COMMUNITY EVENTS | ☀️ Critical Mass Ride Oak Bay: Join with family and friends in support of safer cycling routes in Oak Bay. The ride will begin on the UVic campus and will end at the Oak Bay Municipal Hall on Monday, April 22 from 5-6pm. | 🌿 No Ivy League: Ivy removal in Uplands Park will take place on Sundays in April and May from 1-3pm. Meet Friends at Uplands Park at the Dorset/Lincoln entrance off Beach Drive. All tools, gloves and instructions will be provided—including refreshments at the end. | 🌳 City Nature Challenge - Uplands Park is taking place on Saturday, April 27 from 1-3:30pm. The event will be held in Uplands Park, Beach Drive Grassy Field at Cattle Point Entrance Road and will include captivating nature walks and provide an opportunity to connect with the biodiversity in the area. | 💜 Camas Day Celebration will be held at Cattle Point - Uplands Park on Sunday, May 5 from 2 to 3:30pm to celebrate the renewal of spring. There is no cost to attend, but donations will be accepted to support restoring Uplands Park. |
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| | COMMUNITY NEWS | ⛱ Emerson returns to Oak Bay yet again. After being relocated four times, the now famous, moulting elephant seal was once again spotted sunning his body near a busy walkway at McNeill Bay beach. DFO is once again reminding the public to let him moult in peace after receiving several reports that people and pets continue to approach him. [CBC News] | 🐟 Willows Elementary students launch fry into Bowker Creek. The Friends of Bowker Creek salmon recovery project saw the lowest chum salmon return on record in Goldstream River in fall 2023. Other classroom programs are hopeful for more returns this year. [Oak Bay News] | 🏞 Oak Bay is encouraging residents to take the Carnarvon Park Survey to help refresh the master plan and share thoughts on the options for the main building. The survey is open until May 10. [District of Oak Bay] | 👮🏻♂️ Oak Bay Police are offering fraud presentations, including an overview of common fraud schemes, scam prevention and a Q&A. A recent forum was hosted at Shannon Oaks Baptist Housing. Interested in hosting an event? Contact Oak Bay Police. [Oak Bay Police] | 📭 Could Oak Bay see Canada Post, other federal properties become housing? Under pressure to ease the housing crunch, the idea was included as an option in this week’s federal budget, as housing crunch continues. [The Canadian Press] | 🏆️ Oak Bay’s best restaurants: The list of finalists is out for the 2024 Tasting Victoria Awards, make sure you vote for all your favourite Oak Bay spots! [Vote] | | P.S. Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe here. |
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| | PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT | To join the conversation, become a member of the Oak Bay Local Facebook Group | Speeding issues in Oak Bay | Speeding drivers were once again a hot topic of conversation on Oak Bay Local this week. The original post begged Oak Bay drivers to stick to the speed limits. Some discussed an unwritten rule that 10 kilometres over the speed limit was considered acceptable, while others reminded neighbours of the dangers to pedestrians and children who are out walking or biking, even at the current posted speed limit. Others said that the difference of 10kms could mean the difference in someone losing their life if they were hit by a driver in a car. | Do you feel speeding is an issue in Oak Bay? | | |
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| | | Heritage preservation concerns | An Oak Bay local reached out with their concerns after hearing of plans to demolish a unique heritage building in Fairfield, amid ongoing efforts by the provincial and federal governments to meet housing targets. The building has unique stonework on its exterior and many in the community feel a connection to the “sweet little building” and knew the former owners, who no doubt had to grapple with difficult decisions before putting the property up for sale. | The discussion sparked concerns for Oak Bay as well, with some saying that the push to build more, and densify spaces will not ultimately meet the needs of the missing middle, and is instead being driven by greed. Other said they feel the decision is necessary, as the need for housing outweighs the desire to keep quirky old structures like this one. Other commenters argued for a need for a balanced approach, with one saying they walk by this particular building, with its rooftop covered in tulips, every day and fear the changing character of the neighbourhood, particularly if its replaced by “another expensive condo.” | |
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| | | | | PHOTO OF THE WEEK |  | Photo credit: Margret Orme |
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