Aug 25 - Plastic bag pickup rolls out

Good morning !

I can’t be the only one who often gets frustrated at having a bunch of plastic bags and packages that the blue recycling bin won’t accept. But that may be changing, if a new pilot project expands. More on that below, plus stories about another local sports champion and a dangerous highway trend.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤 18 / 10

Tomorrow: 🌧 18 / 10

Day after: ☀️ 18 / 9

7-day forecast

NEWS

Soft plastics being added to Greater Victoria pickup in new pilot project

The CRD has joined West Van in a new Recycle BC test program that adds plastic grocery bags, plastic product wrapping, produce netting, ZipLoc bags, and similar items to municipal pickups. This expansion, first covered by Victoria News, began Aug. 1 and so far only applies to certain multi-unit buildings. It aims to improve the recovery rate for flexible plastics, which are some of the least-recycled recyclables and typically need to be taken to a depot. 

Soft plastics include such a wide range of material that they have traditionally been tricky to recycle but Recycle BC told the Times Colonist that a recent breakthrough has involved mixing different types of plastics and turning them into pellets. 

Though this new pilot is limited, a separate larger recycling rollout began this year as part of the second phase (2024-2027) of Victoria’s Zero Waste plan. That plan aims to cut the city’s landfill waste in half by 2040. This year, the city has begun taking over collection of recycling and compost at multi-unit buildings; those buildings typically rely on their own contracts with pickup companies. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Cold nights this week, with lows at or below 10C—even on days with highs in 20s.

UV risk index: 4 (moderate) today, then 3 on Mon., 5 on Tues, 6 (High) on Weds.

Road paving today at Chatham (closed from Govt. to Douglas) and the intersection of Douglas at Belleville. 7am-3:30pm. 

Expect to wait multiple sailings if driving onto Tsawwassen ferry without a reservation on peak days (Thurs.-Mon.), BC Ferries warns.

Pacific FC 0, Cavalry FC 1 yesterday in Calgary.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

Parking downtown? Check the parkade space tracker.

NEWS

Victoria Shamrocks will play for Canadian championship after sweeping western finals

Victoria won the Western Lacrosse Association final on Friday, sweeping the Langley Thunder with a 13-7 win. The Shamrocks (25-2) won every game in the regular season, setting a new league record, and every game in this series. 

But in between those undefeated stretches, they were pushed to the brink by the New West Salmonbellies. That semifinal went to the full 5 games, but Victoria pulled out a comeback win to advance last weekend.

The Shamrocks now advance again, to the Mann Cup against the winner of Ontario’s league, where they’ll fight on the road to be named Canada’s top Senior Men’s A lacrosse team. The 75-year-old local club has made the Cup series 21 times and won it 9 times—most recently in 2015. They hosted the final again in 2019 but were defeated by the Peterborough Lakers, who have won 4 of the past 5 seasons (not including Covid-cancelled 2020 and 2021). 

Eastern teams have won bulk of championships this century

Only Victoria (2003, 2005, 2015) and Coquitlam (2001) have won from the west. The Shamrocks will try to once again buck that trend in the upcoming Set. 6-14 series—but they’ll have to do it on the road in Ontario rather than at the Westshore’s Q Centre.

Watch Friday’s highlights below:

NEWS

Daredevil kids on bikes are riding at oncoming traffic, Campbell River drivers report

A dashcam video posted to Facebook on Thursday (see above) shows a youth on a bike veering into the oncoming-traffic lane while popping a wheelie. The vehicle veers over to the open left lane, while a second youth at the roadside appears to film the first. 

The semi-truck driver who posted the clip said it was taken on the Inland Island Highway just north of the Jubilee Parkway (near the Campbell River Airport). He also captioned the post with “Whoever owns this kid is lucky they are not going to a funeral 🤬.”

Many such cases, say RCMP and locals

Campbell River RCMP told CHEK that another truck driver had the same thing happen that day, almost immediately afterward, and reported it. 

Constable Maury Tyre elaborated to the Times Colonist, saying that there have been similar incidents over the summer with young people on mountain bikes and non-street-legal electric motorbikes, sometimes even after dark. 

In the replies to the original Facebook video, multiple drivers said they’ve encountered the swerving stunt specifically on Hilchey Road—a mostly residential east-west street through urban Campbell River. 

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🌕 Moonrise over Cadboro Bay in these photos from reader Cecille Guillemot.

🏞 The mountainous beauty of Woss, located in the northeast Island. [willow.photography]

🐝🌸 Final resting place of a bee on a flower. [Facebook photo]

🍞 Working Culture bread is collecting donations, and donating part of today's revenue, to help suport their neighbours at Cavity Curiosity as they deal with a sudden loss.

💌 Get Victoria Foundation updates right to your inbox with our bi-weekly eNewsletter! We’ll share foundation news, publications like Vital Signs, funding announcements, and spotlights on local nonprofits!*

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Victoria teacher found safe after 4 days missing in Colorado backcountry
Gina Chase, 53, told CHEK that she survived using techniques (including shelter-building and charcoal-and-moss water filtration) she learned from reality shows such as Alone (which filmed seasons 1 & 4 on the Island). The local sheriff thanked the many searchers but criticized the camping program Chase was in, saying it told people to hike while fasting and without phones. [CHEK]

BC fires declining with recent rain and cool weather
Total active fires dipped to 320 on Sat., and about 100 fires have been declared out over the past week. [CP/Yahoo]
However, Revelstoke’s historic Frontier Hotel Restaurant building has burned down.

Arrest made in highway hit-and-run that killed teen near Duncan
RCMP told North Cowichan council last week that charges are forthcoming for the April death of Leanne Joe, 17, of Cowichan Tribes. [Cowichan Valley Citizen]

Westshore Rebels blow out Nanaimo’s Raiders 52-14 in Island football face-off
The Rebels are now neck-and-neck with Langley for second place, but still behind the Okanagan Sun—the only BCFC team to beat them in the past two seasons. Westshore gets next weekend off before a rematch with the VI Raiders.

🗓️ Things to do

 🇯🇲 i-Land Caribbean Festival: Check out Victoria’s first-ever Caribbean Carnival event at Centennial Square, with a parade down Government, live music—featuring soca, calypso, and reggaeton sounds—delicious food, history info, and kids activities. Today, 12-5:30pm. [Info]

🐲 Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Fest continues its multi-race “pentathlon” format today in the Gorge (2940 Jutland). [Info]

🧶 City of Gardens Quilt Show and Sale: Victoria Quilters’ Guild hosts an art sale at Pearkes Recreation Centre featuring over 250 quilts. Today. 10am-5pm. [Info]

🍽️ Feast of Fields: Taste offerings from local chefs and food purveyors at this wandering harvest festival at Heritage Acres. Today. 1-4pm. What to expect from the foodie event.  

👗 Island Vintage Fair: Shop at this vintage extravaganza, featuring clothes, toys, and home decor at the Mary Winspear Centre. Today. 9:30am-4pm. [Info]

🎨 Scattered Artists Summer Tour: Check out artists across Saanich at this studio tour. Today. 11am-4pm. [Info]

🎭 Fringekids Fest: Bring your kids aged three and up for two days of theatrical fun at Kaleidoscope Theatre during Victoria Fringe Festival. Today. 9am-12pm. [Info]

🟦 Blues ‘n Roots wraps up today, with free music until 3:30pm and shows from Cousin Harley and Mike Farris & the Fortunate Few; see schedule.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Invasive plant species: How to spot them on the Island. [Capital Daily / LJI]

Spotted from the shore: Orcas swim past Trial Island. [Facebook photo]

Friday news: Why Saanich taxes are rising; More shelter beds for Victoria; Global fisheries not so sustainable, UVic study says. [Aug. 23]

Victoria’s first-ever Caribbean festival: The story behind this weekend’s new Carnival celebration, i-Land Fest. [Capital Daily]

Many sailings delayed yesterday (Swartz-Tsawwassen) due to mechanical issues and a medical emergency.

That’s it!

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