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- July 24 - $500K for Victoria mental health community
July 24 - $500K for Victoria mental health community
Esquimalt seeks input on its OCP. Saanich back to the drawing board for $170M operations centre.
Capital Daily Team
July 24, 2025
Good morning !
I’m about to take a much-needed vacation to the Okanagan and it has me thinking about how great it is that BC is full of idyllic getaways (especially as the Canada-US tariff dispute continues). Let us know if you’re planning to keep it local this summer!
Are you planning to take an in-province trip this summer? |
— Robyn
Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
NEWS
Province puts $500K toward Victoria
mental health non-profit
Connections Place members and staff with Health Minister Josie Osborne. Photo: Province of BC
Connections Place on Douglas is a clubhouse for people dealing with mental illness—including PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression—to find community, purpose, and get their lives back on track. This week, the province announced it will commit half a million dollars to the Victoria clubhouse to help it maintain operations.
Connections Place isn’t an exclusive club; it’s part of an international initiative to change the outlook of those dealing with mental illness and fight the stigma associated with mental-health issues. It’s certified with Clubhouse International accreditation—to maintain these standards, clubhouses must be reviewed every two years. More than 30 countries worldwide serve 100K members.
Since last year, 182 active members in Victoria accessed services at Connections Place, with more than 8K visits and 6K meals served.
Members don’t pay to take part and can keep their membership for life—the only qualification is a diagnosed mental illness.
Members can spend their day helping with the operations of the clubhouse, from cooking nutritious meals for other members to keeping the interior and exterior of the building clean. Members work with staff to foster a sense of community and purpose through volunteer work while also creating structure in their lives.
The clubhouse is intentionally understaffed, making the contributions of members essential to keep the non-profit going.
“The point of coming in is to contribute and be part of a community. To be needed,” said Michael, a Connections member. “Being able to come in here and contribute, it makes me feel better and happier.”
When work is finished for the day, members can enjoy socializing, sharing their experience of living with a mental illness, and finding solidarity in their shared struggles.
In addition to volunteer work and socializing, the clubhouse also helps members find housing, employment, and healthcare (these services aren’t provided onsite).
“Connections Place is helping transform how we support mental health in our community,” Nina Krieger, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake, said in a statement. “By creating a welcoming, recovery-oriented environment, they empower individuals to rebuild their lives, regain confidence, and feel a renewed sense of belonging.”
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Traffic signal down at Gorge and Jutland again today for BC Hydro work. Flaggers will be on-site to direct traffic. 6-11pm. [City of Victoria]
Saanich traffic advisories: See which roads are affected today. [Details]
MeeT On Blanshard restaurant to close next month.
Feral kitten with rabies found roaming in rural Chemainus. If you came in contact with an unfamiliar kitten in the area—especially if bitten or scratched—contact Island Health. [Island Health]
NEWS
Esquimalt wants input as it tweaks officially community plan
Esquimalt Council. Photo: Township of Esquimalt
Twenty months ago, the province mandated all municipalities to update their official community plan (OCP), and so if you’ve been hearing a lot about OCPs lately, that’s why.
Under Bill 44, the Residential Development Act, the province wants to ensure all municipalities meet requirements and have land-use capacity to accommodate 20 years’ worth of new housing.
Esquimalt’s current OCP “already provides sufficient land use capacity to meet the 20-year housing targets, so no changes to existing land use designations are anticipated,” the municipality said in a release, so no major updates are anticipated.
Instead, the township is considering a series of amendments to ensure it’s on the same page as the province.
“This is not a major update, but a recalibration to reflect today’s priorities,” the municipality said.
To that end, there will be a series of online gatherings and open houses, starting next Mon. There will also be two in-person events.
Esquimalt opted against offering a detailed survey and instead is soliciting feedback either at the in-person events, via its online open house, or via email to [email protected].
In keeping with Esquimalt’s planning for the future, the municipality this week launched a new economic website to attract investment. The website is set up as a hub for current businesses, potential investors, entrepreneurs, and the community to learn more about Esquimalt.
WhyEsquimalt.ca includes a business directory, local highlights, and success stories under the township’s brand, Esquimalt—The Place to Be.
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⭐️ Capital Picks
🐳 Whale-dle: The Orca Behaviour Institute has created its own whale-themed version of Wordle, with a new game every Wed. [Play]
🫂 Receiving a diagnosis of a mental illness is never easy. The Borderline Personality Disorder Society of BC is a nonprofit support group that started off in Victoria, and provides hope, treatment and community for people with BPD. Read the full article here.*
⭐ Starfish stomach: A sea star in the Ucluelet Aquarium shows off its unique feeding process: its stomach leaves its body in order to absorb a freshly caught limpet. [Facebook photos]
🏀 Ball Don’t Stop: Payton Pritchard Victoria Youth Basketball Camp. [Register for Aug. 8]
*Sponsored Listing
🗞️ In Other News
Saanich to reconsider plan for new $172M operations centre after AAP failure
Saanich council is waiting for staff to provide other options for dealing with the aging operations centre after the AAP failed, with 12% of voters saying no to borrowing $150M for the project. The site’s buildings—where essential municipal departments operate—are no longer up to code and are past their lifespan. The council may consider postponing the project, going to a referendum, or borrowing the money without public approval. Mayor Dean Murdock says he may ask staff to break the project down into smaller components. [Times Colonist]
Court rules with Songhees FN: mobile home tenants must leave Craigflower park
The Songhees Nation took over the lands in 2019 and say the area is needed for essential housing for nation members. Tenants living in the mobile home park were given three years notice to leave in 2021, which the court said was “more than reasonable.” Dozens of mobile-home residents—who have lived in the park for decades—have resisted eviction, with their lawyer arguing that they believed they were entitled to “long-term” interest in the land despite not owning it. Tenants must leave by Aug. 15. [MSN / CP]
More than sandcastle construction at Willows Beach: excavation starting
Fencing and equipment are being set up at the popular Oak Bay beach in advance of an outfall replacement project that will continue through late summer, usually 7am to 7pm, depending on tides. The existing outfall—used to drain and force storm water out to the ocean—is being upgraded to better handle heavy rain. The beach will remain open during construction, and beachgoers are asked to avoid fenced-off areas and to adhere to signage. [CHEK]
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🗓️ Things to do
⚾ Victoria HarbourCats host Victoria Mavericks—with a country music theme—at RAP tonight. 6:30pm. [Info]
💎 Victoria Rock N’ Gem Show: See 400+ tables and numerous vendors offering crystals, gemstones, and fossils from around the world at City Centre Park. Today.-Sun. 10am-5pm. [Info]
🎵 Swinging in the Shell: Learn how to sing and dance with a 30-minute lesson, followed by a dance party, at Cameron Bandshell tonight. 7pm. [Info]
😂 Roast Battle Victoria: See comedians go head-to-head with funny jabs and insult comedy at Phoenix Bar & Grill tonight. 7pm. [Info]
📖 Yes and Yesteryear: An improvised Jane Austen at Emily Carr House. Tomorrow & Sat. [Info]
🎻 Victoria Symphony: See and hear the talented musicians in Christ Church Cathedral tomorrow. 7:30pm. [Info]
🕺 Make Good Party: This travelling BC street party will have live music for people to dance to, a kids’ zone, food trucks, drinks, and a curated market in Ship Point. Sat. 2-10pm. [Info]
🎨 Artistree Festival: This juried art contest will feature several mediums—including 2-D, 3-D, and performance art—on display, with live music and food available, at Government House. Sat.-Sun. 10am. [Info]
👀 In Case You Missed It
Wednesday’s headlines: Oak Bay ordered to reduce building barriers; Refuse fire near Inner Harbour; BCGEU to take strike vote. [July 23]
Top UN court says countries have legal duty to fight climate change. [The Guardian]
Snowbirds put on aerial show over Victoria. [Times Colonist]
Courtenay company’s cheese recalled: Natural Pastures Mount Becher cheese has been pulled from shelves for possible Listeria contamination. [Gov’t of Canada]
Victoria Business Hub has a new address, now located in City Hall. [City of Victoria]
Bat catches dinner: See a bat swoop in to eat a spider hanging from a security camera. [Facebook video]
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