Feb 20 - Mapping Victoria's Indigenous history

Good morning !

Happy Thursday. Today we’ve got stories on a university student’s map project, a local charity whose work is at risk amid Trump’s USAID cuts, and details on byelections in Esquimalt and Sooke.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

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NEWS

Royal Roads student maps Lekwungen names for Victoria’s landmarks

Do you know the original name of the place you’re currently standing? The stories or history there, from hundreds to even thousands of years ago?

Take the Empress Hotel, for example. The land where it was built is called Whosaykum, known as “the place of the mud” in Lekwungen—it’s no wonder that the hotel sank by up to four feet in the first 10 years after opening. It was once a spot where First Nations would harvest crabs.

When Melinda Quintero first moved to Victoria from the US, she thought she could explore the rich history of the capital city—including its pre-colonial past. But she couldn’t find any websites, tools, or books with all of this information in one place.

Having seen thorough maps created with Indigenous place names—like the map created for the entirety of Nova Scotia or Salt Spring Island—she wondered why the Island didn’t have something similar.

So the Royal Roads University student, currently working on her master’s degree in tourism management, decided to develop a map of Greater Victoria, highlighting landmarks with the Lekwungen (lək̓ʷəŋən) place names. The map spans the shoreline of Cadboro Bay to Millstream, highlighting key areas where the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations lived.

Her map pulls from papers and research by Indigenous scholars and academics, as well as publicly available information. She’s mindful of approaching the project ethically. 

“The idea is just to show how much is out there and how much is shared with the public,” she said. “We can find so much information that's shared and has been maintained over the last few centuries by Indigenous people for the land where we live now. 

“For me, it shifts the way that I think about the place.”

Read more about the mapping project and the notable places returning to their original names.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Saanich roadwork: See which projects are affecting traffic in Saanich. [Details]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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NEWS

US decision to cancel international aid felt in Victoria's efforts in Africa

The Trump administration’s decision to defund the American international relief agency USAID is having far-reaching consequences and has sent shockwaves of fear into myriad charitable organizations, including Victoria Grandmothers for Africa (VG4A), which provides education and support for families affected by HIV/AIDS.

“It's tragic,” Julie Holder, a VG4A co-coordinator, tells Capital Daily. “It makes me angry and it makes me feel helpless.”

VG4A, which supports community-led organizations in Africa through the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF), says it fears for its partners throughout Sub-Saharan Africa “as they desperately attempt to protect their members from the ensuing chaos.”

The group says it considers US President Donald Trump’s decision to all but shutter the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) “a death sentence for people living with HIV and AIDS.”

“They're cutting off all funding for the drugs for HIV and AIDS, even drugs that are sitting there ready to be distributed,” Holder says.

“We are supporting families, women, children who are affected by AIDS—they're not going to get their drugs.”

Read Mark Brennae’s full story here.

NEWS

April byelection for Esquimalt, but no Sooke date yet

Esquimalt will vote to replace now-MLA Darlene Rotchford on April 5, the township has announced. Early voting will be on March 26 and April 2. Mail ballots can be requested from now to April 1.

Applications to run for the seat, and serve the roughly 20 months that will be left in the term, are open until next Friday. Candidate campaigns can spend up to $9,229 while registered third parties can spend up to $921. 

See election info and locations here. 

Esquimalt has six council seats and had only seven candidates in 2022. The odd man out was Chris Munkacsi, a provincial worker and small business owner. He and mayoral runner-up Sonya Gracey—a nurse, UVic instructor, and 2005-2008 Victoria councillor—could be among those vying for the now-open seat. 

No Sooke date yet

Sooke also must hold a byelection to replace fellow now-MLA Dana Lajeunesse. But the district voted last month to accept staff's recommendation to delay setting a date, due to the possibility of a federal election. Staff were concerned about recruiting election workers if the campaigns overlapped, and moreover Mayor Maja Tait is the federal NDP's candidate and may win the seat.

If that election happens soon enough, and Tait does win, Sooke could save money (byelections cost an estimated $39K) by holding a joint byelection for Lajeunesse's seat, the mayor's chair, and potentially any seat vacated by a councillor running for mayor—and could even mix in a potential referendum on capital borrowing.

Spring federal election looking less likely lately

In response to the tariff threats from the US, the NDP and Bloc may walk back their intentions to topple the current Liberal government, regardless of leader, when parliament resumes. Tait has not ruled out resigning her seat early to allow a joint byelection regardless of federal timing or outcome.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🏒 USA vs Canada at 5pm today in Boston. [GoCanadaGo]

🎟 While in-person tickets are sold out for Rising Economy, virtual tickets are available. Register today for actionable insights about business issues affecting Greater Victoria.*

🐦 Hummingbird collects fluff from a cattail reed in Nanaimo. [Facebook video]

🖼️ Habitat for Humanity seeking artists to paint pieces of doors, windows, and other furnishings for their Open A Door fundraiser. [Details]

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🗞️ In Other News

Province to fund medication for Westshore girl until her case review is complete
Health Minister Josie Osborne said she would ensure Charleigh, 9, would continue to receive the life-sustaining Brineura injections to treat her rare terminal illness until the review is done. Osborne said an urgent review of the case is underway and Charleigh’s doctor has new information to share that needs to be considered. Charleigh was set to lose access to funding for the $1M-per-year injection by the end of the month before the health ministry intervened. [CHEK]

No yolking matter in US, but egg prices remain stable in BC
Year-over-year egg prices have gone up 65% for our, um, friends in the US where wholesale prices have doubled since last Feb. It’s because of the avian flu and It’s leading some restaurants in Washington state to add a 75-cent surcharge on all egg dishes. There have been roughly 80 cases of avian flu at BC egg farms, but Canada’s supply management system which, among other things, allows other provinces to replenish the BC supply, has kept BC egg prices in check. [CTV]

Shoppers Drug Mart body cameras highlight downtown Vic problems: DVBA
We told you in this space yesterday that workers at Shoppers on Douglas are now wearing body cams, an edict from head office in response to what the company called a “notable rise” in violent incidents at its stores back East. Downtown Victoria Business Association executive director Jeff Bray says it’s another indication of how businesses need the province to step in to provide secure, non-voluntary care for people in distress. He says the city and policing can only do so much. [Times Colonist]

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🗓️ Things to do

🥃 Chocolate and Whisky Workshop: Each participant will try whisky tasters with a unique chocolate pairing, at Bard and Banker tonight. 6:30pm. [Info] 

🎶 The Smokestacks: The six-piece blues band will bring a collection of old blues standards, soul, and funk to Hermann's tonight. 7pm. [Info]

🎞️ Disney and Pixar Trivia Night: Bring out your inner child at this animated film trivia night, with lots of prizes to be won, at The Mint tonight. 7:15pm. [Info]

👠 Isle of Tease Burlesque Festival: Experience an electrifying burlesque showcase at the Victoria Conference Centre tomorrow. 8pm. [Info]

🎵 An Evening with Blue Marquee: Catch the Juno-award-winning Island duo at the McPherson Playhouse tomorrow. 8pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Wednesday’s headlines: Big drug bust in Langford; Overdose prevention site expected to pop up near Jube again today. [Feb. 19]

New LG delivers patriotic throne speech for 43rd Parliament. [Capital Daily]

Historic Haida land title agreement signed on Monday. [CBC]

Body cameras for local Shoppers Drug Mart employees. [Times Colonist]

SUV plunges into water on Pender Island; no injuries. [CHEK] 

Salt Spring native flowers to brighten your day. [Facebook photos]