April 9 - 44 Islanders dead from toxic drugs

Good morning !

Well, that was a little disappointing. Victoria didn’t get much eclipse action yesterday reaching only 28% totality. For those further east in Canada, it sounds like cloud cover blocked the view of the 99% solar eclipse for many.

Hopefully we’ll have clear skies when the next total solar eclipse is visible in North America, though we’ll have to wait until 2044. If you want to catch it sooner, you’ll have to head to the Arctic, which will see a total eclipse in 2026.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

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NEWS

44 Islanders died of toxic drugs in February

The Island’s Feb. total shows a slight increase from the previous month’s 41 deaths, with Greater Victoria also seeing a rise with 11 deaths—two more than in Jan. 

On an average Feb. day in BC, six people died, for a total of 177 drug-related deaths that month, an 11% decrease from the 198 who died in Jan. Feb. was the 20th consecutive month to exceed 175 deaths.

For the second straight month, Greater Victoria was not among the top three townships—Nanaimo, Vancouver, and Surrey were—with the highest death rate.

Toxicological testing “continues to reflect a volatile and inconsistent drug supply” in the province, the BC Coroners Service said in a release. 

Fentanyl and its analogues have been identified in eight out of every 10 results in 2024, often combined with other substances, such as cocaine and methamphetamine.

Since the public health emergency was declared almost eight years ago, 14,208 people in BC have died from toxic drugs, making it the leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 59.

Island Health released three drug poisoning advisories last month, with North Island and Nanaimo receiving advisories on March 5 and 6 respectively, and Greater Victoria receiving one on March 20.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Oak Bay Rec Centre pool to close for repairs. [July 1- Sep. 2]

Laundry detergent recall: Proctor & Gamble products. [Info]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Uptown is getting new neighbours, lots of them

Yesterday, we told you how the city is looking at redeveloping the northern end of downtown into an Industry, Arts, and Innovation District which could add 500 housing units. The premier has since announced plans for hundreds more just a few minutes up the road in Saanich.

“Our communities are growing quickly, and people need affordable homes close to public transit, so they can get to where they need to go—and get ahead in life,” David Eby said, as he made public a transit-oriented development plan slated for next to Uptown Mall.

The province recently finalized the purchase of two pieces of land adjacent to the Galloping Goose—one at 3657 Harriet, a Budget Rent-a-Car for which it paid $7.5M, and another at 28 Crease, which housed a geotechnical engineering firm, for $1.8M.

The province says the plans are in the early stages but include multiple buildings with hundreds of housing units, new public gathering spaces, active-transportation connections, retail and commercial space, and potential for amenities, such as child care, community health facilities, and educational services.

“The central location of these properties next to Highway 1, the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, and established shopping centre is an ideal place for a bus exchange and much-needed new housing in a transit-oriented community,” Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said in a release.

In strategic congruence with Saanich’s Uptown-Douglas Plan to build a downtown core, the new development will be designed to blend with the Lochside and Galloping Goose regional trails to make it an active transportation and transit hub that connects to downtown Vic, UVic, the Westshore, and the Saanich Peninsula, the province said.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🦦 River otter munches on kelp in Finnerty Cove, Saanich:

🛍 Over 200 middle and high school students will be at the Bay Centre selling goods they have made or repurposed at the Kidovate Youth Entrepreneurial Market this Saturday!*

🏡 Now selling! Rowhomes at Royal Bay with suites and no strata fees. Discover the advantages of buying at presale prices. Register here.*

☑️ More than 3,000 locals have voted: Pick your winners for the 2024 Tasting Victoria Best Restaurant Awards.

🤝 Now hiring: Part-time Brand Advocate/ Farmer’s Market Sales Staff at Divine Distillery

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🗞️ In Other News

Vic High students return after four years of renovations
The Fernwood school has been seismically upgraded and has an increased capacity of 1,000 from 800. The oldest continually used high school this side of Winnipeg now has a turf field and a neighbourhood learning centre. Students who attended S.J. Willis during renovations returned to the school yesterday. [CTV] 

Spring COVID-19 boosters available; mask mandate dropped for health-care facilities
Boosters are available for anyone six months or older who feels they would benefit from an additional dose, with the province recommending it for high-risk individuals. COVID-19 infections have decreased, leading to the end of the mask mandate that was put in place last fall.

Nine foreign doctors to alleviate Westshore doctor shortage
Westshore Primary Care Society is recruiting these doctors as the high cost of living in BC is a turn off to newly qualified doctors. The doctors will arrive from Australia, the UK, South Africa, New Zealand and other countries. The doctors have not yet been assigned to clinics in the area. [Goldstream Gazette]

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🗓️ Things to do

🤠 Country Mixtape: These country stars will perform their top tracks—and favourite covers—at Capital Ballroom, today at 8pm. [Info]

🎸 Comeback Kid: The band will play at Capital Ballroom, tomorrow at 8pm. [Info]

😂 Bianca Del Rio: The RuPaul’s Drag Race winner will bring her brash standup comedy to the Royal Theatre, Sat. 8pm. [Info]

Looking for something to do this weekend? Subscribe to This Week In Vic to get the full list of what’s on this week. 

👀 In Case You Missed It

Monday headlines: Capital Culture District plans; Emerson the elephant seal relocated; Netflix flick on found feet; And more. [April 8] 

3 unsolved Victoria murders featured on crime podcast. [Capital Daily]

7 farmers markets to visit this summer. [Tasting Victoria]

$48K in stolen goods seized from Sooke storage. [VicPD]

Victoria Bowls and Croquet Club is the new name. [Victoria News]

That’s it!

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