Aug 3 - More silver medals for locals

Good morning !

It's one of the year's busiest weekends for travel—but also for events right here in town. More on both below, plus the latest Olympic accomplishments by locals.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️ 30 / 15 

Tomorrow: ☀️ 28 / 14

Monday: ☀️ 26  / 14

7-day forecast

NEWS

On Island's busiest travel weekend, expect packed ferries and highways

Get to the terminal early, BC Ferries warns

The ferry corporation said that this long weekend typically has higher volume than any other in the calendar. This year, it expects 600K+ passenger and 215K+ vehicles to sail.

Sailing waits began early yesterday, though most waits were for those coming to the Island.

BC Ferries spokesperson Liza Yuzda told Capital Daily that “there is very limited remaining reservable space, mostly on off-peak sailings early in the morning or late at night.” She recommends leaving the vehicle at home, if possible walking on to avoid sailing waits, and arriving at least 45 minutes prior to departure time.

Busy roads—and plenty of crashes

The province warned this week that the Malahat and Hwy 4 to Tofino, would be high-volume. Friday had barely begun when a Hwy 4 crash single-laned Port Alberni Summit stretch, but was cleared by 1pm.

On this August long weekend (Friday 6pm until midnight Monday) there are typically 300+ such crashes on the Island, and 2,000+ crashes in BC, per ICBC. Between 2018 and 2022, an average of 67 Island travellers were injured in BC Day weekend crashes.

Beware fatigue on summer trips, says ICBC

ICBC warned that driver-fatigue crashes rise nearly 60% in July and August vs. the other 10 months. ICBC recommends resting up the prior night, not driving during your typical sleeping hours, and taking a break every 2 hours (and ideally switching drivers).

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Heat warning for East Island over the weekend. 

Air quality: Moderate risk today (4/10). Current smoke forecast.

What’s open, what’s closed in Victoria.

Free BC Day parking at City of Victoria parkades and on-street meters.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Silver for Islanders in women's eight rowing

The national eight-woman boat, which trains in the South Island, has its second medal in three years.

The rowers took silver just before 2am; Romania was a comfortable four seconds ahead for gold. Canada narrowly held off Great Britain to finish in 5:58:84—with the British less than one second behind, Australia a second behind them, and the US another second back. 

Roster includes two Island-raised athletes

Caileigh Filmer is from Brentwood Bay and UVic rowing alum Avalon Wasteneys is from Campbell River. It’s the second Olympic medal for both. At Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021), Filmer won bronze in coxless pairs and Wasteneys was part of the women’s eight that took gold.

Another of today's silver winners, Sydney Payne, went to Brentwood College in Mill Bay, and four more Islanders also went to Paris as team staff.

Rowing has traditionally been among Canada's strongest Olympic sports (now at 44 total medals), and Islanders are disproportionately represented.

Watch the race below:

NEWS

Spacey sounds in grassy fields: Victoria's 9th Wonderment festival is this weekend

The long-weekend fest brings free all-ages concerts of mostly ambient electronic music to Songhees, Banfield, and Beacon Hill parks. At night, it will have ticketed 19+ (and dancier) electronic shows at the Victoria Event Centre.

The nearly decade-old event, inspired by Burning Man and other alternative festivals, will be a little different from most of the region’s many other summer outdoor festivals. Instead of the increasingly ubiquitous food trucks, it asks outdoor show attendees to bring their own food for picnics (but to not leave any debris behind). More info.

Keep your ears—and mind—open

Last year, one of the Wonderment shows was infamously accused of sounding like “an invasion from Mars” rather than a typical band or “some theme from the movies” as the listener expected. This year, performers will include Synkro, Prince Shima, Ghost Orchid, and Softcoresoft—all believed to be Earthlings, but the noises and name of this Space Edit cast some doubt. 

But while some of Wonderment's music is outside the box, much of it is the exact opposite of abrasive. One of the headliners, Mixmaster Morris, is known as a forerunner of “chill-out” electronic music in the 1990s, shaping the sound of calming down for a generation of clubgoers. [Hear a recent set here]

If anything, some of these outdoor performances may seem unusually leisurely and placid—an oasis of calm during one of the busiest times of the year.

Weekend schedule:

• Sat. 6:30-10pm at Songhees Park Plaza (free, outdoor)

• Sat. 9pm-2am at VEC (indoor, ticketed)

• Sun. 6:30-10pm at Beacon Hill Cameron Bandshell (free, outdoor)

• Sun. 9pm-2am at VEC (indoor, ticketed)

• Mon. Noon-7pm at Banfield Park (outdoor, free)

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🥇 Follow your 🍁 athletes at the Summer Olympics. [Paris 2024]

🧳Travelling this BC Day long weekend? [Some tips]

🚲 Oak Bay Bicycles celebrates nine decades of business with BBQ today.  

 ⚾ HarbourCats have won nine straight and are in Bellingham this weekend. 

🤝 Now hiring: Christmas Installers at The Butchart Gardens.

🗞️ In Other News

Man stages life-risking protest against overnighting restrictions in Irving Park
An unhoused man who attempted to hang himself Thu. morning says he will continue to do so as a public statement against a new ban on overnight camping in the James Bay park. The constraints leave just three Vic parks allowing overnight camping: Gonzales, Oaklands, and Pemberton. [CHEK]

Developer of proposed Langford Gateway towers faces foreclosure proceedings
Cynterra Group is facing a legal suit over another of its development projects in Kelowna; it is accused of not paying contractors. Its CEO faced two arrest warrants last month for failing to appear in court, but he attended legal hearings last week. [Times Colonist]

July temperatures were mostly above the historical median
The summer hear was above-median 22 times—coming close to a few all-time highs for specific dates—and below it 9 times. [YYJ Weather Records]

🗓️ Things to do

💃 Viva! Latin Fest: A Latin-American cultural event that features live music, dance, food, cultural activities, and more. Centennial Square. Today and tomorrow. [Info]

🎶 Pacific Opera Victoria: A Summer Festival of Music. For five days, Pacific Opera singers will be in parks and surprise public spaces with concerts and free Pop-Up Opera events. Through Aug. 5. Various venues. [Info]

🍻 Thirsty Chef: Celebrate The Drake Eatery’s 10th birthday in Market Square with tastings from local chefs and breweries. Today. 12-4pm. [Info] 

😸 Cat Video Fest at the Vic Theatre today at 3pm & tomorrow at 5pm. [Info]

🎉 Soberfest: Celebrate recovery and enjoy live music at this alcohol-free and drug-free festival at Starlight Stadium. Today. 12-7pm. [Info] 

😂 Aaron Read: The Canadian comedian will perform his stand-up set at Hecklers. Today. 8pm. [Info] 

🕯Cathedral After Dark: A piano and organ concert by the Blackwood Duo under the candle-lit ceiling of Christ Church Cathedral. By donation. 9-10pm today. [Info]

🎵 Colwood’s Music in the Park: Majesties Request plays at Lagoon Beach. Today. 5:30-7:30pm. [Info] 

🎹 Brent Jarvis Quartet: The jazz group plays the music of Cole Porter at Hermann’s today. Doors 5:30pm. Show 7pm. [Info] 

🎭 How to Build a Fire: Legacy Art Gallery and Impulse Theatre present this performance by Kerri Flannigan at Intrepid Studio. Today. 7:30pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: Symphony Splash slated to return in larger form; Sidney house fire suspicious; Cowichan Tribes gain jurisdiction over some family matters. [Aug. 2] 

Distracted driving count ‘disappoints’ Westshore RCMP. [The Westshore] 

Ongoing fire bans and restrictions. 

Temporary closures on Lochside Trail at Willow Bridge for maintenance. 

Sooke parks and trails remain closed as Old Man Lake Wildfire now classified as ‘being held.’

That’s it!

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