Listing | | P.S. Did someone forward you this email*? Subscribe here. | | PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT | To join the conversation, become a member of the Oak Bay Local Facebook Group | | SPONSORED BY WEST COAST PRO PAINTING | | Get your free painting quote | West Coast Pro Painting is Victoria’s trusted choice for high-quality interior and exterior painting. With a team of skilled professionals, they bring precision, care, and a commitment to excellence to every project. Whether refreshing a single room or transforming an entire home, their attention to detail ensures a flawless finish. Known for outstanding customer service and clear, professional communication, WCPP makes the painting process seamless and stress-free. Homeowners can count on expert recommendations, premium materials, and results that stand the test of time. | West Coast Pro Painting is now offering complimentary estimates for both interior and exterior projects. Contact them today to schedule your quote and experience the difference of a team that puts quality first. |
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| | Polarizing Politics. | Oak Bay locals have been engaging with each other about politics more than usual in the past couple of weeks ahead of Monday’s federal election. Topics have ranged quite a bit and include: | Where can I vote in Oak Bay? (Spoiler alert: the location is on your voter ID card). Thoughts on ways of supporting those suffering from substance use disorders in Victoria communities, and throughout Canada. Active transportation and car culture. Ideas about housing, healthcare, and more.
| Over the past several weeks, there has been an increase in the amount of content that pitches the priorities of the political parties looking to win your vote. Oak Bay Local strives to be a place where you can engage with your community on topics that matter. However, we have updated our guidelines to moderate comments in a fair way, and will warn users before turning off comments. We try to be consistent, but it's not always perfect. Thanks for understanding and committing to engaging in healthy discussion with your neighbours. | | |
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| More popular posts | A robot lawnmower was lost and later found this week after being out for a wander. A hanging basket fundraiser. The location of a new bakery. Looking for a tutor in Oak Bay? Any advice on how to obtain an oxygen machine? Community member looking for a good handyman. A 15-year-old Oak Bay High student is looking to start babysitting.
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| Looking out for your neighbours | A local who works in a coffee shop commented that there has been a loyal customer who comes in several times a day, and wanted to reach out to the community to see if he has friends and loved ones who can check in on him. He wasn’t causing a problem, however there have been subtle signs he could use some support. The community responded in a big way, including several friends and acquaintances who are now planning to check in with their neighbour. | Do you have loved ones who could use a call or check-in visit? | | IN OTHER NEWS | | Let’s Talk About Tariffs | Tomorrow, Saturday, April 26, at 1pm, join the Community Association of Oak Bay and MLA / Jobs Minister Diana Gibson, along with panel members Martin Cownden and Steven Seltzer, at Windsor Pavilion, 2451 Windsor Road. | Email oakbayconnector@gmail.com to submit questions or get more info. | | | PHOTO OF THE WEEK |
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|  | Image credit: Mary McArthur |
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