COMMUNITY EVENTS | 🌳 Tree planting in Oak Bay. Oak Bay Parks will be providing trees and shrubs and are hoping volunteers will join them on Nov. 16 from 10am to noon to plant them along Beach Drive. The site is approximately 500 metres south of the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, on the other side of the street. | 🎨 The 25th Annual Oak Bay Artists' Fall Studio Tour will take place at the Monterey Recreation Centre and private artists' home studios on Saturday, Nov. 16 and Sunday, Nov. 17 between 10am and 4pm. More details and a map of the tour are available here. | ❄ Kids Winter Craft Market on Sunday, Nov. 17 from 1:30-4:30pm at the Oaklands Community Centre. Youth vendors have been working hard to create art, jewelry, gadgets, and more. | ⛄️ Artisan Holiday pop-up market will be held at the Monterey Recreation Centre on Saturday, Nov. 16 from 10:30am to 1:30pm. Find one-of-a-kind gifts and personal treasures, including organic soaps, knitwear, candles, baked goods and more. |
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| | COMMUNITY NEWS | 🏠 Oak Bay lags behind provincial housing targets, while Victoria is ahead of schedule. In September 2023, the provincial government set housing targets for 10 municipalities in an effort to address the housing shortage, including Victoria, Saanich and Oak Bay on the island. Oak Bay was given the target of 664 units in five years, with the goal of completing 56 units at the end of the first year, when it only managed to complete 16. [CHEK] | ☕️ Cafe Olive Olio in Cadboro Bay set to close its doors after 30 years. Owner and operator William Hall reflected on the many years serving coffee and connecting with the community in Oak Bay. [Oak Bay News] | 🏫 Agenda for Oak Bay’s Committee of the Whole includes infill housing program recommendations and approach. Monday’s event will be live streamed and the full agenda is available to view here. [District of Oak Bay] | 🚧 District of Oak Bay encourages residents to ‘adopt a catch basin’. To prevent flooding, the district is asking ‘adopters’ to be responsible for a local catch basin, and to clear leaves and debris throughout the fall and winter. [District of Oak Bay] | 🌧 Cloudy weather with showers expected in Oak Bay this weekend. The Weather Network says residents should expect light rain and gusty wind over the next couple of days. [The Weather Network] | 🍰 Ottavio is getting ready for the holiday season! Their highly coveted Panettone Christmas cakes are back in several flavours— come try Christmas the Italian way.* | 🚗 Shop local this holiday season! Enjoy free parking at downtown parkades on November 16 and 23 courtesy of the Downtown Victoria Business Association.* | *Sponsored Listing | | 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 | | Old stone homes from the Oak Bay archives | Oak Bay locals have been discussing the history of two old stone homes, which are in the process of being demolished on Beach Drive. While the new private owners’ future plans for the sites remain uncertain, locals have been researching the history of the homes, and have found many interesting photos of the old stone homes. Check it out here. | | |
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| SPONSORED BY VICTORIA FOUNDATION | | Podcast: Enrich your life, become a volunteer | Lisa Mort-Putland from Volunteer Victoria has a few things to say about how to enrich your life. | "From learning essential skills to building relationships, volunteering has a pivotal role to play in our region. It strengthens our vital services while boosting the wellbeing of volunteers, themselves." | This month, the Vital Victoria Podcast delves into Lisa's personal story and how to make an impact through volunteering! |
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| | | Dogs chasing deer in the community | Locals have once again been discussing the issue of off leash dogs in Oak Bay. This time, one local reported seeing a mid-sized dog running along Beach Drive and back to the Uplands while chasing deer. While the original commenter stated that they tried to step in and help, several commenters suggested this was unsafe, and aside from ensuring all dogs are on leash in the community, many didn’t seem surprised at the sight. | | Do you often see deer being chased in the community? | | |
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| SPONSORED BY CFAX SANTAS | | Every child remembers that one special Christmas gift... | CFAX Santas Anonymous Society’s Virtual Tree of Wishes is a magical interactive platform where donors and volunteers work together to provide that special gift a local child wished for! | We currently have 2,311 children registered, each receiving two gifts. Once you donate, our volunteers do the shopping locally for you! A tax receipt will be emailed to you for your generous gift. | Food hampers and grocery cards will be matched by Mrs. Jo Campbell and family! |
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| | IN OTHER NEWS |  | Photo credit: Barbara Jane Pilling |
| ‘Tis the season for limited holiday baking orders… | An Oak Bay local is now taking limited orders for holiday baking. Orders are sold in bundles, and include a decadent assortment of pies, cakes cookies and more. Spots are limited! | |
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| | | | | | PHOTO OF THE WEEK |  | Image credit: Mary McArthur |
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