💪🏽 What do Oak Bay locals fight about?

COMMUNITY EVENTS

🎭 Bazaar is hosted by Friends of Monterey Centre and will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 9am to 1pm. Find everything from knitwear, sewing, crafts, silver and china, to records, books, Christmas decorations, puzzles, games and more.

🎃 Spooky Woodland Walk is on Thursday, Oct. 31 from 3:30 to 6pm at the Monterey Centre. The walk leads young children through an enchanted woodland, full of pumpkins and critters, to Monterey Recreation Centre. Once inside, enjoy a family friendly, easy dinner, with activities and washrooms. Kids can even enter to win a free family drop-in admission to Oak Bay Recreation.

👻 Trick-or-Treating in the Village. Over 50 businesses from Foul Bay Road to Monterey Avenue will be ready to welcome trick-or-treaters, on Thursday, Oct. 31, beginning at 4pm. Look for the pumpkin poster in the window of participating businesses.

COMMUNITY NEWS

🏞 While BC election count continues, Oak Bay Gordon Head was won handily by NDP’s Diana Gibson 

Nearly a week after a soggy election day, the NDP are neck and neck with the Conservatives and the final election outcome will remain unclear for a number of days. Preliminary counts have them at 46 and 45 seats respectively, with the Greens winning 2 seats that they could use to tip either party (though presumably the NDP, as in 2017) to the 47 needed to win votes in the Legislature.

Diana Gibson, known for leading local research nonprofit the Community Social Planning Council, maintained the NDP's hold on the riding formerly represented by the outgoing Murray Rankin and before him then-Green-leader Andrew Weaver. Gibson defeated Conservative Stephen Andrew, the former Victoria councillor who lost his 2022 effort to become mayor, and Green deputy leader Lisa Gunderson.

“Oak Bay-Gordon Head has stood up and said we are not going to have negative divisiveness. We’re going to have positivity, hope. We really said not today to Trump-style politics, not on our watch.”

Gibson said the results of the night really represented a disconnect between what the polls were saying and what she was seeing on the doorsteps. “People are really stepping up to say these are the values we share.”

“The connections that I have built as a community organizer and in my work, both volunteer and professional, are the things that make a good MLA. I think it's really important as MLA to really know the riding and to know the community.” [Capital Daily]

🚨 Oak Bay Police investigating after eight vehicles were ‘keyed’ some time Sunday night. Police say that in the overnight hours of Oct. 20, eight vehicles along the 1200, 1500 and 1600 blocks of Monterey Avenue were vandalized, with significant damage. They are still looking for a clear description of the perpetrator. [Oak Bay Police]

📖 Pulitzer-prize winning author Richard Powers will read from his new novel Playground at the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre on Oct. 28. The event is hosted by Munro's Books. The story is an epic tale of love, friendship, and humanity’s next great adventure. [Oak Bay News]

🌿 Oak Bay Climate Force seeks actions to revitalize Bowker Creek. The group seeks signatures as part of Nature Canada’s initiative to help get natural parks in urban cities, saying the implications directly or indirectly for the revitalization of Bowker Creek can’t be underestimated. [Oak Bay Climate Force]

🐕‍🦺 Capture fall photos of your dog surrounded by the beautiful Victoria colours. Contact Shelly Welch Photography to book the perfect autumn session for your furbaby.*

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What do locals argue about?

An Oak Bay local posted a light-hearted question to the group about what topics are most likely to get people riled up in the community. Check out the survey below to see the suggested options.

SPONSORED BY VICTORIA FOUNDATION, COAST CAPITAL, AND NICOLA WEALTH

Victoria's 2024 Vital Signs report is online

Greater Victoria's community report card is here.

And you can read it online! Victoria's 2024 Vital Signs report snapshots the quality of life in the region, as perceived by the residents, themselves.

Twelve key issue areas are graded from A+ to F, including housing, education, arts, and more.

Delve into the findings on a new and interactive digital Vital Signs platform!

More popular posts

Problems with the new multi-stop on Estevan

One local shared their thoughts and frustrations with the new multi-stop on Estevan Avenue and Musgrave, which many locals have called an “accident waiting to happen”. Several commenters have echoed these issues after having seen many drivers frequently failing to stop, and driving right through the the stop sign.

Some believe that a roundabout design would better serve the area, and calm traffic in this dangerous spot. Others have said it’s a lot safer than it used to be, even if people don’t all stop, at least it more than there once was. What do you think?

SPONSORED BY OTTAVIO ITALIAN BAKERY AND DELICATESSEN

Warm drinks for cool autumn days!

The cold weather means it is a perfect time to come by Ottavio in Oak Bay for a cozy drink and some sweet treats! Ottavio is open seven days a week for dining in the cafe and shopping in the deli. See you there!

IN OTHER NEWS

Triple Threat Performers will be returning to the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre at Oak Bay High with another musical production! Les Miserables runs from November 21 to 24 and features 41 incredible local youth performers. Check out the trailer for a peek at the show.

Community support makes all the difference in their ability to continue creating theatre, and they want to thank the community in advance for supporting the show.

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