Dec 2 - 12 years ago, she disappeared

Good morning !

This past week marked the anniversary of one of Victoria's most widely known cold cases. Today we look at that case and the lack of new information about it.

Below we cover the city's newest sushi restaurant and bring you updates on a few near-emergencies, from a bus's distress message to a fire in a fire chief's home.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

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NEWS

12 years since woman’s still-unsolved disappearance from Inner Harbour

The last confirmed sighting of Emma Fillipoff, then 26, was on Nov. 28, 2012. Police officers spoke to her while responding to a call from one of her acquaintances about her acting erratically and walking barefoot near the Empress. After talking to her for about 45 minutes, they determined she wasn’t a risk to herself or others.

Over the years, there have been various article, audio, blog, and search-effort compilations of the information about her and her case.

Strange behaviour before disappearance

Fillipoff had moved to Victoria a year prior, from Ontario, and worked in the restaurant industry. But shortly before her disappearance she was staying at the Sandy Merman House women’s shelter. Friends have described erratic or confusing behaviour from her prior to disappearing. In late-Nov. 2012, she called her mother and asked her to come help with a move back to Ont.—only to change her mind multiple times across multiple calls.

She tried to take a taxi to the airport on the 28th—only to abandon the ride, citing (inaccurately) a lack of fare money. Her mother arrived hours after Emma’s conversation with police, and reported her missing. Her belongings were found in her van, parked at the Chateau Victoria.

Minor leads over the years

A man later used the $200 prepaid card she had bought, which he said he found on the roadside. Police questioned and cleared him. A man she knew who saw her shortly before she vanished was also questioned and cleared. In 2018, someone came forward to say he believes he gave Fillipoff a ride to a gas station at Admirals and Craigflower on Nov. 29, 2012.

In 2014, a man in Vancouver tore down missing poster of Fillipoff and said that he was in a relationship with her and that she was not missing but escaping her family. An upcoming documentary project about the case put out an illustration of this “Green Shirt Guy.” 

Police have released aged-up renderings of Fillipoff, and say that they have received hundreds of tips about her but no confirmed sightings.

Island’s long-missing persons seldom—but sometimes—resurface alive

In 2022 Brandon Cairney, a former athlete who changed after a brain injury, was found (per fingerprint evidence) in Burnaby after 5 years missing. He had apparently being in the US, and insisted he was not actually Cairney.

One of the Island’s most-known disappearances is that of Lisa Marie Young in 2002. She has never been found, and this fall a tree was planted for her in Nanaimo.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Brief sunshine to start the week, before rain begins Wednesday night.

Saanich Rec registration begins on Wednesday for winter-spring general programming.

Campbell River school to reopen today after major fire. 

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

FOOD

At Victoria’s newest sushi bar, the chef chooses what you eat

Newly opened Chobap Sushi Bar serves omakase, which means “I’ll leave it up to you” in Japanese. It’s a dining style in which the chef showcases their creativity by taking patrons on a specific curated multi-course journey.

The person they are leaving it up to is Clark Park, an acclaimed Korean chef who has trained in Osaka and worked at top restaurants including Victoria’s nationally recognized Marilena. Diners get not only his food itself, but also a front-row seat to his meticulous preparation.

“Chobap” is the Korean word for nigiri—a sushi style with a piece of fish atop a rice blob. Not every course at the new spot is nigiri, though. The meals feature up to 12 including signature tuna gomae, grilled mackerel, miso soup, macarons, and more.

The vision behind Chobap’s menu is to mix traditional flavours (and certain imported ingredients) from Japan with modern cooking techniques and the bounty of Victoria's coast. 

Tasting Victoria recently tried out this new sushi restaurant—read the breakdown here.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🚒 Holiday parade up close: The Ladysmith Light Up last week, as captured by Debbie Johnson and sent in by Barry Davidson.

🐚 See the sea creatures washed up by last month’s wild weather. [Facebook photos]

👂 Hear the new EP from Shoplifter, one of Victoria's hottest bands this year. 5 tracks of propulsive post-punk / post-new-wave / cold wave / shoegaze / alt-rock / etc. [Bandcamp]

🌟 Holiday parties: Local restaurants that are great for work or family get-togethers this month. [Tasting Victoria]

⭐ Candy Cane Lane is here on Dec 14 from 9:30am - 4pm at the Saanich Fairgrounds! Enjoy strolling through 130 local vendors, listening to live music. grabbing lunch and sipping on hot chocolate! Plan your visit today.*

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

“Call 911,” says bus; just an accidental message, says BC Transit
On Sunday morning police responded to a local’s call about the 27 bus (Gordon Head to downtown) displaying a distress message. BC Transit told CHEK that this message, like the one shown in Langford in Feb., was an erroneous activation of the emergency display. [CHEK]

Saanich plans to sell or lease its land by Royal Oak mall
The district says it will make a draft concept plan for developing options on the 1.1ha plot on West Stanch Road. The plan would be rooted in the new Official Community Plan and Design Guidelines. Once ready, it would be brought to the public for input, to council for zoning, and then put out to developers for proposals.

Unhoused woman run over by driver in Campbell River
Nuu-chah-nulth woman Darlene Smith, 53, is at Vancouver General with serious injuries, RCMP say, after being run over in her tent. Others were injured and the back alley was known as a gathering place for people living on the street, but it isn’t clear if the driver’s actions were deliberate targeting, intoxication, or inadvertent; police are investigating. [CBC]

Fire chief fights fire in own home
The chief of Dashwood (near Qualicum) says a lithium ion battery “self detonated and exploded” in the closet after being removed from an airsoft gun, sparking a fire that would have spread if not caught quickly. [CHEK]

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🗓️ Things to do

🎄 Esquimalt's annual Christmas Tree Village. The Rec Centre Atrium and Archie Browning Sports Centre turn into a holiday wonderland. Free entry. Dec. 3 to Jan. 3,  12:30-10pm.

🚌 Stuff the Bus this weekend: Holiday charitable event comes to Tillicum Mall on Sat. [BC Transit]

🎂 Metchosin celebrates 40 years of incorporation with a small reception after Monday's 7pm council meeting.

🗓 Free and/or public seasonal events this month. [Capital Daily]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Bored gamers raise a million for kids. Light-up parades kickstart holiday season. 2 South Island lottery winners. [Sunday newsletter]

Century-old building on Esquimalt Lagoon’s shore is getting heritage status. [Info / photos at The Westshore]

Ferry fares faring fairly poorly as fleet ages and budget tightens: 30% hike could arrive in a few years. [Capital Daily]

Mt. Baker at sunset, basking in the last few rays. [Facebook photo]

An eagle atop the totem pole in Beacon Hill. [James MacDonald]

Legislature lights are officially on. [Upcoming Christmas events]

It looks like Whoville in a snow-covered Comox Valley. [Facebook photo]