Aug. 4 - Homeless count keeps going up

Good morning !

The Victoria HarbourCats clawed the Nanaimo NightOwls 4-1 last night to wrap up the home portion of their West Coast League (WCL) regular season. The ‘Cats set a WCL record for home wins with 25, losing only twice all year in the friendly confines of The Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

Pretty impressive.

— Mark

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 25 / 14

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 22 / 14

Sunday: 🌤️ 24 / 14

7-day forecast

🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (2/10). Current smoke forecast.

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

NEWS

Seniors among growing portion of homeless in Greater Victoria in latest count

At least 1,665 people lived on the street, in transitional housing, and in public systems, according to the CRD’s Point-in-Time Count, tallied on March 7 and released yesterday. That’s up from 1,523 in 2020—the last count taken before a pandemic hiatus. But the authors caution that these one-off count numbers give only a limited snapshot and are an undercount since not all people are able, or choose, to take the survey.

Of that total, 1,096 people found temporary housing that night, such as transitional housing or a friend’s couch. The other 524 had no place to sleep or stayed in an emergency shelter.

A quarter without homes were 55+

The count includes a more detailed survey, which gathered 765 responses on March 8. It found 25% (190 respondents) were age 55 or older, which the report’s authors consider seniors—up from 160 in 2020.

The report pointed to a lack of income (often low benefits), a dearth of available affordable housing, and the death of a spouse as main contributors to seniors being homeless.

Men and Indigenous people remain overrepresented 

Among survey respondents, 65% described themselves as male; 27% female; and 3% gender-diverse in some form (5% did not answer). The authors flag, though, that the Point in Time’s format tends to identify men living without homes more easily than others. Among seniors, 74% said they were men.

Respondents were also disproportionately Indigenous: 36%, compared to 5% in the general population. Nearly half had a grandparent who went to residential school, and about a quarter had a parent who did.

A notably high 12% of respondents identified as 2SLGBTQI+; among youth, that rose to 31%.

Other survey percentages:

• 65% – 25-54 years old

• 67% – homeless for more than six months of past year

• 50% – homeless all of past year

• 36% – first became homeless by age 18

• 19% – lived in Greater Victoria all their lives

• 48% – here 5+ years

• 10% – arrived within past year

• 67% – had a substance-use issue

• 61% – mental-health issue

• 45% – physical disability

• 35% – evicted or discharged into homelessness

By Mark Brennae and Cam Welch

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

From the ‘don’t count your chickens’ file: Beacon Hill Children’s Farm staffers found some chickens yesterday. Are they yours?

Free parking in downtown Victoria on holiday Monday, but most city buildings will be closed.

High traffic expected on BC Ferries this weekend: Vehicles travelling without reservations are told to expect sailing waits.

NEWS

Things to do in Victoria this long weekend

This BC Day long weekend is blessed with a forecast of sunny and warm weather. Enjoy the glorious sunshine with family and friends at these outdoor events. From concerts to family festivities, we’ve got you covered!

Wonderment Festival

The ambient electronic and electro-acoustic music festival runs Friday to Monday across the city. Day and evening concerts are free and will take place daily in a different park, including Fisherman’s Wharf Park, Songhees Park Plaza, Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park, and Banfield Park. You’ll need tickets for the night concerts, which are slated for Friday at Capital Ballroom and Saturday and Sunday at Victoria Event Centre. A Synth Petting Zoo—a chance for all ages to try out synthesizers and electronic music instruments—happens at Vic West Community Centre on Monday.

Symphony in the Summer Festival

The last few of the weeklong festival’s classical music concerts—replacing Symphony Splash this year—are today and tomorrow at the Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park. The free, early-evening concerts are joint performances by the Victoria Symphony and Pacific Opera Victoria. Friday’s show begins at 5pm and will feature conductor Giuseppe Pietraroia, assistant conductor Monica Chen, and tenor Adam Luther. Chen and Luther will return for Saturday’s performance at 4pm alongside conductor Timothy Vernon and soprano Aviva Fortunata.

Viva! Victoria Latin Fest

This Latin American-inspired cultural event returns for its third year on Saturday and Sunday at Centennial Square. The event aims to celebrate the cultural diversity of Latin America with live music, dance, food, and cultural activities. A Viva! Victoria Latin Fest after-party with Obatala’ Cuban Orchestra will complete the weekend’s events at The Sticky Wicket on Sunday at 8pm.

Cadboro Bay Festival

This festival at Cadboro-Gyro Park on Sunday from 11am to 3pm is geared for families and kids. Live music will include performances from Rhymer and Wells, Eden Poynter, West My Friend, and Love Cats. The Chinatown Lions Club and the Saanich Lions Club are doing the catering, so you’ll find hamburgers, hot dogs, and cotton candy. Games at the park will include three-legged races, giant lawn games, and cornhole. Other activities will include face painting, arts and crafts, and info displays.

‘Honouring Peace’ Hiroshima Nagasaki Day

On the 78th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and in honour of those killed in the bombing of Nagasaki three days later, this free, family event aims to celebrate Japanese culture and to respect peace. It will run Sunday (7-9:30pm) at the Japanese-style Gorge Park Pavilion. Lantern-making begins 7pm, with materials provided. Lanterns will be launched in the pavilion reflecting pools. Then it’s on to performances from Furusato Dancers, flautist Hanne Fair, Uminari Taiko Drummers, Raging Grannies, Gettin’ Higher Choir, and Margaret Krawciw.

SPONSORED BY BELFRY THEATRE

Belfry Tickets on sale August 8

The Belfry’s new season includes Kat Sandler’s hit comedy-thriller Yaga, where you enter a world of murder, sex, and romance, in a production that brings together Indigenous and Ukrainian artists.

 I Think I’m Fallin’: The Songs of Joni Mitchell returns to the Belfry, after its record-breaking run in 2016.

The Belfry will premiere Christine Quintana’s As Above. Set in Victoria, As Above, follows Jo, as she opens herself to romance and a mysterious connection with her estranged daughter.

The season is capped off with the internationally acclaimed The Lehman Trilogy—winner of the 2022 Tony Award for Best Play—a stunning history of the Lehman brothers from 1844 to the cataclysmic events of 2008.

The Belfry offers Pay-What-You-Want Tickets. Get yours today!

⭐️ Capital Picks

🥦 Community Food Delivery volunteers needed: Two delivery drivers and two sorters are needed for Tuesday afternoons this month to help get food to folks who need it.

🏡 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.*

📈 Stay ahead of the curve for shifting markets and economic trends in Greater Victoria with this weekly newsletter from our region's mandated economic development agency.*

📲 Communications & Engagement Officer at COAST (Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies).

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

VIU didn’t do enough to protect personal data, says audit
The university’s board fell short of its oversight to manage the risk, according to a report from BC’s auditor general. The board failed in three categories: overseeing mitigation strategies, updating the risk policy (which is 10 years old), and training new board members on cybersecurity risk management. The board says it plans to act on the report’s recommendations. [Times Colonist]

Expect delays on the Malahat this long weekend
The transportation ministry says to prepare for heavy congestion on the Malahat over the long weekend. To mitigate this, construction will be put on pause from noon today until Tuesday at 7am, though construction speed limits will still be in effect. Find up-to-date road condition information.

Oak Bay gets $15K for accessibility from health ministry
Oak Bay is one of 11 municipalities to receive provincial funding for projects to improve residents' health and well-being by creating or updating policies. Oak Bay will use the $15K to develop an accessibility plan, identify gaps in its current policy, and raise awareness about accessibility issues.

SPONSORED BY TALL TREE HEALTH

Change your health care. From reactive to proactive

What if you could take steps today to understand your risks and prevent disease before it starts? With a team of medical and behavioural experts, and aggressive evidence-based metrics, Tall Tree’s longevity medicine program is designed to help you live a longer, healthier life.

🗓️ Things to do

🎤 Wonderment: Enjoy ambient electronic and electro-acoustic music all weekend long at locations across the city, today until Monday. Today’s concert includes performances by Tsimka & Michael Red and Matthew Cardinal.

🎧 Wonderment at Night: Enjoy performances by DJ K1, Pablo Splice, and Hrdvision B2B Shanx B2B Efemme tonight at Capital Ballroom. Doors 8pm, show 9pm.

🪕 John Reischman & The Jaybirds at Butchart Gardens: The band will perform old-time and acoustic roots music tonight on the open-air stage, 8pm.

🎹 Emmett Hodgins Quintet at Hermann’s Jazz Club: Victoria-raised jazz musicians Emmett Hodgins, Owen Chow, Rowan Farintosh, Boshko Maric, and Isaiah Smith will perform together tonight. Doors 5:30pm, show 7-9:30pm.

👀 In Case You Missed It

View Royal to adopt Zero Carbon Step Code: Starting Nov. 1, new houses and buildings will be built to run on electricity rather than gas. [The Westshore]

🍑 Savour the sweetness of summer: Beautiful and bountiful BC Stone Fruits have arrived at The Root Cellar! Enjoy that blissful moment of biting into a sweet peach or plum with juice dripping down your chin. Now that’s summer! Learn more at TheRootCellar.ca.*

Thursday’s headlines: Victoria council updates, out of control fire near Sooke, Porsche hits pedestrian, and more. [Aug. 3]

Survey on Quadra-Mckenzie development: District of Saanich is looking for input to help with future plans for the area.

Missing teen: Caiden Morris, 14, was last seen in Duncan on Saturday.

*Sponsored Listing

That’s it!

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