Feb 6 - Where to celebrate Black History Month in Victoria

Good morning !

I hope you’re all staying warm during this chilly week. Today, we’ve got a roundup of Black History Month events and a story on the four-legged force helping Oak Bay PD.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

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NEWS

Black History Month Events 2025

February marks Black History Month, a chance to learn about the rich cultural past of Black people in BC and Canada. This year’s theme in Canada is Black Legacy and Leadership, celebrating Black leaders, pioneers, and innovators. 

Multiple events throughout Victoria are scheduled for this month to learn and engage, hosted by the BC Black History Awareness Society, Royal BC Museum, and UVic. Learn about Black culture in BC and beyond, with opportunities to try different cuisines, see an African-inspired fashion show, and hear beautiful music. 

Learn about Victoria’s Black pioneers with a tour of Ross Bay Cemetery, see fashion from local Black designers, and hear from important Black leaders in our community.

See Cap Daily’s list of events here. Did we miss any? Feel free to send Black-history-themed events our way.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

You prune, the city removes: Leave branches on grass boulevard by 7am. on Mon. Feb. 24

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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NEWS

Oak Bay Police Department going to the dogs

The force has become a member of the Integrated Canine Service (ICS), joining the police services from Victoria and Saanich.

Partner agencies in regional units foot the bill together, so it’s going to cost the Oak Bay Police Department (OBPD) $89,684—an increase from its previous contract of $37,500 with the RCMP, which expired at the end of last year, Deputy Chief Const. Kris Rice told Capital Daily.

The ICS operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Dogs conduct searches and other critical tasks such as tracking and apprehending suspects.

Just last week, the dog unit was deployed to sniff out a suite in the Selkirk neighbourhood where a man claimed to have a bomb. No explosives were found but the canine contribution led to an arrest.

In October, ICS police dog Bruno was credited with scaring a suspected robber on Douglas into submission. Bruno barked; the suspect surrendered. 

“By joining forces, we aim to leverage these capabilities to further protect and serve our residents,” Chief Const. Julie Chanin, OBPD’s top (human) dog said in the release. 

Bringing Oak Bay into the fold means the ICS “will benefit from increased resources, further strengthening its ability to serve and protect our communities,” the release said.

The ICS debuted in 2021 with a team of Saanich Police and VicPD canine handlers and their police service dogs to serve the communities of Saanich, Victoria, and Esquimalt.

The dogs are headquartered at the Saanich Police Department.

SPONSORED BY VICTORIA HOCKEY LEGACY SOCIETY

Calling all music artists!

This is your chance to shine. Submit your best hockey-themed song by February 28, for a chance to win $5,000! It's all part of Century Celebration, commemorating 100 years since the Victoria Cougars won hockey's greatest trophy. Finalists perform during Music Night at the Bard and Banker on March 27.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🍔 Burger it forward: Canadian Beef is pledging to donate $1 for every beef burger sold at participating restaurants to regional food banks. Big Wheel, Floyd’s, Kahuna, and Ferris’ are taking part in Greater Victoria. [Details]

🍀 Victoria woman wins lottery. [Black Press]

🖼️ Real-life painting: Sunset in Tofino looks like a watercolour painting, photographed by Jim Mason. [Facebook photo]

🐙 Octopus hunt: See a giant Pacific octopus hunt along the seafloor near the Island.

🗞️ In Other News

Canadian woman dies as sailboat hits storm, runs aground east of Victoria 
The 31-foot vessel became disabled after it hit stormy waters near the San Juan Islands on Mon. night. As it began to drift to land, the US Coast Guard dispatched a boat and helicopter from Port Angeles. The chopper lowered a rescue swimmer, locating a 56-year-old man who quickly was hoisted to safety. The woman was found unconscious in the water and died in hospital in Bellingham, Wash., the US Coast Guard said. [US Coast Guard/ See video]

Victorian Epicure has $5.7M shortfall, bankruptcy trustee says
The North Saanich cooking supplies company closed last month, voluntarily entering bankruptcy. Creditors, including BMO Financial Group, will meet later this month. The trustee is liquidating the once-successful company’s inventory. Epicure’s assets total $9M+, with $15M in liabilities. At one point, the company employed 175 people in North Saanich and thousands of sales ambassadors. [Times Colonist]

West Shore RCMP bike unit makes big drug bust in Langford
Cycling cops pulled over a pickup and a small baggie—which RCMP believe to be fentanyl—fell out when a passenger exited. Officers said they noticed drug paraphernalia in the truck. A search turned up large quantities of suspected fentanyl, GHB, methamphetamine, and cocaine, along with cash. The evidence led to a search of a Langford home where police said they seized a similar cache of drugs, along with 600 pills suspected to be hydromorphone, a prescription opioid, and 21 grams of psilocybin (magic mushrooms). [RCMP]

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🗓️ Things to do

🎶 My Funny Valentine: Palm Court Light Orchestra: Enjoy a delightful afternoon of opera, operetta, and Broadway tunes, featuring Sidney’s own tenor Sunny Shams, at Charlie White Theatre today. 2pm. [Info]

☕ Gilmore Girls Trivia Night: Grab your coffee—Gilmore Girls Trivia Night is back at The Mint tonight. 7-9pm. [Info]

🎸 Charlie A’Court: See the songwriter present his new album San Palarino at Hermann’s tonight. 7pm. [Info]

🏒 Saanich Predators vs Westshore Wolves: The game is a special fundraiser for the Victoria Brain Injury Society (VIBS), with prizes, a silent auction, and 50/50 draw, at Pearkes Arena tomorrow. 6:30pm. [Info]

💗 Galentine's Show at Caffe Fantastico: Grab your best girlfriends for an intimate evening of Galentine's music, featuring songs about love, at Caffe Fantastico. [Info]

🎞 Victoria Film Festival: The heartbeat of Victoria’s film scene is back for its 31st year this week in theatres across downtown. Starts tomorrow. Feb. 7-16. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Wednesday’s headlines: Snow day in Victoria; Island’s toxic drug death numbers drop; Strathcona Hotel and all its bars up for sale. [Feb. 5]

BC’s forestry sector is worried about increased tariffs from the US. [CHEK] 

SCOC justices visit Victoria to celebrate 150 years. [Times Colonist]

Orca says hello: A killer whale pokes its head out of the water in Comox Valley. [Facebook photo]

Red crown: See a ruby-crowned kinglet, photographed in Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary. [Facebook photo]

That’s it!

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