April 1 - Bus fares going up today

Good morning !

Welcome to April. A local woman is spending the month doing a daily cold plunge to raise money for charity. It’s something many people in Victoria do for pleasure, but for the cold averse (me), committing to an icy swim daily sounds tough—though I’m sure doing it for charity offers a warming feeling.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ⛅ 14 / 6

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 10 / 5

Thursday: 🌤️ 11 / 6

NEWS

Victoria bus fares jump today for the first time since 2010

The last time we saw a full formal fare increase, Dean Fortin was Victoria's mayor, and Gordon Campbell was BC's premier. Stephen Harper was prime minister, Barack Obama was US president—and our two countries actually got along. 

But starting today, single-ride fares will cost $3, up from $2.50, while a DayPASS will cost $6, up from $5. With inflation factored in, these prices make tickets functionally cheaper than they were under the previous prices from 2010 until 2019, but pricier than they've been since about 2020. 

HandyDART tickets (pack of 10 rides) will cost $30 instead of $25. Pricing for all specialty passes including youth, student, and senior fares, will remain as they are. 

BC Ferries fares and food prices rise

It will now cost $7.60 more to take a car on the boat along major routes. Drive-up tickets for adults will go up 90 cents. Minor-route passage is also on the rise, up 70 cents, to $2 to take a standard vehicle aboard, and a quarter more at 50 cents for drive-up adult fares. Look for a 3.5% increase in food prices, too. 

The ongoing four-year contract for BC Ferries (April 2024 - March 2028) entails 3.2% annual increases to fares as approved by the ferry commissioner in fall 2023. 

The 3.2% per year price hike applies to the overall increase, so foot and vehicle passengers may not have the same bump.

Original 2023 projections looked at increases of 9% per year, but that was reduced by an influx of provincial funding and by scaling back some spending. The commissioner acknowledged at the time that the corporation faced rising costs and “substantial pressure” from labour shortages, fuel prices, the aging fleet, and the decade-long multibillion-dollar plan to replace them.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Blanshard reduced to 1 lane in each direction: Pandora to Fort, [Today-April 6]

‘What goes where?’ recycling guide featured on new CRD website.

Possible smelly air in Esquimalt: McLoughlin Point sewage plant cleanup. [Until April 16]

NEWS

85 more Islanders receive the King Charles III medal

Last week, 29 BC public service workers from the Island were honoured with the King Charles III Coronation Medal, a week after 56 Island RCMP officers received the recognition. 

The coronation medals are awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to their communities, with all MLAs and MPs and select RCMP officers and public service workers endowed. Those involved in local non-profits or leaders in community institutions were also decorated.

Last week’s recipient list marks the final group of medals awarded in the province. The first medals were awarded last May, marking one year since King Charles’ coronation—his mother’s 1953 coronation also brought commemorative service medals to Canadians. For King Charles’ coronation, the UK designed 400K medals, with a percentage going to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Canada had 30K in total to give out.

Notable Victoria recipients include Ace Mann, president of the Victoria Pride Society, and Jamie Cassels, former president of UVic from 2013-2020, who both received medals last year. Second World War veteran John Hillman—known for walking laps around his retirement home each year from 2020 until his death last year, raising $170K for Save the Children—received a medal posthumously. Earlier this month, Brad Aschenbrenner—widower of Sarah Beckett, the late West Shore RCMP officer who was killed by a drunk driver on duty in 2016—was awarded the medal for his work in organizing the Sarah Beckett Memorial Run, which fundraises for the Goldstream Food Bank and the South Island Boys and Girls Club.

Read the most recent list of local recipients here.

SPONSORED BY PACIFIC OPERA VICTORIA

Rigoletto tickets from $35

Pacific Opera Victoria presents Rigoletto at the Royal Theatre April 23-29.

Tickets from $35!

Rigoletto is a gripping opera that delves into the depths of human emotion, showcasing the tragic tale of Rigoletto, a court jester consumed by vengeance.

"Based on Victor Hugo’s play, Verdi’s Rigoletto is a classic of the operatic world that will introduce singers Grant Youngblood, Sarah Dufresne, and Matthew Pearce to Pacific Opera audiences. It is grand opera, which at its heart is the story of a father and his daughter, and the ultimate cost of revenge, often paid mostly by the people we love."

Brenna Corner, Artistic Director

Secure your seats for this powerful opera online or call 250.385.0222

⭐️ Capital Picks

⛽ Gas prices to drop as carbon tax lifted. [BC Gov’t.]

🏡 Shield Landscaping offers sturdy, stylish fences for privacy and security. Enhance your property’s look. Contact them for a free quote today.*

🐴 Old Saanich: See a carriage on the North Saanich Wagon Road, surrounded by a lush forest, in 1900. [Facebook photo]

🌻 Come celebrate Spring at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary's Spring Craft Fair on April 12 - 13. Shop for linens, decor, quilts, nature-themed ornaments, and more!*

🌊 Shaggy mouse nudibranchs seen in Sidney tide pools. [Facebook photos]

☕ Enjoy the world-renowned flavour of AeroPress, a velvety-smooth coffee without the grit or bitterness found in other methods. Loved globally, with 55K+ 5-star reviews.*

🎄 Christmas came early to Bastion Square for the filming of a movie.

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🗞️ In Other News

BC Ferries greenlights 4 of 5 major new ship requests
The carrier needs to retire some of its older vessels and had proposed ordering five new ones, but Eva Hage, the BC Ferries commissioner, ruled that the fifth, to be used as a relief ship, was not essential now. CEO Nicolas Jimenez disagrees and calls it a missed opportunity to take advantage of fixed pricing. He says customers want more ships and fewer delays. [Times Colonist] 

BC to gauge health authority efficiency 
Island Health and the province’s four other regional health authorities, along with the First Nations Health Authority and the Provincial Health Services Authority, each has boards of governors, CEOs, and administrative staff and critics say the $1.8B needed to fund them in 2022 is an indication it’s time to go all Elon Musk on the system and find some savings. The BC Conservatives say there are 70 vice-presidents in BC’s health-care administration, while Alberta—with roughly one million fewer residents–has seven. [CBC]

30 for 30: Victoria woman takes a cold dip a day for South African charity
A transplanted African who loves swimming in Victoria’s waters plans to take the plunge each day of April to raise money for a school in Soweto. Laura Thomson dips at Fairfield’s Ross Bay Beach, and she says she feels lucky to live here, where it’s not unusual to spend $20 on a few cups of coffee, “and yet that feeds a child for a whole month.” She’s hoping people can donate a dollar a dip. This is the fourth time Thomson has dipped for dollars. She’s raised $10K so far. [CHEK]

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🗓️ Things to do

❓ Benji’s Pub Quiz: Today at Whistle Buoy Brewing. 7pm. [Info]

📸 Hidden Gems tour of Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibit today. 11:15am. [Info]

✂️ “Small World" solo art show from Dallas Segno, created with patterned paper from all over the world. Opens today at Gage Gallery. [Info]

🔎 Scavenger Hunt at the museum starting April Fool's Day and lasting all week. [Info]

🖼 1 month left to see From Warhol to Banksy and From Balzar to Hunt, the Pop Art shows at AGGV. [Info]

🏛 Notre-Dame restoration architect speaks in Victoria at Christ Church Cathedral next Tuesday. 6pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Monday’s headlines: Vic singer AP Dhillon and Salt Spring’s Raffi win Junos; Massive sports month; Building a big Nanaimo bar. [March 31]

Stanley Cup: Hockey fans hustle to Oak Bay for a look. [CHEK]

Temporary Nellie McClung Express Library open at Shelbourne & Donnelly. [Details]

Tofino sunsets snapped by Doug Clement. [Instagram]

Birds use spiderwebs & plants to build their nest. [VanIsleWildlife video]

Won't be in town to vote? Apply for a mail ballot by April 22. [Info]

Dolphin comb by Heiltsuk carver Dean Hunt. [Instagram photos]