Aug 13 - Heat wave warning

Good morning !

Did you catch the meteor shower last night? If you didn’t, you’ve missed the peak but aren’t totally out of luck—some shooting stars are still expected for a few more days.

— Cam

Today’s approx read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️ 28 / 14

Tomorrow: ☀️ 28 / 14

Day after: ☀️ 28 / 14

7-day forecast

🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (3/10). Current smoke forecast.

🚘️ Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Week-long heat wave begins today

High temperatures are expected for the Island and other parts of BC beginning today, the province cautioned this weekend.

The notice says this heat “is not forecast to be as severe as during the 2021 heat dome,” which had record-setting highs, and this week is framed as a summer high or near-high point rather than an outlier event. But BC’s notice flags that prolonged heat exposure could cause heat-related illness in older adults, children, and people with a range of health conditions.

Victoria is not currently expected to reach the low-mid-30s temperatures benign projected for much of BC, but other Island regions such as Nanaimo and Comox are.

Heat will amplify fire & drought risk

The coming heat also exacerbates the season-long drought and wildfire-danger conditions the Island has been under, which were only recently lessened by BC’s early August rains. The entire Island remains at Level 5 drought risk, the highest tier, and is worse than any of the rest of BC’s coast.

The wildfire danger rating has declined across BC, with some areas including the Island’s northern tip now all the way down to Low and Very Low risk. But the South Island is one of the few parts of BC still under Extreme fire risk.

NEWS

HabourCats reach championship match after thrilling win in season’s final home game

The HarbourCats are headed to the West Coast League (WCL) Final after narrowly—thrillingly—bouncing the Bellingham Bells 7-6 in the North division final last night. After setting a league record for wins at home this season (25-2), Victoria’s baseball team rewarded loyal locals at Royal Athletic one last time this summer.

The locals flipped an early 0-5 deficit into a 7-5 lead and held on to it, sometimes by the skin of their teeth. Pitching swaps saved the day in the 7th, when the Bells loaded the bases, and again in the 9th when the Bells got within one and had a runner poised to tie it up.

The ‘Cats move on to face the Knights—a perennial powerhouse that beat Victoria in the 2017 and 2019 finals—in tomorrow’s winner-takes-all final game.

Read Mark Brennae’s ‘Cats feature here for more on the ‘Cats record-breaking season and the decade-long path that got them here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Police investigation closes Thetis trail on Sunday evening. The CRD and West Shore RCMP announced the temporary closure around 6pm Sat., with barricades and signs going up at Prior Lake and nearby Mackenzie Creek Trail. RCMP said they “responded to an incident,” but that there was “no ongoing risk to public safety.”

Perseid meteor shower continues, after peak last night.

NEWS

Pairing bands and beers at the Backyarder

It’s the last and biggest day of Reverb, the August edition of the Phillips Backyard concerts (a.k.a. the Backyard Weekender or Backyarder). The long-running popular outdoor summer event behind the downtown brewery brings together some of the best-known local craft beers with music from locals, mainlanders, and international artists such as Post Malone, Cake, Kelis, and Prince’s band The Revolution.

In recent years the festival has expanded to multiple weekends; this year’s early-summer edition featured folk starred Lord Huron and a DJ set from multiple-Grammy-winner Anderson .Paak.

With this combination of brews and music here in town, Tasting Victoria had some fun on Friday pairing each of the main performers with the most appropriate beer.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

👩‍🦳 Grandmothers begin 235km cycling fundraiser: The 3-day ride by the Victoria Grandmothers for Africa collects money for grandparents in Africa who have lost children to AIDS-related illnesses and now have to raise their grandchildren. Donate here and read our latest story on the local volunteers here.

🏡 Open Houses: Casually browse for your next home. View all the open houses scheduled today.*

🍹 Summer’s best local drinks: Bright blue beers, cider slushies, summer sours, and local craft non-alcoholic alternatives. [Tasting Victoria]

😊 Now hiring: Payroll Clerk at the Butchart Gardens

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

MP Elizabeth May off of work while recovering from stroke
May first felt a severe headache in an appearance at Claremont school’s June 29 grad. It was a week until she was diagnosed at Saanich Peninsula Hospital; May said she has no family doctor and gave up on Vic General ER after a 4-hour wait. She called the stroke a “wake-up call” about her long work hours, which were part of why she stepped down as Green leader from 2019 to 2022.[Times Colonist]

Salt Spring LTC suing short-term rental owners
The Local Trust Committee says that the agriculturally zoned land is being misused for AirBnBs and that deck, stairway, and farm stand construction lacked permits. Those accused, the Hen and Hound Farm owners, say that the LTC’s processes are biased and that it “picked the wrong Farm” to enter a court battle with. [Driftwood]

Humboldt ping pong table, removed for construction, may get new location
The table first installed in 2019, somewhat contentious for its $5,150 cost, is now gone due to Telus Ocean building construction work. [CHEK]

🗓️ Things to do

🐶 Pet-a-palooza: The annual Day of the Dog festival continues today with puppy yoga; a pool party; haircuts; free dog superhero photos; exhibits; and races of corgis, French bulldogs, and fast dogs. Esquimalt’s Bullen Park, 11am-4pm.

🎧 Reverb at Phillips Backyard: Phillips Backyard festival returns for its second weekend this summer. Today's concert features performances from Fleet Foxes, Hollow Coves, and Jon and Roy.

🛶 Victoria Dragon Boat Festival: Take in the dragon boat racing as well as live performances and cultural demonstrations at the Inner Harbour today.

🖼️ Bowker Creek Brush-Up Art Show and Sale: Over 40 artists will showcase their work today on the Bowker Creek Walkway between Armstrong and Hampshire.

🎻 Baroque in the park: A summer concert at Willows Beach by Raven Baroque. 6-7:30pm today.

🚗 Field of Dreams Car Show: Car prizes, food trucks, bouncy castles, vendors, 600+ cars, and more. Juan de Fuca rec centre’s back lower fields, 9am-3pm, presented by Layed Out Car Club. [Details]

⚽ Pacific FC vs. Ottawa: Greater Victoria’s pro soccer team clings to the #1 spot in the Canadian Premier League as it hosts the team that knocked it out in last year’s playoffs. Today at 1:30pm in Langford. [Tickets]

🏒 Memorial hockey tourney continues today at Panorama Rec, with 300+ players in games open to the public by donation. Tourney honours late local players Grant Gilbertson and Dayton Clarke.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Three decades of dragon boats: We look at the iconic festival that returned to the Inner Harbour this weekend. Plus: Breaking down this weekend’s other local events. News on a trapped hang-glider, a quest to return a French tourist’s phone, and a sentencing for a car crash that killed an Island teacher. [Saturday newsletter]

Secondary suite rules are too costly and restrictive, some homeowners say. Capital Daily broke down the current state of suite rules in Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay, and Esquimalt.

Friday’s headlines: Rutledge Park’s upcoming renovations, Fairy Creek case update, pitbull that mauled greyhound put down, and more. [Aug. 11]

Saint Franks reopens after a nearly three month hiatus.

Tacofino coming to Westshore Town Centre this year.

That’s it!

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