July 24 - Crackdown on local abandoned boats

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning !

This past weekend featured both Oak Bay’s classic cars and Nanaimo’s bathtub boats, with the latter interrupted by a special guest appearance by a humpback whale in the tub racers’ midst.

But this month has also brought news about less eccentric and much less mobile boats: Greater Victoria’s numerous vessels that are slowly sinking or beached and broken.

— Cam

☁️ Today's weather: Cloudy. Periods of rain beginning in the morning. Some wind. High 18C / low 12.

🌦️ This week’s weather: Rain and cloud today and tomorrow, then a return to sun and mid-20s.

🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (2/10), some smoke in North Island.

NEWS

Coast Guard cracks down on Greater Victoria’s abandoned boat problem

Saanich vessel receives first Coast Guard fine for a derelict boat

Last month the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) fined the owner of a damaged boat in Cadboro Bay $15,000 under the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act, which became law in 2019.

The owner was given 30 days (as of June 27) to pay the fine or apply for a review hearing with the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada. The CCG said it had been dealing with the Ackoo ever since it ran aground in March, posing a pollution and safety hazard as it deteriorated.

This is the Coast Guard’s first fine under the 2019 act, and the only other one issued was by Transport Canada in 2021. But anyone who’s taken a stroll near a Victoria marina has likely seen the scores of wrecked and abandoned boats. There are currently 1,748 in the national inventory, and 70% are in BC.

Derelict Cadboro boats a long-standing problem 

Gas, fibreglass, lead paint, and batteries can all spread from these boats into the surroundings. The volunteer-run Dead Boats Disposal Society has been tackling these boats since 1996, pulling around 50 from Cadboro Bay alone.

Co-founder ​​John Roe told Capital Daily in 2021 that boats are often cheaper to buy than to maintain, and that the easy access at Cadboro leads to boats accumulating there as winds and shifting sands gradually push them ashore.

More funding for cleanup has come in in recent years, and the latest fine may be a sign of ramped-up enforcement.

But in this case, the man issued the fine may not be much better off than his boat. Ryan Brackenbury told Canadian Press that he is on disability and had to resort to living on boats because he couldn’t afford rentals. He said he pitched a cleanup plan for the Ackoo before the fine, but CCG rejected it. 

Read the original abandoned boats feature and photo story here.

Capital Bulletin

 🌱 Victoria’s Get Growing program returns, with seedlings going out beginning on Wednesday.

🚧 Marigold Road closed from Interurban to Jasmine Avenue, 9am-3:30pm, today-Wednesday. Cycle access unaffected.

NEWS

Victoria teen named captain of Team Canada for Junior Roller Derby World Cup

Naomi Morrell—also known as “Scream Soda”—has been chosen as captain for one of two teams representing Canada at the Junior Roller Derby World Cup in Valence, France.

Morrell was chosen from 35 athletes to captain the all-female team, alongside Tess “Tornado” Charlton from Guelph, Ont. The all-gender “open” team will be captained by Everton Slaferek from Saskatoon and Jasper “Golden Eagle” Davis from Lethbridge.

”Being named captain was something I was hoping for,” said Morrell. “I’m really honoured and excited and grateful to represent the country and the amazing Canadians I’m skating with.”

This won’t be her first time taking on a leadership role as a player—Morrell plays locally as captain for the Rotten Apples, an Eves of Destruction team.

The teams will compete this week at the global competition—the first iteration to take place outside of North America.

Read Capital Daily’s full profile of Morrell here.

FOOD & DRINK

7 Island wineries worth checking out this summer

Whether it’s a moment of celebration, narrated by the popping of a cork, or a hearty meal with friends that requires the sharing of a full-bodied malbec, wine is often a social thing. With the most sociable season in full swing, we’ve rounded up a handful of the Island’s best wineries and their finest bottles of vino.

Check out 7 Island wineries worth trying at Tasting Victoria.

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Capital Picks

🏒 Royal Garage Sale: Tomorrow the Victoria Royals are selling off retro gear and memorabilia in the arena parking lot (10am-7pm) and hosting a free BBQ for their NHL Street Victoria finals (5-7pm).

🩸 Blood donation drive today, hosted at CFB Esquimalt. [Book times]

⚾ Redheads get free entry to tonight’s baseball game as the HarbourCats host Revenge of the Gingers Night. [Tickets]

⛱️ Ultimate summer patio guide: 30+ local patios broken down by region and by which allow dogs and minors. [Tasting Victoria]

🤔 How would you want your life to be different? Consult with a counsellor at Intertidal Counselling & Wellness. Remember to ask about student, teacher and senior rates.*

🥕 Esquimalt Farmers Market: Produce, artisans, music, food trucks, and more at Gorge Park every summer Monday. 4:30-7:30pm.

😊 Now hiring: Payroll Clerk at Butchart Gardens

*Sponsored Listing

In Other News

🐳🛁 Humpback whale interrupts Nanaimo’s World Championship Bathtub Race
A first-time competitor in the Island’s annual race of motorized and modified bathtubs was caught on video nearly being taken out as a whale surfaced almost directly beneath her, mid-race.
Meanwhile, the aptly named Brandon Skipper of Nanaimo piloted his tub to a 1:00:45 finish in Sunday’s race—the best in the event’s half-century history. Ladysmith’s Trevor Short finished a few minutes behind, also clearing the 1:07:30 previous record. [Nanaimo News Now]

🚗 Disabled tenant calls to expand Victoria’s subsidized parking pass program
Aeryn Donald has asked council to provide disability-based $60/month passes for residents, beyond just students and downtown workers. Donald relies on a car due to a disability, but the newly opened subsidized housing building, The Dalmatian, only offers parking in a $360/month private lot—a big dent in its affordability. Councillors say they’ll factor these accessibility issues with future developments. [CBC] 

🔍 Investigation into injury to man in Oceanside RCMP custody
A man kept in a cell overnight last week for allegedly causing a disturbance was found in the morning to have a serious injury. BC’s Independent Investigations Office is now looking into what role police action or inaction could have played.

SPONSORED BY PACIFIC OPERA

Free! Full-Flavoured Opera.

Enjoy a free taste of Pacific Opera Victoria’s delicious upcoming season at the Cameron Bandshell on Friday, August 4 & Saturday, August 5. Take a bench seat, or bring your own chair and blanket.

Subscriptions to Pacific Opera’s season are on sale now, single tickets go on sale Friday, August 4.

In Case You Missed It

👑 Jimbo takes the crown: The Victoria drag star won RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 8 on Friday, becoming the first international queen in the Drag Race Hall of Fame. [Capital Daily]

🔥 New fires: South Haslam Creek near Nanaimo Airport (<1ha) and Muchalat Inlet near Gold River (35ha).

📺 Amazing Race Canada will feature local landmarks such as Craigdarroch Castle, the Bug Zoo, and the Malahat Skywalk in tomorrow’s episode. [CHEK]

📰 Saturday’s headlines: A new “doctor’s office on wheels.” Victoria and Nanaimo sign fake nation’s proclamation. [July 22]

🛞 New mobile health clinic: Cool Aid has gotten a second “doctor on wheels” van to bring health care to the region’s most vulnerable. [Capital Daily]

🧋 8 places to get cool drinks: From bubble tea to specialty pop, Victoria has plenty of options for non-alcoholic drinks on hot summer days like these. [Tasting Victoria]

🐻📹 Bear vs camera: A black bear got in-your-face with a camera on MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) First Nation territory last week. [Video]