Feb 9 - Island bird wins in its day in court

Good morning !

Today, Robyn tells us about the little guys who won. Non-profits upending the government in Federal Court.

And we have a story about a Victoria man suing his wife.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ⛅ 7 / 4

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 7 / 5

Sunday: 🌧️ 9 / 2

7-day forecast

NEWS

Federal Court says Canada let this Vancouver Island bird down

A Federal Court has found that Canada failed to adequately protect 25 species of endangered birds, including the marbled murrelet, a seabird that nests in old-growth areas of Vancouver Island—including within the logging blocks of Tree Farm Licence (TFL) 46, where the Fairy Creek watershed is located.

Environmental groups Sierra Club and Wilderness Committee sued the federal government after Environment Minister Steven Gilbeault issued a protection order that limited safeguarding habitat for migratory birds to their nests, rather than to their surrounding environment.

Chief Justice Paul Crampton wrote that confining the definition of habitat to just nests was “unreasonable,” directing the ministry to redo its definition.  

Marbled murrelets nest in the branches of old-growth trees and are notoriously difficult to spot. Logging companies fail to account for them before clearing their habitats, lawyers for the environmental groups argued. 

“It was really clear that the federal government wasn’t fulfilling their duty to protect this bird,” said Shelley Luce, associate director of the Sierra Club. “It has to feed, has to find a mate and rear its young, and this doesn’t all happen in the nest.”

Read Robyn Bell’s full story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Salad kits recalled for possible listeria contamination. Do not consume President Choice’s chopped Mexican-style street corn salad kit or Taylor Farms’ Mexican-style street corn salad kit with best-before dates up to Feb. 19.

Missing person: Wade Haines, 50, missed an important medical appointment in Nanaimo earlier this month, prompting concern for his whereabouts and safety.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Monday-to-Friday treatment program is a first for the Island

Teens with complex emotional and psychological challenges can now get the kind of robust counselling they need—in one place, without leaving the Island. 

Until the Adolescent Intensive Day Treatment program opened Monday, there was “nothing on Vancouver Island that looks like a Monday-to-Friday intensive outpatient treatment program, so this is the first of its kind,” Island Health’s Shauna Kazeil tells Capital Daily.

“We've got master's level social workers, [a] clinical counsellor, occupational therapist, speech and language pathology, psychology, admin support leadership—all those folks who we’ve been able to recruit into actually providing the day-to-day day programming.” 

The daytime and months-long program is for young people aged 14-18 who may have finished an acute-care stay but aren’t quite ready for outpatient care. “These are the young people that we want to support to grow through some tricky times and harness that resiliency that we know all young people have and grow up and become you know, very productive, functional members of society,” Kazeil says.

Teens with depression, anxiety, bipolar illness, and chronic suicidality who have exceeded what is currently available within the health-care system now can get intensive treatment, something previously available only on the Mainland. And they’ll do it in some pretty nice digs—the Queen Alexandra Hospital for Children’s Health on Arbutus has been renovated and has a kitchen where clients can prepare and eat meals together, a classroom, and exercise and decompressing areas. 

“It is as I say, a beautiful space,” Kazeil says. 

⭐️ Capital Picks

🍕 Vagabond Pies pop-up returns for its second takeover of Picnic Coffee today. Enjoy a new pizza menu and good tunes at 1019 Fort.

🌎 Make an impact in your career! Continuing Studies at UVic offers micro-credential, diploma, and certificate programs. Continue your professional development.*

☕ Duo Cafe Bakery opens at the Inn at Laurel Point. The new coffeehouse is serving up pastries, croissants, sandwiches, and hot drinks.

🏨 Three Island hotels on Canadian top 25 list. [#10, #14, #25]

🚗 Don’t let a driving prohibition ruin your life. The lawyers at Acumen Law Corporation have successfully defended thousands of DUI/IRP cases.*

⌨️ New City of Victoria recreation activity search tool.

😊 Now hiring: Gelato Producer—2nd Cook at The Butchart Gardens.

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Low snowpack levels could lead to increased droughts
This month’s Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin (SSWSB) indicates the Island’s snowpack levels are at 30% of standard measure, a 9% decrease from Jan. That’s 45% lower than last year, with lesser snowpack levels expected to continue, which could lead to serious drought hazards this spring and summer. [SSWSB]

Vic man sues wife: accuses her of putting THC in his cereal
Darren Leith claims his wife, an addictions counsellor, admitted she spiked some of his meals with THC oil in an attempt to help him overcome pain and anxiety. He seeks damages, saying it affected his ability to properly perform in his investor-realtor job. [Times Colonist]

Death threat made against former BC minister Selina Robinson
The MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville resigned from her cabinet post four days ago amid a tangible public outcry following her controversial comments on the Palestine. Somebody vandalized her office, and now the premier says someone threatened to kill her. [CHEK]

Police find drugs, guns, and cash in Vic, Westshore raids
A BC combined forces unit raided 12 properties last week—including two Vic homes and Savages Motorcycle Club in Langford—and arrested two Langford men, 41 and 45, and a 27-year-old woman from Colwood. Police say they seized a large amount of fentanyl, psilocybin, methamphetamine, and cocaine along with $46K in cash, weapons, and trafficking equipment. [RCMP]

🗓️ Things to do

🪟 James Bay Window Wanderland: Get creative and look at window displays during the community’s sixth window decoration festival. Today until Sunday.  

📕 The Drowsy Chaperone: A musical within a comedy. The Canadian College of the Performing Arts presents this Tony Award-winning Canadian play which blends nostalgia and a contemporary flair. CCPA’s Performance Hall, Oak Bay. Opens tonight. 7:30pm. [Info]

🐋 Blue Whales: Return of the Giants: Explore the world of the magnificent blue whale, a species rebounding from the brink of extinction. Fun fact: A blue whale’s throat is only wide enough to barely allow it to swallow a grapefruit. IMAX Victoria. Opens today. [Tickets]

🎥 Tautuktavuk (What We See): As a part of the Victoria Film Festival, the 🍁 Canadian drama set at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic will be shown at The Vic Theatre. Today. 2:45pm.

🎉 New Orleans Mardi Gras Party: Vocalist Shanna Dance and saxophonist Jonnie Bridgman will lead a tribute to the music of New Orleans at Hermann’s Jazz Club. Today. Doors 5:30pm. Show 7pm. 

🎬 Suze: The 🍁 Canadian comedy starring Michaela Watkins will be shown during the Victoria Film Festival at The Vic Theatre. Today. 5:30pm.

🎶 The Cavalcade of Stars: Enjoy the music of the ‘60s during this multimedia entertainment celebration at Mary Winspear Centre. Today. 7:30pm. 

🚦 Traffic Light Party: Dance to throwbacks and club hits at this pre-Valentine’s Day traffic light party at Capital Ballroom. Today. 10pm.

📽️ Ru: As a part of the Victoria Film Festival, the 🍁 Canadian drama about a refugee family settling in Montreal will be shown at The Vic Theatre. Today. 7:45pm.

😂 Jon Dore Live at The Mint: The Juno-winning comedian will perform in two standup shows. Today. 7pm and 10pm.

🌿 Workshops tomorrow on sustainable living and an introduction to lichens, via the Compost Education Centre.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Lunar New Year events: Celebrate the Year of the Dragon over the next two weekends. [Capital Daily] 

View Royal treatment centre expansion: Our Place Society’s treatment facility will add 20 beds for women this summer. [The Westshore] 

Thursday’s headlines: Nanaimo singer nominated for Junos; sea turtle recovering from hypothermia; religious group loses tax exemption bid on Swartz Bay island and more. [Feb. 8] 

Taylor Swift tickets draw. [Details here]

Canadian Improv Games taking place in Esquimalt. [Victoria News]

My Great Neighbourhood Grant. $140K available for projects supporting vibrant communities. Residents, non-profits, and schools can apply. [Info]

That’s it!

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