July 20 - 80,000 eyes on local art

Good morning !

Some people say that when life closes a door it opens a window. Well, if the reverse is true then a lot of doors must have been wide open yesterday—because Windows abruptly closed around the world.

BC was no exception to Friday's global cyber-problems, which affected travel and work across multiple sectors. More on that below, plus stories on one of the biggest gatherings of artists in this part of the country and one of the biggest gatherings of superheros outside a comic book.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️ 28 / 15 

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 29 / 15

Monday: ☀️ 24 / 13

7-day forecast

NEWS

Global Windows outage hits Island institutions

BC’s health system was among those affected on Friday by an apparent flawed cybersecurity update (rather than deliberate cyber-attack). The CrowdStrike outage struck a crowd of different clients worldwide, from airlines and airports to health providers—derailing Microsoft Windows and leaving computers with the infamous “blue screen of death.”

Island Health said Friday that it implemented contingency plans to ensure services stay operational so as not to disrupt patient care. The health authority asked the public to direct any questions to your health care providers but to not call hospital switchboards.

Health Minister Adrian Dix said the outage had a “profound impact" on BC health workers, affecting 50,000 devices and forcing staff to go back to running hospitals and other facilities by pen and paper for the day. Premier Eby said that fire, 911, and police were unaffected, but that BC family benefit payments may be delayed.

Some airlines have been affected—in Canada, primarily Porter—so YYJ suggests you contact your carrier if in doubt about a flight.

The CRD was also affected, but had the situation under control around noon and said public services should not be affected. 

BC Ferries said it had no issues.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Algae warning for Beaver Lake expanded to Prior Lake in Thetis Park. [CRD]

Possible rain tomorrow, before a sunny low-20s week.

Moss St closed 10:30am-5pm today from Fort to Clover (and from Clover to Dallas for construction).

Demonstrations downtown: Expect traffic disruptions and CCTV deployment [today 2-4pm] due to Palestine rally beginning on Legislature lawn.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

35th Paint-In gathers 160 artists—and aims for 40,000 visitors

Moss Street is closed today as the annual Art Gallery event sets up artwork all the way from Fort down to Clover in one of the biggest street-based art festivals in the country. Until 4pm, artists from all around the Island region will be showing their work outdoors, doing live painting, and selling art of all kinds (not just paintings).

This map outlines all the spots you can visit.

The home-base location is the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, which is putting on the Paint-In for the 35th year. Based on the record attendance last year, it expects 40,000 people to visit the one-day event—which serves as a primary fundraiser for the AGGV. It will host a beer garden and main stage [11-6pm] with Lekwungen and Ukranian dancing, fiddles, ukuleles, DJs, and more.

The gallery is also offering entry by donation and hosting four curator-led half-hour tours:

• Noon - A View From Here: Reimagining the AGGV Collections (Indigenous and Canadian Art)

• 1pm - A View From Here: Reimagining the AGGV Collections (Asian Art - in English)

• 2pm - Generations: The Sobey Family and Canadian Art

• 3pm - A View From Here: Reimagining the AGGV Collections (Asian Art - in Mandarin)

More info here.

NEWS

Superheroes of Victoria to take over Starlight Stadium today

The Superheroes of Victoria started as a charity group in 1999, hoping to raise awareness for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and their Be a Superhero Campaign. Now the group is celebrating its 15th anniversary with the Super Summer Kids Camp in support of the BC Children’s Hospital Fundraiser event today at Starlight Stadium. 

The event is set to be the “biggest-ever super summer kids day,” and will be a by-donation event filled with fun activities for all ages and abilities. Partnering with the City of Langford, Funtime Inflatables, the Q, and the Zone 91.3, the super team is super looking forward to the community coming together for a day of fun in support of a good cause.

"What better way to help a superhero campaign than with actual superheroes,” said Mark Ashfield, the founder and executive director of Superheroes of Victoria. 

The event has a by-donation entry fee and will go from 10am to 3pm. Guests can check out a range of activities including eight food vendors, music, a dunk tank, and live performances. 

Read all about it in the Westshore.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

 🏈 Westshore Rebels kick off BCFC season in Kamloops. 

🍦 Better Acres Ice Cream has opened at 1019 Government.

🚲 18th Victoria Grandmothers for Africa Cycle Tour. [Register here🤣]

🌊 Discover the forefront of Pacific Canada's sustainable blue economy at COAST. Follow us on LinkedIn for exciting updates, and innovative initiatives shaping the ocean's future.*

🤝 Now hiring: Irrigation Trades Assistant at The Butchart Gardens.

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

James Bay, Sidney more vulnerable to extreme heat: CRD
A CRD study, along with resident feedback suggest a greater proportion of citizens in these communities are vulnerable to extreme heat due to age, income, and health condition. That leaves them potentially more susceptible to heatstroke, dehydration, and heat exhaustion. Both areas have many buildings that retain heat. Many older homes in James Bay don’t have A/C, for example. [Black Press]

Tofino crash victims were California veterinarians on annual BC fishing trip
The pilot and passenger who died in Thursday's crash were both animal doctors from the same area, CHEK reports. The third person on the plane, which was taking off to return Stateside, remains in critical condition in hospital and has not been publicly identified.

BC boarder sets unofficial electric skateboard records on trip to Island
Bradley Smith arrived on the peninsula from Saskatchewan, having traveled 15,000+km through heat, wind, rain, and even a tornado warning. The Guinness attempt was done to honour his late father—who he says was with him in spirit the whole way. [CTV] 

🗓️ Things to do

🏀 Streetball tournament: Boomtown and 33 Acres Brewing Company are hosting a three-on-three, co-ed streetball tournament at Boomtown. Today. 12pm until late. [Info]

🎨 Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s 35th annual Paint-In: See Island artists create work in real-time, with activities, music, food, and a beer garden. Moss Street. Today. AGGV opens at 10am. Paint-in at 11am. [Info]

📚 Little Free Library to receive 100Kth book. Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network (GVPN) and the delivery of book No. 100K. Rutledge Park. Today. Noon-2pm. [Info]

🎥 Perfect Days at Cinecenta: The Oscar-nominated Japanese & German film is at UVic’s Cincenta Theatre today at 5pm & 7:30pm. [Info] 

🚘 Jaguars on the Island: Concours d’Elegance. The Jaguar Car Club of Victoria (JCCV) celebrates Jaguar automobiles old and new, and the enthusiasts who love them. Windsor Park. Today. 9am-3pm. [Info]

🚗 24th Annual Oak Bay Collector Car Festival. More than 300 cars of all types, vintages, and condition. Meet other owners and discuss backstories and experiences of these special cars. Oak Bay Ave. Tomorrow. 8am-3pm. [Info]

💪 One X Three: An Evening of Extraordinary Solos (Victoria Edition): Join us for a night of edge-pushing solo performances: Three performers, three extraordinary solos, and three new vistas on reality. Camosun College Lansdowne campus. Today. 7-8:30pm. [Info]

🎭 Last day to do Much Ado: The Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival wraps its run on Lampson School field. Today. 6:30pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday headlines: Plane crash kills two in Tofino; Would-be thief uses forklift in botched bike theft; Construction underway on Blanshard; And more. [July 19]

Saanich will make you pay to apply for an ALR exemption. [Capital Daily]

Wildfires take their toll on BC salmon. [Capital Daily]

10-15% chance ‘Big One’ could hit BC in next 50 years: earthquake expert. [CTV]

Busking in Victoria survey. [Register/Take survey]

Original Pho has opened its second location at 807 Fort, in the old Chorizo & Co. location.

That’s it!

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