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CTV News: Langford Volunteers Return to Haiti Watch Their Work Complete.
What's New In Langford
Mayor Young Extremely Grateful for E & N Funding
What's New In Langford
Langford Mayor Stew Young couldn’t be happier or more grateful for the federal government’s commitment of $7.5 million to keep the railway running on Vancouver Island. Politicians and rail supporters from across Vancouver Island gathered at the E & N Rail stop in Langford on Tuesday April 10 for the announcement that Mayor Young described as “the day we will all look back on as the day we saved the E & N Railway.”
Mayor Young praised all levels of government, the Island Corridor Foundation and First Nations for recognizing the need to keep the rail system on Vancouver Island running. “We are extremely grateful to the Federal Government and really appreciate the efforts of Minister John Duncan in moving this forward. We would not be here today without his support and the support of the federal and provincial governments. This railway has been in operation for more than 100 years,” Mayor Young noted. “The funding for the upgrades will create jobs, keep Vancouver Island communities connected and benefit the environment by reducing traffic.”
The Honourable John Duncan, Federal Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, made the announcement to huge applause from the close to 200 people in attendance. He said the funding to upgrade tracks, rails and crossings from Victoria to Courtenay will enable the line to resume operation of passenger service, and will also improve the speed of freight service.
The Honourable Dr.John Lunney, Federal MP for Nanaimo Alberni, and the Honourable Ron Cantelon, Liberal Provincial MLA for Parksville-Qualicum, both spoke of the incredible commitment of the people from communities along the rail line that played a major role in the decision to commit funding to the project. The BC Government approved $7.5 million in funding for the much-needed upgrades in June of 2011.
Island Corridor Foundation co-chairs Dr. Judith Sayers and Mary Bryce thanked Island Corridor Foundation Chief Operating Officer Graham Bruce, the federal and provincial governments and all of the mayors and regional directors for their support and efforts throughout the process. Sayers credited the spirit of cooperation that brought First Nations, Island communities, stakeholders and all levels of government together to save the E & N.
Making Housing Affordable
What's New In Langford
The City of Langford’s Affordable Housing Program has led the way in enabling people with lower income to purchase homes in many of Langford’s new developments. Strong support from the development and business community has allowed 40 families to purchase single-family homes at a cost on average of about 60 per cent of the market value. The innovative program, launched in 2004, has already gained national attention, garnering the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing award in 2008.
Langford Mayor Stew Young praised local developers for their commitment to the program, which allows them to access free administrative support, density bonuses and streamlined development approvals from the City as incentives. As well, local realtors provide services free of charge, and credit unions, mortgage brokers and insurers, including CMHC and Genworth, streamline the mortgage approval process.
Mayor Young said the success of the program has enabled City staff to work with developers on new innovations that include making condominiums and rental units available through Langford’s Affordable Housing Program. A great example of that is that the City is now accepting applications for two-bedroom condos at less than $131,000, including HST.
“City staff and developers are examining more ways that we can get young families into their own homes in Langford,” Mayor Young added. “Our community has the best in recreation, entertainment and shopping within minutes of where you live, and we want more people to be able to take advantage of that.”
Successful applicants are chosen on a point-scoring system based on pre-selected criteria, and there are restrictions placed upon resale. For more information, click on the Affordable Housing feature box on the home page at www.cityoflangford.ca.
Here’s an interview on CBC Radio’s On the Island program that was aired on January 20.
Thousands Tour New Facilities at City Centre Park
What's New In Langford
Thousands of people came out to City Centre Park on Saturday, October 22 to share in the excitement of the official opening of Langford Lanes, Westhills Arena and Goudy Field. Langford Mayor Stew Young and Council were joined by the Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development and Member of Parliament for Vancouver Island North, and Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development the Province of B.C., for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Mayor Young thanked the federal and provincial governments for their support and funding for the $15.6 million projects. “These facilities are part of Langford’s Council’s commitment to provide the best recreation for people of all ages,” Mayor Young said. “They are great examples of what can be accomplished through cooperation between the Federal government, the Provincial government and the City of Langford. This is a truly exciting day for our residents.”
John Duncan said the Federal government is proud to be creating jobs and economic activity in Langford, and is committed to supporting Canadian communities through improvements to sports infrastructure. Ida Chong said Westhills Arena, Langford Lanes and Goudy Field would make Langford a destination of choice for provincial tournaments, and families would benefit from growth in the tourism and small business sectors.
Langford Lanes, a 20-lane 10-pin family bowling centre, includes a restaurant, concession, arcade and VIP section that can be used for parties and private functions. Westhills Arena, a 400-seat facility built to NHL-size requirements, helps address the growing demand for ice time for youth, Mayor Young noted. The facility features an innovative design that connects the arena by an ice river to the Splash Park, which converts to an outdoor skating area during the winter. Goudy Field gives City Centre Park two outdoor artificial turf fields, and played a prominent role in Rugby Canada’s decision to move its national men’s and women’s teams to Langford. Mayor Young said that it’s quite an accomplishment when a community the size of Langford becomes home to a national team.
Mayor Young thanked Langford Council, and all of the companies, businesses, sponsors and workers who worked hard to make the projects a reality. He also thanked Langford’s Parks and Recreation Committee members, City staff and all of the volunteers from the Prince Edward branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and other organizations that helped make the day such a success.
Mayor Young said Council and staff are currently working on building a YM/YWCA aquatic centre and library at City Centre Park within the next few years, adding that “There’s more excitement on the way.”
Rugby Canada Calls Langford Home
What's New In Langford
Langford Mayor Stew Young says Rugby Canada’s decision to move the men’s and women’s National Academy programs to Langford is great news for the sport and the community. “It’s really exciting that our young athletes can compete right here in Langford for a chance to one day represent Canada at the Olympics,” Mayor Young said.
Graham Brown, Chief Executive Officer for Rugby Canada said the move means about 100 of Canada’s best young male and female rugby players between the ages of 15 and 20 will be calling Langford home by 2012.
“The facility at City Centre Park is just outstanding,” Brown said enthusiastically in explaining some of the reasons behind the relocation from Toronto. “We’re thoroughly impressed with the efforts of Mayor Young and Langford Council to address our needs and foster an environment that works best for Rugby Canada, the players, coaches and staff. Everyone is really looking forward to calling Langford home and becoming part of this great community.”
Brown and Mayor Young both believe having players and coaches training and playing in Langford will spark increased interest in the sport in Victoria and throughout the province.
Rugby Canada is also relocating its high performance staff and offices to City Centre Park, an important step in the buildup to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where rugby will be included as an official event.
Langford Mayor Stew Young recalled the enthusiasm and excitement that swept through the cheering crowds along Goldstream Avenue in September, 2010, when the Olympic Torch Relay passed through on its way to Vancouver for the Winter Olympic Games.
“It’s quite a coup for a community, even more so for one the size of Langford, to become a national focal point for a Canadian Olympic team, ,” Young said. “It’s a testament to the efforts of Langford Council, staff, and residents who all share our commitment to providing the best in recreational opportunities and facilities.”
”Having elite athletes live and train here will be inspirational for our young athletes,” Young added. “It’s a fantastic opportunity that gives our local young men and women a chance to be in a position to one day shine on the international stage and represent Canada at the Summer Olympics.”
The addition of Goudy Field to City Centre Park in 2010, a second all-weather turf facility with seating for 1,500, played an integral role in Rugby Canada’s decision. The Goudy Field complements the existing field at Bear Mountain Stadium, which also holds 1,500 fans, with both fields built to international rugby standards. That positions Langford favourably to host major exhibition games and tournaments in a number of sports, including soccer and football, as well as special events, Mayor Young noted.
“Events like that bring visitors, families and high-calibre competition and entertainment to our community and provide a boost for local businesses,” Mayor Young said.
Helping Out Is Par For the Course
What's New In Langford
It’s simply amazing what a round of golf can do for a community. When Langford Mayor first launched his annual Mayor’s Charity Golf Tournament fourteen years ago, it was his way of showing appreciation for the businesses, organizations and individuals who support the community. From the very beginning, the participants seized the opportunity to use the tournament to raise money for the organizations and agencies that work behind the scenes for the betterment of the community.
From those humble beginnings, the event has grown each year to the point where more than $360,000 has been donated to worthwhile causes since the tournament’s inception. The Prince Edward Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, Belmont High School’s athletics programs, Ruth King Elementary School, SportAssist, school crossing guards and the Goldstream Food Bank are some of the groups and organizations who have received funding for the work they do within the community.
Mayor Stew Young said the fact that the money raised stays in Langford to support initiatives within the community is a key element of the tournament for him. He also noted that many of the businesses and individuals who support the tournament have been there since the beginning.
“I think it says a lot about the kind of community we have when the same people are so eager to step up to the plate to help others when times are tough or when the economy is booming,” Mayor Young said. “Another thing that impresses me is that they do it because they genuinely care about making a difference in Langford. It’s not about receiving recognition, it’s about giving something back because they care about Langford and want to support those who help others.”
Mayor Young said he’s also impressed by the long-term commitment of the sponsors and volunteers – many of them from the Langford Legion – who work so hard behind the scenes every year to make the tournament a success.
“You notice year after year how the same people keep showing up to help out,” Mayor Young noted. “That speaks volumes about what makes Langford such a special community.”
Part of the proceeds from this year’s tournament, which took place June 24 at Olympic View, will go towards completing Langford’s commitment to help build an orphanage in Port Au Prince, Haiti, to replace the one destroyed in an earthquake in 2010.
“The support from the entire community for this project has been overwhelming,” Mayor Young said. “There’s a real determination to see it through because I think everyone understands it will make a huge difference for the kids who live there now, and those who live there in the future.”
New Green Pedestrian Highway On The Way
What's New In Langford
A multi-year plan is rolling along to create a new green pedestrian highway of continuous cycling and pedestrian paths that will connect Langford’s downtown core and surrounding neighbourhoods. The project, funded through the 2011 capital spending plan, will include the paving a stretch of several kilometres of the Galloping Goose Trail from Glen Lake Road to Kelly Road.
Langford Mayor Stew Young said the new network will provide safer, more convenient passage for cyclists and pedestrians, and will encourage people to reduce their reliance on vehicles for getting around.
Mayor Young noted that the new network will also promote a healthier lifestyle by encouraging people to ride a bike or walk, and that’s also great for the environment. The plan, funded through Langford’s 2011 capital spending budget, involves completing five major spurs with a mix of separated and on-street bike lanes. A major component of the work will include utilizing and upgrading existing bike lanes and trails. The new, larger bike lanes, with enhanced separation from the roadway, will be coloured green with markings to identify approaching intersections, which is appropriate, considering the green theme that is at the heart of the plan.
The first phase, installing a shared pathway from Bear Mountain Parkway to Ashley Trail, was completed in the spring of this year. The second phase, scheduled to start this summer, involves installing coloured lanes and improved signage in high traffic areas. Bike detection signals, triggered by video or inductive detection, will be added at all traffic signals in Langford.
Langford is currently working on a partnership with the Capital Regional District to upgrade the Galloping Goose Trail from Sooke Road to Happy Valley Road and West Shore Town Centre, and will also add multi-use lanes linking Westhills with City Centre Park.
A more ambitious element involves working with the CRD, bordering municipalities and numerous other agencies to design and construct a rail trail along the E & N Railway. That would link Langford’s downtown core with Colwood, View Royal and beyond, providing people in other municipalities with a safer, more direct commuter route to Langford and downtown Victoria.
Mayor Young said the green pedestrian highway will use the newest technology to make the system as safe and convenient as possible to encourage more people to use it. He noted that his is the next big project for Langford, now that we are close to completing the new sportsplex at City Centre Park.
Langford Parks Department plans to host open houses this summer to obtain feedback from residents on the project.
Getting a Grip on the Weather
What's New In Langford
Some people might argue that there’s not much that can be done about the weather. It’s difficult to predict the intensity of storms like the one that dumped more than 100 millimetres of rain on Langford in December. Others might wonder whether storms of that intensity – historically considered a once every 10 years event – are hitting the region with more frequency. Whatever the case may be, the City of Langford is taking action to track information and gather data on such events.
A weather station on the roof of Langford City Hall and another one at a high point on Bear Mountain log temperature, rainfall and wind speed, providing valuable data specific to Langford. The stations, installed two years ago, also assist Langford’s Engineering Department in determining how sewers and retention ponds are functioning. Langford also has water gauges on three lakes and two creeks to monitor rises in water levels, and a third monitoring station is planned for South Langford. The solar-powered station at Bear Mountain also measures snowfall by utilizing a video camera aimed at a graduated tube. Previously, Langford had to rely on Environment Canada information collected from weather stations at Victoria Airport, the Gonzales Observatory in Victoria, and another location near Sooke.
Because of its proximity to a watershed and a two-degree variance in temperature compared to Victoria, Langford can frequently be hit with snow that doesn’t impact other parts of the region. That underlines the importance of gathering information close to home, especially in terms of planning tasks such as snow removal in the most cost-efficient way, notes Langford Mayor Stew Young.
Mayor Young believes the technology that Langford utilizes to track the frequency of storms enables the community to be better prepared when severe weather episodes hit. “Having that data specific to our community is a great improvement over what we had to rely on in the past,” Mayor Young said.
The installation of the weather stations and gathering of data would have been much more expensive to achieve and maintain in the past, but recent advances in affordable technology that link directly to the Internet make it much more practical and affordable.
The data collected from the weather stations will be available online through Langford’s engineering department at www.cityoflangford.ca in the near future.
Where Commerce and Culture Meet
What's New In Langford
New Sportsplex A Welcome Addition
What's New In Langford
Building a Safer Community
What's New In Langford
Langford Mayor Stew Young sees the improvements along Goldstream Avenue between Bryn Maur Road as one part of the bigger picture. The addition of an arch, a roundabout, fountain, lights, landscaping and kiosks with information on nearby attractions complement the improved bike lanes and crosswalks. Langford Mayor Stew Young said although beautifying the downtown core has been a goal of Langford Council since incorporation, many of the changes were made to make the area more environmentally, pedestrian and cyclist friendly.
“We wanted to make our downtown core a family oriented, pedestrian and cyclist friendly area where people can enjoy the light and water shows at the fountain, take a stroll and relax in a safe, secure environment, whether they’re on foot or on a bicycle,” Mayor Young said. “So far the feedback that I’ve received from our residents has been very positive.”
Mayor Young stressed the importance of having a downtown that’s attractive, vibrant and green, a place where people feel secure, whether they’re on foot, on a bicycle or in a vehicle. He said the huge attendance at Goldstream Station Market is a great example of how a downtown can serve as a gathering place, with all modes of transportation still able to interact in harmony.
The crowds at the Market have been great this year, and there were no major issues with traffic or parking. The market has also been successful in a number of other ways, Mayor Young noted. “It gets people out of their cars, it supports our local farmers, and it’s also been good for our local businesses. People can check out the market, meet their friends or family and enjoy a coffee or a meal in a cafe or restaurant, or check out the shops, boutiques and businesses along the avenue.”
One of the projects that Langford Council is considering in the near future would see more improvements on Peatt Road. The addition of a bike lane, sidewalk, and marked parallel parking spaces will make that road a more secure route for cyclists and pedestrians, Mayor Young said.
Young believes other steps Langford is taking will enhance the city’s growing reputation as a pedestrian friendly cyclist friendly option for families looking to live in an area where everything they need is close at hand.
He cited the removal of the rocky outcropping on Millstream Road across from Western Speedway as another example of steps taken toward building a better community. Mayor Young said the repaving and addition of a multi-use lane for pedestrians and cyclists will provide a safer route.
Council also seized the opportunity created by the repaving of Sooke Road to add improved bike lanes from Happy Valley Road to Jacklin Road. “That will create a safer link for pedestrians and cyclists to Goldstream Village and our downtown core,” Mayor Young said.
Goldstream Fountain
What's New In Langford
Welcome to Goldstream Village
What's New In Langford
A family of four disembark from their bicycles to soak up some sun and refreshment at a sidewalk cafe under the eye-catching arch above the boulevard that welcomes you to Goldstream Village. Nearby, children move to the music, mesmerized by the rhythm of the water that dances from the fountain. The Langford Trolley drives through, filled with a mix of shoppers headed to the malls, kids eager for a round of mini-golf at City Centre Park, and Victoria Rebels fans ready for some football at Bear Mountain Stadium.
The improvements to Langford’s downtown core - a priority of Langford Mayor Stew Young and Council since incorporation - are nearing completion, and the early reviews from residents and local businesses are an enthusiastic two thumbs up.
The downtown core has been transformed over the past year with the installation of a traffic calming roundabout on Goldstream Avenue at Bryn Maur Road that features a fountain and water shows coordinated with a mix of music. The shows, every half hour from nine in the morning to nine at night, are even more impressive after dark when the fountain’s lights come to life.
“We wanted to make something special, a fun, family-oriented mini Bellagio,” explains Langford Mayor Stew Young. “Fountains, dancing water and music are things that people of all ages can relate to. It adds vitality to our downtown core, and encourages people to get out of their cars, have a coffee at one of the cafes and check out the unique boutiques, shops and stores along Goldstream Avenue. The style we went with is inspired by what works well in many cities in Europe.”
In addition to the existing enticing mix of flowers, plantings and palm trees, two information kiosks highlighting Langford’s attractions, a community message board, more bicycle racks, public benches and tables will be added in the near future.
A new, colourful flag feature in the boulevard at Goldstream Avenue and Veterans Memorial Parkway is also nearing completion.
Mayor Young believes the new downtown promotes the green, cyclist and pedestrian-friendly, less car-reliant options that people are looking for, and highlights Langford’s efforts to become a premier tourist and recreation centre on the Island.
The improvements will also increase pedestrian and tourist traffic for local businesses and draw shoppers from throughout the Capital Region, a welcome boost to shops, restaurants, boutiques and stores in the area. “It’s important to support the local economy,” Young said. “These businesses offer shopping options right here in Langford for our residents, and provide full-time and part-time employment opportunities for the people who live here.”
Langford Leads the Way in Geo-Exchange Technology
What's New In Langford
The City of Langford has partnered with Westhills to install the first energy system of its kind to supply heating and cooling on a community-wide basis for a new development. The cutting-edge system employed at Westhills – the first of its kind in Canada – combines proven, green technology with an innovative design philosophy to create a system that can accommodate future expansion as the development progresses. It may also be able to address future energy requirements in neighbouring developments.
“This is a great example of Langford and Westhills’ efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and utilize the latest green technologies,” said Langford Mayor Stew Young. “This innovative, cutting edge system will provide long-term benefits for our residents and our community, and sets a new standard for other communities to follow.”
The District Energy Sharing System (DESS) currently harnesses energy from a geo-exchange borefield with more than 200 wells located 400-ft underneath the City’s new playing field at City Centre Park. The geo-exchange lines are connected to a control building which then circulates the thermal energy, in the form of water, through a closed-loop network of pipes throughout the development. Each residence in Westhills connects to the system through a water source heat pump that provides space heating, cooling and domestic hot water with a dramatically reduced carbon footprint.
Although district energy systems have been utilized in high density urban developments, Langford’s approval of the technology marks one of the first times it’s being used at the neighbourhood scale proposed by Westhills.
Langford is a rapidly growing municipality, and needs to consider the impact of development in terms of meeting the greenhouse gas reduction targets established by the province, noted Langford’s City Engineer John Manson. “This technology should go a long way toward addressing the City’s reduction targets as it is powered by only a few low-consumption electrical pumps, and uses virtually no fossil fuels.”
While borehole geo-exchange is the primary energy source at this time, the system can make use of other sources as well. Commercial buildings, ice rinks, schools or wastewater treatment plants can all be added as heat sources to the DESS. The ability to capture heat which would otherwise go unused is what allows for energy sharing within Westhills – any facility with cooling requirements can simply share its excess heat with a neighbour requiring heat.
In addition to the provision of energy, new infrastructure has also been constructed to deliver potable water within Westhills. Water is taken directly from the Capital Regional District water main and distributed through a transfer station on the Westhills property, explained Kyle Taylor, Assistant Manager of SSL-Sustainable Services Ltd. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Westhills created to manage infrastructure services in the development, with services provided through an agreement with the City of Langford. Under the agreement, the CRD maintains its role as a water supplier, ensuring quality and safety standards. Langford is the end-use distributor, with SSL managing infrastructure and billing within Westhills.
“This is an important first step towards integrating utilities under one umbrella,” said Langford Mayor Stew Young. “It provides a full-service package to the homeowner in a cost-effective way through a self-contained system that is significantly less reliant on outside energy sources.”
Rates are regulated by the City of Langford through a two-step rate structure that ensures energy will be provided at no more than the current BC Hydro rate, and water at no more than the Capital Regional District Juan de Fuca water rate.
Westhills is a new neighbourhood featuring 6,000 homes, commercial, retail, educational and cultural offerings arranged in a pedestrian-friendly environment. Westhills incorporates leading edge environmental technologies in a neighbourhood designed to foster a strong sense of community. The development will be built over a 20-year period on 517 acres, of which more than 190 acres will be open space and park as part of Langford and Westhills’ shared vision for a neighbourhood that encourages walking and cycling.
Langford Rallies to Raise Money for Haiti
What's New In Langford
The City of Langford’s efforts to rebuild an orphanage in Haiti received an extraordinary boost when the final tally for a fundraiser far exceeded expectations. The money raised at a dinner on June 14 at the Westin Bear Mountain Resort and Spa helped reach the goal of $150,000 to build a new earthquake-proof building for the 50 children at the Orphanage of the Infant Jesus of Prague in Port au Prince, Haiti. The facility will also include a kitchen, dining room, chapel and classrooms, as well as living quarters for the two Nuns and teacher who work there.
Langford Mayor Stew Young said the decision to do something for the children began to take shape when Langford sent an assessment team to Haiti in March. The team, made up of Langford Fire Rescue Chief Bob Beckett, Langford Chief Building Inspector Dan Reynolds, Terry Young, Sergeant Brian Kerr and Brenda Young, visited the rubble of the orphanage with RCMP Corporal Christine Briand, who is currently deployed in Haiti on a United Nations peacekeeping assignment.
Although it was an easy decision to rebuild the orphanage after hearing about the plight of the children upon the assessment team’s return, Mayor Young said raising that amount of money in a timely fashion was a daunting task.
He thanked A Channel reporter Stephen Andrew and cameraman Brendan Strain, who accompanied the assessment team, for their efforts in documenting the conditions and raising public awareness about how desperate the situation was.
Mayor Young said the way Langford’s business and development community and Langford’s residents came through to help children thousands of miles away is typical of the kind of caring spirit that embodies Langford. An anonymous donor pledged $50,000 at the dinner. That was quickly matched by $25,000 donations from Al Vandekerkhove and Lorne Campbell on behalf of the Alex Campbell family, and Westhills stepped up with $10,000 as well.
Mayor Young praised Jim Harthsorne for his fundraising efforts and cited the other donations that came in with tax payments and a Langford staff barbecue that raised close to $4,000 as other shining examples of people stepping up in support of a worthy cause. “It is truly something special to see how the community responded,” he noted.
Briand, who was working in Haiti when the quake hit, told those in attendance at the dinner that Langford’s efforts are like a miracle for the children who were left with nothing in the wake of the devastation that descended on the country in January. She was overcome by emotion several times as she tried to explain how deplorable conditions were at the orphanage after the quake. Briand was moved and honoured to learn that the new building will be dedicated in the memory of Chief Superintendent Douglas Coates and Sergeant Mark Gallagher, two fellow RCMP members who lost their lives in the line of duty during the quake. Coates and Gallagher shared a special place in the hearts of the children at the orphanage. Like Briand, they spent a lot of their free time helping out the children and reinforcing the role education plays in improving their lives.
Briand said she was overwhelmed by the generosity that poured out of a community the size of Langford, a community she knew nothing about before receiving an e-mail from Chief Beckett indicating a desire to help. What Langford is doing will not only have a positive impact on the children who are there now, but also the ones that follow, she added.
“It is absolutely amazing what a community the size of Langford has done. On behalf of the children, I would like to say how grateful we are,” Briand said. What Langford is doing will provide the children with the opportunity to build a better future for themselves and their country.
For more information on the project or to make a donation to assist long-term sustainability initiatives, visit the website at www.cityoflangford.ca.
They're Up and Running on Langford's New Sports Field
What's New In Langford
A new artificial turf sports field at City Centre Park means the game is on, no matter what the weather’s like. The new field, which opened in April, provides an all-weather field for football, rugby, and soccer that includes two softball diamonds. It’s another welcome addition to Langford’s long-term recreational vision for young athletes in the growing community.
The field was built to National Football League size specifications, an important consideration in terms of meeting B.C. high school football requirements, noted Langford Parks Manager Jason Parks. The soccer field meets Federation Internationale de Football Association, or FIFA, as it’s more commonly known, standards. The rugby field meets International Rugby Board specifications as well.
Langford Mayor Stew Young said the field provides another great venue for local youth involved in a number of sports at all levels. And with 1,200 built-in bleachers, it also positions Langford favourably in terms of attracting major tournaments, when you consider the other field at City Centre Park. Bear Mountain Stadium, which opened in May of 2009, can accommodate 1,700 fans, and is the home field for Victoria Highlanders Soccer and Victoria Rebels Football.
An innovative feature in the new facility is that the ground under the playing field supplies geo-exchange energy for the adjacent Westhills development. Boreholes beneath the field form part of an ambient temperature system that provides energy for the development. Utilizing sustainable technologies is a key element of the Westhills project, which includes residential and commercial components.
Motorcycles Making a Difference for Dad
What's New In Langford
Helping the Children of Haiti Build Their Future
What's New In Langford