Dec 16 - Kayaking 24 hours for men's health

Good morning !

Today, we have some good news about environmental issues in the CRD, from lowered GHG emissions to a potential UNESCO Biosphere designation.

But first, we’ve got a story about a Victorian who pulled an all-nighter paddling for men’s health.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

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Day after: 🌧️ 7 / 6

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NEWS

Victoria kayaker paddles 24 hours straight to raise awareness for men's mental health

Ethan Reid had never paddled for a period of more than eight hours. 

Heck, he’d only been kayaking for about 18 months—and hadn’t stayed awake longer than one day since he was a kid. But when a friend put a bug in his ear about paddling 24 hours to raise money for Movember and men’s mental health, the 21-year-old Victorian jumped at the opportunity to support a good cause.

“I've struggled with mental health myself, and I believe that having conversations about mental health is super important in countering what men are facing today,” he tells Capital Daily. 

With a couple of spotters in tow, Reid set out along the Gorge at seven in the morning on a rainy Wednesday in the first week of this month and began to paddle. And paddle. 

“I had some of the best gear out there that I could get to stay warm and comfortable, and I had lots of people supporting me,” he says. 

The weather conditions varied from rain in the morning to pretty much no wind throughout the night, making the experience easier, he says.

Reid put the city’s light pollution to good use, employing the skyglow to navigate in the otherwise deep darkness.

Except for the occasional bathroom break, Reid spent the entire paddlethon on the water. 

He says he found the entire experience—including twice having a seal jump aboard his kayak—to be as serene as the Gorge’s cold, black water. Not that this was a routine paddle in the park. 

“You start going numb, like when you're driving at the wheel, and you're tired, you start to doze off,” he says.

Friends, including Jamie Dawson, his boss at Ocean River Sports on Beach Drive, rotated in and out, providing solid company, which was good for Reid’s mental health.

His fitness tracking watch died halfway through, but Reid estimates he paddled 80km and, in the end, raised $4,800—and hopefully, he says, some awareness. 

“I hope that doing something like this will make getting help an easier conversation for men and lower the stigma that battling it alone, ‘toughing it out,’ is the manly thing to do.”

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Have your say in Victoria’s 2026 draft budget: Share your thoughts before Jan. 23. [Details]

Tree work on Galloping Goose in Colwood: Arborists will be working in the section between Island Highway and Sooke Road on Thursday. The trail will be open, but expect delays. [CRD]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

Support local journalism by supporting Capital Daily. Become a Capital Daily Insider member today and help bring local stories to life. 

NEWS

CRD to look into nominating Greater Victoria for a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation

The CRD plans to throw its hat into the biosphere ring. The regional government approved a motion last week to look at nominating Greater Victoria for a UNESCO Urban Biosphere Reserve designation. The designation could help the region meet its environmental goals in the long run.

UNESCO Biosphere Reserves are areas recognized for striking a balance between people and nature, with a commitment to sustainability, conservation, and education. There are more than 700 reserves in 131 countries. Canada is home to 19 of these.

The CRD isn’t planning to make a pitch next year, as its Biosphere Service—created in February—has resources earmarked for 2026, with a focus on invasive plant removal.

Instead, planning for the nomination will be included in the CRD board’s 2027-2031 strategic planning process, with a formal application slated to be submitted in 2028.

CRD staff said the region has a good chance of receiving a designation. The region recently signed multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with local First Nations, officially committing to working with Indigenous leaders to plan and maintain land stewardship—a key pillar in qualifying for a UNESCO designation.

Staff said the new Biodiversity Service could lead the nomination process. However, putting an application together and outlining a long-term plan for biodiversity is “beyond the scope” of the current Biodiversity Service. The service’s approved budget for 2026 is $230K, and invasive species are its main focus that year.

Extensive public consultation is an important aspect of the nomination process, which can take years, staff said.

“There is substantial work required to develop a nomination package and to receive a designation,” the CRD staff report reads.

CRD staff also said waiting until 2027 would allow the region enough time to plan for the additional costs of meeting the UNESCO biodiversity requirements, since the UN and federal government would make little to no financial contribution.

The Island has two designations already. Clayoquot Sound, which was designated 25 years ago after 1993’s massive protests and logging blockades, known as the War in the Woods. Protections in the area were strengthened leading up to the UNESCO designation in 2000. 

That same year, Mount Arrowsmith was also designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, protecting the Douglas fir ecosystems in the watersheds of the Little Qualicum and Englishman Rivers, including nearby beaches and forests, from development.

SPONSORED BY THE VICTORIA FOUNDATION

Charitable organizations make huge impact in Greater Victoria

Charitable organizations in the capital region now contribute $5.4 billion in annual economic activity, on par with the technology sector in Greater Victoria. This economic growth is enough to support 60,600 full-time jobs and delivers more than $366 million in municipal taxes.

Learn about all these findings and more in the Victoria Foundation's new Architects of Belonging: A Civil Society Impact Study, produced with CIFAL Victoria and the University of Victoria. The report shows that charities, non-profits, and other community groups are a proven asset to our region. It captures the vital roles these organizations have between the public and private sectors in our community, and the breadth of individuals they support.

Belonging begins with civil society. Read the full report today!

⭐️ Capital Picks

📸 View from the Parliament Buildings in 1916: See a snowy Inner Harbour, featuring a much smaller sequoia tree and no cenotaph. [Facebook photo]

🫟 Victoria homeowners can save 10% on interior painting with West Coast Pro Painting. Premium quality, reliable crews, and exceptional results—designed to refresh any home this season.*

🦅 Takeout meal: A bald eagle was spotted swimming to an Island beach with a big catch in tow. [Facebook video]

🧝 In hapax theatre's Hidden People, an assessor arrives to buy Högni and Magnea’s farm, igniting a clash of past and progress. Tickets and information.*

🔆 Times Colonist Christmas Lights Map: [Last day for submissions]

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🗞️ In Other News

Area greenhouse gas emissions have dropped by 11% since 2007, says CRD
Despite a growing populace, the amount of greenhouse gas being emitted in Greater Victoria is actually on the downswing, according to the CRD’s latest study. Some 1.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide were belched into the air last year, which is 1% less than the last count two years ago and 11% less than 2007 levels. The CRD says that with transportation and buildings accounting for 71% of regional emissions, it’s important to keep pushing for zero-emission vehicles and the adoption of heat pumps and other emission savers. [CHEK]

VicPD makes arrest in James Bay incident
A “significant police response” was dispatched to a construction site on San Jose, near Dallas, around 10:30 yesterday morning, following a report of an assault with a knife. The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries. A suspect has been arrested and remained in police custody. [VicPD]
Saanich Police investigating a suspected stabbing on Burnside
Police say paramedics responded to a person suffering from an apparent stab wound on Sunday near Saanich Road and Oak. The incident that occurred between 4:40 and 5:40 on Burnside, between Harriet and Tillicum, is believed to be isolated, they said. [Saanich Police]

Tourism bureau not looking to score with next summer’s soccer World Cup
Destination Greater Victoria (DGV) says it plans to focus on filling area hotel rooms and attracting meetings to the Victoria Conference Centre, but that it won’t be chasing potential spillover bucks from World Cup games being played in Vancouver and Seattle. Paul Nursey, DGV’s CEO, says relying on global events is unreliable and points to Paris’s underwhelming tourism results on the back of the 2024 Summer Olympics, something French hoteliers called “le grand flop.” Nursey says DGV is planning to set up a soccer viewing area on Government. [Times Colonist]

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A record-breaking amount of menus await for Dine Around and Stay in Town 2026!

That's right... Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria returns January 23 - February 8th, 2026!

Record-breaking bites are on the menu! With over 60 participating restaurants and over 100 menus, Dine Around and Stay in Town 2026 serves 17 days of three-course magic at deliciously low prices. It’s Greater Victoria’s biggest Dine Around.

How many will you try this year?

Browse menus and hotel discounts here.

🗓️ Things To Do

🔇 Sensory-Friendly Hours: Explore the Maritime Museum during dedicated hours featuring low-volume surroundings, dimmed lighting, and a scent-free atmosphere today. 9:30am-12pm. [Info]

🎻 Christmas Pops with the Victoria Symphony: Maestro Giuseppe Pietraroia conducts holiday classics and spirited renditions of favourite carols at the Charlie White Theatre today and tomorrow. 3pm & 7:30pm. [Info]

🎄 Daniel Lapp's Home for Christmas: The 22nd annual concert features the BC Fiddle Orchestra, Folkestra!, Joy of Life Choir, and special guests at the Royal Theatre. Tomorrow & Thu. 7:30pm. [Info]

🧑‍🎄 A Wonderheads Christmas Carol: Enjoy the visual storytelling and puppetry masters’ take on Dickens' classic at the McPherson Playhouse Fri.-Sun. [Info]

⛸️ Teen Winter Ice Skating: Teens can skate for free every Saturday until Jan. 3 at City Centre Park. Helmet rentals included. 8:15pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Sunday’s headlines: Saanich searches for doctors; Weekly roundup; 3 Victoria athletes with Olympic potential. [Dec. 14 ]

1 VicPD constable made $93K in OT on top of their $136K salary, FOI reveals. [CHEK]

Hard to swallow: VIU planning professor says proposal to make developers pay for water infrastructure is all wet. [Times Colonist]

Recall: Various pistachios and pistachio-containing products due to Salmonella. [CFIA]

Missing person: Brian, 53, last seen in Saanich.

No swimming order is still active: Check which popular beaches are closed here.

That’s it!

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