Jan 11 - Downtown businesses boomed over holidays

Good morning !

This week’s storms have been a doozy, but we’re not out of the woods yet. Snow is in the forecast throughout the CRD today, with temperatures dropping as low as -10 tonight. Personally, I’m not ready for a taste of a “real Canadian” winter.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 4 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌨️ 5 / -10

Tomorrow: 🌥️ -7 / -9

Day after: 🌥️ -3 / -6

7-day forecast

NEWS

Victoria’s 2SLGBTQIA+ liaison nurse a BC first

Island Health has launched a pilot program with a new 2SLGBTQIA+ liaison nurse working at Royal Jubilee Hospital (RJH) and Victoria General Hospital’s (VGH) perinatal unit. The program is the first of its kind in BC.

Emily Wyatt, a registered nurse with three years’ experience in emergency care, began her role as the 2SLGBTQIA+ liaison nurse on Dec. 1., and a month and a half into the job, feels the positive impact of the role is clear.

“The feedback from patients, family, and providers has been absolutely, overwhelmingly positive,” Wyatt said. “We’ve seen in some of our data collection that people are more willing to access health services now. We’ve seen a huge impact in the quality of care that people feel they’re being provided.”

The liaison nurse’s role offers an array of care, such as providing support during medical appointments to ensure gender and sexuality information is safeguarded, bridging knowledge gaps that care providers may have around gender-affirming care, and advocating for patients’ rights.

According to an Island Health release, research suggests there are significant systemic barriers for 2SLGBTQIA+ people accessing health care, with many reluctant to seek care when needed.

Wyatt noticed the need for queer-specific care throughout her time at nursing school and working in the ER. She says for queer people, having their community represented in their care makes them feel “significantly safer.”

The program will be reviewed six months in, though Wyatt says the work to expand it already has begun. Additional liaison nurses will be added to the program with plans to eventually expand up-Island and offer coverage at both Victoria hospitals seven days a week.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

City of Victoria storm clean-up info.

Missing person: Nanaimo RCMP are looking for Sherri Corrigal, 22, who has been missing since Sep.

Missing person: Ian Indridson, 55, was last seen in Victoria two years ago this week.

Photos released of Ricky’s arson suspect: Police say the suspect was caught on video throwing a lit object through the restaurant window.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Christmas lights shine spotlight on downtown businesses: DVBA

There’s a Norm Macdonald joke about a moth that ends with the punchline: because the lights were on.

One could apply that jocularity to Centennial Square and the foot traffic the area received over the Christmas season.

According to the Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) more than 80K people took in the Lights of Wonder, the most ever for the annual yuletide illumination that began in 2019. But the real added value to the DVBA is it looks like many stayed downtown to shop.

“All indications so far is [business] was not just really strong but surprisingly strong, given what that narrative was,” DVBA CEO Jeff Bray tells Capital Daily.

“Even we were surprised with the kind of feedback we got from businesses,” he said. “December started slow and really, just went nuts—both pre-Christmas and certainly boxing week,” he said.

Bray says the Nov. narrative was that families planned to stick tightly to budgets and to Ebenezer their way through the shopping season but the DVBA says many businesses more than held their own against a growing tide of online competition.

“It may well have been that people might have spent less but they were even more purposeful to shop local than they might have been a year ago in terms of ‘do I go into a local store, versus an Amazon purchase?’” He says. “Who knows, but definitely very, very strong.”

Read the rest of Mark Brennae’s story here. 

⭐️ Capital Picks

🫧 Foamy trails: See the “chest-deep” sea foam covering a forest trail in Tofino.

🎵 Write a song depicting life on Saanich Peninsula via Deep Cove Folk.

📧 Stay in the loop on all things social impact! Sign up for the Victoria Foundation’s newsletter for funding and granting news, and updates from non-profits.*

⛵ Towing a beached boat in Oak Bay: [Video]

🧓 Office of the Seniors Advocate’s updated directory of long-term care and assisted living homes.

🤝 Now hiring: Barn Worker at Tally-Ho Carriage Tours.

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Saanich asks CRD to remove bollards from cycling trails
The cement or metal poles that break up regional trails can lead to injuries for cyclists, with the provincial government recommending against their use. The bollards are designed to stop vehicles from driving down the trails, a concern that Saanich council says doesn’t outweigh the risk they impose. [Saanich News]

Multiple arrests Tue. night on Blanshard, but few details
VicPD confirms officers and members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) “were involved in an arrest in that area but because it is an ongoing investigation, no further details are available at this time,” VicPD tells Capital Daily. Social media reports suggest a loud disturbance at or near the Red Robin restaurant on Tolmie and Blanshard led to several police cars converging on the area and making several arrests.

Vic General lab evacuated due to fire
An appliance caught fire on the third floor on Wednesday, View Royal’s fire chief says, necessitating the evacuation of staff and efforts from multiple fire departments. [CHEK]

🗓️ Things to do

Cirque du Soleil: Corteo: Take in this joyous circus performance at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, tonight at 7:30pm, running until Jan. 14.

Richard Sales: The musician will take the stage at Hermann’s, with opener—and daughter—Hayley Sales, tonight at 7pm. 

Women of Pop: Dance along to your favourite pop stars at Lucky Bar, tonight at 10pm. 

Dance Victoria presents Compagnie Hervé KOUBI for a breathtaking evening of contemporary dance. On February 2 and 3 at the Royal Theatre. Learn more on the website.*

2000s Night: Go back in time with this night of throwback hits at the Duke Saloon, tonight at 9pm. 

Trumpet Fiesta: Enjoy this swinging and soulful set at Hermann’s, tomorrow at 7pm. 

Rakata Latin Night: Head to Capital Ballroom to dance to Latin beats by DJ EP The Latino, Friday at 9pm.

*Sponsored Listing

👀 In Case You Missed It

One woman’s attempt to increase Island accessibility. [Capital Daily]

Tue. Headlines: Headless cougar leads to jobless worker; Winter storm soaks Vic; getting judgy with BC judges. [Newsletter]

Vic’s best restaurants: Have you nominated your favourites in the Tasting Victoria Restaurant Awards yet? [Nomination form]

Winter waves: See Tue.’s powerful storm waves crash over the Breakwater. 

Are you a singer?  Become a member of the Peninsula Singers.

That’s it!

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