- Capital Daily
- Posts
- July 29 - Meet the Island Olympians
July 29 - Meet the Island Olympians
BC jobs program debuts in Victoria.
Capital Daily Team
July 29, 2024
Good morning !
With the Olympics underway, we've had some people interested in who from here is over in Paris. We've got a quick rundown of that for you this morning.
— Cam
Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
SPORTS
These Islanders are at the Olympics
Right now, numerous local athletes are among those from around the world competing in the Paris Olympics for the next fortnight.
The Canada Olympic team's map of hometowns lists 11 Island athletes, but in practice the number of locals competing is higher because many athletes (and multiple whole programs) live here to train.
Rugby
Caroline Crossley (Victoria) is listed for Sevens, but the national men's and women's Sevens and 15s programs are based in Langford. Many of the athletes have lived and trained here for years. Locally born-and-raised rugby superstar Sophie de Goede, however, is not on the team after tearing her ACL last month.
Rowing
Tokyo medalists Avalon Wasteneys (Campbell River) and Caileigh Filmer (Victoria) are listed for the Island, but the national rowing program is based in the Cowichan Valley (formerly in Saanich).
Swimming
Jeremy Bagshaw (Victoria) makes his first Olympics at age 32 after medaling in the 2010 youth Olympics but then narrowly missing the cuts for Rio and Tokyo—and going to medical school along the way. He'll start work as a doctor after completing the Games next month.
Cycling
Sarah Van Dam (Victoria) of UVic, is a first-time Olympian, as is Erin Attwell (Victoria). She missed the Pan Ams last fall after being hit by a car on McKenzie (whose intersection with the highway once again led the Island in crashes last year).
Athletics
Adam Keenan (hammer throwing, Victoria) who trains at Lambrick Park school but shifted to Oak Bay after losing access to his throwing cage at Lambrick in 2022.
Olivia Lundmann (race walk, Nanaimo), Canada's record holder in multiple U20 race walking events.
Ethan Katzberg (hammer throwing, Nanaimo), who last year became the youngest man ever, and first Canadian ever, to win the world title in hammer throw.
Cameron Levins (running, Black Creek), thrice an Olympian and thrice a Canadian marathon record setter. He has also held national records for half-marathon, 30k, and 20k, while tying the 10k record.
Surfing
Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (Tofino) is the first Canadian to compete in Olympic surfing. She will do so in French-controlled Tahiti—16,000km away from the rest of the Games—on the unique but dangerous Teahupo'o wave.
Her sister is Mathea Olin, who won Canada's first surfing medals back at the Pan Ams in 2017. The duo talked to Olympics.com this spring about training in often chilly Island waters. Capital Daily interviewed Mathea back when she was training and hoping to qualify for Tokyo.
This is the first Olympic cycle this decade for which athletes have been able to train normally. Capital Daily profiled how local summer athletes were affected by the limbo in 2020 and then tried to get ready for Tokyo in 2021.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Rain, and some wind, until the afternoon today. Expected to resume tomorrow.
Next fire update is at 10am today.
July's final CAF demolition exercise on Bentinck Island is today. [The Westshore]
Pacific FC 0, Valour 3: PFC falls to 6th place with Sunday loss. [Highlights]
HarbourCats 7, RiverHawks 3: Victoria wins 6th straight.
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
NEWS
Victoria gets first pilot in BC's new supports & jobs program for people in poverty
The province made the announcement at the Fernwood Community Centre, where Fernwood NRG runs a food box program. Photo: BC Gov
The province is investing nearly $4M into Community-based Employment Services (CBES) over the next three years. These services will offer individualized support for people facing challenges around housing, mental health, and substance use to create a stable path to finding a job.
Victoria will have the first pilot program of a CBES delivered by Beacon Community Services. By next month, more will be announced for other BC communities, including Nanaimo.
“People say they feel better, and are better off, when they have a job and community connections, so we are reducing barriers for those who can work while continuing to support those who cannot,” said Sheila Malcolmson, social development minister and Nanaimo MLA, in a statement.
She says the new employment program will “support people getting back to work so they can build a better life.”
Beacon’s CBES program aims to help people get to a stable place
It's designed to help locals access necessary services like healthcare and housing, while also getting them involved in volunteer projects or training so they can build employment readiness.
The new CBES programs are part of BC’s 2024 Poverty Reduction Strategy. Chantille Viaud, executive director at local community non-profit Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group, said in a statement that her team is encouraged by BC’s renewed work to reduce poverty.
“With the rising cost of food, housing and basic necessities, more and more people in our community are turning to us for essential services like Good Food Boxes, meal programs, and family support,” said Viaud. “We believe that our community can only thrive when no one is left in poverty.”
SPONSORED BY PHILOSOPHY MD
A summer complexion offer you won't want to miss
The season for skin has arrived. This summer’s complexion lineup is designed to deliver the coveted summer glow in the exact amount of time we’re willing to invest indoors. Consider any of these complexion services for maintenance this summer, and receive a beach tote, deluxe travel size Daily Power Defense, and 3 skin brightening sheet masks ($140 value) all by ZO® Skin Health.
The Philosophy Signature Facial ~ $275 (includes neck): Revered and truly bespoke, completely personalized to you.
The Laser Facial ~ $250 (add neck for just $50): Laser Genesis is sought after for cellular renewal and overall rejuvenation, whereby your skin incites collagen and your complexion evens.
Microneedling ~ $350 (add neck for just $50): Stimulate collagen and textural renewal. Pore size reduces, fine lines fade, and the complexion softens. Purchase a single or a series of 3 this summer, and receive our exclusive summer gift with purchase.
⭐️ Capital Picks
🍩 Last 3 days of donuts at Frickin’ Delights on Yates; the shop closes on Weds.
💝 Friends seek funds to help out local artist / youth worker as she faces major surgery. [GoFundMe]
🌶 Island’s first Chipotle opens Wednesday at 1070 Douglas. The popular US “fast casual” Mexican food chain has 3,000+ locations.
🪂 Watch smokejumpers dive down into the Sooke fire from a plane.
🗞️ In Other News
Victoria Shamrocks reach 17-0 record with Sunday win
The local lacrosse team, est. 1950, won its final regular-season home game at the Q Centre. The locals play on the road on Thursday, seeking a perfect 18-0 season. Their playoffs start Aug. 7; ticket sales start today.
Fire remains 9km from Sooke, 5km from watershed
It has been growing slightly to the east, but is being held on the west thanks to the 60 personnel, 2 smokejumping crews, 3 helicopters, 2 water-skimmers, 2 observation planes, and an airtanker. [District of Sooke]
Tsawout will present at International Marine Conservation Congress
The SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout) First Nation announced it will send four delegates to South Africa to the world’s biggest ocean conservation event. They will present on the nation’s kelp farming and the QEN,T Marine Protected Area that it declared last year in peninsula waters.
🗓️ Things to do
🖼 Sooke Fine Arts Show is on display until Aug. 5 at SEAPARC rec centre. [Info]
🎻 Emily Carr String Quartet at 1:30pm today in Beacon Hill's Cameron Bandshell.
🤾♀️ Summer Nights at Royal Athletic finale: The fun for all ages includes disc golf, soccer, live music, face painting, concession stand, and a beer garden. 4-8pm tonight. [Info]
💃 Ballroom in the Square: Tuesday 6:30-9pm in Centennial, starting with a cha-cha workshop. [Info]
🎤 Sarah Smith plays at Ship Point tomorrow (6-7pm) and twice on Pender Island next month before touring overseas.
🧦 Anawim House Sock Toss Night at Royal Athletic: At tomorrow’s $10 Tuesday ballgame, bring socks to throw on the field when the HarbourCats score their first run. [Tickets]
🐧🐳 Peter Puffin’s Whale Tales: Interactive family music at 11am on Weds. in Beacon Hill. [Info]
🎶 Free folk music in Beacon Hill’s Cameron Bandshell tomorrow: 6pm Jill Cooper, 7pm Charis Tazumi.
👀 In Case You Missed It
Sat. news: BC calls off COVID emergency. Rebels football season kicks off. Humpback untangled. Anti-Muslim vandalism at UVic. [July 27]
Local cidery racks up awards. [Tasting Victoria]
Meet the people who leap from the sky to fight fires. [CP]
Jasper in better days in these photos from Colin Smith.
Stunning moonrises caught by James MacDonald. [Photos]
That’s it!
If you found something useful, consider forwarding this newsletter to a fellow Victorian.
And before you go, let us know:
What did you think of today's newsletter? |