July 25 - Canada patrols illegal fishing from Sidney

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning !

Today we’re looking at the disturbing rise in graphic anti-abortion pamphlets mailed to residents in the CRD. We’ll also be diving into—pardon the pun—illegal fishing on the high seas and the new mission to monitor it.

Of course, many recreational fishing ventures are legal and fun pastimes—we’re wondering how many of our readers like to spend time out at sea.

— Robyn

🌦️ Today's weather: Mainly cloudy, 30% chance of showers in morning and early afternoon. High 19C / low 12C.  

🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (1/10), no smoke expected.

NEWS

Greater Victoria residents upset after graphic anti-abortion mail sent to homes

Residents of at least two area households were shocked with what they found recently in their mailboxes: graphic leaflets denouncing abortion as a human rights violation.

The leaflets, from The Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform [CCBR] contain photos purportedly of aborted fetuses, along with literature that says abortion “is a human rights violation. Help end the killing.”

“It’s really vile,” said Jessica Duncan, who lives in Victoria. “That should not be allowed in anybody’s mailbox. It’s bad.”

Saanich Coun. Teale Phelps Bondaroff is aware of at least two people who were upset after being surprised to find the brochures in the mail.

“These leaflets are being delivered to people's mailboxes without their prior knowledge or consent and they contain incredibly graphic images that many people may find disturbing,” he said, adding the pamphlets were hand-delivered and contained no post markings.

Residents have reported receiving similar leaflets over the last few years in other BC communities, including New Westminster, Burnaby, Surrey, Chilliwack, and Kelowna.

And Phelps Bondaroff said it has to stop. He’s in the midst of preparing a draft for Saanich council to “explore options and points in the direction of other municipalities that have taken action on this issue.”

In an email to Capital Daily, Phelps Bondaroff said it's paramount to “balance the right of free expression and speech by those who wish to distribute information, with the right to privacy of residents who may not want to be exposed to graphic images through their mailboxes.”

Read the full story here.

Capital Bulletin

🔍 Missing person: Nicholas Blackwell, 40, was last seen in Duncan on July 7. North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP says he could require immediate medical assessment.

NEWS

First Canada-led high seas fishing patrols begin

The first ever Canada-led inspection of illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing on the high seas was announced yesterday to launch in Sidney.

The mission will see a vessel of 25 people from the Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) officers and US Coast Guard patrol the Indo-Pacific ocean to stop these illegal fishing practices that are considered a driving factor of the declining wild Pacific salmon population. Other factors include climate change and degradation of habitats.

These patrols are part of the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, launched in 2021, which aims to respond to and restore salmon stocks that BC’s economy and coastal First Nation cultures rely on. The initiative is contributing $46M over five years to fund the projects.

These patrols will operate under international law to enforce the UN’s ban on driftnet fishing on the high seas.

While the exact number of wild Pacific salmon lost to IUU fishing is unclear, Sean Wheeler, DFO’s chief of international enforcement, said in 2018 the US Coast Guard detained one boat that was found to contain roughly 80 tonnes of illegally-fished salmon caught by a drift net. Wheeler says these patrols hopefully will clarify how much of the wild Pacific salmon population is lost to IUU fishing. It’s believed 30% of global fishing is unreported.

Wheeler said in addition to enforcement operations, officers will be sampling scientific and genetic data to understand the range of salmon impacted by IUU fishing, and track migration patterns of “species of interest”, such as salmon.

Each mission will last one month, with a revolving crew taking to sea every month until the fall.

Illegal fishing isn’t just an issue on the high seas—DFO reported a dramatic spike in rockfish poaching near the Island since the pandemic, with four recreational fishers recently paying a total fine of $17,000 after fishing illegally off Galiano Island last May.

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Capital Picks

🎤 Victoria Summer Music Festival: Performances by Marion Newman, Kimberley-Ann Bartczak, and the Emily Carr String Quartet will be among those tonight at the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, 7:30pm. [Tickets]

🐉 DnD Trivia Night: Test your Dungeons and Dragons knowledge and win prizes tonight at Sonora Bar & Grill, 7-8:30pm.

🎥 Past Lives at The Vic Theatre: The drama about friends reuniting in New York City will show today, 5pm.

🧘 Learn strategies you can use in your everyday life to manage stress and anxiety. Tall Tree’s 6-week virtual mindfulness series will provide breath techniques, meditative skills, and more.*

Upcoming events this week

🎤 IYAKT Indigenous Music Festival: The annual festival will include food trucks, craft vendors, and performances by Auntie Kate and the Uncles of Funk, Lost Talkers, and Paint the Town Red. Friday and Saturday at Hampton Park.

🎉 Eats & Beats Beach Party: This beach party will feature live music, an international food truck festival, a street market, and a craft beverage garden. Saturday at Royal Beach near Metchosin and Latoria, 1-8pm.

🏳️‍🌈 Salt Spring Pride Festival: Events this weekend will include a Pride Parade, a Pride Dance, and an outdoor stage. Friday-Tuesday.

🖼️ Sooke Fine Arts Show: Check out artwork from over 300 artists starting Saturday until Aug. 7 at SEAPARC Leisure Complex.

🎻 Symphony in the Summer Festival: Enjoy some classical music this week at several concerts across the city from Thursday until Aug. 5.

*Sponsored Listing

In Other News

🚑 Victoria woman killed in ATV crash on Mt. Washington
The 33-year-old woman died in an ATV rollover Saturday night. A Mt. Washington-area man sustained minor injuries in the crash. [CTV]

☎️ 988 hotline coming for suicide prevention
The federal government will spend $156M over the next three years to implement the new hotline, which will become active in Nov. Last Aug., the CRTC [Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission] announced it will adopt 988 as the number Canadians can call or text when in need of immediate mental-health help or suicide prevention intervention.

🥋 Saanich teen gets gold at national karate championships
Sarah Nowlin took the top podium in the K22 Intellectual Impairment–Junior Female–Down Syndrome category earlier this month in Laval, Que. Next up for the 15-year-old Nowlin is training to qualify for Team Canada and potentially a spot on Canada’s Paralympic squad for 2028.

In Case You Missed It

🍷 7 Island wineries to visit this summer: From North Saanich to Pender Island, these wineries produce some exceptional bottles of vino. [Tasting Victoria]

📰 Monday’s headlines: Crackdown on abandoned boat problem, Victoria teen named captain of Team Canada for Junior Roller Derby World Cup, humpback whale interrupts Nanaimo bathtub race, and more. [July 24]

🌱 Victoria’s Get Growing program returns, with seedlings going out beginning on Weds.

📺 Amazing Race Canada will feature local landmarks such as Craigdarroch Castle, the Bug Zoo, and the Malahat Skywalk in tonight’s episode. [CHEK]

🏥 Victoria’s escalating hospital staffing crisis: Staff shortages have lead to operating room closures and surgery delays. [Capital Daily]

👑 Victoria’s Jimbo wins crown: The local drag clown is the first international winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. [Capital Daily]