Fri. April 14 - An 8-10% hike on housing rates for UVic students

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning !

It looks like we are going to get a sunny and pleasant Friday before we head into a cloudy and rainy weekend, so if you have outdoor plans, today is the day.

If you’re looking for something to do, check out our dining guide to Fisherman’s Wharf. We collaborated with our team at Tasting Victoria for this dining guide, and it won’t disappoint. You’ll find it in today’s newsletter. But first, we have a story from our intern Michael John Lo on housing rates increasing at UVic by up to 10%.

And if you’re looking for the results of yesterday’s poll on CRD amalgamation, you’ll find it at the end of the newsletter.

NEWS

UVic set to hike campus housing rates by 8-10%

UVic is planning to increase student housing prices by 10% in September, even as student complaints of the rising costs and inaccessibility of campus housing go viral on social media.

The proposed 10% increase to campus housing and food prices within the university’s planning and budget framework is a rate well above the allowed 2% increase for ongoing rental leases governed by the BC Tenancy Act and the average 6% menu inflation currently seen at restaurants. UVic family housing will also be increasing by 8%. The increase ranks among the highest percentage increases by BC universities for the upcoming school year.

In a recent video that received more than 130,000 views within a day, UVic student Falyn Fryberger suggested that she would burn her degree if UVic started charging more than $900a month for rent in response to a housing survey sent out by the university.

“Students are really, really struggling,” Fryberger said in an interview with Capital Daily. “It’s getting to a point where we can’t afford [school] with our student loans and our jobs while we’re full-time students.”

Fryberger, a biochemistry student who works two jobs, said that she normally tries to stay away from the stressful topic of housing. But the “shocking” prices proposed in the survey prompted her to create the video, which now ranks among the top search results for UVic on TikTok.

In a written statement, UVic told Capital Daily that the prices within the survey do not reflect university plans for on-campus housing. Rather, they are a collection of current rental rates in Victoria and on campus. The university also maintains that even with these increases, UVic’s fees are in the middle of the pack when compared to other universities.

Read the full story and find out what UVic plans to do with the increased revenue, and the role that Victoria’s broader housing crisis plays in all of this.  

Capital Bulletin

☀️ Today’s weather: Mainly sunny with some clouds in the evening. High 10C / low 6C.

🚲 Fort Street cycling network to expand: Construction begins this week to expand the Fort Street cycling network from Cook Street to Foul Bay Road.

FOOD

A guide to dining at Fisherman’s Wharf

Fifty years ago, Fisherman’s Wharf had an air of chaos.

Fishermen and their trawlers jostled for space on the docks with residents living aboard trimarans, junks, or float homes built on precarious rafts of mossy logs. Almost no one paid their moorage fees, and skirmishes often brought police down to investigate. The lone restaurant was a hamburger joint called Vinnie’s Eats, which sat atop a Texaco fuel barge.

By contrast, today’s Fisherman’s Wharf is a picturesque corner of Victoria’s waterfront, home to a bright new generation of float homes, attracting hundreds of tourists each year. Vinnie’s is gone, replaced with a circle of food vendors drawing a mix of locals and tourists alike throughout the spring and summer. The eating experience is invariably memorable, especially on windier days when the waves bob the floating restaurants up and down. You may be tempted to beeline for a classic fish and chips (after all, what tastes better than fish and chips near the ocean?), but trust me: don’t skip out on the variety of fare offered by the many Fisherman’s Wharf vendors.

Contributor Kristina Campbell visited some of the wharf’s popular purveyors, from the classic fish and chips stand to the more unique Mexican and Hawaiian spots. Not to mention a good ol’ slice of pizza and some treats to top it off. Capital Daily partnered with Tasting Victoria to bring her full guide on what to eat at the wharf to life.

TOGETHER WITH ELIZA AT ROYAL BAY

The next phase is here

Following the great success of the first phase of ELIZA Condos in the Master-Planned community of Royal Bay—introducing ELIZA South. This second phase offers a full selection of 1-bedroom, 1-bedroom + den, and 2-bedroom suites.

ELIZA South is conveniently located steps from The Commons retail village, which is packed with amenities, including Quality Foods, Cascadia Liquor, and more! Surrounded by beautiful greenways entwined with biking and walking trails, it’s the perfect setting for the life you’ve always dreamed of.

Find out for yourself why so many others are calling ELIZA home and register today for more information.

Capital Picks

😂 Victoria Comedy Extravaganza: Dino Archie and MRG Live present this night of comedy with Chris Griffin and Hassan Phills at Capital Ballroom. [Tickets]

🍀 The Irish Rovers at McPherson Playhouse: The Irish Rovers are returning to Victoria on their No End in Sight Tour for an ultimate night of Irish music. [Tickets]

🍎 Learn what you can do in your everyday life to fend off disease and live longer. Join Tall Tree and Dr. Zia Poonja on April 19.*

📽️ Lunafest 2023 at the Vic Theatre: This year’s Lunafest will feature seven short films with a total running time of 90 minutes. The live event will take place on Friday, April 14 at the Vic Theatre, screenings start at 7pm. [Tickets]

🏥 Newcomers Navigating Healthcare: A community dialogue for health-care practitioners to learn how immigrants navigate the health-care system. [Details]

🤝 Now hiring: Apprentice Mechanic at Butchart Gardens.

*Sponsored Listing

In Other News

👮‍♂️Man arrested with nearly 500 rounds of ammo
A man suspected of unlawfully entering a residential building in the 4000-block of Shelbourne Street on Tuesday night was found to be in possession of nearly 500 rounds of small-caliber ammo when arrested by Saanich Police. A loaded, discarded .22 revolver that police say was stolen from a break and enter in Port McNeill in 2021 was found near the scene of arrest. Raymond Beaton was held in custody overnight and appeared in court the next day, where he received four firearm related charges related to the incident.

🎭 Local arts non-profit organization disbands after 32 years
The Friends of the Cowichan Theatre Society has disbanded, citing a lack of new membership as one of the reasons for dissolution. The volunteer group raised funds on behalf of the Cowichan Theatre, now the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre (CPAC), and had previously raised around $155,000 for theatre equipment and upgrades.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BELFRY THEATRE

Old Stock starts Tuesday

The incredible globetrotting Canadian musical, Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story, starts next week and runs until May 14. Pay-what-you-want tickets and information.

In Case You Missed It

🌱 Local volunteers are cutting out invasive species this spring: The Greater Victoria Green Team is out in full force this spring. The next invasive species removal events are on the Gulf Islands on April 14 and 15. Read more about the volunteer group and the work they do. [Capital Daily]

🍴 Your digital pocket guide to the city’s must-try spots: From the best new restaurant to the best hidden gem, download your guide to the winners of this year’s Tasting Victoria Best Restaurant Awards, presented by Gordon Food Service.

🗳️ NDP announce Ravi Parmar as Langford-Juan de Fuca candidate: Parmar has been the Sooke School District Board Chair since 2017, and he is also a senior advisor to BC’s minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. Read the full story in The Westshore newsletter by subscribing here.

Yesterday’s poll results

Nearly 1,300 readers weighed in on whether all 13 municipalities in Greater Victoria should amalgamate. Here’s what you said:

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 💯 Yes all of them (716)

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤔 Some but not all (295)

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 👎 No way (201)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 😐 Undecided (76)

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