Aug 22 - Craft beer wants equal footing

Good morning !

Just back from a trip to Alberta, where I dare say I found a hike that to me may come close to rivalling the scenic trails in Sooke. The two-hour trek up Banff’s Sulphur Mountain—with a gondola ride down—was breathtaking, and the majestic Rockies blew my mind. We have a beautiful country.

I hope many of you are and have been able to enjoy exploring some of it this summer.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️ 27 / 14 

Tomorrow: ☀️ 27 / 17

Day after: 🌤️ 21 / 16

7-day forecast

NEWS

BC’s craft beer industry wants tax-break taste

Right now, for BC’s craft beer industry, the glass is half-empty—and only a new tax system is going to help replenish the fortunes of its 219 remaining breweries.

The guild said the current tax system favours foreign-owned beer makers to the tune of $9M annually in rebates. Meantime, it said, costs for the craft beer sector have risen 30% over the last five years, and the recent tariffs imposed on aluminum and brewing ingredients have pushed profit margins to the point that some 20 BC craft breweries have closed this year.

“This reform isn’t just about fairness; it’s about survival,” said Ken Beattie, executive director of the BC Craft Brewers Guild. “Without change, many of our members won’t make it,” he said.

The BC Craft Brewers Guild has launched the “Protect BC Craft Beer” campaign, and it wants beer lovers to support the industry and its 6K workers.

It said craft breweries are penalized with escalating tax rates as they grow, whereas corporate breweries pay a flat tax rate regardless of growth. It’s calling for a new taxation system that is revenue-neutral for the government and could save small breweries a collective, projected $16.3M annually, which can be reinvested in local jobs, ingredients, and growth to help offset the US tariffs.

The guild said, unlike other sectors such as the food and fuel industries, for example, which can pass on cost increases to consumers, BC craft brewers cannot because “they compete with much larger foreign-owned breweries, which can absorb these severe input increases with global purchasing power, keeping their retail prices low.”

It wants to see BC join Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, which have taken first steps in this arena.

The guild said the closure of nearly two dozen BC craft breweries affects not only the workers, but also the communities in which they serve as a gathering place.

“Many more are hanging on by a thread and will close if this backwards tax system isn’t reformed imminently,” the guild said.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Single lane alternating traffic on Fort, from Fern to Morrison, today. 9am-4pm. [City of Victoria]  

Boil water advisory on Salt Spring: Highland-Fernwood Water System. [CRD]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Harbour Blues n’ Roots Festival kicks off 3 days of music today

For more than two decades, the Harbour Blues n’ Roots Festival—formerly known as the Vancouver Island Blues Bash—has been drawing music fans to downtown Victoria. It’s back for a three-day bash at Ship Point, featuring international and local blues, soul, and folk performers.

Headliners this weekend include The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer, a Vancouver duo known for its big sound, foot-pedal effects, and fiery harmonica; Shemekia Copeland—daughter of blues legend Johnny Copeland—who’s known for her powerful vocals and electric sound; and Bywater Call, a seven-piece powerhouse soul band from the Southern US. 

Island bands will open the shows each night, with Wet Future from Victoria performing Fri., Nanaimo’s James Vickers Band taking the stage Sat., and Slim Sandy’s Atomic Cocktails—also from Victoria—playing on Sun.

During the day (12-5pm) you can catch free shows at the festival, with a lineup of Canadian musicians—including multiple Islanders. After that, the paid portion begins. Each evening costs $42 per person, or $99 for all three.

SPONSORED BY DANCE VICTORIA

Early Bird Tickets: Canada's Ukrainian ‘Nutcracker’

Save with Early Bird tickets to the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers’ Nutcracker at the Royal Theatre, Nov. 28–30. Lavish sets, ornate costumes, rich Ukrainian symbolism, and live music by the Victoria Symphony bring Clara’s magical journey to life in this joyful rendition of the beloved holiday classic. A folk ballet like no other!

⭐️ Capital Picks

🇯🇵 Japanese Cultural Fair is tomorrow at Esquimalt Gorge Park & Pavilion.

🪸 A visitor discovers the best of the Island: See the anemones, fossils, butterflies, and more found on our shores by an out-of-towner. [Facebook photos]

🎶 Pacific Opera Victoria’s 25/26 season presents a powerful trio of operas. Starting with The Turn of the Screw. Tickets and season subscriptions are on sale now.*

🍰 Dessert special: Try the Earl Grey dark chocolate marquise at Bray’s this week. 

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Kids’ clinic at Vic General to close at month’s end due to demand
In a memo obtained by the Times Colonist, pediatricians told their colleagues “significant workload concerns” have led to the decision to close the Urgent Pediatric Assessment Clinic (UPAC) on Sept. 1. Created in 2019, the clinic matched children with specialists, which resulted in reduced wait times. Island Health agreed that physicians faced “workload challenges” as well as burnout and that there were “retention issues.” The hospital’s emergency department will take over urgent pediatric consultation, and ER doctors will provide the assessments. [Times Colonist]

Langford told to build 2,993 new homes by spring 2030
In May, the BC government told 10 municipalities, including Langford, it would have to up its homebuilding game. This week, it announced the number of new homes expected to be built. That number, just shy of 3K, represents 75% of Langford’s housing needs, the province said. Victoria was among the municipalities first given targets, and is ahead of schedule to reach its five-year goal of just under 5K new homes built. [CHEK]

Mount Underwood Fire near Port Alberni is being held
The fire has shrunk to 3,548 ha—down approximately 100 ha since its peak—but evacuation orders and alerts remained in the area as of yesterday evening. The fire went from unusually intense in its early days to a ground fire after heavy rain doused the flames. Nearby Bamfield is still experiencing power outages, which could continue for up to two weeks, and its main road from Port Alberni is still closed. The town is only accessible via the Youbou route from Lake Cowichan. However, Bamfield says it’s ready to welcome visitors now. [Global & Port Alberni News]

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🗓️ Things to do

🛍 Bastion Square Market: Browse local art, jewelry, crafts, and vintage finds at Victoria’s historic open-air market, complete with live music and special events. Bastion Square. Through Sun. 11am–5pm. [Info]

🎭 Victoria Fringe Festival: A celebration of live performance from around the world, featuring an eclectic mixture of spoken word, drama, musicals, dance, comedy, magic, and theatre for young audiences at venues across the city. Through Aug. 31. [Info]

🎨 Expressions of Inclusion: An ART Intervention Trail Outdoor Art Gallery: Transform your walk into an inspiring art experience with artwork displayed every 20 metres along the Lochside Trail, plus live demonstrations at the central gazebo. Garth Homer Society. Today. 11am-3pm. [Info]

🎶 Edie Daponte: Jazz vocalist Edie Daponte takes the stage with a soulful blend of classics and originals as part of the CityVibe series. Cameron Bandshell, Beacon Hill Park. Today. 1:30-3:30pm. [Info]

🎭 Mean Girls High School Version: Watch Regina George and The Plastics battle it out in this outdoor production of the Tony-nominated musical based on Tina Fey's hit film. Pioneer Park in Brentwood Bay. Through Sun. 6:30pm. Bring your own seating. Under 14 with an adult. [Info]

🤣 Improv Comedy at the Mint: Come hang, drink, eat, and laugh at an incredible show featuring an exclusive OK, DOPE happy hour deal. Tonight. 8pm. [Info]

🍺 Fridays at the Station: Country in the City. A free, family-friendly event featuring a rotating lineup of artisan vendors, food trucks, live country music this time, and cold drinks all summer long. 720 Station Ave. Today. 4pm-dusk. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: Langford says no to FIFA; Campaign started to bring home deported BC activist; Elizabeth May to step down, again. [Aug. 21]

Bamfield isolated: Up-Island wildfire hurting the summer tourist season. [Capital Daily]

Cougar family drops in on Island couple’s backyard, plays ball. [CHEK]

Crown Royal whisky recalled due to the possibility of glass shards.

Enoki mushrooms (Gangrongtai brand) recalled for Listeria risk. 

Young readers wanted: Voracious readers aged 10-18 could win prizes for writing book reviews for GV Public Library. [GVPL]

Cheerful beavers: A mother beaver and her young tidy up their dam—and themselves—in Nanaimo. [Facebook photos]

That’s it!

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