July 2 - Tim Durkin may soon be deported

Good morning !

Today we have an update to an award-winning story we released more than three years ago. “The Man Who Stole a Hotel” focused on the man who had taken over the Sooke Harbour House, and the latest from Tori Marlan looks at whether he will be able to remain in Canada.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today:  ☀️ 22 / 12

Tomorrow: ☀️ 21 / 12

Day after: ☀️ 23 / 13

7-day forecast

NEWS

After court ruling, Timothy Durkin may soon be deported for organized criminality

The $4 million in damages he was ordered to pay the Sooke Harbour House hotel owners remains unpaid. But the man who gained control of the local landmark, mistreating and misleading numerous others along the way, may soon be removed from the country.

The deportation order issued last year stems from his involvement in a Ponzi scheme. Durkin has attempted a sequence of legal maneuvers to remain in the country, until a Federal Court Judge issued an unappealable order last month.

But there remains one last hurdle to Durkin’s deportation.

Read the details in Tori Marlan’s latest update on the multi-year Durkin saga.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Heat could hit 30C this weekend. It’s a warm week, but expect temps to be 5C cooler near water today and tomorrow.

Humpback entangled near Campbell River; DFO is seeking help locating Vector in order to free him. [Info]

Current Victoria road projects: [Construction map]

Heart & Hands Health Collective is closed for repairs, and seeks donations, after windows broken by thrown rocks. [Post]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Internet improvements coming to Victoria, Oak Bay, and Westshore

Telus has announced it will invest $25M in Langford, Victoria, and Oak Bay this year. This is part of the company’s broader $17B half-decade plan to enhance wireless connectivity and expand its PureFibre network across BC.

Internet access along the Westshore has historically been spotty—an inconvenient reality for residents but also a safety risk for hikers, surfers, and campers. In 2022, BC put $5M toward a project led by Rogers to bring better cell service to a 70km stretch of Hwy 14 between Sooke and Port Renfrew. 

Part of push for internet across BC

In March 2022, BC and Canada announced a partnership to invest $415M each toward high-speed connectivity infrastructure projects in rural and remote areas. Around 4% of BC households do not have internet at the 50/10 Mbps target speed. The Connecting Communities BC program has a 2027 target for getting all underserved households and First Nations communities access to high-speed internet.

New tech promises more efficiency

Telus claims the ORAN technology (Open Radio Access Network) it will be bringing to Langford enhances its 5G network’s reliability and efficiency but cuts its energy consumption. To do this, it uses an algorithm to essentially turn on and off some nodes of a network based on time of day and consumption.

Read more at The Westshore.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🐹 Hungry guinea pigs, sleepy goats, and other creatures from Beacon Hill. [Photos]

⛱ Best local patios: These 6 local restaurants were named to OpenTable top 100. [Tasting Victoria]

🔮 Jellyfish at sunrise and other sights from Esquimalt Lagoon. [Doug Clement]

🦉 Owls & owlets near Nanaimo. [VanIsleWildlife]

🤝 Now hiring: Organizing Coordinator at Dogwood. [Last day to apply; intake closes at noon]

🗞️ In Other News

Victoria will spend $2.4M to help build 140-unit affordable project
The “Village on the Green” project on Johnson has been given more than half of the city's Victoria Housing Reserve Fund money. The city is giving 3x more than it usually would per unit, with councillors citing the number of family-sized units and the risk of delays causing further expense. [Times Colonist]

Heart transplant saves Langford student’s life—twice
Evanne Fisher had a heart defect as a baby and received a new heart, then had a heart attack at age 8 and needed another one. But now, at 19, she's poised to graduate UBC due to being saved by organ donors. [CHEK]

Central Saanich man looks to beat 214K others in poker tourney
Edward Bergman was entered via a $1,200 satellite tournament and now eyes a grand prize of up to $12M. [Times Colonist]

🗓️ Things to do

🐕 Big Gay Dog Walk: The popular Pride event returns tomorrow.

🎭 Much Ado About Nothing continues at Craigdarroch Castle this week before moving to Lampson school field for “Bard Across the Bridge.” [Info]

🛳 Music at Ship Point: Iaaain performs today at 6pm at the Inner Harbour, then HOT POT tomorrow at 5pm and Conjure Hand on Thursday at 6pm.

🎶 Music in Beacon Hill: Tasha Cadence at 6pm and Frances Hope at 7pm. Then, tomorrow, Mister Mojo at 11am.

📽 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly today and tomorrow at 6:30pm at Cinecenta. Later this week: Terry Gilliam's Brazil, Lawrence of Arabia, and Tarkovsky’s Stalker. [Schedule]

🎙 Provincial Heritage Fair: RBCM hosts kids from across BC as they make presentations on Canadian history topics. [Weds. Noon-1:30pm]

🥖 Rendez-vous! Music in Bastion Square in the courtyard of the Madison de la francophonie every Thursday. This week: Miguelito Valdes Trio at 5pm. [Series / info]

💿 LOVEGARDEN Pride Party at Kwench on Saturday. [Tickets]

📆 What's happening this week? Subscribe to This Week In Vic to get the full event list.

👀 In Case You Missed It

The future of fireworks: Does last night's drone light show suggest a shift in how summer celebrations light up the sky? [Capital Daily]

Drag Baseball extravaganza: Victoria's wacky and wild annual Memorial Drag Ball Game. [Capital Daily]

Sunday news: Running from Victoria to Sooke. Flavour Trails coming to Saanich. [June 30]

The Trial Islands lighthouse surrounded by seabirds. [James MacDonald]

Summer bus schedule is underway: See it here.

That’s it!

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