Goldstream Gazette — Notices and related articles (excerpt)

Sooke teachers say proper masks, better ventilation also needed

Comments follow announcement of vaccine mandate in SD62 Bailey Moreton
News Staff

The Sooke School District’s newly announced vaccine mandate falls short as an effort to keep staff and students safe.

So says the Sooke Teachers Association, which said teachers are still dealing with a lack of available N95 masks and substandard ventilation systems.

“Vaccinations are an important line of de- fense, but only one of many available to us. So much more still needs to be done to address Sooke teachers’ health and safety concerns,” association president Jennifer Anderson said in a statement. “What they need to feel safe is for immediate, tangible action to be taken to ad- dress the outstanding safety issues, particularly around ventilation and access to N95 masks.”

Out of 28 schools in SD62, only two cur- rently have ventilation systems that meet the province’s minimum standard of MERV-13 filters, according to Anderson.

“Our teachers are putting themselves at risk every day going into their schools and feel utterly unsupported by the district,” she said. “It’s wearing them down in a way I’ve never seen before, and I am growing increasingly concerned with the high rates of teacher burn- out, and the likelihood of us facing a real crisis around replacement teacher shortages.”

SD62 board chair Ravi Parmar announced Monday a vaccine mandate would come into effect as of March 7 for all staff, citing the recent surge in Omicron cases, and consultations with staff and parents. Plans are in motion to have a rapid testing system available by then, so teachers who have an exemption or cannot provide proof of vaccination can be tested weekly and continue to work.

The district needs to expedite plans to make rapid testing kits available, Anderson added.

Parmar also noted there were times in the past month where qualified educators from the board office had to step in because the teachers-on-call list had been depleted.

Staff working at Spencer Middle School in Langford and all other Sooke School District facilities must be able to prove they are vaccinated by March 7, or agree to take weekly rapid COVID tests, or risk being placed on extraordinary leave. (Black Press Media file photo)

Capital Regional District — Notice

Water Main Flushing

The water main flushing program will be undertaken in various areas of View Royal and Sooke between January 17 and May 27, 2022.

The annual water main flushing program removes sediments that accumulate in the water mains in order to maintain good water quality. During the flushing, short periods of low water pressure and discolouration can be expected. If you would like advance notice of flushing in your area, simply call CRD Integrated Water Services at 250.474.9619 between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

CRD accepts no liability for the inconvenience or damage caused by low pressure or discoloured water use during flushing.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

www.crd.bc.ca/waterflushing

City of Langford — Notice of Public Hearing

All persons who believe that their interest in property is affected by the proposed Bylaws will be afforded an opportunity to be heard by presenting written submissions prior to 3 pm on the day of the Public Hearing or by making oral submissions at the Public Hearing. Please be advised that no submission may be received by Council after the close of the Public Hearing and any submissions made to Council, whether orally or in writing, will form part of the public record.

Meeting Date and Time
22 February 2022, 5:30 pm

Meeting Place
City Hall Council Chambers, Third Floor, 877 Goldstream Avenue

Council will not answer questions about the proposal or proposed bylaws except to provide clarification. The purpose of the Public Hearing is for Council to hear the views and opinions of those members of the public who wish to make comments. Please have all your questions answered in advance of the Public Hearing by contacting the Planning Department as noted below.

The Agenda, including material that Council may consider in relation to the bylaws, will be posted to the City’s website: https://www.langford.ca/city-hall/agendas-and-minutes/ the Friday afternoon before the public hearing.

Correspondence may be submitted, in writing to planning@langford.ca or by mail to Langford City Hall, 2nd Floor, 877 Goldstream Avenue, Langford, BC, V9B 2X8. You may also contact the Planning Department at (250) 478-7882.

Marie Watmough
Acting Director of Corporate Services
https://www.cityoflangford.ca/

Teleconference # 1-855-703-8985 (Canada Toll Free) OR 1-778-907-2071 (long distance charges may apply)
Meeting ID #886 4630 6785 – Zoom.us or Zoom app on your mobile device

PLEASE NOTE: This meeting will be held electronically, and not in-person. Information about how to connect to this meeting is indicated in the table below.

---

Bylaw No. 1989 and 1990

Location: 1253, 1265, 1277, 1289, and 1300 Valemount Court as shown shaded below

• The purpose of Bylaw No. 1989 is to amend the City of Langford Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1200 by amending the designation of 1253, 1265, 1277, 1289, and 1300 Valemount Court from ‘Hillside or Shoreline” to ‘Business or Light Industrial’.
• The purpose of Bylaw No. 1990 is to amend the Zoning Bylaw No. 300 by amending the Zoning Designation of 1300 Valemount Court from Attached Housing (RM2A) to Business Park – Sooke Road West (BP2A) and by Amending the Zoning Designation of 1253, 1265, 1277, and 1289 Valemount Court from Rural Residential (RR5) to Business Park – Sooke Road West (BP2A).

---

Bylaw No. 2032

Location: 2822, 2824, and 2828 Jacklin Road as shown shaded below

Purpose: To amend the City of Langford Zoning Bylaw No. 300 by amending the designation of the subject properties from One- and Two-Family Residential (R2) to City Centre Pedestrian (CCP) to allow for a multi-storey mixed-use building.

(Repeat connection details for electronic meeting)
Teleconference # 1-855-703-8985 (Canada Toll Free) OR 1-778-907-2071 (long distance charges may apply)
Meeting ID #886 4630 6785 – Zoom.us or Zoom app on your mobile device

Council will not answer questions about the proposal or proposed bylaw except to provide clarification. The purpose of the Public Hearing is for Council to hear the views and opinions of those members of the public who wish to make comments. Please have all your questions answered in advance of the Public Hearing by contacting the Planning Department as noted above.

Marie Watmough
Acting Director of Corporate Services
https://www.cityoflangford.ca/

Victoria duo bring cardiology testing to patients

Jane Skrypnek
News Staff

A fledgling mobile cardiology testing service founded by two Victoria women comes from the heart.

Working as cardiologists for the last decade, friends Chelsea Brown and Jas Gill said they were often struck by the number of people who didn’t make it to appointments because transportation, mobility or time restrictions prevented them from getting to the clinic. The COVID-19 pandemic only made the problem worse.

In October, Brown and Gill decided to do something about it. They launched Island Mobile Cardiology Testing, with the promise of meeting patients wherever they’re at and making cardiac testing accessible for everyone. They’re currently serving patients between Duncan and Victoria.

“We’ve had clients of all ages, from young adults to 100 year olds, people with known cardiac issues that are being monitored …, people with new symptoms that we’re trying to catch … and people on methadone treatment that we’re assessing to ensure they can continue their treatment,” Brown said.

If requested by a doctor or nurse practitioner, the services are completely covered by B.C.’s medical services plan. Brown and Gill cover their own transport costs.

The duo hope to reduce stress for patients during a time when accessing health care is often challenging. The service operates Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information can be found at mobilecardio.ca.

Other items appearing on these pages

• We are buying all Gold and Silver at Victoria’s CASH FOR GOLD BEST PRICES — Open Daily 10am to 5pm — www.westshoregoldandsilver.ca — 730 Goldstream Ave, Langford — (778) 406-0606

• Public service poster text block:
  DRUGs WORRY ME, BUT HOW CAN I FEEL FREE TO TALK ABOUT IT WITH MY KIDS?
  https://zoom.us/