| 🌲 Oak Bay Holiday Schedule in Effect from Saturday, Dec. 21- 6am to Friday, Jan. 3, 2025 - 10:30pm. All Oak Bay Parks, Recreation, and Culture buildings and offices operate according to the Holiday Schedule Dec. 21 - Jan. 3, 2025. | 🎅 Breakfast with Santa at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, started Sunday, Dec. 1, and continues every Sunday through Dec. 22. On Dec. 23 as well, same time, 10am-1:30pm. Space is limited and reservations are required. Bookings can be made here. | 🚪Oak Bay announces holiday closure schedule. The Oak Bay Municipal Hall will close for the holidays on Tuesday, Dec. 24 at 2pm. It will remain closed until Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, when it reopens at 8:30am. | 🍾 New Year’s Eve Dinner & Dance with The Soul Shakers. Join them on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 7:30 pm for a night of great music, delicious food, and dancing at the Upstairs Lounge, Oak Bay Recreation Centre. Get tickets while they last! |
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| IN THE NEWS | 🏘 Oak Bay draws provincial attention as housing targets remain ‘way off’. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says he will appoint an adviser to help the District of Oak Bay meet its housing targets unless the district can convince him they can be met. Oak Bay is mandated to build 56 units under new provincial requirements and so far, has completed 16. [Times Colonist] | ☃ What’s it like to live in a Hallmark movie? Business Insider features a resident who describes what it’s like to live in a Canadian town where many Hallmark movies are filmed, and cites the village’s artisanal shops and restaurants, the Oak Bay Beach Hotel’s coziness, and the jaw-dropping Oak Bay views. [Business Insider] | 👏 Celebrate Oak Bay youth by nominating them for a YES Award 2025. The District of Oak Bay Young Exceptional Star Committee is hosting the Annual Young Exceptional Star (YES) Awards, which recognize the accomplishments of youth from grades six and up in the Oak Bay area. Students who attend schools in the Oak Bay District or those who have an Oak Bay address, as well as those attending private school or who are receiving a home school education, are all eligible for consideration. [District of Oak Bay] | 🛍 Estevan Village in December is a showcase of wonderful wares and local delights. [Oak Bay Tourism] | 🎼 Make music part of your journey in 2025! Join group classes at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Open to all—perfect for beginners or advancing musicians.* | *Sponsored Listing | Are you planning anything special over the holidays? | | | 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 | | New Oak Bay locals from Afghanistan seek seasonal recommendations. | What are your favourite things to do around Oak Bay and Victoria during the festive season? A family of newcomers from Afghanistan is celebrating its first winter season living in Oak Bay.
The family is looking for recommendations of all kinds, and some suggestions include: | Lights in Centennial Square Gingerbread house display at Hotel Grand Pacific Christmas trees in Bay Centre A walk through the Empress (just to see it decorated) A walk around Uptown A visit to Old Town at the Royal BC Museum
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| | More popular posts | Sights of Willows Beach after the wind storm. Can anyone recommend a local contractor? A throwback to the bees and blooms of this past summer as we approach winter solstice. Is anyone looking for last-minute stocking stuffers?
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| Looking for the man with the best Brie in town | A local reached out to the group in search of a photo of Manu, who purportedly has had the best Brie in town for more than 30 years, and would often stop in at Athlone Court each week to sell his Brie and Camembert. One local said Manu “used to ride around Oak Bay and town on his bicycle with his French cheese basket, [and he would be] wearing his French beret and striped shirt.” There haven’t been any photos posted to the thread—as one local said, “It was the 90s” and most people didn’t carry cameras around everywhere. The original poster is hopeful someone eventually will track a picture down. | Some said he started maybe 30 years ago, and several commented that he still makes his rounds to government offices from time to time. One local said the first time they met Manu, he was making pastries, and riding his bicycle with a big basket full of goodies—and as always, with a smile! | | |
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| IN OTHER NEWS |  | Image credit: Tulip Noire Clothing |
| Tulipe Noire Clothing up for sale | Oak Bay business Tulipe Noire Clothing is for sale by its owner, Kari, who has run and nurtured the business for more than 20 years. Kari says it’s a profitable enterprise that has steady sales all year round, and she plans to retire. Dozens of customers have attested to the shop’s strong reputation, quality and wonderful staff. | Do you have kind words to share? | |
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| | | | PHOTO OF THE WEEK |  | Image credit: Mary McArthur |
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