Good morning {{First name}}!
A petrifying story out of Central Saanich, where a mother says her three- and seven-year-olds were attacked by a dog on Canada Day.
In a Central Saanich Police Service (CSPS) post, the mother describes an incident where a dog bolted from a yard and pounced on her kids, completely unprovoked. Her husband tried to kick the animal away, but it managed to bite both children. “My 3-year-old son has lost half of his ear, is undergoing medical treatment, and will require surgeries in the future,” she says.
The other boy was bitten on the head and hands, and the dog has been euthanized, according to a report from CHEK.
— Mark
Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes
🌡 Weather Forecast
NEWS
Orca sightings surge in the Salish Sea
Bigg’s killer whales were seen near the San Juan Islands in June. Photo: Orca Behavior Institute / Facebook
This summer, whale watching has never been easier. According to the Orca Behavior Institute (OBI), the Salish Sea has been bustling with killer whale activity—and the number of sightings is increasing.
The research institute said there were a record 260 sightings of Bigg’s killer whales in the Salish Sea throughout June, and July is on track to top it.
“June was a record month for Bigg's, but the first week of July has already been off the hook,” OBI said in a Tuesday statement. “Just yesterday, there were over 70 individual members of the Bigg's population documented in the Salish Sea!”
“Over the spring months, it looked like maybe Bigg's sightings had plateaued, but now it seems like additional records will be set before the end of the summer.”
Sighting hotspots on the Canadian side of the Salish Sea were near Gabriola Island, Burrard Inlet, Vancouver Harbour, and Boundary Pass north of the San Juan Islands.
Orca pods seen included all “Salish Sea regulars”—the T2Cs, T63 and T65, T99s, and T123s—as well as “some less common visitors,” including the T64Bs, T68Cs, and T69Ds, said OBI.
Southern Resident killer whales also returned to inland waters last month for the first time in more than 60 days, with J-Pod and L-Pod seen near the mouth of the Fraser River.
Unfortunately, the update wasn’t all good news. OBI said one of the L-Pod calves born this year—L129 was first spotted in February—was not seen travelling with the group and is presumed dead.
L130, the other calf recorded for the first time last month, appears to be out of the age range when mortality risk is high. OBI said the calf looks “plump” and is “likely already several months old.”
⚠ Capital Bulletin
Hwy 1 on-ramp at Helmcken changes. [CTV]
Point Ellice Bridge closed in both directions from 9pm tonight until 6:45am tomorrow.
Saanich road closure: Nicholson, today and tomorrow, 8am-4pm.
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
On the water today? Check the tide times for Victoria.
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NEWS
Just returned: seed library back at GVPL Central Branch
Photo courtesy of Victoria Seed Library.
The library isn’t just a place to grow knowledge; it's also a place to grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers—or at least to get the seeds for them.
After taking a few years off, the Victoria Seed Library will be back at the Central Branch on Broughton on Friday.
More than 200 seed varieties—most of which, the library says, are relatively easy for beginners to grow—will be available, and, unlike previously, you won’t need to complete a seed-saving workshop to snag some seeds.
“We wanted to make it easier for people to access seeds,” said Lisa Small, fundraising and communications coordinator with LifeCycles Project Society, which partners with the Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL), the city, and the federal and provincial governments to run the project.
“When seeds are shared, knowledge, biodiversity, and community grow alongside them,” she said.
There is a seed-saving workshop slated for Sunday, July 26 at the Welland Community Orchard—you can register at www.lifecyclesproject.ca.
Seeds can be picked up at the Broughton library, or you can drop off seeds for donation at any of the GVPL’s branches.
The library welcomes home-saved seeds, as well as unused and partially used commercial seed packets, the LifeCycles Project Society said.
⭐️ Capital Picks
🧼 Oak Bay Night Market tonight, 4-8pm on Oak Bay Ave.
🐩 Big Gay Dog Walk is today. 5:30-8pm. [Info]
🐴 Picnic With the Herd is Saturday 11:30am-2pm in Saanichton.
🍵 Ross Bay Villa Historic House Museum Garden Party is on Sunday 1-4pm.
🏨 Victoria’s Fairmont Empress Hotel named top hotel in Canada for 2nd year in a row by Travel + Leisure.
🗞 In Other News
Woman attacked while waiting for a bus in downtown Victoria
The woman was at a bus stop on Johnson, between Government and Douglas, around 10:30pm on Sunday, July 5, when a man unknown to her approached and struck her in the head, then took off on foot. No injuries were reported. The assailant is described as a man in his 30s or 40s with a medium build, wearing a ballcap and dark hoodie. Police are hoping witnesses may have dashcam video and will call the E-Comm non-emergency line at 250-995-7654 extension 1, referencing file number 26-27746. [VicPD]
Eaglet returned to nest after fall to the ground in Beacon Hill Park
The baby bird was found on the ground in Beacon Hill Park and, after a wellness check from Wild ARC, was returned to its nest by City of Victoria parks staff. The bird was found nearly one year after another eaglet was rescued in the same park. Eagles typically nest in trees near water and often return to the same spots each year. [CHEK]
BC Nurses expand pickets, say workers are being intimidated
Citing intimidation at worksites, the BC Nurses’ Union said yesterday it will be expanding job action in its labour dispute with the provincial government, with pickets to be set up at three mainland hospitals. Union president Adriane Gear says she has received more than 1,400 reports from union members of “attempts by health employers to intimidate” nurses and interfere with their right to take part in job action. [CTV / CP]
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🗓 Things To Do
🥕 Bastion Square Market: A local market running through the summer season. Bastion Square. Today. 11am–6pm. [Info]
📖 Anne Glover's Amazing World of String Stories: A free children's music and entertainment show and part of the Wednesday summer series running through August. Cameron Bandshell. Today. 11am–12pm. [Info]
🥒 Oaklands Sunset Market: A weekly Wednesday evening market running through the summer. Oaklands Community Centre. Today. 4:30–8pm. [Info]
🎼 Garden City Harmony: A drop-in choir for everyone, singing indie, pop, rock, and folk songs in simple harmony. No experience necessary. Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park. Today. 5–7pm. [Info]
🎶 Standard Issue Pleasure Model: A psychedelic rock concert at Ship Point, part of the City's evening series running Tuesdays through Thursdays through Labour Day. Ship Point 5:30–7pm. [Info] FREE
🎵 Eventide Opening Night: Free outdoor concert showcasing powerful Indigenous music featuring Hasaatuk, Ay Lelum, Pindn & Vanlene. Spirit/Centennial Square. Tonight. 6-10pm. [Info]
🎶 Rubber Tire Peep Show with Emmett Jerome: The Canadian musical collective, fresh from the World Cup Fan Festival, returns to Victoria with Vancouver blues guitarist Emmett Jerome for an evening of jam-band country and rock. The Coda. Today. 6:30–8:30pm. [Info]
👢 Kinky Boots: Broadway in Victoria presents the Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award-winning musical with a score by Cyndi Lauper, running through July 12. Royal Theatre. Through Sunday. Various times. [Info]
👀 In Case You Missed It
Tuesday’s headlines: Vandals hit PKOLS Park; 2 charged in violent attack on Dallas; Sidney teen to represent Canada at the world paddling championship. [July 7]
Missing woman, 18, located. [RCMP]
$170K in donations stolen: ex-charity worker gets 4 years for theft. [Times Colonist]
Plus value on sub-purchase: BC, Victoria await benefits of the federal government’s submarine shopping. [CHEK / CP]
Oak Bay Collector Car Festival is on July 19. [Register/Volunteer]
Saanich road closure: Rutledge between Scotia and Tolmie, through July 31. 8am-4pm.
Victoria 1860: See a 19th-century view of the city, taken from Vic West. [Facebook photo]
That’s it!
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