♒ Navigating murky Oak Bay water

COMMUNITY EVENTS

🎶 Summer Concerts in the Park with Clanna Morna takes place on Thursday, July 18 from 6-8pm at Willows Park in the grassy area. Comprised of an ensemble of multi-instrumentalists, their collective musicianship and attention to detail contribute to a unique audience experience featuring both familiar and lesser known folk ballads and tunes.

🎩 Best dressed dog contest at Oaklands Sunset Market is on Wednesday, July 17 from 4:30-8pm. All you need to do is dress up your pooch and snap a pic at the market. You'll be entered to win a gift basket from Bosley's! While you're there, enjoy all the dog-themed vendors and say hi to other fluffy friends!

🚗 Oak Bay Collector Car Festival will be held on Sunday, July 21 from 8am to 3pm on Oak Bay Avenue. Collector car owners and enthusiasts of all makes and vintages are invited to bring their cars to Oak Bay Avenue to be enjoyed by visitors and locals alike. Thinking of joining? Pre-register here to guarantee a spot.

🌚 Oak Bay Night Market is on Wednesday, August 14 from 4-8pm. Markets will continue on every second Wednesday through September where Oak Bay Village transforms into a European-style street market with fresh and local produce, food and artisanal goods. More info here.

🧘🏻‍♀️ Summer Yoga in Abkhazi Garden will take place on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30pm for $15 per class. Email Kaitlyn at omoutsideyoga@gmail.com to reserve your spot!

COMMUNITY NEWS

🌺 Veteran charity walker John Hillman, dies at 105. Hillman was known for having walked laps around his Oak Bay retirement home every year on his birthday, raising hundreds of thousands in support of Save the Children Canada. [CBC News]

📚 Oak Bay Library branch reopens amid unsolved alleged maggot mystery. The branch reopened after maggots and larvae were discovered in the room housing the 24-hour book return on June 28, according to spokesperson Kelly Ridgway. [Oak Bay News]

📈 6.4 magnitude earthquake recorded off Vancouver Island. There is no threat of a tsunami according to Emergency Info B.C. The earthquakes are part of a cluster off of Tofino, which began after 8am on Thursday, July 11. [CTV News]

🏘 Victoria Foundation to distribute record number of grants to organizations in Greater Victoria. The Community Grants Program will distribute over $6.1 million to 252 organizations throughout the South Island to meet the growing needs in the community as non-profits continue to experience increasing demand. [Oak Bay News]

🐕 Royal Roads business students are planning a stick library as part of a project to benefit the Victoria Pet Adoption Agency. The project is looking for a site, potentially near a dog park. Learn more about hosting the dog library on the Island EcoTails. [Oak Bay News]

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Should controversial topics be discussed on Oak Bay Local?

Oak Bay locals have been discussing whether or not controversial issues should be open for discussion on a community forum such as Oak Bay Local. While the community guidelines are clear, including banning users for harassment and discrimination, once in a while, admins are stumped as to whether or not certain threads of discussion should be permitted to be visible. War tends to divide communities, friends and families, with tensions running high and morality being questioned, even among people who otherwise care very much about each other as individuals.

One user aptly said “[b]e respectful and these types of conversations are OK. Respect each others' differences and conduct in a positive manner and controversy can create a ‘healthy debate’." Others have said that they prefer to keep the forum free of divisive topics, as online forums can turn toxic in a way that is less likely to occur in person with one user saying “[s]ocial media might be the worst place to have controversial conversations….absolute worst.”

What do you think? Should Oak Bay Local include controversial topics as long as discussions are respectful? Or should we restrict this type of content?

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The brown “muck” floating around in the water at Willows

An Oak Bay local reached out to the group looking for information about what the brown and white substances are that are floating around in the water at Willows Beach. Some knowledgeable locals said that while the water is typically clear in winter, warmer weather creates brown algae blooms and other organic matter that has a tendency to gather in certain spots that make the water look murky. As unpleasant as it looks, it is safe, despite the debris. Still not convinced? Check out the Island Health advisory notices on water quality monitoring.

IN OTHER NEWS

Emily Carr inspired plein air sketching class

To celebrate Historic Places Days, there will be a sketching class on Saturday, July 12 from 10am to 12pm inspired by the gardens at Carr House and the artistic technique of plein air that Emily Carr used. Learn from local artist Helga Strauss Stevens and sketch the original grapevine planted by the Carr family, or the beautiful flowers in bloom🌸🌼🌿! All supplies will be provided, so just bring yourself and your friends!

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

“A kindly and humane person...truly deserving of the titles gentleman and veteran with his sense of duty to others. He loved the opportunity to ride in a vintage Jaguar that was the same as he remembered from his youth.”

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