| COMMUNITY EVENTS | 😴 Oak Bay Parks & Recreation posted their holiday schedule, which will take effect Saturday, Dec. 23 until Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. | 🌲 Elgin Yard Waste Depot posted their holiday schedule. They will be closed on Monday, Dec. 25, Tuesday, Dec. 26, and Monday, Jan. 1. | 🍽 Christmas Dinner at Oak Bay Beach Hotel on Monday, Dec. 25. Starting at 5pm you can enjoy a three-course meal and wine pairing for $199. |
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| | COMMUNITY NEWS | 🐟 A special council meeting discussed the future of Bowker Creek. Several councillors spoke in favour of prioritizing the creek in 2024 as part of erosion mitigation efforts, but ultimately most determined that McNeill Bay required more urgent attention this coming year. Bowker Creek remains on the review list for 2025. [District of Oak Bay] | 💵 Oak Bay Secondary School is set to receive some funding for extracurricular youth activities thanks to the more than $1.5 million in provincial Community Gaming Grants, which will be going to several other programs as well. [Capital Daily] | 💗 A year after wedding in palliative care, an Oak Bay couple reports cancer reprieve. In 2022 Dennis Stacey was rushed from a hike to the ER and diagnosed with a heart tumour. He proposed to his partner immediately, and they were married within hours. Now after heart surgery and experimental treatments, he's still cancer-free. [CTV News] | ❄️ Ivy's Bookshop’s creative window display on the avenue has some great kids experiences. Children can complete the hide and seek to win a little treat. Can you spot some favourite kids book characters in the snowy scene? [Oak Bay Local] | 💘 Love is Blind cast from the fourth season spent last Christmas in Oak Bay. One of the cast members of the Netflix show, Chelsea Griffin, recently posted some photos on Instagram from the group’s stay at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel last year. | 🧦 An Oak Bay volunteer is looking for help to put together 151 stockings (stuffers) for residents at a local care home. Several locals are gathering items like deodorant, adult colouring books and other supplies. [Oak Bay Local] | 🐈 Need a cat sitter over the holidays? If so, you may be in luck, because The Cat Fairy has some extra cat boarding or house sitting spots available. [Oak Bay Local] | Are you heading out of town this holiday season? | | | 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 | Oak Bay Seniors support local Grade 5 student | One Oak Bay local posted a heartwarming story about a local fifth grader who has been writing letters to the residents of Carlton House. This is his second year of writing cards, and some of the letters have led to some very profound exchanges, and support through trials and tribulations, wishes and dreams. | One resident sent him a piece of art that is now his “favourite gift of all time” which took her a week to create. The boy now counts several of the residents among his closest friends. Have you found friendships in the community in unexpected places? | |
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| | | Whether to cut ties with cable TV | Several Oak Bay locals were discussing whether now was the time to cut their cable services, in favour of streaming. While this trend extends well beyond Oak Bay, locals were discussing the pros and cons of the different services available. One local said it basically boils down to what your TV watching preferences are. Judging from the thread, Oak Bay community members show a strong preference toward British TV programs, which can be seen on ACORN TV, which costs about $10 a month. | Locals recommended becoming a member of the Knowledge Network or PBS where you can use the streaming service. Other services like Pluto TV allows watchers to view a lot of American networks where you can watch shows that are ad supported. Others recommended Kanopy, which is available for free through the library if you have a library card. What services work for your household? | |
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| | SPONSORED BY MURRAY RANKIN MLA | | Finding a cure | Did you know this month marked International Day of People with Disabilities? Recently, MLA Murray Rankin met Simon, and wanted to highlight the amazing work he does to share his experience with disabilities, raise awareness within our community, and fundraise towards curing MPS! Hear more about his powerful message here! |
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| | IN OTHER NEWS | | Ringing the bell on the Avenue | Hazel Braithwaite and Kevin Murdoch rung the bell on the Avenue from 11am to 12 noon on Thursday. Come by on Saturday from from 10-11am to see Lorna Curtis. | Hope you have time to drop by and say hello! | |
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| | | PHOTO OF THE WEEK |  | Photo credit: Neil Dickie |
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