With the local cruise season approaching the midway point, we’re updating you on new federal regulation intended to cut the ships’ pollution.

Plus, a look at our region’s love of tea and of nice places to drink it—as well as the case that the heat of summer is actually the best time for hot drinks.

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny. High 26C / low 13C.

🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (3/10), light smoke expected.

NEWS

Cruise ship pollution rules are now mandatory—but they still leave a loophole

Last month—two months into the 2023 cruise season—Canada updated regulations on ships coming through Victoria and other ports, making mandatory the voluntary measures established last April. Those measures cover discharge and treatment of onboard sewage and “grey water”—dirty water from kitchens, laundry, cleaning, and other onboard activity.

These are regulations that, as Capital Daily covered last summer, had high self-reported buy-in from the cruise industry but not much oversight or enforcement. There are now penalties of up to $250K for non-compliance with rules that include:

—A ban on discharging greywater and treated sewage within 3 nautical miles of shore
—Treatment requirements for discharges from 3 to 12 nautical miles.

But both the current regulations and last year’s guidelines do not address a third type of water discharge: scrubber washwater. It’s created when ships’ systems clean fumes from engine and boiler exhaust by mixing in seawater. This directs materials such as sulphur oxide and heavy metals into the ocean rather than into the air.

Locally, shore power is being introduced to address local air emission concerns. But environmental groups are criticizing the lack of regulation of the washwater, and some say that scrubbers should be banned outright because ships are currently allowed to use less clean fuels if they scrub.

Read more at Capital Daily on the new regulations and the criticism of them and our initial reporting on cruise lines and local organizations’ handling of wastewater issues.  

Capital Bulletin

💧 Island moved to drought level 5: The province is asking people to conserve water as Island water basins reach the highest point on the drought scale.

🎧 Victoria’s summer playlist: Listen to music from 30 local artists from the City of Victoria’s first summer playlist “Daydream & Bloom.”

NEWS

The hot take: Warm drinks cool you down

Nothing like an ice-cold bevvie, beer, or iced tea on a hot summer’s day, right?

How about a warm cup of joe, instead?

You know, they say you should drink warm liquids when it’s hot out. Who’s they?

Well, lots of people, including the fine folks at the University of Ottawa. According to the findings of a uOttawa study, drinking warm liquids can actually cool you down.

Consuming a warm beverage can trigger your sweat glands to produce more sweat, which eventually cools down on on the surface of your skin, reducing that hot sensation.

Like all studies, it’s not all black and white—there’s a little grey. In this study, subjects were under conditions that allowed for full sweat evaporation, and they weren’t sweating at the time they drank the warm beverage.

But don’t sweat it. Cooling down isn’t the only reason to want to have a drink of something super tasty.

Take tea, for example. Its many flavours appeal to many people, regardless of where the mercury sits in the thermometer.

Tea is exceptionally popular in Greater Victoria. Even in the summer. Maybe especially in the summer.

Victorians’ love affair with one of the world’s most popular drinks

Kate Hildebrandt writes about this popularity in Capital Daily’s latest. She looks at the history of tea in the region and beyond, and speaks to people from some of Greater Victoria’s most popular tea spots to get their take.

From tea rituals infused with soothing childhood memories to high teas at iconic local gardens steeped in history, tea is part of the local character and part of the lives of the people who make it what it is.

Read Capital Daily’s feature story to learn about those memories and that history—plus a rundown of four of the most popular local places to get your tea on.

Capital Picks

🎙️ Hexennacht Festival: This celebration of femme magick at Beacon Hill Park’s Cameron Bandshell will include art and music performances. Today and tomorrow.

🏠 Want to age in place? Next Day Access delivers and installs mobility and accessibility products right to your home. Schedule your free in-home assessment today!*

🎭 SKAMpede: Theatre SKAM’s outdoor performing arts festival begins today with venues near the Galloping Goose trail, Songhees Park, and Songhees Walkway. Today-July16.

🤠 Gone Country at Bard & Banker: Experience Stampede in Victoria with events at the pub, including a pancake breakfast, country bands, and Jack Daniels specials. Today-July 16.

💃🏼 A bold, breathtaking, boundless season of dance. 2023/24 subscriptions on sale. Save up to $146 off regular prices. Royal Theatre Box Office: 250-386-6121 or DanceVictoria.com.*

🤝 Now hiring: Associate Dentist at Oaklands Dental.

🎸 Lester Quitzau at Butchart Gardens: The Canadian guitarist will perform tonight on the open-air stage, 8pm.

🎹 The West Coast Soul Collective at Hermann’s Upstairs: The neo-soul, pop, funk group will perform original songs and existing hits tonight, 7pm.

🎧 Rakata at Capital Ballroom: This Latin dance party will include contests and drink specials, and will feature reggaeton, bachata, and Brazilian funk music. 10pm.

🎤 Raincity & Wet Future at Victoria Event Centre: The West Coast-based bands will perform together tonight, 7-9pm.

🎥 Luxembourg, Luxembourg at The Vic Theatre: Part of Victoria Film Festival, this drama about two brothers who go in search of their dying father will be shown tonight, 7:30pm.

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In Case You Missed It

🔥 Suspected human-caused fire at Summit Park: Victoria firefighters spent Thursday battling the large brush fire after being called just before midnight. Chief Dan Atkinson says 2023 will likely be the busiest local fire season on record. [CTV]

🎸 Local musician Kele Fleming redefines her sounds: Fleming began to experiment with different genres during lockdown, achieving worldwide success. [Capital Daily]

🏥 Youth migrant services receive funding: The Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees will receive $375K over three years to provide mental-health services. [Capital Daily]

⛴️ New ferry stamps features Spirit of British Columbia: The Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen ferry is one of five vessels highlighted in Canada Post’s showcase of the country’s marine heritage (see below).

📰 Thursday’s headlines: Two Mercedes catch on fire near Ricky’s Grill, urban tree solution receives $180K, new solution for Island’s invasive crabs, and more. [July 13]

❤️ Marmot’s long trip to find love: In search of a new mate, Camas the marmot travelled nearly 40km to Errington where he was recovered in good health and has since been paired with a female. [CTV]

🚧 Hwy 4 full reopening delayed a month: Rock scaling work starts July 17 and is expected to take until mid-August to complete.

🏅 Countdown to Paris 2024: Canada's athletes are ready to shine at the Victoria Track Classic. Don't miss the action on July 16 at Centennial Stadium!*

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