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- Jan 26 - Islander who helped change Canadian Constitution dies at 80
Jan 26 - Islander who helped change Canadian Constitution dies at 80
Restaurant with a perfect 5-star rating. 2,000+ animals helped.
Capital Daily Team
January 26, 2025
Good morning !
Today we have news on the loss of an Islander whose legal and political work helped shape Canada and the way it interacts with First Nations. Plus: The highlights of a year of local wildlife rehab and recovery, and one of the very best local restaurants according to online ratings from diners.
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— Cam
Today’s approx. read time: 4 minutes / 6 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
NEWS
Island Indigenous leader Bill Wilson, who helped change the Constitution, dies at 80
Bill Wilson at the 1983 Constitutional conference. Photo: Jody Wilson-Raybould (Instagram)
Wilson, a Kwakwakaʼwakw hereditary chief, was part of the group that negotiated a 1983 amendment to the Canadian Constitution to enshrine Indigenous land title, treaty rights, and women's equality.
Wilson, or Hemas Kla-Lee-Lee-Kla, was born in Comox. He was educated at UVic and UBC Law, from which he was the second Indigenous person to graduate. His prominent roles included serving as a director of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs in the early 1970s and as VP of the Native Council of Canada / Congress of Aboriginal Peoples in the early 1980s.
Father of Jody Wilson-Raybould
He famously told Pierre Trudeau that his two daughters would one day become prime ministers. His daughter Jody Wilson-Raybould became an MP and justice minister and attorney general under Pierre's son PM Justin Trudeau—though she ultimately resigned, and later left the party, after he improperly pressured her on the SNC-Lavalin case.
Wilson-Raybould announced late on Friday that Bill Wilson “passed away tonight surrounded by love and this glorious sunset.” She said her father devoted his life to “leadership and striving to make change… and change he did make.”
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Mostly sunny (and cold overnight) until rain beginning mid-week.
Concrete barriers being installed near Cathedral Grove tonight & Mon. due to “ongoing safety challenges” from illegal parking along Hwy 4 in tourist season. [BC Gov]
2024 Saanich Resident Pulse Survey closes today.
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
NEWS
Metchosin's Wild ARC helped 2,043 animals this past year
A trailblazing American Kestrel treated at the centre in 2024. Photo: BC SPCA / Wild ARC
The local rescue and rehab centre's year-in-review is out, and it tallies 132 different species that the centre assisted. About 70% of individuals helped were birds, with about 30% mammals and only a handful of amphibians and reptiles.
Memorable patients included:
The first American Kestrel fledgling ever successfully hand-reared at Wild ARC. It was raised for 42 days, then released, after being “accidentally rescued” by a civilian who should have contacted experts to check first.
An Ancient Murrelet (related to the Marbled Murrelets that nest in Fairy Creek) that flew into a glass railing on a BC Ferries sailing and was quickly bundled over to Wild ARC once the ferry docked.
An adult female raccoon with an infected eye, which could have become fatal if it wasn't removed. She's now recovering and will be released soon.
Raccoons were nearly 5% of the animals admitted by the centre, and late last year the Westshore covered the study on what happens to raccoons released by Wild ARC.
This latest edition of The Westshore also includes a story on how the new mandate letter for the education minister may forecast some release for the Westshore school district, which is the fastest-growing in BC.
You can also read the Comox-area MARS wildlife centre recap from a few weeks ago.
FOOD
This local Egyptian restaurant has a perfect 5-star rating on Google
Photo: Mama Nadia's Kitchen
It's rare, and difficult, for any restaurant to maintain a perfect 5-star rating on Google due to the volume and variability of customer reviews.
But as of a week ago, and with 233 reviews under its belt, Mama Nadia's Kitchen has done exactly that. Nestled in the heart of Cook Street Village, it brings rich flavours of Egyptian street food to Victoria. Since opening in Jan. 2023, the restaurant has gained a loyal clientele and become a local favourite.
So what is this food that locals are falling so in love with? An assortment of the vibrant and diverse culinary traditions of Egypt, with signature dishes including:
Juicy lamb shank marinated in special spices and roasted with vegetables.
Shawarma wraps with tender, marinated meats wrapped in fresh balady bread—or served in a bowl
Falafel bowls with pickled cucumbers, turnips, olives, and homemade tahina sauce.
Comforting and hearty Egyptian lentil soup
⭐️ Capital Picks
🌄 Gonzales Hill view, all the way to Mt. Baker [Doug Clement Photography]
👔 Anian is half-off: The local high-end recycled-textile clothing company, which Capital Daily profiled in 2022, is doing its twice-a-year warehouse sale.
🌊 What’s this weird stuff on the dock? Nudibranch eggs! [Owl & Bear]
