Feb 12 - Cruise ships to cut engines at Ogden

Good morning !

Things should get a little quieter around the Breakwater with cruise ships plugging in instead of idling their massive engines. The federal government has announced funding for onshore power.

And it may have been chilly last night, but the Coldest Night of the Year is a week from Saturday.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️ 2 / -1

Tomorrow: 🌥️ 3 / 0

Friday: ⛅ 6 / 2

7-day forecast

NEWS

Ogden Point gets $22.5M to plug in cruise ships

If you’re one who’s been bothered by how cruise ships nestle dockside with their power running, relief is in the air at Ogden Point.

The federal government yesterday announced $35.5 million in funding to enhance shipping infrastructure at BC ports. A significant portion of that money is to go toward greening Victoria’s cruise ship industry. 

The $22.5 million earmarked for Victoria will fund the installation of onshore power for cruise ships, ostensibly reducing engine noise and emissions. The project should make for cleaner air and quieter surroundings, especially for the James Bay community.

Another $6 million will go toward creating a green shipping corridor on the West Coast, including Ogden Point.

In addition to onshore power, $6.4 million is budgeted to support hybrid-electric ferries, and $6.6 million will upgrade Vancouver's Canada Place terminal's onshore power capabilities. 

The funding comes at a politically tense time, amid US tariff threats on Canadian exports. Local leaders, including Mark Mawhinney of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, said the investment would benefit more than 30 businesses and help sustain Victoria’s thriving cruise tourism industry, which last year attracted just shy of one million visitors.

Read Sidney Coles’ full story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Lane shifts and noise: Expect slowdowns in Rock Bay area of Gorge E. all week as new curbs and sidewalks are poured. [City of Vic]

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

Coldest Night of the Year walk: steps forward from an ever-present chilling challenge

For the ninth consecutive night, the city’s warming centre on Cook was busy. It happens when all other shelters are full and there’s a risk of exposure to people who have nowhere else to go.

Imagine having to spend the night outdoors in this weather.

That’s exactly what organizers of this month’s Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser would like to drive home 10 days ahead of their annual walkathon, which they deem “crucial” to providing comfort and care for those experiencing housing and food insecurity.

“It's a beautiful and fun experience,” says Rachel Hesketh, community relations and events coordinator at Our Place Society. 

“But it really is a taste of the challenge that so many people experience on a nightly basis here in Victoria.”

Our Place operates an emergency shelter with 74 spots, a combination of beds and shelter mats. And there’s usually a waiting list.

Our Place—which serves a whopping 1,400 meals each day—is feeling the pinch of rising demand and rising food prices so it’s putting out the word to come join its fundraising march a week from Sat. 

“For us to keep up with the need for meals and to keep up with these rising food costs, we are very, very dependent on fundraisers like Coldest Night of the Year to keep feeding people,” Hesketh says.

Sign up for either the Victoria Pandora or Victoria Westshore Walk at www.CNOY.org.

Read Mark Brennae’s full story here.

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When: Tomorrow (1pm Afternoon Session + 6pm Evening Session)
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⭐️ Capital Picks

🪩 The Coda—a new music venue above Hermann’s Jazz Club—will have its grand opening this weekend, kicking the party off on Valentine’s Day. [Details]

👠 Fashion Splash spotlights the Island’s fashion industry. [Feb. 15]

🐦 Red-breasted sapsucker feeds on a tree near Sproat Lake. [Facebook photo]

🏆 Among those named BC’s Top Employers: BC Ferries, BC Transit, BC Public Service, District of Saanich, and Saanich Police.

🗞️ In Other News

City says province has left it in the cold during freeze-up
Two Victoria requests to the province for help to provide shelter for those in need have come back with a less-than-warm response: work with your non-government partners. The man in charge of Victoria’s emergency support services, Victoria Fire Chief Dan Atkinson says shelters are all at capacity and beyond. “There’s no excuse as far as I’m concerned that we should be open this long providing this much service to 30-plus people every night for the duration of this cold,” Atkinson said, alluding to the city’s warming centre on Cook, which was open—and crowded—for the ninth consecutive night. [CTV]

Province responds to Island family’s plea to fund drugs for daughter’s rare disease
Charleigh Fales, 9, lives with the CLN2 form of Batten Disease—she’s the only child in BC and one of 20 in Canada with the rare terminal disease—and relies on Brineura infusions, the only known treatment for it. Her family found out last week that the Expensive Drugs for Rare Diseases Committee (EDRD) would no longer be covering her treatments, despite doctor recommendations for her to continue using the drug. The injections cost $1M a year. Health Minister Josie Osborne said she could not speak to Fales’ case, but recommended the family work closely with EDRD to change their minds. [CHEK]

Second intentionally set fire at Oak Bay High leads to evacuation
The fire was found yesterday morning in a girls’ washroom, just four days after a fire in a boys’ washroom led the school to be evacuated and classes cancelled. Students were able to return to class on Tue., less than an hour after evacuation. The school’s principal says staff are working with the police and fire departments to investigate the incidents. [Times Colonist]

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Become an Insider member and help keep local journalism and storytelling alive in the Capital Region. 

🗓️ Things to do

🍵🎶 Tea & Symphony 2025: Enjoy an English High Tea with live music. Sit at appointed tables and enjoy sweet and savoury treats, as well as a variety of musical favourites from Mozart and Tchaikovsky. Sooke Community Hall. Sun. 2:30-4:30pm. [Info]

🎭 Ride The Cyclone: The Canadian College of Performing Arts’ Studio Ensemble presents this home-grown musical sensation about six teens looking for a story. Performance Hall, Oak Bay. Until Sat. [Info]

🍪 The Treat Shop Pop-up at Uptown: Get your Valentine’s sweet treats at this fun pop-up at Uptown Shopping Centre by House of Luo. Today and tomorrow. 12-6pm. [Info]

🧑‍🏫 Cafe Scientifique: What’s In Our Guts? Attend a free lecture by UVic Café Scientifique, exploring the workings of our intestinal immune system. Hermann's Tonight. 7pm [Info]

😂 Harland Williams: Enjoy a night of laughs with comedian and actor Harland Williams. McPherson Playhouse. Tonight. 7pm. [Info]

🤣 Sara Pascoe: See the British comedian and writer’s new standup I Am A Strange Gloop. McPherson Playhouse. Fri. 7pm. [Info]

☕ Specialty Coffee Tasting: Try a flavourful coffee paired with tasty snacks. Green Cuisine. Sat. 9am. [Info]

SPONSORED BY BELFRY THEATRE

A perfect balance of humour and sadness

Behind the Moon, opened at the Belfry Theatre last week.

The show stars Rizwan Manji (Schitt's Creek), Anand Rajaram, and Ben Yoganathan and has been received warmly.

"...funny and sad and beautiful, the staging was fantastic, and the performances were spectacular. "

Pay-what-you-want tickets are available for the remaining performances.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Tuesday’s headlines: Public reaction leads to changes in Quadra-McKenzie growth plan; VFF screening films all week; Unseasonal cold triggers warming shelter string. [Feb. 11]

2 found not guilty in drug-trafficking case after judge jettisons evidence. [Times Colonist]

SD62 elementary school teacher charged with accessing child pornography. [CTV]

Students offered $1K to enroll at Royal Roads’ new Westshore campus. [CHEK]

US President Trump threatens 100% tariffs on Canadian cars. [Global]

New Vancouver Island photo book: The Art of the Landscape.

Royal BC Museum admission by donation and $2 IMAX docs. [Mon. is Family Day]

Lunar New Year photos: See video from this year’s Chinatown festivities. [Colin Smith Photos]

That’s it!

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