Aug 19 - Toxic tires vs. Island scientists

Good morning !

A summer thunderstorm hit parts of the Island this past weekend, and rain and fog is expected to continue in some areas today.

Read more below about a destructive fire, Islanders' efforts to protect salmon from car tires, and more.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ⛅ 20 / 13

Tomorrow: ⛈️ 19 / 14

Wednesday: 🌧️ 17 / 12

7-day forecast

NEWS

Island researchers trying to save salmon from tire toxins

For half a century, the tire preservative 6PPD has helped car tires last 100,000km on the road rather than 1,000km. But a compound it produces, 6PPD-quinone, is lethal to coho salmon. In some urban areas, it kills as much as 90% of the fish.

Work is being done on changing the chemical in new tires. But in the meantime, Vancouver Island University researchers are mapping hot spots of the chemical from Victoria up to Campbell River. They'll look at how levels change over time, and identify which of the Island's urban streams are candidates for low-cost mitigation moves such as rain gardens.

Read more at Capital Daily / Local Journalism Initiative. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Nellie McClung library branch is closed today until Wed. [GVPL]

A severe thunderstorm warning now lifted after going out for the East Island around 6pm Sunday.

Shawnigan Lake road work starts today and lasts until mid-Oct. 7am-7pm, delays up to 30 min. and alternate route recommended. [BC Gov]

Victoria Shamrocks play today in Langley in Game 2 of lacrosse finals.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

Parking downtown? Victoria public parking space tracker here.

NEWS

Former Somass Sawmill building burns down in Port Alberni

Third time’s the charm, it seems. After two suspicious fires in 2023 at the site of the former sawmill, a blaze on Sunday morning has destroyed much of the main structure. Those fires last April and Oct. were doused, but yesterday the four-storey building was determined to be too involved to save even with four fire crews on site.

Firefighters said that it was too dangerous to enter the burning building, and that what still stands will also have to come down. They report no injuries.

The fire was visible from many parts of the city, and some onlookers included the mill’s former workers.

Below: The previous fire last fall:

The building began as a mill in 1935 and was once one of the region's biggest employers. It was last used as a mill in 2017, when Western Forest Products announced an indefinite curtailment. In 2021, after threatening to expropriate the inactive site, the city bought the land on the Somass River waterfront for $5.3M.

It's currently undergoing deconstruction and remediation to prepare for a mixed-use redevelopment. But the building that burned was among those not slated to be taken down.

NEWS

7 years later, Metchosin is open to a central green space. But the window may have closed.

In 2017, Metchosin purchased the roughly five-acre Metchosin Elementary School from the school district for $1.5M. That same year, Shannon Carman (current chair of Metchosin's healthy community advisory committee) got a BC grant of $30k to consult with the community and design a new public gathering space and entryway to the school site.

Carman got supportive results in that consultation, and since then has been advocating to Metchosin council to create a green space and entranceway to the school (which also hosts events).

Over that time, Metchosin has considered various options for the school, including using the facility as a sub-regional protective services training centre, a theatre, or as part of expanding local arts-based spaces.

A few weeks ago, the municipality supported Carman's vision. But some councillors fear that chances at grants and community donations had fallen away in the years it took council to come around on the park idea.

Read more at The Westshore.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🏸 Recreation registration begins tomorrow for Fall 2024 Victoria Rec programs. Saanich swim and skating lessons registration opens Wed. 6am (general registration already open).

🦦 Otter climbs aboard local paddler's paddleboard. [Facebook photos]

⚡ Lightning striking around Greater Victoria on Sat. night. [Doug Clement photos]

🤝 Now hiring: Display technician at The Butchart Gardens.

🗞️ In Other News

Police overstating “illegal gaming house” claims, patrons say
On Aug. 9, police arrested 14 people in a bust at a former medical clinic in Saanich. A special enforcement unit rep described it as set up like a mini-Vegas inside, but gamblers who frequented it now tell CHEK it was just friends gambling over poker—without e-gaming machines or baccarat. 

Duncan's giant hockey stick will soon be moved & dismantled
The physically declining landmark will be moved in 5 pieces, then turned into 6,000 collectible fobs by new owner Bart Robertson. He says that one of the builders’ widows also told him there is a time capsule hidden in the stick. [Times Colonist]

Toxins not the only threat for salmon in BC streams
Low water levels due to drought are also affecting their migration to spawning grounds, the Department of Fisheries & Oceans says. The effect of wildfires is also being measured. [CP]

Cowichan Valley loves local donkey who loves yoga ball
Home for Hooves acquired a donkey that had lived alone, and didn't take to socializing with the farm sanctuary's pigs and goats. But it did take to a bouncy yoga ball—and when the ball broke, supporters across BC offered dozens of replacements. [CTV]

🗓️ Things to do

🎵 Music in the Park: Iminah Kani and Gareth Owen will perform flamenco at the Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park. Today. 1:30-3:30pm. [Info]

🎥 Treasure at Cinecenta: The drama film starring Stephen Fry and Lena Dunham will be shown at the UVic theatre. Today. 5pm and 7:15pm. [Info]

🎸 Bands!Bands!Bands!: Juice, Invasive Species, Juniper Smile, and Christian Peterson will perform at Victoria Event Centre. Tomorrow. Doors 7pm. Show 7:30pm. [Info]

🎭 Victoria Fringe Festival: The annual performing arts festival returns with events at venues across the city. Wednesday until Sep. 1. [Info]

🌇 Suntown Shutdown: Local reggae-afrobeat artist Poncho hosts a listening party for his new Son of the Sun EP at Herald Street brewery. Starts 7pm Aug 24. [Tickets]

🏡 Helmcken House open daily, noon-2pm, for two more weeks. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

These grizzly bear cubs may be the first Island-born grizzlies ever documented. [Sun. newsletter]

“Canada's Bernie Madoff”: The story behind the rise & fall of Victoria broker and alleged Ponzi schemer Greg Martel. [CBC]

Nanaimo hosted BC “speedcubing” championships over weekend, with the fastest solvers of Rubik's style cubes facing off. [NanaimoNewsNow]

Blue-green algae advisories continue for Beaver Lake and Prior Lake. [CRD]

Barred owls in a tree snag. [Video]

Northern Resident Killer Whales sighted near Port McNeill. [Photos]

That’s it!

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