Aug 6 - SD61 may zone out

Good morning !

SD61 is considering making a change to the ward system for the election of school trustees. The HarbourCats are looking for a win. And I’m looking for any semblance of logic as to why someone would chain a dog to a tree in the middle of the bush and leave the poor thing there for hours.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️ 21 / 13 

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 22 / 12

Friday: 🌤️ 21 / 13

7-day forecast

NEWS

SD61 school trustees could go to a zone or ward system

Pondering a change to the way its reps are selected, the Greater Victoria School District has opened the conversation to the public with an online feedback form that went live yesterday and is slated to remain open until Sept. 11. 

Up for discussion is whether to replace the current “at large” system, where trustees are selected from anywhere in the district, with a “ward” setup, where each trustee would represent a specific area. The board said this ward or ”zone” model currently exists within most BC school districts that serve multiple municipalities.

There would still be nine trustees. They would represent the seven electoral areas encompassing municipal and First Nations boundaries.
Here’s the suggested breakdown:

• Esquimalt Nation (1 trustee)

• Songhees Nation (1 trustee)

• View Royal/Highlands (1 trustee)

• Oak Bay (1 trustee)

• Esquimalt (1 trustee)

• Saanich (2 trustees)

• Victoria (2 trustees)

The proposed changes come after what Sherri Bell, the board’s official trustee, called “meaningful discussions” with the Esquimalt and Songhees nations and area municipalities.

“Now, we are asking for our community to familiarize themselves with the proposed changes, ask questions, and help identify any other considerations that we reflect on,” she said.

In a release, the school board said the discussions align with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s (TRC) final report and its 94 calls to action, as well as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or UNDRIP.

“The Township of Esquimalt was the first to ask for this conversation out of our desire to build stronger relationships and reconciliation within School District 61,” Esquimalt Coun. Tim Morrison said.

SD61 has scheduled a public engagement meeting for the evening of Sept. 9 at the SJ Willis gym on Topaz.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

‘Task-based’ cryptocurrency scam warning. [VicPD]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

CORRECTION: We wrote here on Sun. that street parking was free that day. This was incorrect. Capital Daily apologizes for the error.

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SPORTS

HarbourCats’ playoff fate comes down to final game of the season

Fresh off their 8-2 win over the Edmonton Riverhawks last night, the HarbourCats find themselves in a winner-take-all match tonight for the second-half title in the West Coast League’s North division.

The Cats face Edmonton in the playoffs regardless, but a win in the regular season finale would provide some home cooking—and that’s huge for both clubs.

“Edmonton draws more than 8K per game on many nights, and we know how much our Victoria crowds have meant for HarbourCats games,” managing partner Jim Swanson tells Capital Daily.

A Cats win means they’ll start the best-of-three first round on Fri. in Edmonton with games 2 and 3—if needed—at RAP on Sat. and Sun. Lose, and it’s RAP on Fri. and E-Town on the weekend.

The winner will play a one-game series to get out of the North and then meet the survivor of the South in a one-game WCL final.

“Since 2013, Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP is a hard place for other teams to play,” Swanson says.

Since that inaugural ‘13 season, the HarbourCats have been to the WCL final three times, each time reduced to bridesmaids.

Who’s to say whether this is the season they walk down the aisle, but Swanson considers his lineup ready—and deep—led by infielders Tanner Beltowski and Jack Johnson, the team’s co-MVPs and two of five Cats on the WCL all-star team. 

The post-season is always about pitching, so skip Todd Haney will lean on a pair of towering righties: six-foot-five Burnabyite Ben Hewitt and Californian Shea Lake, who stands 6-3.

“Our arms have shown when they throw strikes, they give our bats more than enough room to win baseball games,” Swanson says.

This morning’s showers are expected to stop in advance of Fan Appreciation Night at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. First pitch is at 6:35.

“With so much on the line late in the season, the atmosphere should be electric,” says Swanson.

Tonight is the final game to redeem vouchers, which can’t be used for playoff games.

SPONSORED BY THE CANADIAN CLUB OF VICTORIA

Special Event!

The Canadian Club of Victoria's special evening event will feature Dr. Will Greaves, new Member of Parliament for Victoria.

Monday, Aug. 11 from 5pm to 7pm at The Hotel Grand Pacific.

Deadline for registration for the supper buffet event is Thursday, Aug. 7, at noon. Non-members are welcome. Limited availability.

Full details here.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🎸 Nickelback, with Sam Roberts, Glorious Sons, at Laketown Ranch. [This Sat.]

🎤 Phillips Backyard Music Festival. [Fri. to Sun.]

🤝 The Victoria Foundation distributes $5.35 million in funding to 210 social purpose organizations! Read about the full list of recipients and the impact they're making in the capital region.*

⚾ HarbourCats host Edmonton Riverhawks tonight in final regular-season game of the season. [Fan Appreciation Night]

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Cyclist hit by a pickup last week in Saanich has died
The collision happened around 11:45am on Mon., July 28, at the corner of Quadra and Greenridge near the crossing for the Lochside Trail. Saanich Police said the driver was cooperative following the ‘serious accident’ and that the cyclist had been taken to the hospital, where they remained in critical condition. Yesterday, the BC Coroners Service told Capital Daily it is investigating the death of the individual who was struck, but because the investigation remains open, no further details would be released.

Glass bottle thrown at woman and baby in Centennial Square, witnesses say
It didn’t hit anyone, but it got the attention of bystanders around dinner time on Sun., July 27, when the incident is said to have happened. Witnesses told police the female suspect then charged at the mother, but onlookers got in between them. Police arrived and arrested the suspect, and they now want to identify and speak with the mother who left with her child before they got there. VicPD said they think it was a random attack. [VicPD]

Dog found chained to tree in evacuation zone of wildfire near Cameron Lake
The female pitbull was discovered on Sun. in a remote forested area, tied to a tree by a short chain. Janet O’Reilly and a neighbour discovered the estimated two-year-old female dog after hearing whimpering hours earlier. It appeared to have been abandoned. O’Reilly gave the dog water and posted a video, which an SPCA volunteer saw on social media. The dog was eventually taken to the SPCA in Port Alberni and is described as being in good health. [CHEK]

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🗓️ Things to do

🎶 Music by the Shore: Bicycle-powered music featuring performances by Georgiy Matviyiv (Ukrainian bandura) and Wingy Scruffhead (piano folk). Grab a blanket or a lawn chair, and bring along a picnic. Reeson Park. Aug. 13. 6:30-8pm. [Info] 

🌽 Oaklands Sunset Market: Shop 30+ unique local food, craft, and artisan vendors every summer Wed. Food trucks. Hoyne Beer. Music. Oaklands Community Centre. Today. 4:30-8pm. [Info]

 🎵 Inter-Tidal Relations Concert Series: Indigenous femmes Nikky Ermineskin and Raven Natraoro curate this powerful series celebrating Indigenous and global cultures through music and storytelling. Ship Point. Today. 4-6pm. Also, Aug. 20, Sep. 3, 17 & Oct. 1. [Info]

💃 Bollywood Dance Class: Learn beginner-friendly choreography with All Steps Desi in this chill workshop, perfect for anyone wanting to move to Bollywood beats. First Met Courtyard. Today. 6:30-7:30pm. [Info]

🧘 All Levels Flow Yoga: Drop into this welcoming yoga session with One Yoga, where mats and good vibes await all skill levels. Ship Point. Multiple dates: Today. 12-12:45pm, Also Aug. 13, 20 & 27. [Info]

🎭 Pico's Puppets Palace: Bring the little ones for this delightful children's music and puppet entertainment in the park. Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park. Today. 11am-12pm. [Info]

🎸 Bad Rabbit Radio Live: Catch live tunes while enjoying food trucks and outdoor games at this free community gathering at Ship Point. Today. 6-8pm. [Info]

😆 Phillips Comedy Night at the Mint. Each week, Morgan Cranny and Drew Farrance bring the most hilarious comedians in the city together for a wonderful evening of food, drink, and fun. The Mint. Today. 8-9:30pm. [Info]

🎭 Blood Wedding: Federico García Lorca's haunting tragedy gets a powerful new interpretation exploring passion, fate, and the timeless battle between love and hatred. Belfry Theatre. Today. 2pm & 8pm. Also Aug. 8 & 9. [Info] 

👀 In Case You Missed It

Sunday’s headlines: BC ambulance paramedics’ union sounds mental-health alarm; Weekly roundup; Police subdue man with less-lethal round outside City Hall. [Aug. 3]

August events happening in Greater Victoria. [Capital Daily]

$7K liquor fines for minor sales are too steep, says BC bar and booze industry. [Times Colonist]

Antisemitic graffiti found scrawled on Victoria synagogue. [CHEK] 

Banfield Park and Langford beach advisories lifted. [Glen View Park & Leigh Place Beach] Thetis, Prior, Elk, and other lake advisories remain.

The Spinning Wheels Tour for Parkinson’s pedals its Victoria leg.

Rifflandia music festival is Sept. 11-14 at Matullia Lands in Rock Bay.

That’s it!

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