Sat. June 10 - Vehicle traffic on ferry hits all-time high

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning !

Today and yesterday’s much-needed rain will hopefully put a damper on the two large fires raging on the Island, but it doesn’t need to put a damper on your weekend. We’ve got a roundup below of all the things you can do in the region today, with or without sunshine, along with the latest on ferries and fire safety.

Personally, I always resent the lack of sun when a summer rainfall first starts but then end up finding it peaceful. What’s your reaction? Vote below, and reply to this email to tell us your most memorable summer rain story.

NEWS

Ferry vehicle traffic hit all-time high over the past year

BC Ferries’ fiscal 2023 year, which ended March 31, tallied 21.6M passengers (up 21% from fiscal 2022) and 9.4M vehicles (up 11%). The latter is a new record for the highest volume since BC Ferries began in 1960. Its report partly attributes these jumps to the removal of prior years’ COVID-driven travel restrictions.

But the overall vehicle total exceeds even pre-pandemic years (2019 had 8.9M cars), and the passenger total is close (22.3M in 2019). At the same time, though, costs also jumped 14% in 2023, to nearly a billion dollars, which BC Ferries attributes to higher labour and fuel costs, and maintenance. Its future plans involve cutting and delaying capital spending and pursuing fare increases.

The ferry corporation is also seeking approval for $25M in improvements to Swartz Bay and four other terminals that would create a faster, subway-style check-in process with fare gates.

Read the full details on the passenger record, the possible future fare increases, and the planned terminal changes in today’s story at Capital Daily.

Capital Bulletin

🌧️ Today's weather: Mainly cloudy with 60% chance of showers. High 19/ low 11C.

🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (2/10); possible light smoke overhead this weekend.

🔥 Fire updates: Cameron Bluffs fire now at 208 hectares and still out of control, while Newcastle Creek is also 208 but is being held.

​​🧾 Grant for community projects using recycled rubber: Tire Stewardship BC grant applications are open until Jul. 31.

NEWS

As wildfires rage, firefighters warn locals to avoid causing them

“We're in an extremely dry spell at the moment and it is pretty early, but our main concern in Langford is cigarette butts,” Langford Fire Rescue’s acting assistant chief of prevention Simon Chadwick told The Westshore. Langford Fire recently publicized that it put out seven fires in seven days that were started by butts and other smoking materials.

Currently 33 of the 78 fires burning in BC on Friday were human-caused, along with 39 caused by lightning and 6 with as-yet unknown causes. Humans cause 40% of all wildfires, Chadwick says. To reduce this, he wants locals to always put out cigarettes properly in water or a metal container of sand and to take more precautions while out on trails or when using lawnmowers and chainsaws (which can spark).

Read the full fire safety story at The Westshore.

Also in Thursday’s The Westshore newsletter: A locally filmed romance movie, View Royal’s proposed development pause, a “two-headed” duck, and this weekend’s events.

SPONSORED BY PACIFIC OPERA VICTORIA

Free music for two weekends!

Walk the trails of Government House and Saxe Point Park, experiencing intimate moments of music, poetry, and storytelling reflecting on the beautiful natural environment around you.

Singers from Pacific Opera Victoria's Civic Engagement Artist Residency, as well as local artists including Katrina Philpotts, Nicole Mandryk, and the Yarrow Collective welcome you throughout your approximately one-hour walk.

Discover artists hidden in different locations around each park, enchanting your senses and immersing you in a deeply-rooted feeling of place.

June 15-16 at Government House.

June 23-26 at Saxe Point Park.

Visit PacificOpera.ca to meet the artists and learn more about each site.

Capital Picks

🛼 Westshore events this weekend: The Westshore rounded up more than a dozen things to do, from World Knit in Public Day to glass sculpting to roller derby. Check them out!

🦈 Museum Tots at the BC Maritime Museum: In Museum Tots, toddlers can learn about a unique subject. This weekend, it’s sharks. 10:30am-11:30am. [Details]

🎸 Rebecca Barritt Student Showcase at Hermann’s: Up-and-coming musicians take centre stage at this afternoon of music. Tickets $18 / doors 12pm / show 1pm. [Details]

🎤 Madchild live at Upstairs Cabaret: The Swollen Members rapper performs his newest solo music. 10pm. [Tickets]

🎨 Fernwood Art Stroll: The art walk is back for its 15th year, with a free tour that is self-guided via downloadable map. [Details]

🏡 Professional listing agent: Providing home owners property marketing, offer negotiation, and sales experience. Learn more about selling your home with 8X Real Estate.*

🇵🇭 Mabuhay!: A celebration of Philippine culture, food, and music in Centennial Square. 10am-6pm Sat. / 10am-5pm Sun. [Details]

🌊 Sea Glass Jewelry Workshop: Make your own wearable creations as part of Ocean Week Victoria. 3-4:15pm at Maritime Museum of BC. [Details]

📚 Churchmouse Summer Book Sale: Thousands of books on sale, with a silent auction and a BBQ 10am-2pm at St. Mary’s Church in Oak Bay. [Details]

🤝 Now hiring: Area Fleet Manager at GFL Environmental Inc.

🎙️ HAFU ハーフ Project at the Baumann Centre: Luka Kawabata’s autobiographical recital exploring identity, remembrance, and connection to culture will be held for free in the Baumann Centre in collaboration with the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society. 2pm.

🍾 Victoria Lions Club Bottle Drive Drop-off: Today’s charity fundraiser runs 9am-3pm at Lumberworld (Quadra at Reynolds).

🌳 Music in the Park: The Beacon Hill bandshell hosts Edie DaPonte (Jazz/Blues/World) today and Emily Carr String Quartet (Classical) tomorrow. 1:30-3:20.

*Sponsored Listing

In Other News

🚗 Multiple crashes on Highway 4 detour’s narrow gravel roads
The Cameron Bluffs fire (still listed on Friday as out of control) has shut Hwy 4, lengthening the Nanaimo-Tofino commute from one hour to four. [CHEK]
The Ministry of Transportation says only essential travel should take the detour.

🐘 Zipline and splash pad coming to Saanich’s Rutledge Park
The home of the recognizable pink elephant was originally supposed to have a splash pad when built 25 years ago, Saanich says. This summer’s $1.2M revamp project will also add accessible swings for different ages and abilities as well as new pathways, furniture, and year-round bathrooms. [District of Saanich]

SPONSORED BY SOUTH ISLAND PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP

Shoring up our marine environment

COAST’s new podcast episode features Coastal Zone Canada’s event chair Phil Osborne, who shares the challenges and opportunities inherent in coastal management ahead of their conference in Victoria next week.

Learn how humans impact our shorelines and what’s being done to mitigate damage and promote a healthy, biodiverse marine environment.

In Case You Missed It

 🐙 What’s behind the tanks at the aquarium: Our Salish Sea Centre photo series takes an inside look into the sea creatures and staff at Sidney’s nonprofit aquarium. [Capital Daily]

🧾 Tips from entrepreneurs: Victoria business leaders who survived tech’s original bubble-burst decades ago give advice on how to navigate economic downturn. [Victoria Tech Journal]

📰 Friday’s newsletter: First Nations flotilla in the Inner Harbour; delays to open-net fish farming transition; a humpback gets tangled in fishing gear; and more. [June 9]

🏠 CKT is looking for host homes to host Japanese students from Aug. 2-14 (12 nights). If you're interested in hosting, contact Yuri at [email protected] by Jun. 20. Hosts will be compensated. Seniors, single families with/without kids are welcome.*

🌿 Health Canada denies Victoria Cannabis Buyers exemption: But a week later, a different part of Health Canada consulted the local club on those same marijuana laws. [Capital Daily]

📰 Thursday’s newsletter: Publicly-funded counselling will expand for Island residents, local buys $35M lottery ticket, Topaz tents removed, and more. [June 8]

🤝 Now hiring: Vice President, Deals at Tenzing.

*Sponsored Listing