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- April 5 - Man freed after being stuck in Juan de Fuca trail clay pit
April 5 - Man freed after being stuck in Juan de Fuca trail clay pit
Plus: A different view about orcas and Vic's city council pauses pay raise
Capital Daily team
April 05, 2024
Good morning !
Not so fast with that 25% pay raise there, councillors.
Bowing to public pressure, Vic Council has hit HOLD on its decision to give itself a raise. An independent task force will be rounded up to figure out what to do next.
— Mark
Was taking the power to determine their pay out of their own hands Vic councillors' right move? |
Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
NEWS
Man trapped for hours in muddy Juan de Fuca Trail clay pit
Hiker Mark Junker, stuck for two hours on Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. Photo: Maeve Junker
A North Saanich hiker has a squishy, scary tale from the trail that fortunately ended well, thanks to the tireless teamwork of strangers.
Mark Junker, a 57-year-old experienced hiker, found himself trapped in a muddy clay pit—stuck up to his hips in an unforgiving thick soup that wouldn’t relinquish its grasp until a group of hikers came along with some borrowed boards and a lot of patience.
At no time did Junker, an aircraft maintenance engineer with Vancouver Island Helicopters (VIH), think he was knocking on heaven’s door. Nor did he feel like Gilligan trapped in quicksand on his television island, but standing stuck for two hours in the middle of the woods on the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail wasn’t exactly how Junker expected to spend the afternoon with his daughter last Friday.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Esquimalt recruitment fair for volunteers. [April 18]
Road closure: Richmond at Quamichan closed for construction until Apr. 8. 7am-3:30pm.
Summer camp registration: City of Victoria. [Opens April 15]
Official Community Plan open house tomorrow at Victoria City Hall Antechamber. 11am-3pm.
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
NEWS
Federal government measures to protect orcas threaten livelihoods on the Island
Photo: Courtesy of Peter Dick
Long before their listing as an endangered species under the Species at Risk Act in 2003, southern resident killer whales have been an iconic symbol of the Pacific Northwest. As their population declines, Canada looks to find ways to support their recovery, enacting several measures to protect these whales.
One such Fisheries Department (DFO) directive has become a pain point for local fishers: The planned static closure on Chinook salmon fishing in BC Tidal Area 20 (including Sooke and Port Renfrew) during prime fishing season this year, from July 16 to Oct. 31.
At a recent fisheries town hall in Langford, Tom Davis, a lifelong fisherman who spent two decades on the Sport Fishing Institute advisory board and a decade on the Canada U.S. Pacific Salmon Commission, pointed to research from UBC suggesting the Salish Sea’s Chinook salmon stock is sufficient to support southern resident killer whales.
He says the fishing restrictions could hurt Island communities and champions a balanced approach that prioritizes environmental factors. “Contaminants pose a significant threat to the health of the whales and their prey, exacerbating their already precarious situation,” he says.
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⭐️ Capital Picks
🍦 49 Below is expanding: The craft ice cream shop is launching Kulapops, its very own popsicle company. Available at 2575 Cadboro Bay.
🐝 Tugwell Creek Honey Farm and Meadery closes: The Sooke-based producers of mead and honey products have retired.
🍳 Best brunch spots: Vote for your favourite local brunch spots and more in the Tasting Victoria Awards.
⭐ Join us on a journey of Indigenous empowerment and growth. Sign up for the Indigenous Prosperity Centre newsletter today and be part of positive change.*
🦭 Emerson is at it again: The seal was seen attempting to cross a road near Gorge and Admirals on Wednesday. DFO returned him to the beach soon after.
📖 One eRead Canada: Access Dimitri Nasrallah’s book Hotline through GVPL to take part in the national campaign to unite readers.
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🗞️ In Other News
Vic Council’s 25% pay raise put on pause
An independent task force will now decide what raise councillors receive and will determine whether the job is considered full or part-time. Coun. Jeremy Caradonna, who introduced the 25% pay raise motion, said he received hundreds of messages from citizens concerned about the process, prompting the decision to pause. [CHEK]
HarbourCats sign 12-time all-star Manny Ramirez’s sons
Both are outfielders and both can hit, we’re told. Manny Jr. is 21 and undrafted. Lucas is 18, currently committed to the baseball factory University of Tennessee, and is expected to be a high major league draft pick. Their father, who plans to spend time in Vic this summer, batted .312 and hit 555 home runs—the 15th most in MLB history—during his 19-year career spent predominately with the Boston Red Sox. [HarbourCats]
Child-care waitlist fees eliminated
The new ban on waitlist fees for licensed child care, effective this month, targets about 5% of providers who were charging mostly non-refundable waitlist fees ranging from $25 to $200. The new rule aims to reduce overall child-care costs and make programs more equitable.
Man arrested, accused of indecent act on BC Transit bus
After receiving word a man may be exposing himself on city buses, VicPD plainclothes officers on March 28 observed a man commit an indecent act while seated next to a 12-year-old girl. He was arrested as he tried to exit the bus. Timothy Bush, 65, is charged with one count of committing an indecent act and one count of exposing genitalia to a minor. [VicPD]
🗓️ Things to do
🧑🌾 Anne of Green Gables: The Canadian College of Performing Arts stages the longest-running, original Canadian musical in history for eight performances at McPherson Playhouse. Opens April 19. [Info]
🐟 2nd Victoria Herring Symposium: What do we have to do to get herring to spawn in our clean, healthy, and lovely Gorge Waterway? Esquimalt Gorge Park & Pavilion. Today. 6:30-9pm. [Info]
⛵ Book Launch. Boxing the Compass: A Life of Seafaring, Music and Pilgrimage. Michael L. Hadley. Maritime Museum of BC. Today. 3:30pm. [Info]
🤣 Dope Friday’s Comedy at the Mint: Efthimios Nasiopoulos presents his one-man show. The Mint. Today. Doors 7pm. Show 8pm. [Info]
🏄 UVic Surf Club presents Mobsters and Lobsters: A Board Meeting event. Capital Ballroom. Tonight. Doors 7pm. Show 7:30pm. [Info]
🛍️ Esquimalt Night Market: The market featuring local food and craft vendors is back at 614 Grenville. Today. 5-9pm.
🖼️ Corre Alice at The Avenue Gallery: The artist will exhibit her floral painting series. Today until Apr. 12.
🎶 Broadway & Beyond: Listen to show tunes from New York and London by the Palm Court Light Orchestra at Mary Winspear Centre. Today. 2pm.
🎸 Jump America’s Van Halen Experience: The tribute band will perform music from Van Halen’s first six albums at McPherson Playhouse. Today. 7:30pm.
🎹 Ashley Wey Trio: The pianist will be joined by bassist Louis Rudner and drummer Hans Verhoeven at Hermann’s Jazz Club. Today. Doors 5:30pm. Show 7pm.
👀 In Case You Missed It
CRD waste management focuses on cost reduction over waste reduction. [Capital Daily]
Thursday’s headlines: UVic researchers find new stars; Hotel guest a hero in weekend stabbing; New truck speed laws; And more. [April 4]
BC Lions-Ottawa Redblacks added tickets. [At RAP]
Who has the best happy hour? Did your go-to spot make the final list of nominees? [Vote here]
Draft budget public meeting. Have your say on April 25. [City of Victoria]
Killer-lift: Latest on orca orphaned up-Island. [CHEK]
That’s it!
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