July 19 - 2 dead after plane goes down in Tofino

Good morning !

As we head into another gorgeous, sunny weekend (although Sunday may be a bit cloudy), we’ve got unfortunate news from Tofino, the scene of a deadly plane crash.

We have stories on the Agricultural Land Reserve, and the connection between fish and fire, and if you dig a little deeper, we’ll tell you how someone thought using a forklift to rob a Saanich cyclist store was somehow a good idea.

Spoiler: It wasn’t.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 7 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today:☀️ 24 / 15

Tomorrow:☀️ 28 / 15

Sunday: 🌤️ 28 / 15

7-day forecast

NEWS

Two dead, one injured in Tofino plane crash

It appeared the small plane went down after an engine fire broke out as the six-seater took off from the Tofino-Long Beach Airport, the RCMP said. The lone survivor is in hospital with serious injuries after being pulled from the wreckage. The other two people died on the scene.

RCMP were called yesterday just before 1pm with reports of a crash on the YAZ airport runway.

A witness told CBC: “The plane was just in flames.”

Derek Michaels said he saw the craft appear to struggle, flying “pretty low” after it took off, and it appeared to be returning to the airport. There was a plume of smoke coming from one of the engines, he said.

He said the plane then disappeared behind a tree line and then he saw a “big puff of smoke.” Michaels, who was in Tofino on a family vacation, said: "I went in my truck, and I drove up to the airport, and that's when I noticed that the plane was just in flames and there was people around and paramedics." 

Tofino RCMP, the Transportation Safety Board, and the BC Coroners Service are working together to determine what happened.

NEWS

Saanich to implement a hefty application fee for ALR exemptions

Saanich has decided to introduce a substantial fee of nearly $4K for property owners seeking to exclude some of their land from the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). This fee, aimed at recovering costs associated with processing the applications, was approved by the council.  

Previously, under Bill 15-2019, private landowners could directly petition the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) for exclusion. Now, Saanich manages these applications, incurring expenses like a $750 application fee to the ALC, $1,200 for public notices and hearings, staff time, and legal fees. Mayor Dean Murdock clarified that the fee isn’t meant to deter applications but rather to align costs with those of other municipal processes, such as rezoning.

The decision sparked some dissent among council members, with Coun. Nathalie Chambers highlighting concerns over food security and urban sprawl. 

Read Sidney Coles’ full story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Road closure: Part of UVic’s Ring Road will be closed tomorrow for construction on the Engineering buildings. Bus routes will be impacted. 7am-5pm. [Info]

Hwy 17 closures: Construction for Keating overpass means three upcoming overnight closures on July 25, July 29, and Aug. 7.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Even away from the grill, fire is salmon’s enemy

Last year was, in the provincial government’s terms, the “most destructive” wildfire season in BC history. More than 2.8M ha of forest was on fire at some point. That’s a lot of hectares. Imperially, it sounds even more unsettling—6.9M acres.

Forest fires affect salmon. When trees burn down, the forest cover is reduced, decreasing the shade over streams, and causing water temperatures to increase, which stresses the fish.

The lack of trees to solidify the soil makes for mudslides and that loose mud and sediment flow into the salmon’s habitat, plugging their gills and making it difficult for them to breathe, find food, and even bury their eggs.

For a fish already at risk, fires are not a good thing.

The Mainland and Interior of BC deal with the bulk of this risk, and while wildfires on the Island are rare, according to experts, droughts and heatwaves have led to concern for the future.

The Pacific Salmon Foundation—a non-profit dedicated to supporting the plight of BC’s iconic fish—says last year’s summer of fire provides a glimpse of the effects climate change can have on our salmon and what can be done to try to turn their plight around.

Read the full story here.

SPONSORED BY VICTORIA BEER SOCIETY

Great Canadian Beer Festival celebrates 30 years

Great Canadian Beer Festival (GCBF) rings in 30 years of celebrating Canadian craft beer this September. At its new home, Topaz Park, try 200+ beers on Sept. 6 and 7 at this special craft beer tasting event. Tickets start at $25 and are on sale now.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🍛 Original Pho has opened its second location at 807 Fort, in the old Chorizo & Co. location. Dine-in and take-out meals will be discounted today to celebrate its first week.

🌊 Salt Spring Island named one of world’s best islands, ranking 24th on Big Travel 7's Top 50 Islands.  

🤹Busking in Victoria survey. [Register/Take survey]

🗞️ In Other News

Blanshard protected bike lane construction is underway
Road safety improvements between Fort and Caledonia will include the expansion of the AAA cycling network—which will link with the newly completed bike lanes along Fort—as well as crosswalk and traffic light improvements, new left-turn lanes, and road paving. There will be some traffic disruptions until completion, which is expected early next year. [City of Victoria] 

Woman dies on Pandora the day after first responder changes
Circumstances surrounding the overdose of a 38-year-old woman on Sat. remain unknown. VicPD Chief Del Manak has said that medical emergency responses will be delayed on Pandora between Vancouver and Quadra due to changes in first response services, which now require police escorts. This follows the assault of a paramedic in that block last week. [Global News]

Retirement home hosts drag event to make residents feel welcome
Amica Jubilee House welcomed local drag performers for its “Aging is a Drag” event on Tue., hoping to be welcoming to current and future 2SLGBTQ+ residents. Performers included Vivian VanderPuss and the home’s community relations director. Donations raised at the event will support Victoria Pride Society’s queer senior programs. [Victoria News]  

Forklift used in Saanich e-bike store break and enter
First, they smashed their way through the entrance, then they tried to use the tines to corral bicycles out of the Broadmead Village Shopping Centre shop. Summoned by the alarm at approximately 1:30 yesterday morning, the co-owner followed the slow-moving forklift and called police who arrived to find the stolen trailer loader abandoned on Royal Oak and bikes strewn about. They arrested a suspect who was hiding in the bushes. [CHEK]

🗓️ Things to do

🎶The Andrew Greenwood Quintet plays original compositions. Hermann’s. Today. 7pm. [Info]

🎵 Steph Strings: The Australian singer-songwriter performs on their 2024 Canadian tour. With Davers Lang. Capital Ballroom. Today. 8pm. [Info]

💃 Colombian Rumba Night: An Homage to Colombian Music, a live performance by Daniel Sar to kick off the night, and a sensational selection of Colombian and Latin music by DJ Alex King. At midnight, they will commemorate July 20th, Colombian Independence Day. Victoria Event Centre. Today. 9pm. [Info]

🎨Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s 35th annual Paint-In: See Island artists create work in real-time, with activities, music, food, and beer garden. Moss Street. Tomorrow. AGGV opens at 10am. Paint-in at 11am. [Info]

🎵 Colwood’s Music in the Park: Kooler will perform at Colwood City Hall. Mama Rosie’s will be serving up food. Today. 5:30-7:30pm. [Info]  

📚 Little Free Library to receive 100,000th book. Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network (GVPN) and the delivery of book No. 100K. Rutledge Park. Tomorrow. Noon-2pm. [Info]

🎶 Music in the Park: Big Little Lions will perform folk & pop music at the Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park. Today. 1:30-3:30pm. [Info]

🎥Perfect Days at Cinecenta: The Oscar-nominated Japanese film will be shown at the UVic theatre. Today & Tomorrow. 5pm and 7:30pm. [Info] 

🚘 Jaguars on the Island: Concours d’Elegance. The Jaguar Car Club of Victoria (JCCV) celebrates Jaguar automobiles old and new, and the enthusiasts who love them. Windsor Park. Tomorrow. 9am-3pm. [Info]

🚗24th Annual Oak Bay Collector Car Festival. More than 300 cars of all types, vintages, and condition. Meet other owners and discuss backstories and experiences of these special cars. Oak Bay Ave. Sun. 8am-3pm. [Info]

💪One X Three: An Evening of Extraordinary Solos (Victoria Edition): Join us for a night of edge-pushing solo performances: Three performers, three extraordinary solos, and three new vistas on reality. Camosun College Lansdowne campus. Tomorrow. 7-8:30pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: Camosun gets its first student housing structure; Esquimalt tenants gotta go; BC Transit ticket changes; And more. [July 18]

City investigates reports of polluted liquids poured in storm drain, en route to Gorge. [Capital Daily]  

Under the Bridge actor portraying Saanich police officer up for Emmy. [CHEK]

Listeriosis outbreak: Two deaths linked to plant-based milk recall. [CBC] 

CRD study: Solid waste market research. [Info]

Summer reading: GVPL’s top adult fiction books for July.

Orcas swim through Haro Strait. [Photos]  

That’s it!

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