Good morning, Oak Bay. Last year a mother and daughter started selling books out of a little truck. Now they have a shop on Estevan Avenue. Meant Well Books is my pick for a Thanksgiving wander. It's run by a mum and her ten-year-old, and one of them still has homework due. They're already hosting an after-hours book tasting: five mystery books paired with five B.C. wines, with clues to help you guess the books. The Oct. 17 event is sold out. I can see why. For this weekend: browse the new shop, then walk down to Willows. Four more plans below, plus twelve places to eat if you'd rather someone else made dinner. One thing to do tonight: move the car if you're parked on Sunday's marathon course. Towing starts at 12:01 a.m. The Oak Bay Local team |
 Photo · Meant Well Books |
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Five plans for the long weekend |
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| 📚 | The book truck has put down roots |
| Meant Well Books opened its first shop last weekend at 2534 Estevan Avenue. The mother-and-daughter business began with a book truck in June 2025; the daughter inspired the logo, too. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thanksgiving Sunday has reduced hours, so check before heading over. |
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| Any day this weekend. Start at Willows Park, at Dalhousie Street and Beach Drive, and follow the oceanside walkway towards Cattle Point. No ticket or booking. The park has a playground and washrooms if you have children along. |
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| 🎃 | Pick a pumpkin at Galey Farms |
| Saturday to Monday, Oct. 10 to 12. Pumpkinfest runs in the daytime at 4150 Blenkinsop Road, with a corn maze and train rides. Tickets required; pumpkins are sold on site. Choose a date on the booking page for times and prices. Children two and under are free. |
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| Oak Bay Recreation Centre, 1975 Bee Street. Monday, Oct. 12: Everyone Welcome Skate, 1:30 to 3 p.m., then Everyone Welcome Swim, 3 to 5 p.m. Rather go earlier in the weekend? Swims run Saturday, Oct. 10, 9 to 11:30 a.m., and Sunday, Oct. 11, 9 a.m. to noon. |
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| Sunday, Oct. 11. Find a spot on the Royal Victoria Marathon's route map and walk over to watch. Runners and walkers will be on the roads from about 7 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., with roads reopening as the course clears. Check the map before choosing your spot. |
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Where to take your visitors Bennies on latkes. Khao soi on Estevan.  Photo · FARO · Oak Bay Beach Hotel |
One reader's survey request was just three words: 'A restaurant column.' Others asked for prices and deals. That tells me a restaurant guide needs to help you decide where to spend your money. These twelve Oak Bay restaurants and cafés come with menus and a map, so you can check the bill before committing. Useful if you've got visitors this weekend, or you've had enough of cooking. The part I'd like your help with is what to order. Hit reply with the place we missed and the dish you'd send a friend there for. Find somewhere to eat. Sources · Oak Bay Local |
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Your weekend Move the car, then enjoy the weekend If your car is on Sunday's marathon course, move it before midnight. Towing starts at 12:01 a.m. Today, Oct. 10: no parking on the race route from 5 a.m. to noon, with full closures for setup, the 5K and the kids' run. Tomorrow, Oct. 11: expect race traffic from 7 a.m. to about 3:15 p.m. Roads reopen gradually as the course clears. Both lanes of Newport Avenue beside Windsor Park remain open on Sunday. Check the Saturday and Sunday closure maps. Send them to anyone coming over for dinner, too. Sources · Royal Victoria Marathon |
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| 🗳️ | Meet the school trustee candidates |
| Tuesday, Oct. 13 · 7 p.m. Hosted by the Community Association of Oak Bay at Dave Dunnet Community Theatre, 2121 Cadboro Bay Road. |
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| 📚 | Storytime, then stay and play |
| Wednesday, Oct. 14, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., at the Oak Bay library branch. Stories, songs, rhymes and puppets, followed by play. For young children with an adult. Drop in; space is limited. |
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| ✍️ | Let a woodblock print start the story |
| Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1 to 4 p.m., at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 1040 Moss Street. Write poetry or prose inspired by Japanese woodblock prints, with local writers leading the session. From $22.73; gallery admission included. |
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| 🎃 | A pumpkin can do more than sit on the doorstep |
| Saturday, Oct. 17, 3 to 4 p.m., at GARDENWORKS Oak Bay, 2040 Oak Bay Avenue. A free session on cooking sweet and savoury pumpkin dishes. Register ahead. |
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| Sunday, Oct. 18 · 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. Oak Bay Arena. Sponsored by the Oak Bay Firefighters Charitable Foundation. |
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The Halloween outing I'd book Phantom of the Opera, scored live The 1925 silent film on screen, David Briggs at the cathedral organ, making up the score as it plays. That's the Halloween ticket I'd choose. Friday, Oct. 30, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Christ Church Cathedral, 911 Quadra Street, on its newly restored Wolff organ. $30 general or $10 student, plus fees. Christ Church Cathedral |
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Health & the election The Lodge site gets a $90-million campaign promise Two weeks ago, we told you the former Oak Bay Lodge site had a 'plan to make a plan.' This week, it got a $90-million campaign promise. On Oct. 5, David Eby announced that a re-elected BC NDP government would contribute $90 million toward a health and seniors' care hub on Cadboro Bay Road. The party says the project could include long-term care, hospice and respite care, adult day programs and primary care. The mix of services is still being worked out with Island Health. September's planning agreement did not approve a redevelopment project or establish a budget. Further planning, funding approvals and provincial endorsement are still required. Read the campaign announcement and Island Health's explanation of the planning agreement. Sources · BC NDP campaign announcement · Island Health |
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Your voting guide, in one place Who's on your ballot? Compare the fourteen declared local candidates before you vote, and check how many names you can mark. You can vote early on Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Monterey Recreation Centre. Municipal voting day is Oct. 17. The separate provincial election is Oct. 24. Oak Bay Local |
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Paid election advertising Oak Bay Neighbourhood Network Go beyond campaign ads, leaflets and websites and see where the Council candidates stand on issues that matter. In their own words. Authorized by Oak Bay Neighbourhood Network (OBNN), registered sponsor under LECFA, connect@obnn.ca Local ads help keep Oak Bay Local free. Become a partner |
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Neighbours helping neighbours What's pinned up around the village |
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Posters from around Oak Bay. Tap any to open the source. |
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From the Oak Bay Local group October, through your eyes |
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Autumn colour on the Avenue, company at Willows and a few turkeys of a different kind. Three views shared by our neighbours this week. The Avenue has changed into its October colours. Mary McArthur caught the canopy above the shops. |
A little company at Willows Beach. Dave Nicholson photographed these river otters in the water. |
Turkeys above Oak Bay, too. Gillian Cornwall spotted turkey vultures circling overhead. |
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Taking visitors to one of the places in the guide this weekend? Tell us how it went. We'd love a recommendation we can pass along.
Happy Thanksgiving. See you next Saturday. The Oak Bay Local team |
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