Aug 20 - Hundreds of homes for Uptown

Good morning !

Today we’ve got a story on Saanich’s new transit and housing hub at Uptown, which Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock says could become the heart of Saanich, serving as the district’s downtown core.

Speaking of downtown cores—we’ve got your guide to downtown Victoria restaurants that serve late-night menus.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 4 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ⛈️ 17 / 14

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 18 / 13

Thursday: ⛅️ 22 / 13

7-day forecast

NEWS

Uptown transit hub with ‘hundreds of housing units’ moves forward

Public engagement for the planned transit-oriented housing development kicked off yesterday, running until Sept. 18. 

Transit Minister Rob Fleming said in a statement that the development will provide “hundreds of new housing units,” creating a “compact community” with commercial and public spaces. But ultimately, it’s expected to “become a central transit hub for the entire capital region,” he said. 

Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock says the new hub has the potential to become “the heart or downtown” of the district—a goal laid out in its Uptown-Douglas Plan.

The province purchased two pieces of land near the shopping centre earlier this year for the development, spending $7.5M for a Budget Rent-a-Car at 3657 Harriet and $1.8M at 28 Crease, which used to house a geotechnical engineering firm.

The public engagement is designed to get feedback on a potential transit exchange beneath the residential buildings that could be integrated with nearby Lochside and Galloping Goose trails. 

The district is proposing this area as a hub for both active transportation and public transit, with routes connecting to downtown Victoria, UVic, the Westshore, and the Peninsula. A BC Transit spokesperson said in a release that improved connectivity within the CRD could lead to more bus routes and potentially faster service. 

Preliminary planning needs to be completed before a clear construction timeline is released. 

An in-person open house with the District of Saanich, BC Transit and the CRD is slated for Sept. 12, or residents can fill out the online survey.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

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

Road Closure: Dallas closed between San Jose and Boyd today. 7am-5pm

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Where to find late-night eats in Victoria

For the night owls among us, it can be tricky to track down a snack late at night in Victoria.

Unlike larger Canadian cities, such as Montreal or Toronto where several restaurants operate 24/7, Victoria is better known for shutting down kitchens before 10pm. 

However, despite this reputation, Victoria does have some gems open past midnight, serving delicious and comforting food to all those looking for a late night snack. Tasting Victoria has compiled a selection of these places, saving you from stomach rumbles after a night on the town. 

From pizzas and poutine to curries and hot dogs, these are the tasty dishes that can be found after many have gone to bed.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

👼 Sea angels: Seen drifting above an eel grass meadow near the Island. [Photo & video]

🦭 Harbour seal plays it cool on a kelp bed as an orca swims by. [Photo]

🗞️ In Other News

385 lightning strikes, 7 fires sparked on BC coast
There could still be more fires discovered after storms hit the coast on Sat. and Sun. Two of the fires were found on the Island: one southwest of Shawnigan Lake and one south of Cumberland. Thankfully, both Island fires are small, being held, and unlikely to grow in size. The heavy rainfall that accompanied the lightning storm helped mitigate increased fires, said a BC Wildfire Service rep. [Times Colonist] 

Vancouver film company fined for flying drones too close to orcas near the Island
The company and drone operator were fined $30K after coming too close to Northern Resident killer (NRKW) whales in 2021. The company had submitted a request in 2020 to film the whales “beach rubbing,” a unique behaviour where the NRKW rub against pebbles in shallow waters. The application was denied but DFO found the company using drones and underwater cameras on a well-known “beach rubbing” spot on the North Island. The company was also ordered not to use or distribute the footage. [CHEK]

Dad’s driving lesson leads to impounded Porsche in Oak Bay
Police say the car was recorded going more than double the speed limit at Beach and Newport. The driver was a woman, 18, with a Class 7 drivers licence and the passenger was the car’s owner, her father, police say. The 2024 Porsche Macan was impounded for a week, and the woman was issued an excessive speeding ticket. 

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TELUS' community partnerships

TELUS' partnership with Jeneece Place supports important housing programs that make life a little easier for Vancouver Island families and children during challenging times.

At TELUS, we're proud of our community partnerships that support housing programs for communities across B.C. Learn more here!

🗓️ Things to do

🎸 Bands! Bands! Bands!: Local bands Juice, Juniper Smile, Invasive Species and Christian Peterson will perform at Victoria Event Centre tonight. 7pm. [Info]

🧘 Free Yoga in the Park: Stretch with your neighbours at this free weekly yoga class at Willows Park in Oak Bay tonight. 6pm. [Info]

🌇 Oaklands Sunset Markets: Check out 50 local vendors, a huge variety of food trucks, great music, kids activities, and more at the Oaklands Community Centre tomorrow. 4:30-8pm. [Info]

🎶 Music at Ship Point: Catch live music in the Inner Harbour today and Thursday. 6-7pm [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’s headlines: Former Somass Sawmill building burns down in Port Alberni; Metchosin open to potential green space if it’s not too late; low water level affecting salmon spawning migration. [August 19]

Toxic tires vs Island scientists. [LJI]

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]

That’s it!

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