April 15 - Lawsuit targets new short-term rental rules

Good morning !

Welcome to a new week! Today we have stories on the futures of local short-term rentals, the region’s pro soccer team, and a beloved local creek.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️ 9 / 4

Tomorrow: ☀️ 12 / 4

Day after: ☀️ 14 / 4

7-day forecast

NEWS

New lawsuit targets BC and City of Victoria over incoming rental rules

There are now two weeks until new BC rules crack down on “legal non-complying” short-term rentals (STRs) that are not the operator’s primary residence. Victoria had given exceptions to certain pre-established buildings and operators that do not meet the city’s primary-residence rule. But that ends May 1 as part of provincial efforts to restore housing supply.

Suit is owners’ latest effort to prevent May 1 change

The petition to the BC Supreme Court argues that the change in regulations excessively restricts owners’ ways to use their property. It’s brought by the West Coast Association for Property Rights group, represented by one Victoria owner who also runs an “Air Lobby” business doing cleaning and communications for STRs downtown.

Affected units have struggled to sell

The unit she owns is in the Janion, the bridge-side restored building known for having many AirBnBs in small units. Per reporting by Ricochet, many of those units had been bought at inflated prices due to their status but quickly went on the market after last fall’s announcement—and struggled to sell, even at reduced prices.

However, real estate analyst Marko Juras and others argue the price dips come in part from a broader condo dip. He told Citified that the Janion dip was then about 15%, vs. 5-10% for local condos overall.

Vic council motion to extend deadline failed

Last month’s motion was to ask BC keep non-conforming STRs open for this tourist season. Housing minister Ravi Kahlon said at owners have already had plenty of time since last fall’s announcement to sell or simply rent a unit for a longer term.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Spring bus service changes for Victoria transit begin today.

Carnarvon Park Master Plan: Attend the open house and give input on the park’s future on Apr. 17.

Major film / TV production will shut parts of downtown Nanaimo for next month-plus. [Locations / times]

NEWS

Uncertain Pacific FC season kicks off with home win

Pacific FC won a home opener for the third straight year, beating Halifax 1-0 on Saturday with a goal from Ayman Sellouf. The Langford-based team enters its sixth pro season after an off-season marked by departures of its past stars and questions about its future home.

Uncertainty hanging over team and its field

After months of negotiation, the club extended its lease at Starlight Stadium—but only for a year, despite the option for five. Langford is looking at expanding the stadium from 6,000 seats to 10,000 but plans to put it to a referendum now that costs project well above the $4.5M estimate from 2022. 

Pacific FC has been consistently competitive but hasn’t regained the highs of a 2021 championship that was followed by the loss of key contributors. PFC finished #3 last year after a strong regular season wavered in the late weeks but was redeemed by a dogged playoff push. With the veteran core of the title team now cycled out, PFC's challenge is to build new competitive rosters with transfers, signings, and development. 

PFC has again lost key contributors this offseason

Djenairo Daniels is now in Portugal while huge defender Amer Didic switched sides to rival Ottawa along with longtime star Manny Aparicio, a past MVP contender. Replacing them are several new international additions including midfielder Andrei Tircoveanu of Romania and striker Reon Moore from Trinidad and Tobago’s national team. 

NEWS

Using video games to plan the future of local waterways

Video games aren’t exactly thought of as great ways to get people out engaging with nature—often quite the opposite. But a group of four Royal Roads researchers believe the technology used in games can help get the public to understand, care about, and plan the future of local waterways.

They just received a grant to develop an experimental 3D visualization tool. That tool would let users experience a taste of different options for Millstream Creek in Langford, where the team members all live.

Through the tool, projections for various complex strategies—such as adding new recreation uses, or certain wildlife protections—could be felt more tangibly, either in first-person or from bird's-eye.

Compared to quantitative models and data, researcher Rob Newell says visualizations are “more visceral, more emotional, something that relates to sense of place and place-based values.”

Read more on this and other local tech and innovation news at Victoria Tech Journal.

SPONSORED BY VICTORIA FOUNDATION: COAST CAPITAL

Take Victoria's 2024 Vital Signs survey today

Your opinions are vital! Take Victoria’s 2024 Vital Signs survey today, and you'll be entered for a chance to win a $100 grocery gift card!

There are many things to love about living in Greater Victoria and on the Southern Gulf Islands. Friendly people, temperate climate, and natural beauty, to name a few! Despite this, we face many challenges as a community, including affordability, housing, healthcare, and more.

So how do we protect what is wonderful about our region while addressing the challenges?

Take the short-form survey to share your opinion and for a chance to win 1 of 3 $100 Gift Cards to Country Grocer. You can double your chances by taking the long-form survey.

Victoria's Vital Signs is sponsored by Coast Capital.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🦅 An eagle does some reflecting in this shot from local photographer Christy Grinton.

🎧 3 unsolved Victoria murders are the subject of Island Crime's new season. Listen here and read our interview with the host.

🤝 Now hiring: Bus driver at Victoria seniors travel and social group society

🗞️ In Other News

Haida title to Haida Gwaii recognized in historic agreement
The deal was signed on Sunday—following a 95% vote in favour by nation members—two decades after the nation initially sued BC for Aboriginal title recognition. The deal involves a transition period, and exempts certain existing private land and some land used by the government.

New naval vessel, intended for Arctic patrol, arrives today
HMCS Max Bernays arrives from Halifax, where it was made, passing through Esquimalt Harbour around 11am. [CFB Esquimalt]

Man airlifted to Victoria hospital with serious burns
Saturday’s fire gutted a house on Stz’uminus First Nation land near Ladysmith. [CHEK]

SPONSORED BY SPROUT FAMILY HEALTH

At last, family friendly healthcare 

Sprout offers a new kind of healthcare experience.

Warm, welcoming, and designed for families. A person on the other end of the line when you have a question. A specialized team with big hearts and big brains. Focused on prevention and longevity instead of just reactive illness care. Easy to access and never rushed. 

The Sprout team will see you now. 

🗓️ Things to do

🧑‍🚒 25th Annual Lance Caven Fire & Life Safety Expo. Firefighters from the Westshore teach safety to young students. Metchosin Elementary School. Tomorrow and Wed. 9:30am.

🎸 Daniel Romano’s Outfit: The Canadian indie rock band plays Capital Ballroom today. Doors 8pm, show 9pm.

🖼️ Our Living Languages: Sidney Museum’s exhibit on First Peoples’ voices across BC opens today. Until Jul. 24.

🗣 Engaged Citizens Speaker Series at VIU features former Victoria mayor Lisa Helps, radio host Jas Johal, VIU prof Michael MacKenzie, and Angus Reid president Shachi Kurl. Their talk on threats to democracy is titled “Bad Leaders, Bad Followers” and starts 6:30pm today. Malaspina room at VIU, or over Zoom. 

👠 Campy Hour: As a part of Incoming Festival Vivian Vanderpuss, Woofie, and Eddi Licious will perform at The Vicious Poodle. Today. 5:30pm.

🎥 The Holdovers at Cinecenta: The Oscar winner starring Paul Giamatti plays at UVic today (5pm & 7:30pm). 

👀 In Case You Missed It

Island’s first spring wildfire was very small, but summer risk could be big. [Sunday newsletter]

Shatterbox shuttered: Popular Public Market coffee spot closes abruptly. [Tasting Victoria]

Why there aren’t more solar panels locally, and what to know if you want to get some. [The Westshore]

Local hiker got stuck in clay pit for hours. Here's how he got out. [Capital Daily]

Octopus the size of a blueberry near Rathtrevor Beach. [Facebook photo]

That’s it!

If you found something useful, consider forwarding this newsletter to a fellow Victorian.

And before you go, let us know: