Jan 9 - Smart PR 101 from the Grizzlies

Good morning !

Last night, Victoria’s city council greenlit the Capital Iron land project.
That’s the mixed-use redevelopment proposal that would bring 600+ new housing units—and a whole lot more—to the north of downtown. I wasn’t available to get down to City Hall to cover this, but as always, CHEK-TV was all over it and has the goods right here.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☁️ 8 / 5 

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 8 / 7

Sunday: 🌧️ 9 / 7

7-day forecast

NEWS

Victoria Grizzlies to turn humiliating loss into a fan appreciation night

The BC Hockey League club’s president says he was so embarrassed by his team’s recent 11-2 shellacking at the hands of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, he decided he had to make amends.

“You ever go to a movie, and you pay all that money and walk out and go, ‘that sucks’?” David Michaud rhetorically asks Capital Daily.

“Obviously, they're not giving you a refund because the flick was bad. But, you know, for me, I did see it as an opportunity.”

And so, in an uncommon gesture from the wide world of sports—seen on rare occasions in European football—anyone who watched the Griz get owned “pillar to post” on New Year’s Day afternoon is asked to come back to watch tonight’s rematch—on the house.

“You know, hopefully, nobody came away from that game saying, ‘Well, that was a waste of time, and I’m never coming back,’” Michaud tells Capital Daily.

“But just in case there were a few of those, then maybe this will, you know, soften that blow a little bit and get them back into the Q.”

Michaud himself was among the disappointed 1,200 or so at the Q Centre last Thursday. In fact, he walked out. 

“This is my 15th year running a hockey team, and you can't control wins and losses, but you can control effort, and I just did not like our effort on New Year's Day.”

The next day, he let his players have it. And whatever he said worked. The following evening, the Grizzlies beat the league’s best team, the Cowichan Valley Capitals, 8-7 in overtime. 

Michaud said he spoke with a few other league governors before announcing the freebie special. 

“They thought I was crazy, but we had a good chuckle about it, too.”

It’s a sharp PR campaign in keeping with the Grizzlies’ goal of making the game accessible. The club has a deal with Maxxam Insurance; anyone 18 or under, accompanied by an adult, gets into games for free.

“As I often joke, it's junior hockey. We're not curing cancer here—this is meant to be fun and a great experience for our families.”

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Recall: Co-op Gold brand Cream Cheese Creamy Frosting due to undeclared milk. [Details]

Saanich single-lane alternating traffic: Near 613 Kent, near Carey, 9am-3pm today.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Victoria council wants BC marine strategy to become law

Victoria council voted unanimously yesterday to have Mayor Marianne Alto write a letter to BC Premier David Eby, calling on the province to enshrine its Marine Coast Strategy into law.

The motion aligns with similar advocacy from Saanich, Langford, and the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM). Saanich and Langford councils passed motions in February to endorse codifying the strategy, and in December, both municipalities brought the same motion to the UBCM, whose executive endorsed it. 

Coun. Jeremy Caradonna, who introduced yesterday’s motion, wrote that codifying the roadmap is necessary to “ensure the long-term efficacy and durability of the strategy.”

After more than two years of public consultations, including discussions with First Nations, the province released its strategy in the summer of 2024. The approach outlines environmental goals for BC’s coast over the next 20 years, with key pillars including habitat restoration, climate change resiliency, and economic opportunities.

The province calls it the “first made-in-BC holistic vision for the coastal marine environment.” Before its creation, BC was one of the only coastal jurisdictions in North America not to have a long-term plan in place for its marine habitats.

“Without legislation, these actions risk delay or inconsistent application, undermining the strategy’s vision,” Caradonna wrote.

In their motions, both Caradonna and the UBCM highlight that, if it doesn’t become law, the strategy could end up on the back burner as other priorities arise for the provincial government. 

“Codifying the strategy into law would support its success and longevity rather than leaving it dependent on the priorities of the government of the day,” reads the UBCM endorsement motion.

Read the full story here.

CORRECTION: A story published in this space yesterday incorrectly identified an estimated price tag of the Capital Iron lands redevelopment. The figure should have read $800M.

SPONSORED BY BELFRY THEATRE

Upcoming Performances at the Belfry Theatre

In February, the Belfry will present the acclaimed production of Maanomaa, My Brother (My Bird, My Brother) by Tawiah M’Carthy and Brad Cook with Anne-Marie Donovan. Set in Ghana, it explores how two lifelong friends confront the past. Intermission Magazine says, “Bluntly, the piece is superb.”

The SPARK Festival returns with two outstanding pieces: Benevolence by Kevin Matthew Wong (March 10-14) and Big Stuff by Matt Baram, Naomi Snieckus, and Kat Sandler (March 10-21).

The 50th Anniversary Season will close with Nick Green’s powerful and funny new play, Casey and Diana. It chronicles Princess Diana’s visit to Casey House—Canada’s first hospice for men dying of AIDS—in 1991.

The Belfry offers Pay-What-You-Want tickets to every performance.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🐟 24th salmon carcass transplant at Douglas Creek Bridge tomorrow 10am-12pm. [PKOLS-Mount Doug Conservancy]

🧲 Ready for opportunities? Get real-world skills, train with experts, and show up career-ready with Continuing Studies at UVic.*

🏅 BC’s top honours: Nominate an outstanding British Columbian in your life for the province’s highest awards: The Order of BC and The Medal of Good Citizenship. [Details]

🦉 Start the year looking up. Learn about birds, support conservation, and be part of something meaningful with Rocky Point Bird Observatory. Join us.*

📚 Sunday hours begin this weekend at the GVPL Central Branch.

🍽 Victoria’s favourite culinary festival is back! Kick off the Dine Around season with its Gala Launch on Jan. 22 from 5 to 8pm.*

*Sponsored Listing

SPONSORED BY WEST COAST PRO PAINTING

Refresh Your Home in 2026!

West Coast Pro Painting is now scheduling interior and exterior painting for 2026. From detailed prep to final walkthroughs, their professional crews provide reliable timelines, premium materials, and clean, consistent results homeowners can feel confident investing in.

🗞️ In Other News

Oily spill off Nanaimo coastline: cleanup underway
Hundreds of litres of an unidentified substance that is believed to have come from a commercial waste disposal operation have made for an oily sheen on the water between Duke Point and Mudge Island, just south of Nanaimo. Transport Canada got an aerial view and pegged the sheen at between 350 and 1,600 litres. Booms have been set up, and the provincial government said the spill appeared to be contained. [CTV]

Pedestrian seriously injured at Hillside and Quadra
VicPD is looking for witnesses and dashcam footage after a woman was struck at the intersection on Wednesday, just before 6pm. Police were contacted by BC Emergency Health Services after the collision and were told the driver sped off before officers arrived at the scene. The woman was sent to the hospital for treatment of serious injuries. [VicPD]

Victoria Curling Club takes BC provincial gold and heads to the Scotties
Taylor Rees-Hansen’s foursome rode the close-to-home ice advantage of the Esquimalt Curling Club to win the women’s provincial curling championship last weekend and will represent BC at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts Canadian playdowns later this month in Mississauga. Jason Montgomery skipped his Victoria Curling Club team to silver in the men’s, with the Richmond/Kamloops team advancing to next month’s Brier in St. John’s. For the first time, the U20 championships piggybacked on the provincials. Hannah Bartlett’s Victoria/Kelowna Curling Club took silver in the women’s, and Keiran Stephan’s Victoria Curling Club rink won bronze in the men’s. [CurlBC]

SPONSORED BY SHAWNIGAN RETREATS

Your escape on Vancouver Island

Shawnigan Retreats offers the perfect cozy retreat for family gatherings or romantic getaways. Nestled by the serene Shawinigan Lake, our luxurious accommodations feature a sauna, hot tub, games room with ping pong, cards, and board games, and even a private pickleball court. Enjoy nearby hikes through breathtaking nature and unwind in comfort. With space for up to 18 guests, Shawnigan Retreats promises an unforgettable experience.

Explore Shawnigan Retreats and plan your getaway today. Learn more about Shawnigan Retreats.

🗓️ Things To Do

🚢🎹 Mini Mariner Mornings—Ocean Orchestra: Explore music in everyday objects and ocean sounds through movement, dance, and play, then create your own handmade musical instrument. Maritime Museum of BC. Tomorrow. 10-11am. [Info]

🚢🛍️ Fabric Printmaking Workshop: Carve your own ocean-inspired linocut stamp and apply it to fabric, taking home both your carved block and a printed tea towel or tote bag. Maritime Museum of BC. Tomorrow. 1:30-3:30pm. [Info]

🎷The Josh Warren Quintet: Victoria-born bassist Josh Warren returns from Toronto with high-energy jazz spanning original material and songs by Kenny Garrett, John Scofield, and Pat Metheny. Hermann's Jazz Club. Tomorrow. Doors 5:30pm, show 7-9pm. [Info]

🎵 Low Boys // Summer Babe // Hot Chicken Salad: A night of fierce indie rock featuring searing death blues, heavy fuzz core, and grunge riffage from Victoria's longest-running band. The Coda. Tomorrow. Doors 6pm, show 6:30-8:30pm. [Info]

😆 Phil Hanley: The NYC comedy scene regular and Instagram sensation brings his standup to Victoria, featuring the observational humour that's earned him millions of views. McPherson Playhouse. Tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

🤣 Hecklers Presents: Arthur Simeon: Saturday night comedy featuring top comics from across Canada and beyond, with early and late shows. Hecklers Bar & Grill. Tomorrow. 7pm and 10pm. [Info]

🎨 Art Battle Victoria: Live, competitive painting. In three fast-paced rounds, artists battle the clock and each other to create their best work in just 20 minutes. Capital Ballroom. Tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: Pick-up truck, trailers, and a wood chipper among $140K in stolen construction equipment recovered in Westshore; Final public hearing on Capital Irons land project; Salmon stall on Bowker Creek. [Jan. 8]

Royal Victoria Yacht Club names Princess Anne its official patron. [CHEK]   

Photo released of suspect in Oak Bay cellphone and wallet theft. [Times Colonist]

Canadian air travel to US slumps, including from Vancouver, where YVR is busy, busy, busy—for flights to Asia. [CTV]

New federal pleasure craft licensing requirements.

That’s it!

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