Jan 18 - Music for memory loss

Good morning !

We see that mother orca is still grieving her lost calf—again. The poor thing. For almost two weeks now, J35, or Tahlequah has been carrying/pushing her dead baby, just as she did in 2018.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 4 / -3 

Tomorrow: ☀️ 4 / 2

Monday: 🌤️ 4 / 1

7-day forecast

NEWS

Victoria choir pitch hits a chord to help bridge memory gap

A Victoria choir is looking for music lovers with memory loss—and their care partners—offering an opportunity to sing and to have conversations about dementia. This umbrella term describes mental decline that is severe enough to interfere with daily living.

“We don't just sing,” Christine Chepyha, choir director for the Voices in Motion Choral Society tells Capital Daily. “We chat, we visit, we have social functions. And so [members] get to know people who have something in common with them. And one of them is the love of music.”

The other is the loss of memory, one of Alzheimer’s disease’s biggest thefts. Alzheimer’s, the most common cause of dementia, forces brain cells to die and the brain to shrink.

With January being Alzheimer's Awareness Month, the Voices in Motion Choir is putting out the call for new members, which it calls “duets.”

The choir’s genesis goes back to a 2018 UVic research project.

“They were trying to determine where musical memory lies,” Chepyha says. “And they did determine that it is not affected by dementia and memory loss.”

Read more here.

NEWS

Orca mother still carrying body of dead calf nearly 2 weeks later

The Southern Resident killer whale J35, or Tahlequah, was seen pushing her calf, J61, 11 days after it was confirmed dead on New Year’s Eve, according to the Center for Whale Research (CWR) in Washington state. Tahlequah previously made headlines globally in 2018 when she pushed her deceased calf for 17 days. 

Both calves were her only female offspring; she raised two males that are still alive today. CWR said when announcing J61’s death that it was “particularly devastating” since she was a female that could have “led her own matriline.” 

CWR said they could not see much of J61’s carcass during their Jan. 10 encounter and the sea conditions were becoming rough, but Tahlequah seemed determined to keep it from sinking. 

Other J-pod newborn doing well

CWR confirmed on Thu. that J62, another calf born to J-pod over the holidays, was spotted swimming with its suspected mother, J41, or Eclipse. 

The calf appeared healthy and was surrounded by its family, mainly “wedged” between Eclipse and J19, Eclipse’s mother. Eclipse appeared to be pregnant last year, making it likely that this is her calf. 

As of the last count by the Center for Whale Research, the Southern Resident killer whale population was 73: J-pod: 25; K-pod: 15; L-pod: 33

CORRECTIONS

A story in this space yesterday incorrectly identified Gary Streight as a spokesperson for the North Park Neighbourhood Association (NPNA). It also grouped the neighbourhood association with neighbourhood resident complaints including Streight’s. The NPNA has nothing to do with any of the actions carried out by some residents of North Park on complaints to the city regarding fencing, non-conforming buildings, pivoting, leading opposition, or any such activities mentioned. Its only roles have been to facilitate dialogue between the city, residents of North Park, and SOLID (the operator of Dowler Place).

Capital Daily regrets the error and apologizes to the NPNA.

A separate item yesterday on the 2025 Victoria Open incorrectly said golfers Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor are expected participants; they are past participants. Capital Daily regrets the error.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🌊 Project Sea Watch: Information session today on derelict vessels, water safety, and theft. [Oak Bay Police]

🎵🏒 Calling all musicians: submit an original hockey-themed song for your chance to win $5,000 and perform at Century Celebration Music Night. Deadline: February 28.*

⛴️ BC Ferries offering $5 child fares next month. [Feb. 12-19]

🪸 Undersea wonders near the Island: See scuba diving footage of life below the waves.

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

BC gov’t may swallow $1K grocery rebate election promise
The rebate—which would send $500 to the average taxpayer or $1K to the average family—is among the spending being reconsidered amid US tariff threats. BC Premier David Eby has been walking back the rebate delivery timeline, and on Thu. he signalled that the $1.8B rebate program would not be a top priority in the province’s 2025 spending. BC’s finance minister estimates US tariffs and Canada’s retaliatory response could cost BC $69B during the next four years of Donald Trump’s presidency. [Times Colonist]

Langford restaurant owner says he lost $30K in Uber Eats orders
Wing Deng, the owner of May Gold Village on Goldstream, said he couldn’t find sales deposits from the delivery service orders going back to April. After he got CTV involved, the delivery company conducted an investigation and it appears someone was fraudulently using a restaurant account and tried to change the banking information. Uber Eats wouldn’t expand on it, but the company said it has resolved the issue with Deng. [CTV]

4 families living in hotels after fire engulfs Penelakut Island five-plex
The Penelakut fire chief said that the Thu. night fire, which appears to have started in a kitchen, was the largest blaze his team has fought. Penelakut community members are collecting clothing for the displaced, after some fled without shoes or a change of clothes. [CHEK]

SPONSORED BY THE CRD

Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary's native plant workshops

Discover the beauty and benefits of native plants with Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary.

Participants will learn how to identify native plants, explore Swan Lake's gardens, and be introduced to the CRD's water conservation program.

Workshops start soon—reserve your spot today! Registration is $5 and includes a pack of local seeds.

🗓️ Things to do

♻️ James Bay Recycling Depot: James Bay Neighbourhood Association runs a once-a-month recycling event. Christmas lights accepted this time. Today. James Bay School, Simcoe & Oswego. 10am-12pm. [Info]

🛍 Colwood Art Centre hosts grand opening for its gift shop and its new exhibit “Be still my heart.” 1-3pm today with music from Steluta string quartet. [More]

🏃 Clover Point Parkrun: A free, fun, and friendly community 5K event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer, or cheer! Every Sat. starting from Clover Point. Today. 9am. [Info]

🐟 Salmon Carcass Transplant: Help restore the ecological balance of Douglas Creek by transplanting salmon carcasses back into the ecosystem. Today. 10am. PKOLS-Mount Douglas. [Info]

👠 Served Up!: An All-Ages Drag Lunch: Catch this unique drag show at Moon Under Water Pub. Today. 12-3pm. [Info] 

🍷🎨 Pinot & Paint: A step-by-step painting class for all levels, with all materials, snacks, and a glass of wine included at the Oaklands Community Centre. Today. 2pm-5pm. [Info]

🎭 Inside Opera: The Little Prince: Discover the enchanting world of Rachel Portman's The Little Prince with Robert Holliston at the Pacific Opera Victoria & Baumann Centre. Today. 5pm. [Info]

😂 Snowed In Comedy Tour: See Dan Quinn, Pete Zedlacher, Paul Myrehaug, and Erica Sigurdson bring this hilarious show to the Royal Theatre. Tonight. 7:30pm. [Info]

🎸 Dominic Miller: See Sting’s trusty sidekick guitarist—and co-writer of many of his biggest solo hits. McPherson Playhouse. Tomorrow. 7pm. [Info] 

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: Use-of-force used more often with Indigenous people: VicPD data; Fire near Royal Jubilee may have been human-caused; View Royal’s Screech gets Liberals’ nod. [Jan. 17]

Criticism of North Park outreach supportive spaces pivots to city bylaws. [Capital Daily]

City of Victoria reminds people not to feed wild animals, including ducks and peacocks in Beacon Hill Park.

James Bay Neighbourhood Association seeks new board members.

The old Blue Bridge in action: See footage of it raised for marine traffic in 2016. [Facebook video]

Duck for dinner: A river otter catches a duck and brings it to shore to feast upon at Goosespit, Comox. [Facebook photos]