Aug 4 - Island losing lighthouse keepers

Good morning !

One of the Island's loneliest professions just got a little lonelier last week when two lighthouse jobs were eliminated. More on that, and on how modern lighthouse-keeping works, in our Sunday feature story.

Also included today: local breweries, long-weekend events, Olympic updates, and research on new sharks in the Salish Sea.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 4 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️ 26 / 14

Tomorrow: ☀️ 24 / 14

Tuesday: ☀️ 25 / 14

7-day forecast

NEWS

Two southwest-Island lighthouses lose their keepers over safety concerns

Coast Guard staff at Carmanah Point and Pachena Point must leave their posts by winter, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) said this week. The facilities, located past Port Renfrew along the West Coast Trail, are on unstable ground, per DFO. Two Carmanah buildings have been condemned and the stations are at earthquake risk, the announcement says, adding that assessment is being done but fixes will be complex and possibly too expensive.

For now, DFO will switch the lighthouses’ navigation services to solar and automated tech, which both stations have had for 20+ years. Some of the Island region's 29 lighthouses are automated-only.

The transportation employees’ union told CBC it was under-consulted and that keepers got only 30 minutes’ notice before the announcement. CBC also reported that some Huu-ay-aht have marine safety concerns about the area.

Living ‘on the lights’

Keepers live at stations for extended periods, often alone—but sometimes with families. In 2022 one of the keepers at Carmanah, Justine Etzkorn, told the Capital Daily podcast that she grew up “on the lights” with parents who had both been keepers.

Listen to her interview here.

A dwindling role

Fewer than 100 keepers remain nationwide, tending half that many stations. The profession weathered cuts in the 1990s and evaded more in 2010 when a federal Act protected heritage-designated lighthouses and a Senate committee recommended that de-staffing be halted. It cited in part the number of kayakers rescued at the Trial Islands station just off of Oak Bay.

What do lighthouse keepers do? 

The lights themselves need less upkeep than in the more dangerous days of open flames or Fresnel lenses spinning in mercury. But keepers still help boaters and paddlers in trouble nearby; provide reports several times per day on the sea, sky, wind, visibility, and more; and tend to the surrounding natural area.

Read Capital Daily’s profile of John Gillevet, a Trial Islands keeper.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Some wind this weekend; expect 4-8 degrees less heat where it blows onshore.

Check BC Ferries current conditions here.

Check road conditions at DriveBC.

Sooke fire still being held; Mayor Maja Tait gave an update after touring site.

Air quality: Low risk today (3/10). Current smoke forecast.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

8 Victoria breweries to visit this long weekend

If you’re looking for a fun activity to take up with friends this coming long weekend, exploring one (or two, or eight!) of Victoria’s many distinctive breweries could be just the thing. Our region’s breweries are some of the most decorated in the country, and Tasting Victoria has rounded up a roster of some of the most iconic and popular ones.

Read the list here.

SPONSORED BY COAST: AN INITIATIVE OF SOUTH ISLAND PROSPERTY PARTNERSHIP

COAST Memberships: Empowering BC's blue economy

COAST is excited to unveil its new membership program, crafted to empower innovators in the blue economy. Whether individuals, students, or growing teams, COAST offers a membership tailored for everyone. Join COAST in driving the growth of BC’s blue economy.

For more information, visit the website for details on the membership plans and to book a tour of the new co-working space.

Together, let's redefine BC’s blue economy.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🥇 Follow 🍁 athletes at Paris 2024

🌲 Neighbourhood beaver needs name in Nanaimo. Help pick a name for VanIsleWildlife's furry friend.

🦀 A crab in the hand at Botanical Beach [Facebook photo]

🤝 Now hiring: Christmas Installers at The Butchart Gardens.

🗞️ In Other News

Malahat crash: 3 cars, 5 ambulances sent, 7 hospitalizations
The crash closed the highway from around 5pm to 9pm. BC Emerģency Health Services confirmed the ambulances were dispatched to the Split Rock area, but did not say the victims’ conditions. [Times Colonist]
Hwy 1 was also disrupted by a crash near Cedar. The Island typically has 300+ crashes and 67 injuries this long weekend, per ICBC stats covered yesterday.

Hammer time is today for Nanaimo Olympian
Ethan Katzberg—the reigning world champion in the Olympic men’s hammer throw—had the farthest heave in qualifying, 79.93m, 2+ metres more than the field. Katzberg’s personal best throw is a whopping 84.38m. He’ll toss for gold at 11:30am. [Nanaimo News Now]

Two shark species found in Salish Sea for first time
Broadnose sevengill shark and endangered soupfin shark in Puget Sound may be the result of shifts in the region's waters. Anchovies (these sharks’ food) became more plentiful after The Blob, a marine heatwave a decade ago. [Phys.org]

SPONSORED BY THE INTERIOR DESIGN SHOW VANCOUVER

IDS Vancouver returns this September

From September 26-29,, the Interior Design Show Vancouver (IDS Vancouver) will return to the Vancouver Convention Centre West for another show-stopping exhibition. This year’s immersive and inspiring show will feature an array of new products and furniture, world-renowned and local designers, and cutting-edge concepts from Western Canada and beyond.

Find out more!

🗓️ Things to do

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

🎶 Wonderment: Catch these performances in Victoria public parks and nighttime ticketed programming. Performers include Mixmaster Morris, Synkro, Softcoresoft and more. Runs until Mon.; today's free outdoor show is 6:30-10pm in Beacon Hill. [Info]

🎶 Pop-up Operas: Pacific Opera singers will be in parks and surprise public spaces. Performances scheduled for Esquimalt Library today and Bastion Square tomorrow. [Info]

🎉 Cadboro Bay Summer Festival: This family-friendly event at Cadboro-Gyro Park includes games, music, and food. Today. 11am-3pm. [Info]

💃 Viva! Victoria Latin Fest After Party: Dance to salsa and Latin music with a performance from Wasakaka All Stars at The Sticky Wicket. Today. 9pm-2am. [Info]

🇯🇲 Jamaica Independence Day Celebration: Celebrate at Trafalgar Patria Legion 292 with authentic Jamaican food, music, storytelling, and games. Today. 2-10pm. [Info]

😸 Cat Video Fest at the Vic Theatre at 5pm. [Tickets]

🎺 CanUS: Enjoy a traditional jazz matinee at Hermann’s Jazz Club. Today. Doors noon. Show 1pm. [Info]

🖼 Sooke Fine Arts Show is on display until Aug. 5 at SEAPARC rec centre. [Info]

🚘 Torque Masters Auto Extravaganza Car show in Sidney today. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Locals win silver for Canada as part of women's rowing eight team. [Sat. newsletter]

More Sat. news: Ferry volume & road crash warnings. Pleasant soundscapes or “Martian invasion”—you decide this weekend. [Aug. 3]

Friday news: City spends $250k to bring back floating symphonym. RCMP texting-and-driving roundup disappointingly successful. 13 pregnant cows stall traffic. [Aug. 2] 

Chilcotin landslide: BC makes plans for worst-case if river bursts through blockage. [CP]

GoodLife Fitness closing in Bay Centre at end of month, after 14 years. [Announcement]

HarbourCats 10 Bells 3: Victoria win helps shore up playoff spot.