Dec 3 - Tensions rise at non-sanctioned UVic event

Good morning !

Hundreds of students, Indigenous community members, and supporters of residential school survivors gathered at UVic yesterday for a peaceful counter-protest to an unapproved event proposed by a small political party with some concerning beliefs.

Things got heated.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

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Today: 🌧️ 7 / 6

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 8 / 7

Friday: ☁️ 10 / 9

7-day forecast

NEWS

Hundreds of counter-protesters face off with OneBC group at UVic

Students, supporters, and protesters clashed on the Uvic campus yesterday at an unsanctioned public event planned by the right-leaning political group OneBC, whose members eventually were escorted off campus by Saanich Police.

According to reports, including this one in the Times Colonist, several hundred counter-protesters showed up—many wearing orange shirts and carrying signs in support of residential school survivors—and there was significant arguing and some pushing and shoving.

“Saanich officers arrested one individual under the trespass act, and that person has since been released,” Saanich Police said in an email to Capital Daily.

OneBC—an officially sanctioned provincial political party that splintered off from the BC Conservatives last June—has expressed denialist views on Canada’s history with residential schools.

OneBC leader Dallas Brodie denies the existence of suspected unmarked graves on the grounds of a former residential school site in Kamloops and calls it “the greatest lie in Canadian history.”

OneBC had announced plans to come to UVic to talk about what it termed the "reconciliation industry,” but it was denied permission. 

“Organizers did not go through our space booking processes and were informed that their event was not sanctioned to proceed on our campus,” a UVic spokesperson told Capital Daily, adding the group showed up anyway.

Saanich Police said UVic staff informed those gathered that they were trespassing and told them they couldn’t stay.

“The majority of the individuals chose to leave and were escorted off the property,” the Saanich Police spokesperson said.

“Recent events on our campus and attempts at denying the history of residential schools are part of a growing narrative that attempts to distort the values and the core mission of higher education institutions—commitment to truth, critical inquiry, and knowledge dissemination,” Robina Thomas, UVic’s acting president and vice-chancellor, said in a statement.

“This hurtful and divisive rhetoric should not be confused for academic inquiry and debate.”

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Tough Island news: Domtar is closing its pulp mill in Crofton. [350 people to lose jobs]

Rockland closed at Cyril until Dec. 9, 24/7; take an alternate route. [City of Victoria]

Saanich road closures: 
Roy between Carey and Wilkinson, 8am-4pm, through Dec. 15.
Iona between Cedar Hill Cross and Broadmead, through Dec. 12.
Reynolds at Cedar Hill Cross, 9am-3pm, through Friday.
Maddock West between Davin and Harriet, through Friday.

Single-lane alternating traffic: 
Feltham between Fairburn and Longview, 9am-3pm, through Friday.
Reynolds from Cedar Hill Cross to Cumberland, 9am-3pm, through Dec. 31.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

BC Ferries is selling a lot more BC products

There’s been a surge in the amount of made-in-BC food and other products being sold on board BC Ferries vessels, according to the sea carrier and the provincial government.

They say that between April and September, there was a 65% increase in the number of BC products being sold in Passages, the ferry service’s onboard retail and gift shop, and that almost half—45%—of all Passages’ products were manufactured or produced by BC-owned companies. 

“It’s fantastic that BC Ferries will be offering more BC-made and grown products for passengers to enjoy,” said Lana Popham, the provincial agriculture and food minister. 

“Experiencing local flavours is a great part of the sailing experience.”

More than 60% of the food served onboard is produced or processed in this province, and that percentage climbs in the summer when local produce is available, the ferry company said. Every egg that makes it to the breakfast plate on a BC Ferries sailing comes from this province. And every sip you take from an alcohol drink is BC booze.

BC Ferries has been working with the provincial agriculture ministry, through Feed BC and Buy BC, to escalate its dependency on BC suppliers. 

The Feed BC program is a government initiative to increase the use of BC food in hospitals, post-secondary schools, and other government-supported industries.

Buy BC is a provincewide marketing program that boosts awareness, demand, and sales of BC agriculture, food, and beverages.

BC Ferries said you’ll soon be seeing more Feed BC and Buy BC signage to help you identify local food choices, in the same way Passages has “Best of BC” branding to identify locally produced products in the gift shop. 

The carrier said 64% of all Passages’ items have Canadian roots and that approximately 90% of BC Ferries’ overall spending on materials, supplies, and services goes to Canadian businesses.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🔆 GVHA Harbour Holiday Lights. [Tomorrow, 5-8pm]

🎶 Celebrate the season with Heather Ferguson’s soulful blend of Christmas carols and originals at The Coda, on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7pm. Bring the festivities!*

🍪 Gingerbread cookie decorating at Mayfair for Habitat for Humanity. [Saturday 11am-3pm]

🎄Schnitzel is looking forward to seeing you. He's playing Tiny Tim in Ronnie Bukett's Little Dickens at the Belfry Theatre until Dec. 21.*

🅿️ Downtown holiday parking credit. [JOY25]

🍽️ Dine Around Gala is back BIG in January. [Capital Daily] *Sponsored Listing

SPONSORED BY PHS COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIETY

Urgent appeal: Victoria homelessness

The housing crisis is forcing people across the city into homelessness.

Supportive housing provider PHS Community Services Society has launched a $100,000 Holiday Season campaign to help people of all ages in Victoria and Vancouver.

Donations to PHS provide housing, meals, and community support to people in crisis.

Please Give Today.

🗞️ In Other News

Victoria business owner’s peace shattered by repeated acts of vandalism
Allied Glass in Rock Bay has been replacing vandalized windows for 65 years, but now owner Jeff Devine is the one worried about the next rock to be thrown. For the past year, his Rock Bay business has been the scene of smashed windows, dumpster fires, and smeared feces. Last Sunday, one of Devine’s vans was set on fire, damaging beyond repair some key window installation equipment. Devine says VicPD thinks it knows who the vandal is, but even if the Crown presses charges, it could take a while for the perpetrator to be punished. [Times Colonist]

Saanich Police have pulled 434 suspected impaired drivers from roads so far in 2025
About half—211—were handed 90-day roadside prohibitions either because they blew a “fail” or they refused to provide a breath sample. Last year, Saanich Police nabbed a record 628 impaired drivers—a 35% increase over the previous year. The police service said it plans to increase the number of road stops over the holiday season and reminds drivers to find alternative ways to get home if they’ve been drinking or taking drugs. [CHEK]

Camosun doesn’t stray too far to find a new provost after a national search
The search team unanimously selected Richard Stride as the college’s new provost and vice president of academics. Stride has spent the last 14 years in leadership roles at Camosun, including acting provost and VP since Jan. 1, when he replaced John Boraas, who retired. Before joining Camosun, Stride spent 20 years at North Island College, where he eventually served as dean of academic programs and acting VP of education. The former BCIT instructor is a graduate of UBC. He reports to Lane Trotter, the college’s president. [Camosun]

🗓️ Things To Do

💼December Mixer with the Township of Esquimalt: Celebrate the final mixer of 2025 with networking, festive cheer, and light refreshments. TCAC Gallery Space, Town Square, Esquimalt. Today. 5:30-7:30pm. [Info]

🎶 Postsecondary Chamber Music/Chorale Showcase: VCM and Camosun College postsecondary students present an eclectic mix of classical chamber music and choral repertoire to close out the term. Victoria Conservatory of Music. Today. 7-9pm. [Info]

💄Drag Bingo: Enjoy an evening of entertainment and compete for fun prizes with the first ball called at 8pm. The Vicious Poodle. Today. 8pm. [Info]

🎼 Postsecondary Thursday Lunch Concert: Postsecondary students share their musical works-in-progress, ranging from Bach to Bluegrass to original compositions, in this free lunchtime performance. Victoria Conservatory of Music. Tomorrow. 12:30-1:30pm. [Info]

🥕 Esquimalt Fall Indoor Farmers Market: Shop local with farmers, food producers, bakers, and artisans offering fresh produce, delicious eats, and handcrafted gifts in a cozy indoor setting. Esquimalt Recreation Centre. Tomorrow & the next two Thursdays. 4:30-7pm. [Info]

🧑‍🎄 Nautical Rope Wreaths Workshop: Learn to transform a single piece of rope into a beautiful maritime-inspired wreath to hang in your home for years to come. Maritime Museum of BC. Tomorrow. 5:30-7:30pm. [Info]

🎤 Singer-Songwriter Showcase Session 6: Experience an evening of original music from three handpicked local singer-songwriters, including Kele Fleming, Sandra Taylor, and Cooper Mills. The Coda, Bar Stage. Tomorrow. Doors 6pm, show 6:30-8:30pm. [Info]

🎺 Kelby MacNayr's Blue Note Repertory All-Stars: Five of the West Coast's finest jazz musicians celebrate the classic Blue Note Era with music from Cannonball Adderley, Horace Silver, and Art Blakey. Hermann's Jazz Club. Tomorrow. Doors 5:30pm, show 7-9pm. [Info]

🎵 The Strumbellas: The Juno Award-winning folk-rock band brings its Into Dust Tour, featuring a signature mix of intimate feelings and stadium-ready sounds. Royal Theatre. Tomorrow. 8pm. [Info]

🤣 Hecklers Presents: A Fundraiser for Juan De Fuca Hockey (U9) Featuring Myles Anderson: Enjoy comedy while supporting local youth hockey in this fundraising event. Hecklers Bar & Grill. Tomorrow. 8pm. [Info]

🖼️ Silent Art Auction: Help raise funds to complete the refugee sponsorship of a Syrian-Palestinian mother and her two daughters at St. Philip Anglican Church. Dec. 7. 2pm-4:30pm. [Info] 

🎶 The Choral Evolution Sooke Christmas Sing-Along: A concert in support of Sooke Food Bank and Annie's Place (Sooke Transition House). Admission is by cash donation. Edward Milne Community Theatre. Dec. 13. 7pm. [Info]  

👀 In Case You Missed It

Tuesday’s headlines: Giving Tuesday: donating a piece of your body; December’s event listings; Bay Street Armoury to become Gen. Sir Arthur Currie Armoury. [Dec. 2]

CHEK-TV celebrates 69 years on the air. [CHEK]

Cedar Hill Middle School demolition begins and should take until Feb. [Times Colonist]

The IEOA Truck Parade & Food Drive is this Saturday, 5-8pm.

The Sooke Santa Parade is this Sunday, starting at 5pm. 

Giving Tuesday. [UVic activities]

That’s it!

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