Aug 7 - Dragon Boat Fest returns this weekend

Good morning !

As wildfires continue to rage in BC after a surge in lightning strikes over the long weekend, parts of Vancouver Island are under an air quality warning.

While Victoria and the South Island aren’t part of the advisory—sunny weather is expected over the next few days—you may want to stay inside if you’re travelling up-Island.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 22 / 12

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 24 / 14

Day after: 🌤️ 25 / 15

7-day forecast

NEWS

VicPD and Victoria mayor speak out after antisemitic graffiti was left on local synagogue 

Yesterday, VicPD released an image of the person who is suspected of having left antisemitic graffiti on Congregation Emanu-El Synagogue on Blanshard. 

The building—a national historic site of Canada—was built in 1863 and is the oldest synagogue in Canada to continuously operate. It’s also the oldest synagogue in western North America.

The photograph shows the suspect standing outside the synagogue between 5am and 5:30am. 

The graffiti appears to have been written in black marker, reading “Jews are evil because genocide is evil,” and saying Palestinians would get their revenge on Jewish people.

The disturbing note was “promptly” removed by city crews after police were notified, VicPD said. 

The message was written on one of the white columns of the synagogue’s entrance in the early morning hours of Aug. 2—the same day that marked the beginning of Tisha B’Av, a Jewish holiday of mourning. The holiday commemorates historical disasters and massacres against Jewish people, with many using the day to mourn those killed during the Holocaust. 

The graffiti appears to reference the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid Israel’s war with Hamas. Israel, a nation with a predominantly Jewish population, has been accused by multiple Holocaust and genocide scholars of committing acts of genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israeli citizens by Hamas. The UN’s top court is currently reviewing a case—brought to the IJC by South Africa and backed by multiple other nations—to determine whether Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians. Congregation Emanu-El Synagogue in Victoria is not represented by the Israeli government.

In a statement released yesterday, Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto said she was “saddened and disappointed to hear of the racist and antisemitic graffiti.”

“Hate has no place in our community,” Alto said. “Victorians are kind and welcoming, and this incident does not represent the values that I know Victorians share.

“I want the Jewish Community in Victoria to know that this behaviour is unacceptable, and my heart is with you.”

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Wesley Ridge fire continues to be out of control, growing to 538 ha as of 5pm yesterday. Evacuation orders have been downgraded to alerts in some parts of the evacuation area near the wildfire. [BC Wildfire]

Air-quality warning for parts of the Island as smoke spreads from nearby wildfires. [Island Health]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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NEWS

Ancient tradition meets modern celebration as dragon boats return to Victoria's Inner Harbour

A summertime staple will splash its way back into the Inner Harbour this weekend when the Canada Dry Victoria Dragon Boat Festival presented by Fairway Market hits the water.

The two-day, apex-of-the-season paddle party has been an annual highlight—except during the pandemic years of 2020 when the waterfest was cancelled outright, and 2021, when it was restricted to land-only activities.

Thousands of spectators will line the Inner Harbour to watch 30+ teams compete in international-standard dragon boats that will jet across the water in 250-metre races from Laurel Point toward the Ship Point pier.

The festival kicks off tomorrow with an exhibit, fittingly, in Chinatown, which was instrumental in Victoria’s dragon boat evolution. It was the city’s Chinese business community that pushed for a dragon boat exhibition race to mark Hong Kong Day at the 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games. 

The exhibit, entitled “Dragons On The Coast: Victoria’s Dragon Boat Story,” will be held at the Victoria Chinatown Museum until Sept. 7 (Thu. to Sun.) and will feature archival materials, including medals from the last three decades, celebrating Victoria’s dragon boat history. 

Traditional Chinese dancers will help celebrate Saturday’s official opening ceremony at 10am, and the Inner Harbour will be alive with races roughly every 15 minutes (see the race grid here) and all kinds of partner booths and cultural activities all day.

Read Mark Brennae’s full story here.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🧺 Giant Picnic at St. Ann’s Academy [on Sat.]

🍓 Glow from the inside out. Free 30-Day Smoothie Challenge! Get 30 days of smoothie recipes in a free PDF—delicious, balanced, and easy to make.*

🦫 Beaver smooch: See two beavers swim and bond on the central Island. [Island Deborah / Facebook]

⚾ Edmonton Riverhawks 7 HarbourCats 2: Cats host [playoff game tomorrow]

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🗞️ In Other News

RCMP explosives device unit called in to View Royal
A suspicious item was reported to RCMP at 1:20pm yesterday. Police closed Island Hwy between Helmcken and Jedburgh to contain the area, notifying nearby businesses and residents, and telling people to avoid the area. Traffic was backed up along Island Hwy for hours. As of 5pm yesterday, Google Maps was still displaying congested roads. [RCMP]
Images of the scene in front of the View Royal Salvation Army thrift store—which police had cordoned off—show a fridge outside taped shut with “do not open” and “call bomb squad” written on the front. [Black Press]

Semi-truck crashes into Galey’s Farm
No injuries were reported after the 18-wheeler from Golden Valley Eggs hit power poles before veering into the side of the farm’s store. Blenkinsop was closed during the morning while BC Hydro worked to resume power in the neighbourhood. The building’s structure has been deemed unsafe, according to owner Rob Galey. However, the farm is putting a plan in place to continue selling produce during its busiest season. The cause of the crash has not been determined, but drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor, police said. [Times Colonist]

AI images of wildfires intentionally misleading: BC Wildfire Service
The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) is urging people to follow official sources when seeking out information on wildfires, as more AI-generated images—which are designed to appear real—have popped up on social media. These images do not represent the size or scope of recent fires, and could lead to confusion during emergencies, the BCWS said on Wed. [BCWS]

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🗓️ Things to do

💪 TFA Fitness: Drop-in for a free class with The Fitness Academy during your lunch break at Ship Point today. 12-1pm. [Info]

🎵 Sofia Miller: Enjoy vibrant live music from talented local performers at Fort Common today. 12-1pm. [Info]

💎 Sea Glass Jewelry Workshop: Learn about sea glass history while designing a stunning jewelry piece with locally sourced materials at the Maritime Museum of BC today. 2-3:30pm. [Info]

🧶 Craft & Connect: Join this weekly drop-in program to create art, learn new skills, and meet great people of all ages at Luther Court Society today. 3-4pm. [Info]

🎤 Karaoke and Crafts: Sing your heart out, make Thai fruit carvings and Filipino parols, or join a Tai Chi lesson at this free community event in Market Square today. 4-7pm. [Info]

🎶 Singer Songwriter Showcase 2: Experience the soul of Victoria with three handpicked local singer-songwriters, chosen each month, at The Coda today. 6:30pm. [Info]

📚 Hiroshima-Nagasaki Poster Exhibition: To mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings in Japan, GVPL is hosting this exhibition at its Central Branch. Now through Aug. 15. [Info]

🍺🎤 Phillips Backyard Music Festival: Reverb Weekend: Peach Pit, Ruby Waters, Phantogram, Borns, The Roots, and Danielle Ponder will headline this three-day show at Phillips Brewery. Tomorrow, Sat. & Sun. 2-11pm. [Info]

🥕 VegFest Victoria 2025: This inaugural all-vegan event celebrates plant-based living at Ship Point. Aug. 16. 11am-5pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Wednesday’s headlines: SD61 may zone out; HarbourCats season comes down to 1 game; Glass bottle tossed at mom and young daughter, witnesses say. [Aug. 6]

Megathrust fault line confirmed off Haida Gwaii may mean more quakes, tsunamis. [Times Colonist]

Wesley Ridge wildfire: Cooler weather and rain combine to help battle the blaze earlier this week.  [CTV / CP]

Ferry runs aground near Vancouver: 1 person injured. [CHEK]

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

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

That’s it!

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