Sept 2 - The Island's Labour Day legacy

Good morning !

Hope you're enjoying the long weekend. Below we have some Island history about today's holiday, as well as a look at the local election landscape after Dean's drop-out and an update on the lighthouse staffing controversy.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤 25 / 13

Tomorrow: 🌤 22 /10

Wednesday: ☀️ 25 / 13

7-day forecast

NEWS

Labour Day evokes past & present of labour conflicts on Island

While Labour Day is often just another summer long weekend for many Victorians, the recent nationwide rail conflict has kept the origin of the holiday close to mind across the country.

Labour Day has been a statutory holiday in Canada since 1894. It began in an era that mostly lacked government legislation or laws to protect workers from exploitative or dangerous working conditions in factories, mines, and other industries.

Many of those mining conditions, and the labour unrest that resulted from them, were right here on the Island. The mines of James Dunsmuir, in particular, were notorious for both lack of safety and hostility toward the labour movement. Hundreds of Island miners died on the job, but thousands more struck. Those struggles have become a key part of the history of Cumberland, Nanaimo, and other East Island communities.

Read more at Capital Daily about the past and present of Island labour issues, and about the effect the current rail conflict could have on the Island's supply chain.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Free parking today downtown. [City info]

School zone speeding regulations are back effective tomorrow.

Esquimalt Rd was partly blocked off on Sunday due to a motorcycle crash. [CHEK]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Only 2 of the South Island MLAs elected in 2020 will run as incumbents

This weekend, embattled Esquimalt - Metchosin MLA Mitzi Dean announced that she would not seek re-election in Esquimalt - Colwood (the new version of the riding). That leaves the riding with only one active major-party candidate, the Greens' Camille Currie, after BC United's former candidate Meagan Brame said she would not try to run with the Conservatives.

It also means only two South Island candidates elected in 2020 are running again as incumbents: Grace Lore and Lana Popham.

The NDP's Murray Rankin, Rob Fleming, and now Dean are stepping away, while former premier John Horgan resigned his Langford - Juan de Fuca seat mid-term after stepping down as Premier.

Horgan's successor as MLA, Ravi Parmar, was elected in a byelection last year and will run to keep a seat in the new and more urban Langford - Highlands. But another riding, new this election, is being created from the previously oversized riding. Juan de Fuca - Malahat will have no incumbent. Esquimalt - Colwood's new borders cede some of Metchosin to that new Westshore riding, while absorbing some of Vic West.

The Greens’ Adam Olsen decided this summer not to run, while party leader Sonia Furstenau is running but in Victoria-Beacon Hill rather than her current Cowichan Valley seat.

That means that at least 6 of 9 electoral districts in the South Island will have new leadership in 50 days, and that a maximum of 2 local MLAs elected in 2020 could be elected again in 2024.

NEWS

Southwest Island groups fight to prevent de-staffing of lighthouses

A month ago the federal government announced that Coast Guard staff at Carmanah Point and Pachena Point must leave their posts by winter. The West Coast Trail stations are on unsafe ground, the announcement said, and so their lights will become automated rather than maintained in person.

Regional MPs criticize change

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns and Cowichan-Malahat-Langford MP Alistair MacGregor sent a letter to the federal fisheries minister saying that staff, First Nations, local governments, and seafarers were under-consulted. They argued that the staffed stations have safety benefits.

Johns will now get a meeting this week with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which oversees the Coast Guard staffing, to discuss the issue.

Alberni Clayoquot Regional District wants lighthouses to remain open

The ACRD hopes to get the upcoming Union of BC Municipalities gathering to vote to call for a halt to the federal de-staffing at Carmanah and Pachena lighthouses. The Huu-ay-aht nation has asked for help resisting the contentious move, due to safety concerns and lack of consultation.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🦦 Camera-shy otter keeps hiding in this video.

🙏 Praying mantis in North Saanich. [Facebook photo]

🥡 Where to get late-night food in town. [Tasting Victoria]

🗞️ In Other News

Ferry hits humpback whale calf near Port McNeill 
Crochet, a 2022-born calf, was bruised on the flank and cut on its fluke, the Marine Education and Research Society (MERS) said. BC Ferries said the whale emerged unexpectedly close to the Island Aurora, but that crew quickly stopped the propeller as is protocol. Fisheries & Oceans and ‘Namgis First Nation were notified. [MERS]

Sinkhole in Saanich: Water main break suspected
Part of Oak Street was shut down by emergency crews yesterday after the road cracked and water was coming out. [CHEK]

Victoria among hottest Canadian travel destinations, Expedia says
The travel site lists Victoria as the 9th-most-searched Canadian city for accommodations, but one of the biggest recent risers with a 24% jump. [Expedia]

🗓️ Things to do

 🎡 Saanich Fair: Ring in the fall season with this annual fair, featuring rides, games, a farmers market, animals, and more. Today. [Info]

👩‍🏭👩‍⚕️👨‍🏫 Labour Day Community Picnic: Victoria Labour Council hosts music, speakers, food, and activities for the kids in Memorial Park (Esquimalt). 11am-2pm. [Info.]

🇬🇷 GreekFest: This celebration of Greek culture at the Hellenic Community Centre features music, dance, and authentic Greek food. Ends today. [Info]

👱‍♀️ Clueless at Cinecenta: The ‘90s high school rom-com / satire / Jane Austen adaptation plays at UVic today and twice tomorrow. [Showtimes]

🥕 Esquimalt Farmers Market is at Gorge Park for a few more Mondays. [Info]

🎶 Music in the Park: Klezmer music from The Yiddish Columbia State Orchestra. 1:30-3:30pm. [Info]

👟 Music at Ship Point: Sweet Delirium (dream pop/shoegaze) plays tomorrow 6-7pm while Dana Sipos (folk) plays 5-6pm on Weds. 

👀 In Case You Missed It

BC’s oldest active sailboat. Local MLA won’t run again. Victoria's first CFL game. [Sunday newsletter]

Sat. headlines: 2 deaths on beach. Int'l Overdose Awareness Day. One of Vic's first craft breweries closes. [Aug 31]

Dangerous driving impound fees went up yesterday across BC. .

Missing Port Alberni man is dead, RCMP say, likely after fall down embankment.

A frog on a flower in North Qualicum and a big bluish bullfrog in Sproat River.

Summer aurora shots by James MacDonald.

Try some local craft ice cream before summer ends. [Link]

That’s it!

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