July 21 - UK hockey star from Langford killed in crash

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NEWS

Capital Bulletin

🏛️ RBCM hires new acting CEO: Tracey Drake’s role includes overseeing museum operations and community engagement. The museum’s former CEO, Alicia Dubois, resigned June 16 after just 16 months in the role.

👩‍👧‍👦 ​​BC Family Benefit raised permanently by $250 to $750, depending on family size. [BC Gov]

🏍️ Motorcycles clocked at 143km/h on McKenzie overpass, BC Highway Patrol says. The drivers were fined and the bikes impounded. [Photos]

NEWS

After years of waiting, Songhees Nation will get $4M for new sewer system

The province is replacing the aging sewer system on the Songhees Nation reserve—something Chief Robert Sam said the First Nation has been calling for since 2014.

“Not going to deny it, it’s been a long road for us,” said Sam. “I lift my hands up to the province for realizing the importance, realizing the respect of government-to-government relationships, and reconciliation.”

The $4M in provincial money will be used to repair 1,400 metres of sewage pipe and to install new maintenance holes, catch basins, sewer-inspection chambers, and sanitary-service connections.

That new system construction will take the bulk of the funding, along with repairs to the main entrance to the community. There, the roadway off Admirals will be dug up and a new sidewalk will be built, according to civil engineer Elizabeth Lau—whose firm, Kerr Wood Leidal, leads the project.

Sam hopes money will also come from the federal government—one of the other funders the Songhees applied to. But with no response so far, the project proceeds without it.

NEWS

A crown for a clown? Victoria’s Jimbo competes in Drag Race All Stars finale tonight

Jimbo the Drag Clown is at the finish line of the highest-profile competition for drag stars. In tonight’s season climax, Jimbo faces a season rival and ally, New York-based Kandy Muse, for a spot in the Drag Race Hall of Fame and $200K.

Jimbo has been a front-runner of Season 8 of the all-star spinoff of the RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise—the reality TV show that has contributed to drag’s mainstream popularity. In 11 episodes, Jimbo has won a season-best four challenges (twice as many as Kandy) and one lip sync. The Victorian’s success and unique approach to drag, with her clown makeup and witty sense of humour, has amassed her a growing fanbase among viewers worldwide.

Jimbo is the first Canadian to compete in Rupaul’s Drag Race All Stars, which features fan favourites from previous seasons. Jimbo finished seventh on Drag Race UK vs. the World after coming in fourth on Canada’s Drag Race—with many fans often at the judges’ throats over perceptions they were under-appreciating Jimbo’s more out-there approach.

Her wacky looks and oddball persona are more related to standup and vaudeville (which she’s performed locally) than the pageant side of drag. But she has fleshed out that fashion aspect in this summer’s star turn on US TV, mixing it with the signature Jimbo irreverence to turn looks that earned her a recent Vogue profile.

Before the competition, Jimbo worked in Victoria as a costume and production designer whose work (and costume-filled Chinatown loft) have been well-known for years in the local arts scene. The drag clown character is the stage persona of James Insell, originally from London, Ont., dubbed by his father with the nicknames Jimbo and Jimbalina.

The All Stars Season 8 finale airs tonight at 8pm on Paramount+.

Capital Picks

🎷 Chris Millington Band at Butchart Gardens: The dance party band will perform tonight on the open-air stage, 8pm.

🏡 Homes For Sale with Air Conditioning: Enjoy comfort year round with condos and homes that offer A/C or a heat pump. View all active listings for sale.*

⚾ HarbourCats games free for kids up to 12 tonight and tomorrow (6:35pm) and Sunday (1:05pm) vs the Coquitlam Angels. [Tickets]

🎶 Blue Bridge Theatre presents The Last 5 Years by Jason Robert Brown. A rich tapestry of the different stages in a romantic relationship. Running Aug 1 - 13 at The Roxy Theatre. Get tickets online or call 250-382-3370.*

📖 Creekside Concert: Performances today will include dance, storytelling, poetry readings, and music. Bowker Creek Walkway, between Oak Bay High and Hampshire. 6:30-9pm.

🎤 Caribbean Fusion at Sonora Bar & Grill: Dance along to dancehall, reggae, and hip-hop music tonight, 9pm-1am.

🎙️ The Garden of Eden at Pagliacci’s: The six-piece contemporary band will perform at the Italian restaurant tonight, 9:45-11pm.

🎸 Quadra Sound at Capital Ballroom: The rock & roll group will be joined by Shale tonight, 7:30pm.

💃 Bollywood Night at Victoria Event Centre: Dance along to Bollywood beats spun by DJ Rahul tonight, 10pm. [Details]

🎙️ Ella Fitzgerald tribute at Hermann’s Jazz Club: Shanna Dance will perform the music of the renowned vocalist today, 5:30pm.

🎤 Live music at Lucky Bar: Indie rock performers tonight will include Maitarra, Neighbourly, and Hillsboro. 7-10:30pm.

*Sponsored Listing

In Other News

 ⛴️ BC Ferries adds late-night sailings after more mechanical issues
All eight sailings of the Coastal Celebration to Tsawwassen from Swartz Bay will be cancelled every day until at least July 26, as the boat is taken out of service for repairs. Sailings have been added, with three 11pm sailings from Swartz Bay and three 1am sailings from Tsawwassen.

🔥 Dealership fire was arson
Police have now said, as an investigation continues into July 12’s midnight burning of two cars on the Mercedes-Benz lot near other recent fires. [CHEK]

🤝 Now Hiring

Thinking of making your next career move? Let us help!

• Server at Revera Inc.

• Lighting and Scenic Technician at The Butchart Gardens

• Early Childhood Educator or Assistant at Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group

• Digital Marketing Specialist at Westin Bear Mountain Resort & Spa

• Sales and Marketing Administrator at Inclusion System

• Mid to Senior Software Engineer at SingleOps.com

• Area Fleet Manager at GFL Environmental Inc.

• Vice President, Deals at Tenzing

Looking for more openings? See 50+ jobs open now on YYJobs.

Hiring? Post your job to have it featured here, and fill your opening fast!

In Case You Missed It

📰 Thursday’s headlines: 235 Island toxic drug deaths so far this year, safety concerns at Oak Bay Marina, Victoria’s Nick Pivetta makes Red Sox history, and more. [July 20]

💧 CRD issues boil water advisory for Salt Spring until further notice after a water main break may have affected water quality in areas around the Beddis Water System.

🔍 Missing man found: Jordon Bibb-Wilde, 27, previously last seen July 13 in the Blenkinsop Valley area, has been located safe.

 🐟 Cowichan River fish die-off may be in the thousands: Snorkellers found hundreds, perhaps thousands of dead trout and salmon near Skutz Falls last week. Toxicology testing results are expected later this summer. [CTV]

🌱 Saving the Cowichan Estuary: The restoration project gets underway this summer to preserve wildlife from warming temperatures and rising sea levels. [Capital Daily]

📰 Wednesday’s headlines: Victoria high school students earn Island Health award, boat catches fire in Cadboro Bay, teen assaulted near Mt. Doug beach, and more. [July 19]

🦖 Dinosaurs at the mall? Check-out a true-to-size T. rex bust at The Bay Centre as part of the Sue: The T. rex Experience Pop-up.*

*Sponsored Listing