Dec 9 - Arrests continue on Walbran Valley logging road

Good morning !

I’ve just returned home from a sunny one-week vacation and, naturally, Victoria has welcomed me back with rainfall alerts, strong winds, and cool temperatures. If you live near a river or stream, keep an eye out for flood risks here today and tomorrow.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌧️ 10 / 9

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 12 / 10

Day after: 🌧️ 10 /8

7-day forecast

NEWS

4 more arrested at Walbran Valley blockade

Yesterday morning, RCMP officers arrested four protesters for allegedly violating a court-ordered injunction. This brings the total number of arrests in Walbran Valley since the injunction was ordered in August to 11. One person was arrested twice since Nov. 25.

According to the Lake Cowichan RCMP, these arrests included eight for breaching the injunction, one for criminal mischief, one for criminal obstruction of police for resisting arrest, and one for breaching their release conditions. 

The Cougar Camp, which featured a massive cougar statue and small shelters, was dismantled during the Nov. 25-26 RCMP raid, with items discarded and burned by the forestry workers. A spokesperson for the blockaders says the RCMP allowed the forest companies to burn the “personal property of forest protectors.”

However, after the raid, the blockaders quickly regrouped and set up camp at a nearby site, still within the injunction zone. Three RCMP officers and a liaison officer visited the new camp on Thursday, but no enforcement happened over the weekend. Protesters say they saw RCMP vehicles approaching the camp Sunday night, making yesterday morning’s raids less surprising. 

While out patrolling yesterday, the RCMP says officers found that a new blockade had been erected on the “only bridge leading to a work site where the company employees needed access.”

A blockade spokesperson said in a release that an estimated 40-50 officers were on-site during yesterday’s raid. 

Of the four men arrested, one will be held in custody for breaching the release conditions of his previous arrest. Another was arrested for “criminal obstruction of police” in addition to violating the injunction. Logan Staats, a Juno-nominated Indigenous musician, was one of the men arrested.

Another protester was captured on video telling an officer that he was off the road and not violating the injunction when he was arrested. 

All the arrestees are scheduled to make court appearances in January.

“All of this because we challenged an industry in collapse, burning through a million dollars a day in taxpayer subsidies,” Solène Tessier, one of the protesters, said in a release.

“Why would the Eby government keep clear-cutting ancient forests instead of protecting the communities that rely on this dying industry?”

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Heavy rain and high stream flow advisory in place today and tomorrow for all of Vancouver Island, with the heaviest rain forecast for tomorrow. [BC Gov]

Saanich road closure: Queensbury near Fairlane Terrace, 8am-4:30pm today.

Single-lane alternating traffic near Beaver Lake Rd., 9am-3pm today.

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

When it comes to noise, the city wants to hear you

The City of Victoria is updating its noise bylaw to make it easier to understand, follow, and enforce.

It’s launched two surveys—one for residents and one for business owners—that are live now and will be open until Jan. 31. 

“We want to better understand how residents and businesses experience sound and noise in Victoria,” said Mayor Marianne Alto.

Victoria’s noise bylaws were last set in 2003, but the city has grown in those two+ decades. 

An increased density means noise travels further and likely will be heard by more people. More tourism and an uptick in vibrancy have meant more outdoor events and late-night activity, which have led to more noise. 

Technology has evolved since 2003, with a slew of new forms of transportation on the roads. E-bikes and E-scooters are quite quiet, which has prompted the need for artificial noise requirements such as backing beeping sounds or AVAS—acoustic vehicle alerting systems.

The sounds of construction equipment—such as jackhammers and power drills—are always noise violations waiting to happen in a growing city with construction sites so prevalent.

More condos have gone up downtown, meaning more residents are sleeping—or trying to—amid the downtown din of bars and nightlife. And there are always going to be dogs who bark. 

Public discussions on Reddit and other social media platforms have cited inconsistent bylaw enforcement, particularly at night, when fewer bylaw officers are on duty. 

“This work will look for opportunities to improve noise regulations to better reflect current and future realities in Victoria,” the city said in a release.

The city sets limits on noise volume from sources within its purview—construction, public events, hospitality—but does not have jurisdiction over other sources of noise, including cruise ships, airplanes, and emergency vehicles, which are federal concerns. 

In 2014, Victoria amended its noise bylaws to address the use and allowable sound levels of leaf blowers and the definition of “point of reception” to more accurately represent where a noise disturbance is experienced and to help bylaw officers enforce regulations, particularly at night when it can be difficult to see the source of the noise. 

In 2019, the city began allowing residents to report noise complaints online, and predictably, the number of complaints went up. In 2020, there were 760 registered complaints. That dipped to 493 in 2023 and to 490 in 2024. So far this year, there have been 565, said City of Victoria spokesperson Coleen Mycroft.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🪶 Feather stars seen deep in the waters of Nanoose Bay. [Facebook photo]

🧠 Lifelong learning where you live. Expand your perspectives with a variety of courses at the new John Horgan Campus in Langford.*

🧱 Holiday Lego Exhibit opens today at Westshore Town Centre. [Through Dec. 21]

🎁 Royal BC Museum | IMAX® Victoria: Make memories all year with a family membership. Enjoy exhibits, events, and big screen adventures starting at $138.*

🌟 Live outdoor Christmas nativity pageant. [Dec. 21-23]

^{*Sponsored Listing}

🗞️ In Other News

Mount Underwood fire declared out after nearly 4 months
The fire was declared out yesterday morning. It led to evacuation orders and alerts near Port Alberni and cut off access between the town and neighbouring Bamfield. It was discovered in August and grew to 1,400+ ha within the first 24 hours, maxing out at 3,518 ha. Multiple communities dealt with power outages between Aug. 11 and Aug. 24. The main road to Bamfield remained closed for weeks after the fire was held, reopening Oct. 24 after pressure from community members. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. [CHEK]

Ex-masseur convicted of sexually assaulting clients to get legal assistance for appeals
Ajesh Jacob, who worked at Big Feet on Fort from 2019 to 2021, was found guilty last year of sexually assaulting five female clients. He was sentenced to two years less a day in jail. He is now appealing his conviction on the grounds that his charter right to a Malayalam-speaking interpreter and a speedy trial was breached and that the sentencing judge didn’t take into account the effect his penalty would have on his status in Canada. A judge recently granted an order that counsel be appointed to assist Jacob in his appeals. [Times Colonist] 

Price to rent a 1-bedroom in Victoria is down 5.6% over last year 
According to stats from Rentals.ca, the average cost to rent a 1-bedroom in Victoria last month was $1,975, which is 2% cheaper than in October. Two-bedrooms averaged $2,587, which is 8.1% less expensive than it was last November and 1.2% less than in October. The average 3-bedroom went for $3,313—which was 1.5% less than last month and last year. It’s the 14th straight month for the average price to have dropped across Canada. Rental prices across BC fell 6.4%, year over year. [Rentals.ca]

🗓️ Things To Do

🎺 Naden Band Holiday Concert Toy Drive: Listen to live music and bring along a wrapped gift in support of the Salvation Army at the Royal Theatre tonight. 7:30pm. [Info]

🎄Holly Jolly Christmas: See Zachary Lewis, internationally renowned Buddy Holly impersonator, as he lights up the stage at McPherson Playhouse tonight. 7:30pm. [Info]

🗣️ The Debaters: Catch CBC Radio's The Debaters as they celebrate 20 years with standup comedy and joke-filled debates at the Royal Theatre. Thu. 7:30pm. [Info]

🎭 Blue Stockings: Performed by second-year Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA) students, this witty play explores Women’s limited choices in 1896 England. Opens Thu. at CCPA. 7:30pm & 2pm. [Info]

🛍️ Indigenous Winter Market: Check out this annual market, with plenty of skookum gifts and talented Island creators at RBCM. Fri. 10am-4pm. [Info]

🧹 Witches Yule Market: Explore alternative local Christmas vendors at Prospect Lake Community Hall. Sat. 10am. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Sunday’s headlines: Saanich Christmas lights shed light on food insecurity; Weekly roundup; Community health workers in strike position. [Dec. 7]

3 cougars spotted in Central Saanich. [CHEK]

Obituary: Remembering Robinson’s Outdoor Store builder Doug Robinson. [Times Colonist] 

Tanker talk: BC First Nation leaders meet with Alberta about pipelines. [CTV / CP]

Crystal Pool closed for annual maintenance until Dec. 28.

BC Transit 2026 youth U-Pass applications are now open.

The Greater Victoria Public Library Board is looking for three new members. [Apply before Dec. 19]

That’s it!

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