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- Aug 14 - Rapid Hep C testing for those who need it most
Aug 14 - Rapid Hep C testing for those who need it most
Mount Underwood Fire continues to grow rapidly. Massive development breaks ground in downtown Victoria. Saanich to hold next QMP town hall in council chambers.
Capital Daily Team
August 14, 2025
Good morning !
One of the few downsides of living on the Island is the distance to big-name concerts happening in Vancouver or Seattle. I took the gamble to see the singer Lucy Dacus in Vancouver on Tuesday, but ended up heading home on the 8pm ferry when she announced a last-minute cancellation.
Thankfully I wasn’t travelling as far as some people—I overheard a person at the restaurant I had lunch in say they flew from Australia for the show. The last-minute evening ferry ride wasn’t looking too bad after hearing that.
— Robyn
Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
NEWS
Mobile tech brings free hepatitis C testing to Victoria shelter
The two Cool Aid Mobile Health Clinics powered by Telus Health have supported more than 40,000 patient visits across Greater Victoria since their respective launches in 2021 and 2023. Photo: Telus Health
Victoria Cool Aid Society and Telus Health for Good brought free hepatitis C testing to Rock Bay Landing shelter this month, making it easier for people to get tested who might not otherwise visit a doctor.
The program targets a real need—people experiencing homelessness are 10 times more likely to have hepatitis C than the general population.
Cool Aid staff provided rapid testing and Telus volunteers offered nutritional support, with plans for 700 total tests throughout 2025.
"Hepatitis C often has no symptoms, so you could have it without knowing," said Tamara Barnett from Cool Aid's Hepatitis C program. Her team has already tested over 1,900 people and helped more than 50 get treatment that cures the infection in just 8 to 12 weeks.
The mobile clinics use Telus Health technology to deliver point-of-care testing and other services directly in the community. Since launching in 2021 and 2023, the two clinics have served over 40,000 patients, offering everything from wound care to mental health services.
More testing events are planned around Victoria through the end of the year.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Intermittent road closures on Fairfield, between Cook and Memorial Crescent, for the next six to eight weeks. [City of Victoria]
Smoke from Port Alberni and Washington fires expected to reach Victoria today and tomorrow.
Downtown Victoria Urgent and Primary Care Centre closed to in-person visits today due to planned power outage. [Island Health]
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
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NEWS
Port Alberni issues state of emergency as nearby wildfire grows
Mount Underwood Fire. Photo: BCWS
The Mount Underwood Fire, burning approximately 12km from Port Alberni, grew to a staggering 2,156 ha by 5pm yesterday. BC Wildfire Service said the fire is currently suspected to be human caused.
Evacuations ordered in two districts
The City of Port Alberni issued a local state of emergency yesterday, following in the steps of the Port Alberni Clayoquot Regional District (PACRD), which issued one for the area on Tues.
As of 5pm last night, two evacuation orders were in place—one from PACRD and the other from Cowichan Regional District—in addition to three evacuation alerts.
The orders (residents must leave immediately) span south of China Creek to approximately 11km west of Cowichan Lake.
The alerts (residents must be prepared to leave at any moment) cover the area north of China Creek to the intersection of Ship Creek Road and 3rd Avenue in Port Alberni.
The fire was the size of East Sooke Park by yesterday afternoon. Winds began to push the fire north, but BCWS said there was no risk to Port Alberni.
Transit service in some Port Alberni neighbourhoods has shut down due to smoke.
No drones, please
Yesterday, the BCWS shared a reminder on social media to not fly drones over the fire zone. The wildfire service says that when drones enter the area, all aerial activity must stop (including water bombers).
“This type of activity is extremely dangerous and poses a significant safety risk to personnel, especially when low-flying firefighting aircraft are present,” BCWS wrote on Facebook. “If a drone collides with firefighting aircraft, the consequences could be deadly.”
SPONSORED BY CONTINUING STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA
“People are the work”—one skill that changes everything.
In today’s evolving workplaces, the ability to communicate clearly, collaborate with others, and lead with empathy is becoming increasingly essential in any professional role.
“I used to think that if you were good at hard skills, you’d automatically be a good manager," says Anna Marie White, a long-time instructor with Continuing Studies at UVic. "But people are the work. You can’t manage people the way you manage your tasks."
Anna Marie was instrumental in developing the Essential Soft Skills Training program—an online, six-week program designed for emerging leaders or new managers looking to complement their hard skills with competencies like social awareness or active listening.
Interested in growing your people skills? Watch the short video on debunking the myths of soft skills and discover why they’re needed more than ever.
⭐️ Capital Picks
📚 Indigenous reads: The little free library at the James Bay boat ramp (on Dallas) has been restocked with more Indigenous literature. [GV Harbour Authority]
🦆 Big meal: Duck seen eating an invasive American bullfrog in North Nanaimo. [Facebook photos]
🐙 These tentacles are made for walking: A giant Pacific octopus is seen strutting around the ocean floor in Nanoose Bay. [Scuba BC / Instagram]
🗞️ In Other News
Saanich town hall to move to council chambers after boisterous last meeting
The move is in response to the last town hall at Hellenic Community Centre, where discussions of the Quadra-McKenzie Plan led to a tense environment between those in favour and those against the plan. Staff recommended relocating the upcoming Sept. 9 meeting to Saanich Municipal Hall to create more consistency and neutrality. The meeting’s format will stay the same, but it will only be open to in-person speakers (Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock says this is due to tech limitations). [Times Colonist]
New downtown development breaks ground
Construction of Harris Green Village, the 1,500-unit rental community, began yesterday. This is the first phase of the development’s creation, with 526 new rental suites (including 80 “affordable units”) expected to be built by the end of Phase 1. It’s considered the largest rental housing project in Victoria’s history, five towers in total will be built in three phases. Phase 1 is slated for completion in 2028/2029, with each phase taking roughly three years. Harris Green Village will also have 10K square feet of commercial retail space. [CHEK]
Indigenous catering coming to former Oak Bay Marina restaurant
Songhees Events & Catering will take over the restaurant’s space until the end of September through a partnership with the District of Oak Bay and Songhees Development Corporation. The restaurant’s spot is an important historical location for both the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, says Oak Bay; the partnership is meant to build relationships between the municipality and local First Nations. The temporary tenancy of the catering company will be events-based, rather than a restaurant operation. The restaurant has sat empty since closing in 2023. [Oak Bay News]
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🗓️ Things to do
🌊 Saltwater Tongues: Community Art & Poetry Night: Share your creativity or listen as the community celebrates ocean protection through poetry at Caffe Fantastico (Kings) today. 6:30pm. [Info]
🧶 Crafternoon: Work on a crafting project and yap with new friends at Beacon Hill Park today. 6pm. [Info]
🎶 Rhythm Train: See the top-notch lineup of musicians delivering a great mix of blues, rock, R&B and more at The Loft Pub today. 6-9pm. [Info]
🌜 Quadra Night Market: The second-annual fundraising market in Quadra Village will have local vendors, food, and an online 50/50 raffle in the park at 950 Kings today. 3-8pm. [Info]
🎹 Drama Queen with The Thunes and Heron Hereon: Dance to electrifying '80s dreamscape synthpop and rock at The Coda tomorrow. 9pm. [Info]
🎤 Helen Ferguson & Calluna: The soulful singer-songwriter will perform at Cameron Bandshell tomorrow. 1:30-3:30pm. [Info]
🎵 Shadows and Light: This tribute to the music of Joni Mitchell features an all-star lineup of Island musicians at Hermann’s. Sat. 7pm. [Info]
🛍️ Annual Sidney Sidewalk Sale: Hunt for discounted summer merchandise and enjoy live music, face painting, and free lemonade on Beacon Avenue in Sidney. Sat. 10am-4pm. [Info]
🎭 Mary Poppins the Musical Jr: See the junior production of this musical based on the iconic Disney film at Mary Winspear Centre. Sat. 6pm. [Info]
👀 In Case You Missed It
Wednesday’s headlines: Mount Underwood Fire spreads rapidly; Two men saved from drowning at Durrance Lake; 10-year-old’s lemonade stand raises thousands for Vic hospitals. [Aug. 13]
Sea star wasting disease solved by scientists. [LJI/ Capital Daily]
Air Canada to begin cancelling flights after flight attendants submit strike notice. [CityNews]
BC teacher gets 2-week suspension for inappropriate texts, coffee meet-up with student. [CHEK]
Water jug + sunlight = fire: A Coombs resident caught the smouldering combo before it was too late when a water jug magnified the sun on their porch. [Dashwood Volunteer Fire Dept.]
Delays on E&N Rail Trail: Crack sealing work taking place between Lampson and Six Mile today. [CRD]
Victoria e-bike planning: Have your say in e-bike station locations across Victoria. [City of Vic]
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