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March 20 - Burnside too big for its bridges?
Plus, supporters warm CFUV airwaves and poor form on the ice
Capital Daily Team
March 20, 2024
Good morning !
It’s been a week since Vic city councillors voted themselves a 25% raise. A former councillor—who served eight terms—tells CHEK News this sets a bad precedent. Pam Madoff says for her, it’s about integrity.
— Mark
How do you feel about Victoria city councillors voting in favour of a pay increase? |
Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
NEWS
Colquitz bridges: practical fixes for commuters
Aerial view of the Colquitz bridges. Photo: Flickr
Three years ago, the CRD board prioritized regional transportation goals, focusing on reducing commute times and greenhouse gas emissions. Last week, Transportation Minister Rob Fleming revealed upgrades to the Colquitz River bridges to enhance commuting from the Westshore to downtown Victoria.
The bridges, which traverse Burnside on the TCH, are to be seismically retrofitted and widened to add a bus-on-shoulder lane to improve transit reliability and reduce congestion at the McKenzie Interchange. Federal Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson hailed the initiative as part of a broader investment in connectivity.
While improving transit, the project raises concerns about increased vehicle traffic. The Westshore's rapid growth has led to a surge in car ownership, particularly in Langford. Despite efforts to promote alternative transportation modes such as vanpooling, challenges persist, with light rail and ferry proposals deemed costly and impractical. The announcement underscores the importance of balancing transit improvements with sustainability goals and affordability.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
NEWS
‘Heartwarming’ community support amid CFUV fundraising drive
CFUV studio. Photo: CFUV
CFUV, UVic’s community non-profit radio station, is in the midst of its annual fundraising drive and the team has a special number in mind to honour 40 years on air: $40K in donations. There are multiple ways to show support including merchandise, an online auction—with prizes ranging from art gallery passes to a sailboat—and live shows later this week.
Rowan Grice, the station manager, tells Capital Daily the support has been “really heartwarming,” with last weekend’s in-person events creating a sense of community that’s been hard to tap into since Meta banned news in Canada. The ban prevents the station from promoting its work to its online following, which Grice concedes has made it more challenging to get the word out. However, he said the community has shown up impressively, raising $15K during the first four days.
“It's kind of cool to just have, like, old-fashioned direct communication with people in our community,” said Grice. “[It’s] really lovely to see that kind of direct grassroots engagement, rather than trying to put posts up.”
The money raised will help the station to run events and upgrade its technology—something Grice said hasn’t happened since the station signed on in 1984.
To cap off the drive, CFUV will host a concert at Lucky Bar tomorrow and a final show at Vinyl Envy on Friday, each featuring local artists the station has played on air. “That's a huge thing about community radio—we push local artists in a way that no other stations in town are doing,” said Grice.
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⭐️ Capital Picks
🥓🍺🥃 Bacon, Beer, and Bourbon Festival tickets on sale Friday.
🏈 Touchdown Pacific tickets for BC Lions vs. Ottawa Redblacks Labour Day weekend game at Vic’s RAP on sale March 28.
🍣 Best sushi? Best burger? Best pizza? Do you have a favourite place you always go to? Vote for them in the Tasting Victoria Best Restaurant Awards here.
🤝 Now hiring: Program Coordinator at Scale Collaborative.
🗞️ In Other News
Charges laid in Sooke man’s suspicious death last year
Police have charged Adam John Steenbergen with manslaughter, along with one count of careless use or storage of a firearm and two prohibited/restricted weapons charges. The body of Mike Leier, 42, was found by Otter Point last March after he was fatally injured in a “remote wilderness area” near Jordan River, per RCMP. [Sooke News Mirror]
A GoFundMe page set up by a family friend raised $21K+ for Leier’s wife Heather and their two young children. The Leiers were well-known in the community, and locals outside Sooke also may remember them being in the news for having the Island’s first baby of 2020 (their son Reese is now four).
Dylan Willows celebration: 2 nights of music
The 91.3 The Zone radio personality announced his retirement last month as he battles cancer, and the music community has rallied around to show its gratitude for his dedication to promoting local acts. The second of two concerts at the Royal was slated for last night. [CHEK]
Langford sues Bear Mountain developer for $1.88M
The Westshore municipality says Vancouver-based Ecoasis didn’t pay an agreed-to amount for its share of the Bear Mountain Parkway extension connecting with the Leigh Road interchange. Ecoasis owns roughly 500 acres (202 ha) of golf courses and trails on its private Bear Mountain lands. [Times Colonist]
Police investigate on-ice slash at Island hockey tourney
During an Under-15 game in Courtenay on Friday, a Comox Valley player swung his stick like an axe, hitting a 14-year-old Nanaimo player on the back and collarbone, according to one account. The teen was hospitalized and reportedly suffered a concussion. The Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association (VIAHA) is also investigating. [CTV]
🗓️ Things to do
🎶 Laketown Shakedown: The music festival with headliners Gwen Stefani and Busta Rhymes takes place in Youbou. Laketown Ranch. June 28-30. [Info]
🕯️ Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele. Hear a string quartet perform the star’s music by candlelight. St. Ann’s Academy. Friday. 9pm. [Info]
🎻 Victoria Symphony: Presents music by Grieg, Tchaikovsky, and Britten. Denford Hall, Glenlyon Norfolk School. Tonight. 7:30pm. [Info]
🎹 Louise Rose: Back with her “Alone Together” series, the US-trained Canadian star performs solo jazz vocals and piano. Hermann’s. Tonight. 7pm. [Info]
🌲 The Wilds. Wonderheads present this theatrical performance using their usual masks and whimsical puppetry. McPherson Playhouse. Tomorrow. 7:30pm. [Info]
🎼 Noah Becker. Was born in Cleveland and raised on Thetis Island. The saxophonist’s Mode for Noah Quartet performs. Hermann’s. Tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]
❓ Want more events? Subscribe to This Week In Vic and get our weekly events newsletter every Tuesday.
👀 In Case You Missed It
Tuesday’s headlines: City of Victoria now owns Hermann’s building; New police chief for Oak Bay; BC Ferries’ Renaissance in, Celebration, Inspiration out; And more. [March 19]
Mental-Health unit for young people opens at the Jube. [Capital Daily]
Non-Indigenous fraudsters are gaming, clogging the system. [CHEK]
Saanich man missing for a week. [Saanich Police]
Recall: K-fresh enoki mushroom recalled due to listeria contamination.
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