July 25 - Back to The Blob

Good morning !

Our morning read begins in the ocean, where things began to heat up about a decade ago.

We then take you to the hospital where people are waiting… and waiting. Emergency rooms are becoming a horror show, the BC Conservatives say. The ruling NDP say, “We’re working on it!”

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 20 / 12

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 22 / 12

Sunday: 🌤️ 23 / 13

7-day forecast

NEWS

UVic releases groundbreaking study on the cost of the 2014-2016 marine heat wave

The ocean hasn’t been the same since The Blob. 

The widespread marine heat wave, known as The Blob, spread throughout the Northeast Pacific Ocean from Mexico to Alaska, damaging life in its wake as it grew larger (not unlike the 1958 horror classic of the same name). 

It was the longest-running heat wave of its kind. Years after it ended, coastal areas in this region still haven’t returned to their former selves.

Tropical fish, like the mola mola, were found in Bamfield. Essential species—like our coastal predator, the sunflower sea star—were pushed to the brink of extinction.

Similarly devastating marine heat waves have continued to occur since The Blob—right now, two particularly harmful ocean heat waves are happening in the Mediterranean and Southern Australia, with the latter being called the “worst marine disaster in living memory”—and are likely to become more commonplace as the effects of climate change worsen.

A new comprehensive study coming out of UVic’s Baum Lab highlights how these climate events occur and what to expect in the future.

The study synthesizes all research conducted on this event, offering a big-picture perspective of how The Blob reshaped ecosystems. The paper cites hundreds of authors and examines the effect on ecosystems along North America’s Pacific coast.

From species found outside of their natural zones to the economic costs of decreased fish stocks, read on to find out why understanding The Blob could help us prepare for our ocean’s future. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Farewell to the chief: Harbourcats to host a goodbye game for VicPD Chief Del Manak as he’s set to retire at the end of Aug. [July 30]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Emergency room wait times: 86% increase in patients leaving ER without seeing a doctor

If you’ve ever waited all day in an emergency room (ER) and then left without having seen a doctor, you have a lot of company.

According to the findings of a Freedom of Information request from the BC Conservatives, the number of people emerging from emerg without having been medically examined has shot up 86% over the last seven years.

The Conservatives said data show 141,961 British Columbians left emergency rooms in the fiscal year 2024 (April 1, 2024-March 31, 2025) without ever having been seen. That’s up from 76,157 in 2018/19, the party said.

“These aren’t just numbers; they’re lives,” said Brennan Day, MLA for Courtenay–Comox. “That’s 141,961 people who turned to the system in a moment of crisis and were turned away by a government that simply isn’t listening.”

The ministry said it understands the wait time challenge and has worked on speeding things up by increasing the number of provincially funded acute-care beds to 9,929 from 9,202.

The province is also recruiting doctors and nurses and recently cut some red tape so US doctors can more quickly obtain their credentials to practise here.

The BC Conservative Caucus points to Island Health having the biggest increase in the number of patients running out of patience and then walking out of the hospital. 

It said that in 2024/25, 29,997 unscheduled emergency visits concluded with the patient receiving zero care from a doctor, compared with 11,513 in 2018/19. That’s an increase of 160%.

Read the full story here.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🍁🏒 McDavid’s golden goal trophy visits Victoria next week. It arrives July 29 at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. [Black Press]

🫂 Receiving a diagnosis of a mental illness is never easy. The Borderline Personality Disorder Society of BC is a non-profit support group that started in Victoria and provides hope, treatment, and community for people with BPD. Read the full article here.*

🐿️ Lil guy: A tiny—and extremely cute—short-tailed weasel seen on Cortes Island. [Facebook photos]

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🗞️ In Other News

1 in 4 BC drowning deaths last year happened here on the Island
The health authority is second only to Interior Health for most drownings in the province. In 2024, there were 98 drowning deaths in BC, 24 of which were on the Island. Rivers and creeks were the most likely locations for drownings—making up 33% of cases—followed by lakes and ponds at 24%. The Cowichan River was the riskiest location on the Island and fifth for rivers in BC, with six deaths in 10 years. More than half of drowning deaths in BC occur between June and September. [CHEK]

Victoria man sentenced to 3 1/2 years for rape of sleeping woman
Wayne Michael Dick, 39, was convicted by a jury in October for one count of sexual assault related to the attack in 2023. Dick’s partner met up with a friend, 24, at a downtown bar and brought her home to continue drinking. The friend fell asleep on the couch and woke later that night to find Dick on top of her, penetrating her. She told him to stop, and he did not, telling her to shut up. The judge ruled that the incident had “negatively impacted almost every aspect of her life.” [Times Colonist]

‘Didn’t feel safe’: Saanich student speaks out after Quadra-Mckenzie meeting turned sour
Tensions ran high during the council meeting last week, with about 100 people in attendance. Jeers, boos, and cheers were heard from the crowd, with those against the QMP accused of using foul language and intimidating those in favour. One UVic student who voiced his support of the QMP, said he was “astounded” by the “hate and vitriol” he and his friends—who all volunteer at a housing nonprofit—received. He says he’s concerned that others who support the plan may be too intimidated to attend council in the future. [Saanich News]

RCMP recover excavator stolen from Bear Mountain construction site
The huge power shovel was reported stolen from the Langford worksite on June 20. The RCMP executed a search warrant on a rural home in Malahat, where they say they found the big John Deere digger. A 41-year-old man was arrested and released with a commitment to return for a court date. [RCMP]

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🗓️ Things to do

👾 Monster Bookmark Workshop: Kids aged 8-12 can join illustrator Meneka Repka at the Juan de Fuca branch to learn about book illustrating, create their own bookmarks, and hear a reading of The Mango Monster today. 11am-12pm. [Info]

🎹 Pop-up Outdoor Piano Concert: Brooke Maxwell. Meet the visual artists from Garth Homer Society ArtWorks, who created The Symphony of Us, the newest piano addition to the Arts Alive Painted Pianos. Loon Bay. Today. 12-1:30pm. [Info]

🎻 Victoria Symphony: See and hear the talented musicians in Christ Church Cathedral tonight. 7:30pm. [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. Through Sun. 10am-5pm. [Info]

🏋️ Outdoor Bodyweight Bootcamp 2025: Presented by Oak Bay Parks, Recreation and Culture Get ready to sweat. Kiwabus Playground Park. Tomorrow. 10:15-11:15am. [Info]

🌊 Victoria Wave Rave 2025: Paddle to some sweet beats along the Upper/Lower Gorge waterway with some fun stops along the way to boogie, hydrate, and snack. Banfield Park. Tomorrow. 3-8pm. [Info]

📖 Yes and Yesteryear: An improvised Jane Austen at Emily Carr House. Tomorrow. 4pm & 7pm. [Info]

⚽ Canadian Premier League Soccer: Pacific FC vs. Atlético Ottawa at Starlight Stadium. Tomorrow. 5pm. [Tickets]

🎭 The Book of Mormon: The travelling Broadway hit will kick off its run at the Royal Theatre. Mon. 7:30pm. [Info]

🚴 Pedaling for Parkinson’s: Spinning Wheel Tour. Riding in 10 provinces to raise awareness of Parkinson's and the benefits of exercise in alleviating symptoms. Sendoff at Parkinson Wellness Projects on Blanshard. Aug. 2. 9-10am. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: Mental-health non-profit gets $500K injection; Esquimalt wants input on tweaked OCP; Willows Beach construction. [July 24]

Esquimalt to pivot to contract firefighters to save OT pay. [Times Colonist]

Shawnigan Lake girl’s art to be McFeatured on McDonald’s packaging. [CHEK]

MeeT On Blanshard restaurant to close next month. 

Ball Don’t Stop: Payton Pritchard Victoria Youth Basketball Camp. [Register for Aug. 8]

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]

Whale-dle: The Orca Behaviour Institute has created a whale-themed version of Wordle, with a new game every Wed. [Play]  

That’s it!

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