Dec 15 - Massage worker guilty on 5 counts

Good morning !

Despite some wild winds it has been a good weekend to get out in the city, with holiday events such as the annual tuba Christmas concert happening. More on that wild weather, and on the weekend events, in today's newsletter.

First, though, we have news on the verdict in one of this fall's most prominent Victoria court cases.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️ 8 / 6

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 8 / 5

Tuesday: 🌧️ 9 / 8

7-day forecast

NEWS

Victoria masseur guilty on 5 sexual assault counts

Nearly a month after the trial wrapped, the BC Supreme Court has a verdict on allegations that Ajesh “Sam” Jacob, now 38, assaulted women while they received massages in 2019-2021. 

After a charge was stayed, 9 remained and 4 of those received not-guilty verdicts. In the 5 guilty cases, testimonies variously described being exposed and/or groped during sessions, and in some cases solicited for dates afterward.

The judge ultimately concluded last week that several testimonies either failed to prove for certain that Jacob was the offender or were tainted by media, social media, or pre-legal-case discussions between different accusers. However she also found Jacob’s testimony lacking in credibility and reliability, saying it contradicted other facts that had been established.

Allegations emerged on social media in spring 2021

Initial posts on Instagram alleged that a worker at downtown massage and reflexology business Big Feet had sexually touched clients. Early 2021 had brought sexual-misconduct reckonings to several Victoria industries, including bars and restaurants and real estate. 

VicPD arrested Jacob on one count and asked publicly for more accusers to come forward. The Big Feet location manager told CTV that Jacob left in April 2021 when she learned of the allegations and asked him to resign. 

As of last fall, the Lower Mainland chain Big Feet Health announced that the Victoria location was no longer affiliated. The foot massage business at that Fort location is now Happy Feet Reflexology. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Ferry to/from Tsawwassen operating again today afetr cancellations earlier this weekend. [Current conditions]

Federal GST is now temporarily suspended on items including kids’ books and toys.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

New study tracks orphaned local raccoons after release

A Royal Roads master’s student is collaborating with Metchosin's SPCA-run Wild ARC animal centre to see what happens to 9 orphaned young raccoons once released. In a 6-month project overseen by wildlife veterinarian Dr. Adam Hering, the juvenile raccoons received GPS/radio collars and were released around Greater Victoria. After the 6 months, the collars will automatically fall off. 

The study aims to find out where the released juveniles go, whether they live, and how they die. So far, Wild ARC says that one raccoon escaped its collar, one was killed by a predator, and another was caught and released by a pest-control company.

This century there have only been 3 similar studies in North America on releasing rehab-raised raccoons, says Wild ARC’s senior wildlife rehabilitator Wallis Moore Reid. The organization raises some 80 orphaned raccoons per year, and releases them in the fall (about the same time that juveniles would leave their mothers in the wild). The centre hopes to gain more insight into how it can improve their survival odds.

Read the full story at The Westshore

Watch a video here of the raccoons climbing and playing as they get used to the tracking collars.

NEWS

Islanders among nearly 300k in BC losing power in high winds

Ferries to and from Tsawwassen were cancelled for the first half of Saturday as winds approached 100kh/h, while some 17,000+ Island BC Hydro customers on the Island and Gulf Islands lost power. The majority of those, and of the other 200,000+ in BC who lost power, had been attended to by BC Hydro as of Sunday morning.

The Sea to Sky highway was closed overnight due to a mudslide—which happened just over 3 years after a major mudslide near Lillooet killed a man who was in the process of moving to Victoria. This weekend, one Surrey woman was killed during the storm by a falling branch.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

 🎄 Trees adorned in James Bay on Clarence St., with Christmas ornaments joining the classic teacups. [Doug Clement photos] 

🦈 A strangely beautiful (but dead) little shark found washed up in Qualicum area. [Facebook]  

🥫 Food donations, rather than flowers, encouraged by family of John Horgan as public memorial arrives today. [Goldstream Food Bank]

🗞️ In Other News

Orca appears in Inner Harbour (video)
The large male Bigg's (transient) killer whale named Noah was caught on video swimming under the bridge and near the Empress. [CHEK]

Victoria council narrowly advances contentious James Bay build
The 16-unit proposal from Oeza Developments won a narrow 5-4 vote but even those supportive votes expressed reluctance, saying the project needed key changes (particularly a reduction in size) for it to be accepted when it returned to the city for the next step. [Times Colonist]

Not enough housing or treatment beds available for those on Victoria streets
A promise of housing was part of the case for sweeps of Pandora's street. But BC Housing never offered housing, CHEK now reports—just 60 shelter spots, which 30 people accepted. Meanwhile, a nonprofit rehab director alleges that there are not enough local addiction treatment beds and that many go unfilled while awaiting high-paying private customers. [CHEK]

Living wage on Salt Spring rises to $26.25/hour
The estimate of how much an adult in a dual-income family would need to make to sustain a modest life is up $2 in 2 years. The local housing crisis is a key factor here, as it was for Greater Victoria's latest number ($26.78). [Driftwood]

Pacific FC selects UVic & Victoria-raised soccer stars in draft 
Local Niklas Hallam, who won AAA BC championships for Reynolds High and now plays for U of T, was taken 4th. UVic's Finn Tugwell went 12th after being an All-Canadian and Canada West's Defensive Player of the Year this past U Sports season. PFC also recently re-signed Victoria-raised captain Josh Heard through 2026.

🗓️ Things to do

💐 Horgan public memorial is today at the Q Centre at 1pm. Ticket sales have now closed, but you can watch the event livestream here. There is also an online book of condolences that can be signed until tomorrow, Dec. 16.

🎭 Sense and Sensibility: See students from the Canadian College of Performing Arts take on Jane Austin’s beloved tale of love and family this weekend. Wraps today. 7pm. [Info]

🛍 Moss Street Holiday Market continues today in Fairfield, 10am-4pm.

🎨 Indigenous Artist Market at RBCM: 10am-4pm today in Clifford Carl Hall within Royal BC Museum.

👠 Hail Santa!, a riotous and campy variety show, wraps up today at the Metro Theatre. 

🖼 Helen Stewarts Annual Christmas Art Show continues today: 1-4pm at Tudor House Press.

🎁 Christmas Misfits Market at 1923 Fernwood. 11am-4pm. Free entry.

🎼 Décibels Francophone Choir presents “Christmas in Harmony” today. 2-3pm. [Info]

Hotel Zed hosts a holiday sing-along for those who can’t make it home for the holidays. 2-5pm today with hot chocolate and cider.

⛸️ Victoria Pride Skate: The first all-abilities social ice skate, presented in partnership with the Victoria Pride Society, will feature guest appearances by local drag performers. Registration required. Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. 2:30-4:30pm. [Info]

🎄 Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular 2024: Now in its 16th season, this celebration of music, dance, lights, and decorations has become a holiday tradition. McPherson Playhouse. 2pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

NDP & Greens reach deal for BC governance. Intercity transit, “Village Model” homelessness response, and Fairy Creek protection among Island issues prioritized. [Capital Daily]

Crystal Pool referendum date set: What to know about the Feb. vote. [Capital Daily]

Ladysmith mayoral by-election coming March 1.

Signs of old Victoria: When the 7/11 was torn down on Yates, the facade of the former bowling alley was revealed. [Facebook photo]

A distinct moss looks almost like pine needles on a dead hemlock tree in Horth Hill Park. [Facebook photo]

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