Aug 11 - Local seniors become soccer stars

Good morning !

As the Olympics come to a close, we turn our focus to a different group of local athletes competing internationally: Soccer-playing Island seniors, headed to the 70+ World Cup. More on that below.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ⛅ 21 / 12

Tomorrow: ⛅ 19 / 14

Day after: ☁️ 19 / 12

7-day forecast

NEWS

4 Islanders headed to Wales for senior soccer World Cup

We don’t mean the World Cup that Canada is co-hosting in Vancouver and Toronto two years from now. This one’s in 10 days and participants have to be 70+ years old to play.

Billed as the world’s largest international football tournament for players over 70, Veterans Football World Cup 2024 runs Aug. 20-23 in Cardiff, with 16 teams from England, Germany, USA, Norway, Denmark, Australia, and more.

Canada’s first foray into the tournament

The Maple Leaf guys will be represented by Vancouver FC, which features Victoria’s Andy Kulas; Oak Bay’s Bernie Harrington; Robert Jacques from Campbell River; and Chris Horrocks, who hails from Comox.

“The four of us have played against each other but now we have to come together,” Kulas tells Capital Daily. “We’re older and many of us have had great moments, so we know what it’s like and what it takes.”

Previous installments of the 70+/75+ World Cup have been held in Denmark, Japan and last year, in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The footy fun is restricted to two divisions: 70+ and 75+, and will unfold at Cardiff University.

How the seniors’ tourney works:

Unlike traditional matches divided into two 45-minute halves, Veterans World Cup football games are comprised of two 30-minute periods and teams play twice on the same day.

The pitch is the regulation FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) field (105m x 68m) with standard goals. The 75+ age event is played on smaller pitches—65m x 40m—with reduced goal sizes: 4.8m x 2.1m instead of the standard 7.3m x 2.4m.

The 70+ tourney features 11 men aside, whereas the seniors’ is a 7-on-7 game.

Canada is up against some potent opponents, beginning with its opening match against the defending champion US and followed by one against another notedly physical adversary in England.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Nanaimo-area fire now considered under control.

Perseids expected to be visible in mid-Island regions tomorrow night. 

Beckwith Park splash pad has reopened in Saanich until Monday evening.

Death cap mushrooms in Comox, town warns—don't eat anything that looks like this.

Air quality: Low risk (2/10), but some smoke expected over South Island.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Local company using AI and sonar to hunt down shipwrecks

More than 1,000 vessels sit on the floor of BC's ocean waters. But Victoria-based Ocean AID decided to do something about it. It uses sonar and AI to detect sunken underwater objects—in particular, ghost fishing gear that kills marine life and breaks down into ocean macro plastic.

Recently, Ocean AID put their Automatic Target Recognition system to the test to see if it could reliably detect two long-abandoned ships off the coast of Sidney.

The tech accurately picked up on the 1991-sunk GB Church freighter and the 1995-sunk HMCS Mackenzie, which was deliberately sunk as a dive site and artificial reef. 

The local company hopes that this detection can be used by crews in real time when a ship sinks, rather than needing to go back to shore to process new data.

More on this via Victoria Tech Journal.

NEWS

Locally focused festival nears a decade of Westshore summer music

The Sooke Music Festival is back this weekend with its free and family-friendly fest that has been running since 2016. Today is the last day to catch its performances at Fred Milne Park.

“We want to promote Island talent,” said co-founder Peter Jonassen, “because there’s so much talent here that we don’t need to go off the Island to get it; we believe in community and we want to continue paying that back by helping promote the artists in our community.”

Attendees can check out activities ranging from a kids play area, art in the park, a vendor village, food and drinks, and more throughout the event.

Read more, and see today's schedule, at The Westshore.

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Join Beam Beauty on August 15 for their IV Therapy Night. Hosted by Dr. Ayla Lester, where she will discuss the health and wellness benefits of IV Therapy and answer any of your questions.

August 15 6 – 8pm

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🐔 Beacon Hill chicks are growing into fancy chickens. [Photos]

🛩 Martin Mars bomber arrives in North Saanich today around 6pm after departure from from Port Alberni. Info here / 6pm livestream here. 

⛵ A “full parking lot” of boats at Hornby. Photo: James MacDonald.

🤝 Now hiring: Christmas Installers at The Butchart Gardens.

🗞️ In Other News

Swimmer halts 110km charity swim over lung problems
Jill Yoneda left Brentwood Bay on Friday to swim the 50 hours to Vancouver for Canuck Place children's hospice. But 15 hours in, she and her doctor called the feat off due to a pulmonary edema—fluid in her lungs. [CHEK]

Westshore Rebels lose first BCFL game in two years
The local football team went undefeated in league play last year, falling only in the national championship. Its last BC defeat came in the final game of 2022, the Cullen Cup vs. the Okanagan Sun. Those same Sun (now 4-0) upended the Rebels (now 2-1) last night in Langford, storming back from a 15-24 deficit at half to win 33-30. 

“Possible historical military explosive device” evacuates Sidney thrift shop
The item was dropped off at Thrift on Fourth, run by Beacon Community Services, and found around 2:30pm Sat. RCMP cleared the area and awaited CFB Esquimalt personnel, they said in a release around 5pm. 

HarbourCats win first playoff game at home-away-from-home
Like the Rebels, the ‘Cats are hoping to return to the league finals that they reached last year. They face an uphill battle due to having no home games while Royal Athletic preps for the CFL. But temporary host Nanaimo proved enough of a home-field as any last night. The ‘Cats beat Wenatchee 4-2 behind a crucial walk-off homer from Kerim Orucevic. 

🗓️ Things to do

🎤 Phillips Backyard: The music festival continues with today’s concert featuring Jungle, Drama, and more. [Info]

🖼️ Bowker Creek Brush Up Art Show: Check out artwork from over 30 artists along Bowker Creek between Hampshire and Armstrong. Today. 11am-4:30pm. [Info] 

🎻 Dover Quartet: As a part of the Victoria Summer Music Festival, the quartet will perform a matinee concert at Phillip T. Young Recital Hall. Today. 2:30pm. [Info]

🎷 Bri MacCrimmon & Rowan Farintosh Quintet: The saxophonist and vocalist leads the group for a performance of jazz originals at Hermann’s Jazz Club. Today. Doors 5:30pm. Show 7pm. [Info]

🎵 Music in the Park: Checo & the Sweet Soul Choir will perform soul and motown tunes at the Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park. Today. 1:30-3:30pm. [Info]

🥍 Crucial Game 3 for Victoria Shamrocks Lacrosse, as they host the Salmonbellies again at the Q Centre with the series tied 1-1. Both games so far were won by a single point. 6pm. [Tickets]

NOTE: The Victoria Dragon Boat Fest does not continue through to Sunday this year, as it has often done in the past.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Vegan fast food: Anticipated new burger joint has opened. [Tasting Victoria]

James Bay speed limits next to drop. [Capital Daily] 

More BC fires after weekend opens with 400+ lightning strikes. [CP/Yahoo]

Last day to follow Team Canada athletes at Paris 2024.

Friday news: Seaweed industry, downtown golf carts, speed limits, “smash and crab” theft attempt. [Aug. 9]

That’s it!

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