Aug. 14 - Drowning at Thetis

Good morning !

With the weather projected to hit 31 today, we hope you’re staying cool and hydrated out there.

— Cam

Today’s approx read time: 7 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️ 31 / 16

Tomorrow : ☀️ 30 / 13

Wednesday: ☀️ 29 / 13

7-day forecast

🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (3/10). Current smoke forecast.

🚘️ Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Drowning death in Thetis Lake park

A woman, 49, drowned on Saturday afternoon, West Shore RCMP told CHEK on Sunday, saying the area was closed on Sunday for investigators and dive crews to work without interruption. Witnesses reported a woman going underwater and not resurfacing, an RCMP statement told CBC.

The CRD and RCMP had announced the area’s temporary closure around 6pm Sat., but did not provide further details then. Barriers and signs were set up around Prior Lake and McKenzie Creek Trail; check here for updates on reopening.

Thetis had several near-deaths this summer

A woman received an award for saving two people from drowning in May, while a teen was seriously injured in a July cliff fall but survived. The park has had a number of drownings, and some serious or fatal cliff injuries, over the years.

High BC drowning numbers in recent years

There were 86 accidental drowning deaths in BC last year, according to a report last month from the BC Coroners Service. That was the second-most in a decade, behind 2020’s 87, and 10 higher than the decade average. The Island had 18 of those, including 6 on the Cowichan River. Most of BC’s 2022 victims were male (78%), with people aged 19-29 accounting for a plurality (21%).

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

A heat wave is underway in Greater Victoria and across much of BC. The BC CDC suggests these heat-safety tips, and Saanich is promoting four of its rec facilities as cool-down sites.

Delays on Sea to Sea park trails today due to on-and-off closures along south end of Grass Lake Trail for tree removal.

Private “fast ferry” launches in Nanaimo: This week Hullo debuts a “Van–Nan” direct sailing that is faster, but more expensive, than the BC Ferries’ Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen routes.

Peninsula campground extension: Island View Beach Regional Park Campground will be open until Oct. 9 (Thanksgiving), instead of until Labour Day.

0-1 loss weakens Pacific FC’s lead on the rest of the CPL, with four other soccer teams now within four points (wins are worth three).

NEWS

As one Islander completes his inspiring bike journey, dozens more begin theirs

Grandmothers’ charity bike tour kicks off at Mile Zero

The month-long tour, in which fundraising participants build up kilometres, culminates in early September. Some cyclists will do a three-day ride from Campbell River to Victoria to cap it off. The Victoria Grandmothers for Africa collects money for grandparents in Africa who have lost children to AIDS-related illnesses and now have to raise their grandchildren.

Read our latest story on these local volunteers, who just reached the $2M all-time mark.

Returning Islander arrives after life-changing bike trip

Nanaimo-raised Chris Aubichon has dealt with homelessness, addiction, depression and other mental health issues, and other challenges in the two decades since leaving government care. After learning BC was offering post-secondary school to former wards of the state, he decided to relocate by biking 90 days and 6,000km from Moncton to Nanaimo.

Aubichon arrived this past weekend after a journey that has been followed online and funded by supporters throughout the country. He told Nanaimo News Now that the journey was “the best decision I have ever made” and has greatly improved his physical and mental health.

NEWS

Victoria reps on hand as feds unveil long-term energy sector transformation report

The federal government just launched its report for Powering Canada Forward, its vision for transforming Canada's electricity sector. It aims to decarbonize Canadian grids by 2035, keep the country’s electricity systems reliable, and ensure household energy costs are affordable.

The vision’s unveiling in Vancouver featured a discussion that gave seats at the table to two Victoria outfits: UVic and Rainhouse Manufacturing Canada.

Rainhouse’s presence was particularly significant. The company recently received funding from another attendee: $750,000 from the BC Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy to advance Rainhouse’s demonstration of an energy storage solution. The project will use retired electric vehicle batteries to store power, solving a problem faced by many rural municipalities with intermittent access to energy—particularly when it is enabled by solar or wind generation.

Read the full story at Victoria Tech Journal.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🌠 Island photographer captures Perseid meteor streaking above Miracle Beach early Sunday morning.

🔬Podcast about local research: In Beyond the Jargon on CFUV, UVic grad students discuss their peers’ research each episode.

🤝 Now hiring: Comfort Advisor (Outside Sales) at Sasquatch Heat Pumps.

🗞️ In Other News

HarbourCats play for league championship today
After a thrilling North Division victory at home on Saturday, Victoria’s baseball team plays for the crown today in Corvallis (the main city in an Oregon county of about 100,000). The Corvallis Knights are a league powerhouse, and have already beaten Victoria twice before in championship games. The setting could be a major factor, too: Victoria set records with its home-field dominance this year, but was only average on the road.

Westshore Rebels open season with three blowout wins
With this weekend’s 49-10 trouncing of Prince George, the local football squad has now outscored opponents a league-best 188-20 this season. The Rebels are off this week and then back in Langford on Aug. 26 to face the #2-ranked Okanagan Sun.

🤝 Now Hiring

Thinking of making your next career move? Let us help!

• Marketing and Communications Coordinator at Scale Collaborative

• Communications & Engagement Officer at COAST

• Inclusion Support Worker: School-Age Program at Fernwood NRG

• Christmas Installers at the Butchart Gardens

• Digital Marketing Specialist at Westin Bear Mountain Resort & Spa

Looking for more openings? See 40+ jobs open now on YYJobs.

Hiring? Post your job to have it featured here, and fill your opening fast!

🗓️ Things to do

🎶 Centennial concert series continues. This week’s Eventide music is Stem Champ, Behaviors, Fan Girl, and Divisionaires. Wednesday’s show is organized by Good Party, the long-running fall DIY music festival. [Info]

📽️ Oppenheimer’s colleague Ted Hall is the subject of A Compassionate Spy, a doc about how Hall gave away nuclear secrets to prevent a US monopoly. Airs today and Wednesday at the Vic Theatre. [Tickets / Info]

🛼 Roller derby season finale coming up this weekend at the Archie Browning Centre. A junior match opens, then the Belles of the Brawl face the Margarita Villains for the Calamity Cup. All-ages with a beverage garden, and hot dogs and Greek food.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Heat wave begins. Baseball glory for Victoria. Bands as beers. Ping pong table removed downtown. [Sunday newsletter]

Perseid meteor shower may still be visible tonight.

Secondary suites are being counted on to help with the housing crisis. But some homeowners say building them here is too costly and complicated. Capital Daily broke down the current state of suite rules in Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay, and Esquimalt.

Trudeau in Tofino: This weekend the PM vacationed in the west Island surfing community, as he has in the past. [CTV]

Decades of Dragon Boats: Victoria’s iconic harbour festival returned this past weekend. [Capital Daily]

MP Elizabeth May had a stroke in June and remains off work while recovering. [Times Colonist]

Friday’s headlines: Rutledge Park renovations. Fairy Creek case update. Pitbull put down. [Aug. 11]

That’s it!

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