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- July 14 - Vic rent keeps rising, even as BC levels off
July 14 - Vic rent keeps rising, even as BC levels off
72 parks to visit. Rocky waters for dragon boat event. Weekend events. Missing local sailors reportedly found dead in raft.
Good morning !
We are moving through yet another hot and busy weekend. What are you up to?
— Cam
Are you doing any local events this weekend? |
Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
NEWS
As many expensive markets level off, Victoria rent still rising
James Bay housing. File photo: James MacDonald / Capital Daily
Victoria one-beds are up more than 5% from a year ago, and two-beds are up more than 7%. That’s per the latest Rentals.ca report, which has Victoria rent rising since last summer—despite BC as a whole plateauing with a 0% change.
Greater Victoria is now at $2,178 for advertised one-bedroom rentals (8th in Canada) and $2,859 for two-beds (6th in Canada). That remains similar to, but above, the price seen last year and in 2020 before a pandemic-related dip.
These numbers refer to the average being asked for vacant units, not the average being paid currently. But large gaps between new and existing leases (which Victoria has often exhibited in recent years) can help fuel increases in eviction (legal or otherwise).
Expensive BC may be plateauing—for now
BC and Ontario have long been Canada’s highest-rent provinces by far, but much of the more recent national rent growth has been from other provinces surging in price. BC and Ont. have largely remained at the same (very expensive) level for the past year, while Canada as a whole rose 9% and Alberta, Sask., and Atlantic Canada all rose by double digits.
Greater Victoria, though, is an exception: one of only two major BC/Ontario local markets to rise at least 5% for both one- and two-beds in last Wednesday’s new monthly report.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Blue-green algae bloom ends for Thetis and Elk lakes, but remains at Beaver lake. [CRD]
Take care on roads, BC Coroner says, after 19 deaths in under a week.
Campfire ban is now active.
Victoria 4 Edmonton 10: HarbourCats lose on Sat.
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
NEWS
New tool helps you explore all 72 Sooke parks
Sooke Rotary Pier. Photo: John Newcomb / Wikimedia
Visitors will have an easier time exploring Sooke’s 72 parks with its new Parks Finder Map, updated online (and now on mobile) as of July 9.
The Parks Finder Map lists trails, amenities, and green spaces by using maps and data collected from unofficial documents of the District of Sooke, among other sources. While not suggested as a direct navigational tool, the map provides basic info and tips. With a list of parks on the right-hand side, the new layout lets users more easily look through all of the parks instead of searching for each one.
The Parks Finder Maps have added an advanced search with the ability to filter parks based on your needs, and when visitors find a park they can see detailed information including amenities, location, and description. An upcoming feature would also add a filter to identify shaded areas and cooling stations in parks.
NEWS
Gorge saves Nanaimo dragon boat races
Today is a second day of competitive paddling on a watery raceway between the Bay Bridge and Selkirk Trestle. This weekend’s new South Island Dragon Boat Festival comes a month before the main Victoria Dragon Boat Festival, and is the result of the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club hosting what is usually the Nanaimo Dragon Boat event at home.
The race director said the loss of post-COVID grants made 2024’s event too costly, but that they hope to return to Nanaimo for 2025. The Paddling Club is hosting this weekend out of its own facilities, to save money.
Nanaimo regatta saved, then lost again
Meanwhile, the original Nanaimo event was back on schedule in a pared-down form: a single day and 200m, not 500m, races. But less than 10 of the races went ahead yesterday, as the event was paused and later canceled due to caution around the high winds and rough waves that rolled in.
There will be a Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Fest in late Aug. as a follow-up to this event.
⭐️ Capital Picks
🌅 Calm morning in the Inner Harbour captured by Doug Clement. [Photo]
🧉 8 places to grab a cool drink in Victoria amid this heat. [Tasting Victoria]
🦉 Got your nose! One Island owl pranks another. [Robert Fraser photo]
🧥 Wool shirt sale: Anian, the expensive local recycled-wool clothier whose green-fashion endeavour Capital Daily has covered in the past, is having a rare 20-60% off sale.
🤝 Now hiring: Irrigation Trades Assistant at The Butchart Gardens.
🗞️ In Other News
James Bay tower proposal shrinks to 14 storeys
Council narrowly advanced the 108-unit residential project, 5 to 4, and is now willing to consider an OCP exception for it after rejecting a 17-storey version last year. [Times Colonist]
Bodies found in Nova Scotia waters believed to be Salt Spring couple
A month after missing sailors Brett Clibbery and Sarah Packwood set off for the Azores islands in the mid-Atlantic, human remains were found in what is believed to be their vessel’s inflatable life boat. [Gulf Islands Driftwood]
Cruise limits in Alaska capital could benefit Victoria
Better environmental practices have led to ships visiting Ogden Point later in the day and more briefly. But if banned on “Ship-Free Saturdays" in Juneau, they may spend more time here again, Harbour Authority says. [VicNews]
UVic student’s death prompts changes at Ontario schools
Ont.’s deputy minister of colleges and institutions cited local student Sidney McIntyre-Starko’s fatal overdose in a memo asking 50+ institutions to update their drug-safety policies, including Naloxone access. [Vancouver Sun]
🗓️ Things to do
🎭 SKAMpede: The outdoor live performance festival returns with venues across the Galloping Goose trail, Songhees Park, and Songhees Walkway. Performances will include comedy, dance, puppetry and more. Today. [Info]
🇲🇽 Festival Mexicano: This festival celebrating Mexican culture will take place at Ship Point in the Inner Harbour. Today. 11am-6pm. [Info]
👚 ReLove Market: Shop secondhand and vintage clothes and accessories in Market Square. Today. 11am-5pm. [Info]
🎹 Great American Songbook Trio: Pianist Louise Rose, bassist Joey Smith, and drummer Kelby MacNayr will perform classic jazz tunes at Hermann’s Jazz Club. Today. Doors 12pm. Show 1pm. [Info]
🎵 Music in the Park: The Earthly Delights will perform reggae and rock tunes at the Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park. Today. 1:30-3:30pm. [Info]
🏖 Sidney Summer Sounds: The Sunday concert series welcomes Chris Millington Band to the Beacon Park stage. 2-4pm.
🗣 Rendez-vous Victoria: Concert Qairo, 7pm-10pm at VEC.
👀 In Case You Missed It
Chief’s seat returned to Heiltsuk by RBCM after 113 years. [Capital Daily]
Sat. headlines: Royal Roads gets record-setting gift. Whale loses its tail. Anti-Muslim threats at UVic. [July 13]
Underwater mountains west of the Island will now be protected. [Capital Daily]
Full parade stream from Pride one week ago. [CHEK YouTube]
150+ fires in BC, including one sparked by fireworks in Nanaimo. [CP]
Canada narrowly loses to Uruguay in third-place soccer match at Copa America. [TSN]
Latest on Trump rally shooting in USA. [AP]
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