April 2 - Tesla target victim makes key point

Good morning !

Victoria hasn’t seen the type of Tesla targeting other cities have, so an incident here this week had people talking. Nobody tossed a Molotov cocktail or anything, but an innocent car owner felt the sting of a long key scratch on his Cybertruck.
What struck me is the calm and classy way the man handled it.

Let’s have more like him, please!

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 10 / 4

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 10 / 4

Friday: 🌤️ 10 / 7

NEWS

Tesla targeting victim talks tolerance after Cybertruck was keyed downtown

Footage of a person vandalizing a Tesla Cybertruck parked at a downtown meter has drawn primarily derision from those commenting online, while the vehicle’s owner says he prefers to see the incident as a teachable moment to promote tolerance.

“I'm not really angry at all,” Rajiv Khaneja tells Capital Daily. “We live in a society, and most people are good. And I think that, you know, 99% of people in Victoria are wonderful people.”

Khaneja says after having a coffee at a cafe mid-afternoon on Monday, he returned to his car on Humboldt near Blanshard to find its automated video cameras had recorded a person walking up to it and forcefully keying the passenger side with a five-foot slash.

While initially shocked, Khaneja says he thought it was important to show two of his boys, aged seven and nine, “to sort of see that there are consequences to these kinds of actions.”

Khaneja let his kids in on the conversation when he called the police to send the video as evidence. “Hopefully with the resolution of this, they'll get a lesson in how to behave and what good character looks like.”

Tesla has been a target of protesters and vandals since CEO Elon Musk became a key figure in US President Donald Trump’s administration.

Khaneja ordered the futuristic vehicle in November, long before Musk became the head of DOGE, the US Department of Government Efficiency.

“What a dummie,” said one Facebook poster after viewing the video. “And seriously, despite your views, you don’t get to destroy other peoples’ property.”

“Ignorance at its finest!” said another. “What is wrong with people!!!”

But Khaneja tells Capital Daily there’s no win in anger or pointing fingers.

“I think that the person who did this really needs to just turn themselves in and take responsibility for what they've done and maybe hope to do better in the future,” Khaneja says.

“I think the thing to focus on is that most people are good people.”

VicPD also released the video and said that before Monday, it had received only two mischief incident reports involving Teslas since the start of the year.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Trump tariffs expected: US president to announce ‘Liberation Day’ plans today.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Indigenous people once roamed Island mountains on foot—and marmots were key to their survival

Vancouver Island Marmots may be the most endangered species in Canada, but before colonization, they were once abundant, and recent findings show they were an essential food source for Island First Nations.

While archeological studies often focus on coastal areas, where villages were established and populations were more concentrated, collaborative research between the K’ómoks First Nation and the Marmot Recovery Foundation (MRF) is giving insight into a time when marmots were plentiful throughout the Island’s mountain range—it’s now believed their population size was even higher than once thought. And human markings have been found on their remains. 

Three years ago, a sudden rainstorm forced MRF technicians to take cover in a rock shelter—shallow, naturally occurring cave-like structures—while they were conducting research in remote areas of Strathcona Park. Inside, they found marmot bones and charcoal scattered, with distinct cut marks on the bones. 

The researchers confirmed with BC’s Archaeology Branch that the rock shelters were used by people before colonization. By the end of last year’s season, MRF found four more rock shelters in the park.

Raini Bevilacqua, an archeologist with K’ómoks First Nation, said the dates on the archeological material they found ranged from between 700 to 2,400 years ago. 

These rock shelters can offer evidence that backs up oral histories—for instance, Indigenous stories about historic warfare or trade routes between the east to west sides of the Island. 

“Isn’t it amazing that in a place that’s now a fly-in, fly-out via helicopter, people were walking and gathering resources along the way,” Bevilacqua said.

Read the full story here.

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Join in for Sakura Days Japan Fair

Sakura Days Japan Fair celebrates all things Japan—from Japanese food, drink, and performances, to music and art. Immerse yourself in Japanese culture—participate in a traditional tea ceremony, try Japanese festival food, sample premium sake, learn new Japanese games, and enjoy a range of cultural performances.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🦚 Flowers and feathers: A peacock tries to outshine the daffodils in Beacon Hill Park. [Facebook photo]

✍🏽 Victoria Writers’ Society: Meeting tonight 7-8:30pm at Russell Books, 747 Fort St. Topic: Christoph Koniczek of FriesenPress will talk about Inside the Edit: Navigating Process, Partnerships, and Publishing Routes. Everyone welcome!*

🐙 Gyro Park’s octopus reflected in the rain. [Colin Smith]

📝 Story Studio aims to inspire, educate, and empower youth to be great storytellers. It’s an award-winning organization that offers creative “fun-first” writing workshops for youth of all ages to create incredible stories. Read more here.*

🤝 Now hiring: Payroll and Accounting Officer at The Truffles Group

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Gas prices fall as BC ends consumer carbon tax after marathon debate
The bill to end the policy—put in place 17 years ago—passed its third reading on Monday at 1:30am. The NDP was pushing to fast-track the approval to align with the end of the federal consumer carbon tax. The premier said he expected gas prices to fall by 17 cents a litre, and he was in the right ballpark. Some stations here in Victoria lowered their prices by as much as 19 cents. Other regions saw a more modest dip of closer to five cents. [CP / BIV]

Victoria considers restoring full Canada Day funding amid budget shortfall
Last year’s event was one of the city’s biggest, costing $450K. This year, the city initially looked at reducing the celebration to a daytime-only event, cutting funding down to $255K. However, the council recently approved one-time funding of $100K through the Events Grant. There is still a $100K shortfall to create the same event as last year, but a failed bid to bring the U17 World Hockey Challenge to Victoria might free up $250K for the city to reallocate. As the tariff war with the US heats up and patriotism strengthens for many Canadians, the holiday may be a higher priority. [CHEK]

Greater Victoria School Board’s fired members petition to get their jobs back
The petition says Education Minister Lisa Beare conducted a “swift and secret governance review” of the board before deciding on dismissal, “based on a myriad of vague allegations which were never put to the board for response.” Following the mass firing in January, Camosun College president Sherri Bell was appointed as an official trustee to perform the board’s tasks until next year, when new elections are to be held. [Times Colonist]

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🗓️ Things to do

🎶 Alt-country & Roots with John Michael Lind: Hear classic tunes from folk icons and songs from his new album, Lightning Rod, at The Coda. Tonight. 6:30pm. [Info]

🎸 The Grapes of Wrath: See the Canadian folk-rock legends perform live at Capital Ballroom, bringing their classic hits and timeless sound. Tonight. 8pm. [Info]

🧶 Craft and Connect: Drop in to work on your own art project or try something new at the Luther Court Society Main Lounge. Tomorrow. 3pm. [Info]​

🎺 Kelby MacNayr's Blue Note Repertory All-Stars: Experience a night where drummer Kelby MacNayr leads a stellar lineup, featuring Cuban trumpet sensation Miguelito Valdes, saxophonist Roy Styffe, and pianist Dr. Tony Genge, at Hermann’s. Tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

👩‍🌾 Esquimalt Farmers Market returns for the summer: One of Victoria’s most popular weekly farmers’ markets is back for the season. Expect fresh-baked breads, farm fresh produce, kids’ activities, food trucks, music, and more at Memorial Park. Tomorrow. 4:30-7:30pm. [Info]

🛍️ Issamba Multicultural Food & Crafts Market: Experience a vibrant multicultural market at Centennial Square, with international cuisine, unique crafts, and a DJ jamboree. Fri. 5pm; Sat. & Sun. 10am. [Info]

💡 Kidovate Youth Market: Support young entrepreneurs as they showcase and sell their handmade products at The Bay Centre. Sat. 10am-4pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Tuesday’s headlines: Bus and BC Ferries fares go up; More King Charles III medals awarded to Islanders; Bastion Square gets Christmas-movie makeover. [April 1]

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

Comox skier takes bronze in freeski halfpipe world championship. [CHEK]

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

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

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

That’s it!

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