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It feels like July just started, but here we are in its final week. Of course, there are still plenty of summer moments ahead—BC Day is right around the corner—and this week's events perfectly capture the season: outdoor yoga, live music (both indoors and out), and an evening nature walk. Keep an eye on our Things to Do section this week for more.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

Today: 🌦️ 22 / 12

Tomorrow: ☀ 22 / 12

Day after: ☀ 18 / 12

7-day forecast

A downtown favourite for Italian sandwiches and European food items will soon have new operators.

Italian Food Imports—also known as the Italian Deli—has been sold, its owners announced on Sunday. 

The Blanshard deli is famed for its paninis and ready-made Italian meals and salads, as well as a small grocery section stocked with pastas, olive oils, tinned tomatoes, and other European goods. 

Run by the same family since it opened 41 years ago, its owners Maurizio and Massimo Segato say they will miss the customers and friendships formed over the years. 

Their parents bought the deli from its previous owner in 1985. Maurizio and Massimo's father was a mechanic who would occasionally pick up food from the shop. One day, their father heard the owner “kind of grumbling ‘oh I want to sell this thing,’” Massimo told Capital Daily.

“My dad was like, ‘well, we'll buy it,’ and sure enough, they did.”

Maurizio and Massimo took over all operations from their parents in 1995. Massimo said he and his brother never wanted to be in the same position as the former owner, who seemed to have lost interest in the work when he sold the deli. 

That very mindset is what led them to decide that now was the time to sell.

“We always said that we wanted to sell before we were done because we didn't want to get to the point where we're coming into work, but not wanting to come in and being bitter,” Massimo said.

The Segatos put the business on the market, and Massimo said it “sold quite quickly.” The sale was finalized two weeks ago. 

The new owners are two women who intend to keep the deli running as is, according to Massimo, saying “they’re going to kill it.”

“They're wonderful. I'm looking forward to seeing how it all works for them,” Massimo said. “I would assume that after a few months, you know, they might want to put their own spin on little things here and there, but they don't want to ‘fix what ain't broken’ was their wording.”

Next week will be the Segatos’ last at the helm; in the meantime, they say they hope patrons will stop by to “say hello/goodbye.”

Missing woman: Mandeep Bains, last seen on or about July 23  at Douglas near Burnside. [RCMP]

Recall: Cadbury brand Dairy Milk Oreo bar due to undeclared pistachios. 

Traffic changes and delays at Boleskine and Whittier, now through early August. [CRD]

Expect major delays today on Cook: 

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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Kids in Fernwood will get to use the play area of their neighbourhood’s biggest park again this fall after it was damaged in a springtime fire.

The city says it’s on track to refit the park with new equipment purchased with approximately $350K from its parks reserve fund, topped up with $11,602 raised through a GoFundMe campaign.

“As a community, we were deeply concerned about how the City of Victoria was going to fund the replacement,” says Mark Wyatt, one of the fundraising organizers whose connection to the park dates back four decades, when he played tennis there, and continues to this day as his dog-walking park. 

“Municipalities have tight budgets, and most people are aware they are not sitting on excess funds—so we were thrilled to learn [the city] came up with the money to replace the damaged equipment,” he said.

That damage was caused by a fire set by someone on March 31, turning the purple slide into a gooey burnt write-off. VicPD originally called the fire suspicious, but a week later declared it arson and announced they had made an arrest.    

Wyatt said he understands the manufacturer no longer makes the same slide—“the feature piece to the playground and a massive draw for kids and their families,” he says—so the city is looking at alternatives.

“If the flyer is any indication, the replacement rivals and exceeds the original,” he says.

“At first glance, they look fantastic and honestly improve upon the previous play equipment by adding in more climbing and rolling features,” Coun. Jeremy Caradonna said in a Facebook post.

Mateína’s new Zero Sugar line delivers smooth, organic energy from yerba mate — no crash, no weird ingredients. With clean caffeine and theobromine, it supports lasting focus and mental clarity. It’s plant-powered fuel that helps you stay sharp, alert, and energized — without the sugar. Try it out today.

🍝 Flavour Trails 20th Anniversary: The food and agriculture celebration returns to Saanich, North Saanich, and Central Saanich. Aug. 15-16. [Details]

🧙 Teaser trailer released for YAGA: The witchy series, starring Hudson Williams and Carrie-Ann Moss, was filmed in Greater Victoria. [Trailer] 

⛴️ The first BC Ferries schedule: See the schedule for June 15, 1960, BC Ferries’ inaugural sailing. [Facebook photos] 

Wildfires in Langford and Sooke declared officially out
The two small lightning-caused fires—one discovered near Goldstream on Thursday and one found in Sooke on Friday—were declared out on Sunday. Another fire caused by Thursday’s lightning storms continues to burn near Shawnigan Lake, but BC Wildfire Service declared it under control. [Black Press]

They’re not electing a new pope; it’s a test of the sewer system
Residents of Banfield Park in Vic West may notice some white smoke billowing from manholes, roof vents or gutters today as city crews test parts of the storm and sewer systems. Workers will pump a harmless white mist into underground pipes and look for plumes of white smoke that would indicate cracks or leaks. The smoke is odourless and poses no health threat. Crews are slated to work from 8am to 4pm today and the same hours over the following three days in Rock Bay. [City of Vic]

Ancient petroglyphs on Gabriola Island vandalized
A rock with two petroglyphs was defaced with a message that appears to say “I love Jesus” scratched over the carvings.  Gabriola RCMP have opened a file to investigate the vandalism. BC Parks says it hopes the scratched message is shallow enough to fade with time. It’s unclear how old the petroglyphs are, but current age estimates of BC rock art range from less than a century for some to a maximum of 3,000 years for others. [Times Colonist]

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🪕 Folk, Funk & Twang: Hear folk music, alt country, and rockabilly music at The Mint tonight. 6pm. [Info]

🧘 Yoga in the Park: Join this free yoga session at Willows Beach Park tonight. 6pm. [Info]

🎸 The Men in Black: Catch this Johnny Cash tribute band at Memorial Park tonight. 6-8pm. [Info] 

🦉 Creatures of the Summer Night: Join science communicator Kay for an indoor and outdoor exploration of the nocturnal creatures at Swan Lake. Thursday. 6:30pm. [Info]

🛼 Friday Night Skates: Drop-in roller skating at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Friday. 7-9pm. [Info]

🕺 Talent Show Social at The Roxy: Showcase your unique skills or watch others perform at The Roxy Theatre. Friday. [Info]

Sunday’s headlines: Vancouver’s Lee’s Donuts coming to downtown Victoria; Weekly roundup; BC nurses call off strike. [July 26]

Final bow: Next month’s David Foster Foundation Gala will be the last. [Times Colonist]

Saanich woman honours father with golf fundraiser for research into extremely rare cancer. [Black Press] 

War Games: Esquimalt-based HMCS Corner Brook sinks a decommissioned USS Mobile Bay. [CHEK] 

Saanich road closures: 

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