Canada & British Columbia (BC) Resources

• Better Business Bureau (BBB) - Start with trust; in Victoria serving Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, and Haida Gwaii
• BC Assessment - Produces independent, uniform, and efficient property assessments on an annual basis for all property owners in the province
• BC Ferries - Current conditions at major terminals, services, and ships; routes, schedules, and fares
• BC Government - Provides news and information about the government and the Province of British Columbia
• BC Hydro - Account access, environmental issues, Power Smart program details, news items, customer service, and community involvement
• BC Parks - Recreation summaries for hundreds of provincial parks with camping information; plus a kids' section and a preservation section
• BC Transit - From small towns to large urban centres; connects over 50 million customers in communities across the province every year
• BC Transit Highlands Commuter Service
• Government of Canada - Single point of access to all programs, services, departments, ministries, and organizations
• Service British Columbia - Source for front-line government services and information in British Columbia; delivers hundreds of programs and services to residents, businesses, and visitors (in person, online, and over the phone)
• Service Canada - Created in 2005 to improve the delivery of government programs and services to Canadians by making access to them faster, easier, and more convenient; single-window access to a wide range of Government of Canada programs and services for citizens through more than 600 points of service located across the country, call centres, and the Internet

Capital Regional District

• Capital Regional District (CRD) - The CRD is the regional government for the 13 municipalities and three electoral areas that are located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island.
• Capital Region Emergency Service Telecommunications Incorporated (CREST) - CREST provides radio communications for emergency services in British Columbia’s capital region. We do this through a wide-area radio system that provides emergency communications for police, fire, and other emergency service providers.
• Curbside Recycling - You can help make recycling in our region work even better by knowing what can go in your blue box and blue bag and how to prepare it. By following our recommended guidelines for preparing your recycling and kitchen waste, you help make the recycling process more efficient, which saves energy and helps the environment!
• Hartland Landfill - Hartland landfill is owned and operated by the CRD and is located about 14 kilometers northwest of Victoria. It is the only solid waste disposal facility in the Capital Region, serving 340,000 people. Hartland receives about 140,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste per year.
• Water Watch - View the Sooke Reservoir Storage Summary Chart, and water level photos.

Local Municipalities

• City of Colwood - City with a view of the future
• City of Langford - Official website of the City of Langford - located on the southern end of Vancouver Island
• City of Victoria - Official site of the city, with information about its departments, facilities, businesses, city services, recreation, and tourist attractions
• District of Central Saanich - Residents take pride in being primarily a rural community - one of the largest light industrial zones in the Capital Regional District, with easy access to the Victoria International Airport and British Columbia Ferries Swartz Bay ferry terminal
• District of Metchosin - Municipal Hall pages provide information on regulations and municipal services
• District of North Saanich - Located at the north end of the Saanich Peninsula, approximately 25 kilometers north of Victoria, British Columbia on southern Vancouver Island
• District of Oak Bay - Official government site, including meeting minutes, bylaws, and financial reports
• District of Saanich - Committed to be a model organization for our community and support the promotion of active lifestyles and choices through the 2006 initiative: Active Saanich
• District of Sooke - Located on Vancouver Island, a short 35-minute drive from downtown Victoria, the Capital City of British Columbia; residents enjoy a relaxed, casual lifestyle in a rural setting that also affords many amenities of city life
• Town of Sidney - Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island on the Saanich Peninsula - just a 20-minute drive from downtown Victoria; home to the Sidney / Anacortes Ferry Terminal and just minutes from the Victoria International Airport and the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal
• Town of View Royal - Provide residents, the business community, and visitors from around the world
• Township of Esquimalt - Provides information including municipal services, minutes of council meetings, town history, etc.
• Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) - Has served and represented the interests of local governments in British Columbia since 1905

News, Events & Educational Resources

• Crown Publications - Has a wide variety of books, reference materials, and electronic publications
• Earth Hour - Hundreds of millions of people around the world turn off their lights for an hour to demand action on climate change
• Emergency Management British Columbia (EMBC)
• Environment Canada Weather - Current conditions and forecasts
• Goldstream Gazette - News from Langford, Colwood, View Royal, Metchosin, the Highlands covering politics, entertainment, sports, events, opinions, etc.
• Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT) - Helps people understand and care for natural environments in the capital region; nonprofit, regional land trust
• Health Link British Columbia - Health information at your fingertips with just a phone call or click away
• Intermunicipal Advisory Committee on Disability Issues (IACDI) - To advocate for people with disabilities and advise the municipal Councils of the West Shore on topics that affect the quality of life of citizens with disabilities
• MediateBC - Committed to providing people with practical, accessible, and affordable choices to prevent, manage and resolve disputes
• Pacific Centre Family Services Association (PCFSA) - Enhances and promotes the quality and dignity of life of individuals and families within our diverse community
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Times Colonist - Online breaking news, photos, weather, video in Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, business, sports, entertainment, commentary, obituaries, etc.
• University of Victoria Weather Stations
• Island Health (was VIHA) - Provides health care to people on Vancouver Island,  the islands of the Georgia Strait, and the mainland communities between Powell River and Rivers Inlet
• West Shore Arts Council - Serves the residents of five communities: Langford, Colwood, View Royal, Metchosin, and Highlands, which form part of the Greater Victoria Region on Vancouver Island
• West Shore Chamber of Commerce - A volunteer, not-for-profit organization that exists to promote business and economic growth, advocate on behalf of local business, and participate in enriching the community
• West Shore Parks and Recreation - Offers wonderful facilities for a variety of recreational opportunities including Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre, Bear Mountain Arena, Juan de Fuca Par-Three Golf Course, and Centennial Centre
• South Island Literacy - The South Island Literacy website includes information and resources from: Victoria,  SaanichPeninsula,  Westshore and the Sooke Region.   Within each of our communities, we work collaboratively to identify ways to build community capacity and improve literacy.