March 30 - How Victoria avoids bridge disasters

Good morning !

It's another long weekend, and with the start of spring-summer travel season there are high volume warnings for BC's ferry terminals and border crossings.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ⛅ 14 / 3 

Tomorrow: ☀️ 14 / 5

Day after: ☀️ 15 / 7

7-day forecast

NEWS

Low risk of Baltimore-like bridge disaster in Victoria

This week, a massive 100K-tonne container ship lost power and struck Maryland’s Francis Key Bridge overnight. It collapsed, submerging cars and killing an estimated six workers.

The Johnson Bridge’s former project manager says that that isn’t likely here, telling the Times Colonist that large ships coming through our harbour cannot weigh over 8K tonnes. He also cites the physical “fendering” (which deflects boat strikes such as one in 2021) and the front and rear tug boats used as guides.

How pilots guide ships through the Inner Harbour

Capital Daily profiled the pilots who use these boats, and who get aboard the big international ships and navigate them through local waters. These pilots do this not only for our Inner Harbour but for the entire 24,000km BC coastline, which they have to be able to draw from memory. 

They do it in all types of weather and all levels of rough seas. Here is the story—and the photos—of what that looks like locally. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Expect ferry waits if you didn’t book ahead, BC Ferries warns.

Sailings have been added, but 434K long weekend passengers are expected.

Temporary water shutoffs on Salt Spring for maintenance, starting April 2.

Legislature rally (2pm) & downtown march (approx. 3pm) for Palestine slated for this afternoon.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

South Island band wins Juno for Best Blues Album

The Cowichan Valley band Blue Moon Marquee scored the award for their 2022 album, Scream, Holler & Howl at this year’s Junos hosted in Halifax, NS.

The band was also nominated for contemporary Indigenous artist or group of the year, but Elisapie won the category for her album Inuktitut. These were the first nominations for Blue Moon Marquee in their decade of music making.

“All those years hustling on the road, sleeping in alleys with our instruments, living in our truck playing every little spot all over the country—this recognition is wind in the sails to keep going,” said the band in a statement.

Last year, the band took home multiple awards for Scream, Holler & Howl, including Roots Album of the Year and Live Performance of the Year at the Summer Solstice National Indigenous Awards, and Indigenous Artist of the Year at The Western Canadian Music Awards.

You can check out a documentary short on the band making their winning album or listen to their lead single by the same name below:

Other Island artists nominated

Islanders were featured throughout a 2024 Junos show hosted by one of Victoria’s most famous exports, Nelly Furtado.

Nanaimo’s Lauren Spencer-Smith led Island nominations, with three for her album Mirror, but lost to buzzy stars Charlotte Cardin and Tate McRae. Noms also went to Islanders now based elsewhere, including Victoria’s Evan Crofton of Montreal band Busty and the Bass and Nanaimo’s Christine Jensen.

NEWS

Langford Bikefest returns this weekend—and is gearing up for an even bigger future

The annual Langford Bikefest is back this weekend for its third year in a row, with the goal of highlighting both the world-class facilities at Jordie Lunn Bike Park and cycle sports as a whole. Several organizers come from the original group that pitched the bike park; they had wanted to draw high-profile bike events but lacked a high-level venue for them.

Now, that new venue is hosting pump track races (in which riders navigate obstacles but are banned from pedalling) today and crosscountry-style races tomorrow.

But the park still isn’t fully complete, and neither are the plans for it. Here’s what you can expect to see in the park this weekend and into the future:

Read the full story at the Westshore.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🌸 Pink snow is a familiar seasonal sight on local streets with plum and cherry trees. [Photo]

🎭 The Marriage of Figaro - see it April 3 to 9 at The Royal Theatre! Elegant and satisfying, with lush orchestration and complex love stories. Don't miss it! Tickets from $30.*

🥓 Bacon Beer and Bourbon Festival tickets on sale now: The foodie festival returns to Starlight Stadium for its second year of craft beer, cocktails, and delicious pork on July 22.  

🥚10 great spots for Easter treats in Victoria

🤝 Now hiring: Part-Time Brand Advocate / Farmer’s Market Sales Staff at DEVINE Distillery.

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Crofton paper mill gives $4.5M back to province
Paper Excellence chose to indefinitely curtail its long-running Duncan-area mill, which contractually obliges it to return funding meant to keep the mill afloat. This portion was for equipment retooling. [CHEK]

New Sidney restaurant takes over iconic Rumrunner location
Jacks on the Water opened March 29 at 9881 Seaport, replacing The Rumrunner Pub. That mainstay closed one year ago, after 32 years, when the owner retired.

Orca calf rescue efforts paused for weekend after setback
The calf remains in a lagoon near Zeballos, unwilling to exit via the sandbar on which its mother died one week ago. After a joint effort on Thurs. failed, Fisheries and Oceans is briefly pausing due to unfavourable tides. [CP / Yahoo]

🗓️ Things to do

🐰 Easter events this weekend all around Greater Victoria.

🐣 Lion’s Easter Eggstravaganza: Esquimalt Lions Club will host family-friendly activities including an egg hunt, egg and spoon races, and colouring at Gorge Park. Today. 11am-2:30pm.

🎶 Dakhabrakha Concert for Ukraine: See the legendary Ethno-Chaos group from Kyiv perform at UVic’s The Farquhar. Today. 8pm. [Info]

🎧 The Librarian: This Bass Coast pre-party will offer a taste of the summer EDM festival at Capital Ballroom. Today. 9pm. [Info]

🎸 David Santana Quintet: See an explosive tribute to the legendary Wes Montgomery at Hermann’s Jazz Club. Today. Doors 5:30pm, show 7pm. [Info]

🎞️ Monty Python and the Holy Grail: See the special screening of the classic British comedy, celebrating its 48.5-year anniversary, at The Vic Theatre. Today. 7:30pm. [Info]

🎙️ John Prine Tribute: Kendel Carson, Doug Cox, Mick Sherlock, and Tom and Kalissa Landa will perform the music of the country-folk icon at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Today. 7:30pm. 

👓 Closing reception for LES666 art show at the Bean coffee shop on Fisgard; music and experimental sounds. 7-9pm today.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Commute & climate concerns along local arteries. Plus: Easter events roundup. Sports sell-out. SUV driver spat on & hit cyclist, police allege. [Friday newsletter].

Gas station fire on Douglas not considered suspicious. [Times Colonist]

Victoria woman forced by doctors to inject medicine she says is harmful. [Capital Daily]

Holiday facility and parking hours for this weekend in Victoria.

Active search called off for missing Nanoose Bay woman whose empty vehicle was found on logging road. [RCMP]

That’s it!

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