Aug 9 - City's speed limit reduction continues with James Bay

Good morning !

We start our day in the neighbourhood named after Sir James Douglas, where many residents want drivers to slow down.

We hit the ocean for some seaweed training, and tell you about an ocean-named restaurant in Chinatown that took a ridiculous amount of uncalled-for abuse on Wed.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 25 / 14  

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 22 / 14

Sunday: 🌤️ 22 / 15

7-day forecast

NEWS

James Bay to get its much-asked for lowered speed limits

It’s taken awhile, but the road has been paved for the James Bay Neighbourhood Association’s (JBNA) request to reduce speed limits in the city’s oldest neighbourhood, to happen this year.

In a response to an email from Capital Daily, city spokesperson Colleen Mycroft said the city’s plan to lower speed limits on local roads to 30 km/hr from 50 km/hr that began 18 months ago, willl continue and that “Jubilee and James Bay are the next neighbourhoods in the program, planned for implementation of the speed limit change in late 2024.”

“This is good news for the residents of James Bay,” Trevor Moat, the James Bay Neighbourhood Association president tells Capital Daily.

“We note, however, that speeding is and will remain a problem on certain streets and at certain times regardless of posted speed limits.”

Moat said speeding often occurs on certain streets when cruise ships are in port—even when the posted limit is a relatively robust 50 km/hr—and that a reduction to 30 km/hr “won’t change driver behaviour.” 

Read Mark Brennae’s full story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Sooke Potholes wildfire under control. [Old Man Lake]

Heat warning issued for East Island. [Island Health]

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

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

BC invests in Island’s burgeoning seaweed industry

A new pilot project at North Island College aims to arm people with knowledge in phycology—the study of seaweed—to get jobs in the kelp and algae industry. 

The province will spend $1.2M over three years to support the  launch, using funds from the $480M StrongerBC Action Plan, which provides new jobs training. The funding will cover students’ full tuition and other costs. 

Post-Secondary Education Minister Lisa Beare said the pilot is a “forward-thinking” approach to prepare BC for economic resilience  in a sector expected to expand significantly over the next decade.

Seaweed is more than a tasty ingredient in sushi dishes—seaweed and kelp fields provide significant carbon capture benefits for coastal communities. In 2020, the UN proposed the idea of developing kelp as a biofuel that could someday replace petroleum in plastics. It’s also an effective fertilizer. However, due to the effects of climate change, these natural forests have become depleted over the years. As the industry grows in demand—it’s a global industry valued at $15B—both as a food source and for ecosystem conservation, new jobs are being created.

“This announcement will help us fill a demand for trained employees that is expected to grow significantly in the coming decades,” Mark Smith, executive director at Pacific Seaweed Industry Association said in a statement.

The Island is at the forefront of this emerging sector of the “blue economy,” with generations of local Indigenous knowledge in seaweed harvesting and conservation research. Between Saanichton and James Island, one of the largest commercial kelp forests in Canada operates through a partnership between Cascadia Seaweed and the Tsawout First Nation. 

North Island College has been involved in this work for a few years now, having partnered with Kwiakah First Nation to develop sustainable kelp aquaculture approaches.

The pilot project will include seven micro-credentials and hands-on field training over 18 months, with roughly 80 participants. Registration opens in Oct. and courses will be offered in the winter and spring 2025 semesters. 

SPONSORED BY VICTORIA FOUNDATION

Victoria Foundation distributes $6.1 million to 252 organizations

A record amount of funding is being distributed through the Victoria Foundation’s Community Grants Program, with just over $6.194 million supporting 252 philanthropic organizations in the capital region.

This funding will help meet the growing need for resources, as non-profits and charities experience increasing demands for their services.

Click here for more details and a list of grant recipients.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🥇 Follow 🍁 athletes at Paris 2024

🏊 Fall recreation registration: City of Victoria. [Opens Aug. 19]

🅿️ Find parkade spots in real time with Victoria's parking tracker.

🧍 Why get a Dexa body composition scan? A Dexa scan gives you a complete picture of your bone density, lean mass, and fat tissue and helps identify health risks. Book now at Tall Tree Health.*

🎈Upper Fort StreetFest tomorrow. 11am-5pm. [Vancouver to Cook]

⚾ HarbourCats playoffs start tomorrow in Nanaimo. [Get there]

🍽️ Rifflandia is hosting a Supper Club: Tickets are on sale for a foodie event at the music festival in Sep.

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Man attempts to steal live crabs from a Chinatown restaurant
Ocean Garden Restaurant’s front door was shattered Wed. morning when a man attempted to steal the restaurant’s live crabs before a witness stopped him. The man was arrested but released shortly thereafter under Bill C-75, which requires police to release an accused person at the earliest possible opportunity after considering certain factors. Police say the same man returned in the afternoon and threw a “smoke grenade” into the restaurant, which had 30 people inside at the time. [VicPD]

480-unit military housing complex coming to CFB Esquimalt
As part of its plan to build and upgrade housing for the military, the Department of National Defence has awarded a contract to build a highrise that will replace lodging in the Nelles Block dorm, which dates back to the 1950s and is to be razed once construction is complete in the early 2030s. EllisDon got the design contract, valued at $10M of the $165M total price tag. [CTV]

2 centres, 105 childcare spaces for Langford, Metchosin
The so-far nameless facility in Langford will have 49 spaces—25 for 30-months-to-K age and 24 for the infant-toddler age. Metchosin’s Hans Helgesen Elementary School will house 56 spaces—20 for 30-months-to-K age,12 for infant-toddlers, and 24 for school-age daycare. These were part of a provincewide program to build nine centres with 598 spaces. [CHEK]

Martin Mars water bomber to make final flight Sunday
The 120-foot-long Hawaii Mars water bomber with 200-foot wingspan helped fight fires in BC for 50+years and was last used for that purpose in 2015. In its first flight since 2016, the big plane is going to take off from Sproat Lake in the Alberni Valley and soar to its new home at the BC Aviation Museum in North Saanich. Depending on the weather, look and listen for it at dinner time on Sun. [Times Colonist]

🗓️ Things to do

🎤 Phillips Backyard: The music festival returns for its second weekend. Black Pumas, Current Swell, and more perform at today’s opening concert. Until Sun. [Info] 

🐉 Dragon Boat Festival: The annual festival returns to the Inner Harbour and Ship Point for a weekend of dragon boat racing, cultural activities, and live performances. Today and tomorrow. [Info]

🎷 Josh Warren's Groove Circus: The Island-raised band will perform jazz, funk, and hip-hop tunes at Hermann’s Jazz Club. Today. Doors 5:30pm. Show 7pm. [Info]

🎸 An Electrifying Evening: Ex-Cowboy, Earth Freaks, Worrywart, and Checked Out will perform at Capital Ballroom. Today. Doors 7pm. Show 8pm. [Info] 

🖼️ Earth & Garden: Arabella Young and Sonia Lesage will exhibit their floral paintings and ceramics at ArtSea Gallery. Today until Aug. 15. [Info] 

🎵 Colwood’s Music in the Park: Soul Shakers will perform at Colwood Creek Park and Green Goose Grill will be serving up food. Today. 5:30-7:30pm. [Info] 

🎥 Free-B Film Festival: Watch Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla at the Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park. Today. 9pm. [Info] 

🎶 Music in the Park: Raven Baroque will perform at the Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park. Today. 1:30-3:30pm. [Info] 

🎉 Sooke Music and Art Festival: This family-friendly festival comes to Fred Milne Park this weekend, with an opening party at the Sooke Legion. Today. 8-11pm. [Info] 

🎻 Summer Concert Classical: UVic and UBC musicians come together for this concert at Sylvan United Church in Cobble Hill. Tomorrow. 4pm. [Info] 

🍺 Big Patio Days: Whistle Buoy Brewing is hosting a Surf Rock Beach Party featuring DJ sets, live music, a dunk tank, and food from Good Time Glizzy and Dumpling Drop. Tomorrow. [Info] 

🐶 Day of the Dog: North America’s largest pet festival comes to Bullen Park. Tomorrow. 10am-4pm. [Info] 

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: Bay Centre Goodlife going out of business; Three beaches under bacterial advisories; Mother and toddlers recovering after Malahat crash; And more. [Aug. 8] 

Victoria's mayor calls for support to fill gaps in services and housing across the CRD. [Capital Daily] 

Langford man wins Canadian and world horseshoe pitching titles. [Capital Daily] 

Golf carts: Yet another street-legal transport mode coming to Vic. [CHEK]

Missing person: Jacqueline Neuwirth, 49, was reported missing July 29, and has not been seen since Feb. 1 in Duncan.

Barred owl sitting pretty in a Victoria tree. [Photo]

Glowing red sunrise in Colwood. [Photos]

That’s it!

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