Good morning {{First name}}!

A campfire ban is back in place for the Coastal Fire Centre starting today. Most of the Island is included in the ban, except the Campbell River Forest and North Island Central Coast Forest districts, where Category 1 fires are still permitted.

Hopefully this doesn’t ruin anyone’s plans for marshmallow toasting this weekend!

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

Today: 🌦️ 20 / 14

Tomorrow: ⛅ 21 / 14

Day after: ☀️ 18 / 15

7-day forecast

Eagle Wing Tours, a Victoria whale-watching staple since 1997, announced yesterday that it has been acquired by Colorado-based Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality Inc. for just shy of $24M. 

Eagle Wing co-owner Brett Soberg told Capital Daily that he and his team initially had no plans to sell the business, but two years ago, around six companies came “out of the woodwork” with offers to buy.

“We certainly were not seeking to sell or even entertain the idea, but as savvy business owners, we always look at every opportunity because you just never know where it will go,” Soberg said.

“It became quite clear in the short term that Pursuit levitated high above all the other potential partners and buyers in terms of quality and the alignment on our core values.”

Soberg said he had some critical “non-negotiables” when considering an acquisition, including maintaining the current team and continuing the company’s projects both on and off the water.

One aspect that made Pursuit stand out to Soberg as a potential buyer was the company’s Promise to Place initiative, a commitment to respecting and protecting the environment and culture of the communities it works in. Soberg said these goals align with Eagle Wing’s recently launched nature strategy and with maintaining the touring company’s capital city roots.

“Victoria is a special place, and when you have quality investors and companies looking at Victoria and wanting to invest in all things wonderful about Victoria, that's meaningful,” Soberg said. 

Read on to find out what’s ahead for the whale-watching company.

Missing teen: Joshua, 15, last seen July 10 on Kings. [VicPD]

Missing woman: Rhaina, 41, last seen July 5 on Lodi. [CHEK]

Blue-green algae advisories in place for Prior Lake, Thetis Lake, and Beaver Lake. [CRD] 

Saanich road closures: 

Saanich single-lane alternating traffic: 

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

Support local journalism by supporting Capital Daily. Become a Capital Daily Insider member today and help bring local stories to life.

A Saanich family has started a GoFundMe drive after their son was allegedly assaulted in an event that his father says “will change his life.”

Gerry Scherling says his adult son was jumped from behind in Gorge Park near Craigflower Bridge on Admirals just before 5am last Saturday, July 11.

He says his son was walking a distressed woman home when he was attacked by someone wearing brass knuckles—which are illegal in Canada. 

“He ended up with a broken nose, cheekbone and eye socket and 100 stitches,” the father wrote. 

Scherling says his son—whose name has not been released—has two children and works in Esquimalt; however, his injuries are going to prevent him from earning a living right now.

“They were getting by as best as they could, in today’s environment. A very generous and kind family… they did not deserve this.”

Saanich Police have not confirmed the man’s injuries or whether brass knuckles were used—they said only that when officers responded last Saturday morning, the victim was suffering “from significant but non-life-threatening injuries.”

On Tuesday, they arrested a suspect. Kyle Dustin David Aird has been charged with one count of aggravated assault and two counts of breaching court-ordered conditions. Aird, whose age was not released, remains in custody pending a bail hearing.

None of the allegations have been proven in court. 

🎭 Arts Alive along Oak Bay Ave. is today, 6:30-9pm.  

🏈 Westshore Rebels home opener vs. Valley Huskers is Saturday, July 18 at Starlight Stadium. 

🦫 Beavers booping noses in Linley Valley. [Facebook videos]

Esquimalt mayor and councillors to be paid more after next election
Whoever succeeds Barb Desjardins as Esquimalt’s mayor will make $84,776 annually, a 20% increase, after the council approved wage increases for the next council. The increases—councillors will be paid $33,910 each year, an increase of $3,942, which means they’ll make 40% of what the mayor earns—take effect Nov. 1, following the Oct. 17 municipal election. The incoming mayor and each councillor will also continue to receive $75 each month for cellphone and internet charges. [Times Colonist]

Westshore RCMP warns to be wary of bogus Mountie letter
The fraudulent letter is meant to intimidate recipients into paying a fine to avoid being criminally charged. It falsely claims to originate from the RCMP’s National Cybercrime Coordination Centre (NC3) and other organizations and accuses the recipient of serious child sexual exploitation offences. It says if the letter isn’t responded to within 24 hours and the fines aren’t paid, their identity will be released and they will face prosecution. The RCMP says it doesn’t send threatening letters of this kind. [RCMP]

Man pinned under forklift after reportedly hitting multiple cars in Victoria
VicPD say they received several calls about a man driving a forklift “erratically” on Blanshard and on Belmont. Multiple officers, paramedics and Victoria Fire Department crews were dispatched. Upon arrival, VicPD says they found the forklift tipped over with the driver pinned underneath on Belmont. The driver was taken into custody and treated at the hospital. Police say the forklift had been reported stolen from a nearby business. [CHEK]

Enjoying our newsletter? Help us make it even better!

Become an Insider member and help keep local journalism and storytelling alive in the Capital Region.

🪡 Recycle Your Textiles: Join this talk to learn about textile reuse and how to reduce clothing waste at the Ecologyst on Douglas tonight. Bring your own clothing scraps to recycle. 5:30pm. [Info]

🎶 Music in the Garden: Hear live music from contemporary guitarist Chris Newman and keyboardist Arlo Atkinson at Abkhazi Gardens tomorrow. 1-3pm. [Info]

📖 Summer Stories in the Park: Join Esquimalt’s Recreation staff for story time and an activity in the park, meeting at the flagpole in Saxe Pointe Park tomorrow. 10am-11am. [Info]

🎨 Art Gallery Paint-in: The largest summer arts festival on Vancouver Island returns, with 180+ artists painting on Moss, a family-friendly beverage garden, and gallery exhibits. Saturday. [Info]

🦀 BC Crab Fest: Enjoy this BC Dungeness crab boil, with live music, chef demonstrations, and a family zone at Ship Point. Saturday. 11am-10pm. [Info]

🎲 Little Fernwood Game Night: Join this evening of game playing and social connection at Paul Phillips Hall. July 23. 6-9pm.  [Info]

Wednesday headlines: BC Transit and Astral footing the bill for new Victoria bus shelters; Sidney approves emergency shelter. [July 15]

Hey Happy is opening a new location in Cook Street Village. [Capital Daily]

Esquimalt caps short-term rentals at 90 nights. [Times Colonist]

Emmy for Island show: Zach Galifianakis’s gardening series, filmed in the Comox Valley, gets an Emmy nomination. [Trailer]

Canada’s national women’s team vs. UCLA is July 22 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. [Details]

Day of the Dog on Dallas is Aug. 16, 11am-4pm.

Epidermis Circus puppet cabaret is Sept. 16 in Sidney. 

If you found something useful, consider forwarding this newsletter to a fellow Victorian.

And before you go, let us know: