Good morning {{First name}}!
There’s been another area dog attack—this time, dog-on-dog.
CHEK News reports a Rottweiler attacked a Yorkshire-poodle cross last weekend at Mile Zero. The little dog didn’t make it. The owner is devastated—and he’s calling for stricter leash laws and more responsible pet ownership.
— Mark
Do you think there should be stricter leashing regulations in Greater Victoria?
Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes
🌡 Weather Forecast
NEWS
Hey Happy to open new location on Cook
Hey Happy is set to open in the former Starbucks location. Photo: Mark Brennae / Capital Daily
The former Starbucks Coffee location in Cook Street Village, which has sat empty since it closed in September, is getting a new—and far more local—tenant.
Hey Happy is gearing up to open its third location in Victoria this winter, bringing one of the city’s favourite coffee spots to a neighbourhood that co-owner Rob Kettner says has been on the cafe’s bucket list for some time.
“We're just so stoked to be in Cook Street Village,” Kettner told Capital Daily. “It's a place that we've had our eye on forever.
“It feels good to potentially be, you know, an anchoring location for such a great neighbourhood.”
Kettner says his team wasn’t in the market for a new location—it currently has shops on Johnson and at Uptown—but when the building’s owners, Jawl Properties, reached out about a potential tenancy on Cook, it was a no-brainer to strike a deal.
Kettner says Jawl Properties was determined to bring local talent to the space and even turned down interest from bigger companies.
“Apparently, there were a number of Vancouver—to even more national—brands interested in it, but they were adamant that a local company go into the space,” says Kettner.
“It was a really easy decision for us.”
⚠ Capital Bulletin
Missing person: Ashlynne, 37, was last seen June 23 on Rockland. [VicPD]
VicPD seeks video footage in hit-and-run on Caledonia.
Campfire ban begins tomorrow for most of the Coastal Fire Centre. Category 1 fires will be permitted in the Campbell River Forest and North Island Central Coast Forest districts. [BC Gov]
Saanich road closure: Linwood between Cook and Tolmie through Friday, 9am-3pm.
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
On the water today? Check the tide times for Victoria.
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NEWS
Gimme Shelter: almost 100 new bus stands going up at city stops
A new Astral shelter on the left and a new BC Transit shelter on the right. Photos: City of Victoria
The shelters—98 in all, including 10 at new locations—are being installed at no cost to the city. The new shelters will each have a bench, be wheelchair-accessible, and meet accessibility standards.
“Market analysis has shown shelters, and improvements at bus stops are among the top five enhancements needed to encourage new riders to transit,” the city says in its Sustainable City newsletter.
“We want to make it easier and safer for people to choose transit and other sustainable ways to get around the city,” says John Hicks, the city’s manager of transportation planning. “Modern shelters mean a more comfortable place to wait.”
The city says most transit shelters have a 20-year lifespan, and these have reached the end of theirs.
BC Transit is paying for 20 of the structures while Astral Media Outdoor will foot the bill for the other 78, including two with green roofs and 30 with digital advertising, which will generate revenue for the city.
The first digital ad shelter was erected on Douglas near Yates at the end of May.
The locations chosen for new shelters where there previously weren’t any were made based on ridership levels. Their locations:
Burdett at Douglas (eastbound)
Yates at Vancouver (westbound)
Quadra at Balmoral (northbound)
Burnside at Napier (southbound)
Quadra at Mason (northbound)
Quadra at Empress (southbound)
Shelbourne at Haultain (northbound)
Foul Bay at Richardson (southbound)
Shelbourne at Pearl (southbound)
Quadra at Topaz (southbound)
⭐️ Capital Picks
⚾ WCL All-Star Game is tonight at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP.
🏀 Canada’s national women’s team vs. UCLA on July 22 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
🐶 Day of the Dog on Dallas is Aug. 16 11am-4pm.
🎪 Epidermis Circus puppet cabaret is Sept. 16 in Sidney.
🏠 Seniors and their families are thinking ahead about a home’s long-term fit for aging in place. This free screening guide helps with the process.* Sponsored Listing
🗞 In Other News
Police looking for cyclist who reportedly harasses women on Galloping Goose
According to Crime Stoppers, the man allegedly targets women, repeating inappropriate comments when no males are around. He’s described as white, approximately 55 to 65 years old, slim and tall, with grey and brown hair. He rides a silver bike and wears a dark-coloured helmet. Anyone with information on this man is asked to contact Saanich Police at 250-475-4321 or Crime Stoppers anonymously online or at 1-800-222-8477 and refer to File 26-8007. [CHEK]
Esquimalt council clears the way for 34-home co-housing community
The rezoning of 1140-1148 Esquimalt Road will allow Vancouver- and Seattle-based company Township to erect a six-storey building. It will feature 34 privately owned homes, with indoor and outdoor common spaces for residents to gather for shared connection. Esquimalt Village Cohousing is currently welcoming new members and is holding public information meetings this summer. Find more at www.evcohousing.ca.
Sidney approves extreme-weather shelter for 3 years
The council approved a temporary permit for an extreme-weather shelter at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church. The shelter will operate out of the church’s meeting hall and will only open between Oct. 15 and April 14 during weather events that put the district’s homeless population at risk. The shelter will be open for an estimated 13 nights a year. It was originally proposed to be housed in Wakefield Manor, a seniors' home, but that was rejected last year when residents and community members raised concerns. [Times Colonist]
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🗓 Things To Do
🍅 Bastion Square Market: A local market running through the summer season. Bastion Square. Today. 11am–6pm. [Info]
🎶 Mister Mojo: Free children's music and entertainment, part of the Wednesday summer series running through August. Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park. Today. 11am–12pm. [Info]
🌊 Sea Glass Jewelry Workshop: A hands-on workshop using locally sourced sea glass to create a wearable piece of jewelry, with no experience necessary and all materials provided. Maritime Museum of BC. Today. 2–3:15pm. [Info]
🌮 Oaklands Sunset Market: A weekly evening market running through the summer. Oaklands Community Centre. Today. 4:30–8pm. [Info]
🎵 Garden City Harmony: A drop-in choir for everyone, singing indie, pop, rock, and folk songs in simple harmony. No experience necessary. Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park. Today. 5–7pm. [Info]
🎸 Gigtoria Presents: Slash Need, Hedonist, Dastard, and Exotic Dancer. CFUV 101.9 FM and the City of Victoria showcase Victoria’s independent music scene with an all-ages, free concert series including a food and licensed beverage area. Today. Centennial Square. 6-10pm. [Info]
👐 Victoria Jazz Jam: The Tom Vickery Trio hosts Victoria's monthly jazz jam, open to musicians of all levels. The Coda. Today. 6:30–8:30pm. [Info]
🪴 StratCann Vancouver Island B2B Event: A cannabis industry networking and collaboration session. Edelweiss Club. Tomorrow. 9am-4pm. [Info]
🎭 Arts Alive Along Oak Bay Ave: Enjoy an evening of music, art and community in an open‑air gallery featuring artists working in stone, metal, glass, ceramic, mosaic and mixed media. Oak Bay Ave. Tomorrow. 6-9pm. [Info]
🏠 Habitat for Humanity Victoria: Family Information Session. Learn about Habitat for Humanity’s affordable homeownership program and upcoming Irwin development in Langford. July 21. 6:30-8:30pm. [Info]
👀 In Case You Missed It
Tuesday’s headlines: New RBCM exhibits feature our ocean; CRD directors call for AI study; Sooke-based pilot dies fighting wildfire in Colorado. [July 14]
Missing teen: Jahmai (Nathan), 15, was last seen in Oak Bay on July 10. [OBPD]
Food recall: Chongqing Hot and Sour Sauce, due to undeclared peanut.
A magnitude 4.2 quake hits north of the Island. [CHEK]
Construction on permanent military housing set to begin at CFB Esquimalt. [Times Colonist]
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Paint-In on Moss is this Saturday.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream plays at Craigdarroch Castle until July 25.
Douglas Street, 1948: See some familiar buildings on the downtown street, nearly 80 years ago. [Facebook photo]
That’s it!
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