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- Feb 16 - Saanich going after Big Oil
Feb 16 - Saanich going after Big Oil
Plus, VicPD's $30M drug takedown implodes, charges against 3 accused have been stayed
Capital Daily team
February 16, 2024
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Good morning !
I see there was a successful Valentine’s Day Kiss-Cam marriage proposal at the Royals game Wednesday night.
Phew. It could have turned out differently.
— Mark
Would you publicly propose to your partner on a Kiss Cam?? |
Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
NEWS
Saanich to explore lawsuit against Big Oil
Saanich Council. Photo: District of Saanich
The District of Saanich has taken a step to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the effects of climate change—and to make them pay for their part of it. On Monday, Saanich’s council unanimously accepted a staff recommendation to begin the process of exploring a potential class-action lawsuit with other municipalities.
Staff putting forward such a recommendation to a municipal council is considered a first in Canada. Andrew Gage, a lawyer with West Coast Environmental Law, addressed the council in support of the motion, saying “There are now more than 60 governments in the United States bringing similar lawsuits against fossil fuel companies and it’s high time we did so here in Canada.”
“I know that this seems like a big deal, but the reality is that by bringing this case as a class action both the costs and risks to any one municipality can be managed.”
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Breast milk bucks needed for Ukraine. [Help here]
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
NEWS
$30M drug bust derailed by ‘disgraced’ VicPD officer's role—and others, who misled the court about it
Victoria Police HQ. Photo: Capital Daily
A 2020 major Island-Mainland operation, in which police seized a vast quantity of drugs, cash, and guns from various Victoria locations, has fallen apart in court. Charges against the three suspects have been stayed. That's due to the involvement of now-former officer Rob Ferris, who unknowingly at the time, was himself under investigation for 19 misconduct allegations.
Per a newly released judge's decision:
VicPD put Ferris on the case in spring 2020 despite knowing since 2019 about the allegations, which include associating with suspects and revealing police information to civilians. His role was “business as usual” to avoid tipping him off to his investigation.
But when RCMP arrested Ferris in June 2020, VicPD quickly relaunched “Project Juliet,” changing the start date and later “concealing” the spring work in their final report. The judge concludes that police misled the court, and used warrants that relied on information that was obtained by Ferris.
VicPD Chief Del Manak apologized Wednesday for “several points of failure.” He confirmed that the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner concluded the 19 counts appeared to be substantiated in 2021, but said Ferris resigned before being dismissed.
Investigated cop ran a pickleball court business with another officer
Manak also told CTV he had “no reason to believe” public trust or investigations were jeopardized by Sgt. Len Hollingsworth remaining in business with Ferris. Hollingsworth oversaw intelligence work and was a past president of the police union. The two co-own sport-court company PlayCo, which is co-creating a new “hub of all things pickleball” in Langford. Senior VicPD leadership has the authority to approve officers’ second jobs.
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⭐️ Capital Picks
🐱🐶 Found a furry wanderer? ROAM or FLED or Animal Control Services.
📈 Rising Economy 2024 is March 6-8 in Victoria. Get your tickets now for this transformative business conference about succeeding in the new economy.*
❤️ Valentine’s Day proposal on Kiss Cam at Royals game.
🎭 Ainadamar premieres Feb. 21 at The Royal Theatre. This 80-minute fusion of flamenco and opera is selling fast! Only four performances. Tickets from $30.*
🤝 Now hiring: Pyrotechnician at The Butchart Gardens.
*Sponsored Listing
🗞️ In Other News
Victoria radio DJ hosts last show amid terminal cancer diagnosis
Dylan Willows, morning host of The Zone 91.3, announced Thursday that treatment for his cancer was not successful and he’ll now be spending time with family, effective immediately. Willows was on air with The Zone for more than 20 years.
Union protests firing of 27 security screeners at YYJ
The screeners—and nine managers—were let go after an investigation into “screening irregularities,” according to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 16. The union says the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) interfered when the workers’ employer, Allied Universal Security Services, decided the workers should return. [Times Colonist]
23 arrested during 3-day shoplifting crackdown in Victoria
All but one was charged with theft under $5K: the other was charged with theft over $5K. Four of the 23 people also were nabbed in VicPD’s previous shoplifting purge last year. Police recovered just shy of $14K in stolen merchandise from 13 retailers in the recent Feb. 9-11 sweep. [VicPD]
Why did the chicken cross the road in Sidney?
Because it heard it could live there soon. Sidney council is on the cusp of approving an amendment that would allow people to keep up to five hens in their backyard as long as the single-family home is on a lot of 550 square metres. Sidney is the only municipality within the CRD that doesn’t allow residents to keep chickens. [CHEK]
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Garden with native plants this spring
Join an immersive workshop at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary and explore gardening with species native to your area! Learn native plant identification and ecological importance, and take a guided tour. Secure your spot for $5 and embrace sustainability and receiving local native seeds. Advanced registration is required, and limited spots are available!
🗓️ Things to do
🐉 Light the Dragon Chinese New Year Dinner: Celebrate the Year of the Dragon at Golden City Restaurant with an eight-course dinner and a lion dance performance. Tomorrow. Doors 5pm. Dinner 6pm.
🎭 Afroquatics: A Call and Response Below the Surface: A projected video/interactive, augmented reality installation by Victoria Artist in Residence Kemi Craig. Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s Drury Gallery. Opens tomorrow. Runs through May 26. Open house tomorrow. Meet the artist. 10am-5pm. [Info]
🎤 Snotty Nose Rez Kids: The Juno-nominated hip-hop duo will perform at Capital Ballroom. Tomorrow. Doors 8pm. Show 9pm.
🖼️ Winter Arts Festival: This family-friendly festival’s Art Walk will feature live performances, sculptures, projection mapping, and augmented reality. The festival’s Art Hub will house artisan booths, food vendors, and performances. Today until Mon.
🎶 Clean Slate: The Deadly Hiyas, Jody Lubin, Brandon Phillips, and David Andrew Wiebe will perform at Victoria Event Centre. Tonight. Doors 8pm. Show 8:30pm.
🎸 American Rock Legends: Dan Hare will perform a tribute concert to Bob Seger, John Fogerty, and Creedence Clearwater Revival at McPherson Playhouse. Tonight. 7:30pm.
🎤 London Calling: The Vancouver Island-based band will perform British punk music at Hermann’s Upstairs. Tonight. Doors 7pm. Show 8:30pm.
👀 In Case You Missed It
Langford councillor ‘harassed’ at their home: Langford mayor calls for predecessor and other community leaders to denounce this behaviour. [Capital Daily]
Random Acts of Kindness Week: This week is all about doing good for others and improving community well-being. [Capital Daily]
Thursday’s headlines: Residents escape Victoria condo fire; police seize $11M in contraband smokes; six-storey condo planned for Saanichton designed by former Victoria mayor, and more. [Feb. 15]
The cat came back: Survivor was reunited with her original family after disappearing as a kitten in 2020. [CHEK]
Mike de Jong to leave provincial politics after 30 years. [Vernon Morning Star]
HarbourCats March Break Kids Camps open for registration. [Play ball]
That’s it!
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