Feb 7 - SPLO study called

Good morning !

We have a new wrinkle with the ongoing school police liaison officer situation at SD61, more drama in the North Saanich pickleball world, and Langford lands a CFL preseason tilt on the May long weekend.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌥️ 3 / 0 

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 4 / 1

Sunday: 🌦️ 3 / 0

NEWS

BC human rights commissioner calls for study on school police liaison officers after SD61 board firings

Firing the entire elected Victoria School Board for refusing to include school police liaison officers (SPLO) programs in the safety plans it submitted to the education ministry effectively made SPLOs “mandatory” in BC schools, says BC’s human rights commissioner.  

In a letter to Education Minister Lisa Beare and Public Safety Minister Garry Begg, Kasari Govender said the province has failed to fund research to back its approach to SPLOs, which she said runs “contrary to its human rights obligations.”

She also argued that decisions about SPLO programs “must remain within the jurisdiction of individual school boards,” and that the province has “undermined” its statements about school board authority.

Limited data available show no clear need for SPLOs

VicPD began calling for the return of SPLOs last year, citing a rise in gang activity and recruitment on school grounds. VicPD Chief Del Manak wrote in a Feb. 2024 statement that “most schools” in Greater Victoria have students involved in gang activities. VicPD said in a release that one arrest made last March was connected to gangs on school properties.

Govender said the proof of such gang activity has not been made available.

Govender wrote that “misinformation, misunderstanding, fear-mongering and tenuous claims” have muddied the debate about the SPLO program’s value. 

Police data collected by the Office of the BC Human Rights Commissioner show “no clear correlation” between the alleged increase in gang activity in schools and the end of SPLO programs. Call data for Victoria and Esquimalt police suggest that between 2015 and 2024, the number of callouts to elementary schools in School District 61 remained the same, and callouts to high schools decreased.

Read more about the controversial firing of SD61 board members—and the polarizing arguments for and against SPLO programs. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Fraudsters posing as VicPD and Canada Post workers. [VicPD]

Sult Pierogi Bar on Yates is closing on Feb. 12.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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NEWS

Players pickle legal request, but North Saanich councillor wants to reopen Wain Park courts

Pickleball players in North Saanich have revoked their request for a judicial review of the council’s decision to shutter the district’s outdoor courts last spring.

It’s a bit of a climbdown for the pickleballers who were slated for a judicial hearing this week, but their concession cleared the way for one councillor to revive the debate on reopening the facility.

Coun. Jack McClintock told Capital Daily he plans to introduce a motion to take another look at the Wain Park pickleball courts in an upcoming council meeting, likely within the month.

“Now it's not before the courts, so the gates are open again,” McClintock told Capital Daily. “The arguments can be raised to reopen the pickleball courts.”

The courts were mothballed last May 7 following noise complaints, purported ill-will, and accusations of bullying from residents who asserted players pickleballed past set hours and were rude, loud, and territorial. 

So when a pickleball supporter began shouting from the gallery and was kicked out of the council chamber last month, proponents of the legal look-see decided their hand was weakened, so they dropped the request. 

“I think, more than that, there was a recognition by the petitioners that they wanted to take the temperature down a bit,” Brian Harrigan, a member of the ad hoc group supportive of restoring the Wain Park courts, told Capital Daily.

The council seems intent on exploring a new playing surface at nearby Blue Heron Park with an estimated cost of $674K.

The pickleballers say sound absorption panels could be installed at Wain Park for one-thirteenth of that cost—$50K, or even less—and they think the Blue Heron idea is a red herring.

Ahh pickleball. Such a relaxing game. Not in North Saanich. Not these days, anyway.  

Read Mark Brennae’s full story here.

NEWS

CFL returning to CRD: this time, it’s football in the Westshore

And this time, it’s an exhibition game between the BC Lions and Calgary Stampeders, slated for May 19—Victoria Day.

Victoria had its day last year when 14K+ packed RAP to watch the Leos put on a Labour Day licking of the Ottawa Redblacks 38-12 behind the royal athletic play of Victoria-born quarterback Nathan Rourke who threw for 300+ yards.

Despite the good vibes, the city came up short on the deal, spending a reported $141K more than it had budgeted but it was a big win for the community. Destination Greater Victoria pegged the economic spinoff to the region at $16 million.

The CFL quietly sidelined Touchdown Pacific this year, but the region still scored a door prize with the preseason booking.

It’ll be held on the holiday Mon. at 1pm. at Langford’s Starlight Stadium which purportedly can hold  6K—although a physical count of fixed seats is less than half that, and the length of the playing surface from the eyes of this former CFL reporter appears to be a few yards shy of the 110-yard regulation CFL gridiron.

But, hey, it’s an exhibition game, so good on Mayor Scott Goodmanson et al., for attracting the tilt to the cozy confines of City Centre Park along the Langford Parkway.

Tickets go on sale March 11 through Ticketmaster and the TC is reporting the average price will be $40. 

SPONSORED BY GLENLYON NORFOLK SCHOOL

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🐐 Snowy running of the goats at Beacon Hill Park. [Kids’ Farm]

🤩 Hope in Oak Bay: Woman seen chatting with legendary comedian Bob Hope while his yacht was docked in Oak Bay Marina in the 1960s. [Facebook photo]

🤴🏽 Take your inner child to the opera with The Little Prince! Rediscover wonder and adventure with Pacific Opera Victoria. A magical experience, Feb. 19–25.*

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

BC Conservative leader accuses Bonnie Henry of ‘promoting fentanyl use’
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a new ‘fentanyl czar’ on Mon., John Rustad posted on social media that BC already had one: Henry, the provincial health officer. Henry’s predecessor, Dr. Perry Kendall, called the comment “shabby and outrageous,” and said it could put Henry—who received death threats during the pandemic—at risk. Henry supports providing a pharmaceutical-grade form of the drug to those with substance addictions as they either manage or try to overcome their addictions. [Times Colonist]

Island addictions doctor resigns, says she was punished for harm-reduction work
The Nanaimo doctor—who organized unsanctioned overdose prevention sites similar to the one erected at the Royal Jubilee—claims she was placed on leave from her lead physician positions at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital because of her role as co-founder of Doctors for Safer Drug Policy (DSDP), the group that set up unofficial sites last fall to address illicit drug use in hospitals, which they say the province failed to act on. The doctor said she planned to continue her clinical, patient-facing work. [CHEK / CP]

Saturday afternoon stabbing on Quadra leads to arrest
Saanich Police said they were called to a disturbance near Inverness and when they arrived, found a person with apparent stab wounds. The victim received medical attention on the scene and was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said they believed it to be an isolated incident, with no threat to public safety.

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🗓️ Things to do

🏒 Saanich Predators host the Westshore Wolves. This game will also be a special fundraiser for the Victoria Brain Injury Society (VIBS). Prizes, a silent auction, a 50/50 draw. Pearkes Arena. Tonight. 6:30pm. [Info]

♥️💰 100+ Women Who Care: Million-Dollar Donation Night. The philanthropic group will be reaching $1 million in community giving at this meeting, which is “Bring a Friend Night.” Feb. 19. (Rescheduled from Feb. 5 due to snowstorm) Uplands Golf Course. 6pm. [Info]

♥️🎵 Galentine's Show: Enjoy an intimate evening of songs about feeling the love from three gals—Charis Tazumi, Olivia Jackson, and Savannah Read. Caffe Fantastico on Kings. Tonight. 7-9pm. [Info]

🩰😆 Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo: The world’s foremost all-male comic ballet company returns to Victoria with its internationally beloved troupe of dancers as part of a landmark 50th anniversary season. Royal Theatre. Tonight & tomorrow. 7:30pm. [Info]

🖤 BC Black History and Heritage Day: Heritage Day is an opportunity to meet and talk with direct descendants about their stories and family history. The exhibits include images, artifacts, and archival documents. Royal BC Museum. Tomorrow. 1-4pm. [Info]

🎸 Brandon Isaak & The Mood Swings: A dash of Taj Mahal, a sprinkle of B.B. King, and a few drops of Lightning Hopkins: stir it up, simmer on low and you have a recipe that sounds like Brandon Isaak. Hermann’s. Tonight. 7-9pm. [Info]

🎤 Dave Gunning: This Nova Scotian is an award-winning songwriter & gracious storyteller with 14 albums under his big-buckled belt and a knack for connecting with audiences. Upstairs Lounge, Oak Bay Recreation Centre. Tonight. 7:30-9pm. [Info]

🎞️ Victoria Film Festival: SpringBoard Industry Event. A three-day gathering with a focus on taking your work to the next level. Today-Sun. Various venues. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: Oak Bay joins Vic-Saanich canine team; Canadian woman dies as sailboat hits storm east of Victoria; North Saanich’s Epicure $5.7M in the red. [Feb. 6]

Black History Month events listing. [Capital Daily] 

Saanich supplies $700K for affordable housing on Cadillac and Wascana. [Times Colonist]

Victoria woman wins the lottery. [Black Press]

Octopus hunt: See a giant Pacific octopus hunt along the seafloor off the Island. [Video]

Burger it forward: Big Wheel, Floyd’s, Kahuna, and Ferris’ are taking part in the fundraiser for local food banks, with $1 donated for each burger special sold. [Details]

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