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- June 1 - Victoria Fire Dept. goes electric
June 1 - Victoria Fire Dept. goes electric
Accessibility Week in Victoria wraps up, Robert Pickton dead, province offers free AC.
Capital Daily Team
June 01, 2024
Good morning !
Welcome to June! It looks like we’ve got a rainy start to the month, but early forecasts for next week are showing some warmer, sunnier days.
This summer, I’m most looking forward to fresh local produce arriving at grocery stores and markets soon—hello, tomato season—and for more time outside. What are you looking forward to this summer?
— Robyn
What are you most excited for this summer? |
Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
NEWS
Victoria’s first electric fire truck has arrived
Victoria Fire Dept.’s new fire truck. Photo: Courtesy of City of Victoria
The Victoria Fire Dept. received the truck yesterday, kicking off the fleet’s gradual switchover to electric. It’s part of the City of Victoria’s goal to electrify 80% of its vehicle fleet by 2040.
The truck is a Rosenbauer RTX, known to be a fast, reliable, and climate-friendly emergency response vehicle—and it also has a sleek design, unlike other fire trucks. Victoria’s fire dept. is one of the first in Canada to operate with an electric vehicle, its chief Dan Atkinson said in a release.
The truck is expected to start work this summer, once all crew members have been trained on its features.
Truck would rely almost exclusively on electricity
It has a backup diesel engine that kicks in if the vehicle’s battery drops below 20%, ensuring major fire-fighting missions won’t be interrupted. Still, 95% of the time, it will be a zero-emission option that is expected to cut down the city’s emissions by about 20 tonnes per year.
“It was chosen because it is overall the best truck for our fire department due to its features, size and safety—not only because it is electric,” said Colleen Mycroft, City of Victoria spokesperson.
Three more trucks on the way
Another Rosenbauer RTX has been ordered and is expected to arrive in the next 18 months, Mycroft told Capital Daily in an email. Later this year, the dept. will receive two Ford Lightning trucks to tend to smaller emergency calls that don’t require a fully equipped fire truck.
“With these Ford Lightnings we will be able to deploy smaller crews and equipment where appropriate,” said Mycroft.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Wanted man, 34, found by Westshore RCMP.
Min. wage now $17.40 after today’s 65¢ boost.
Large protest expected downtown: Traffic disruptions and CCTV deployment 3-5pm; another rally for Rafah is slated to begin around 2pm on the Legislature lawn.
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
NEWS
Victoria and CRD highlight accessibility initiatives for National AccessAbility Week
You may not have noticed it, but millions of Canadians didn’t need the reminder—National AccessAbility Week has come and gone.
Roughly one-third of the population deals with a disability, per Statistics Canada. That includes mental health-related challenges, which have notably increased in recent years. In Victoria, close to 19K residents live with one or more disabilities.
Barriers to access span various dimensions, from architecture to attitudes. Locally, the City of Victoria and the CRD have been moving toward reducing these barriers, with committees and programs to identify issues and a number of recent moves to address them.
Making the local landscape more accessible goes beyond the most visible examples such as designated parking spaces. Current initiatives range from user-friendly trails (and guides for where to find them) to mobility mats at lakes to help with recycling bins.
Read the full story at Capital Daily for more on what's being done.
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⭐️ Capital Picks
🌈 🪲 See the rainbow colours of a jewel beetle up close. [Photos]
🚗 Get back on the road. The experienced lawyers at Acumen Law Corporation will give you the best legal support for your driving prohibition case.*
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🗞️ In Other News
Serial killer Robert Pickton dead, 11 days after prison assault
Postmedia had reported he was on life support after being speared in the head with a broken broom handle. Pickton, 74, was in a max-security Quebec prison serving a life sentence for the second-degree murders of six women in BC, but is believed to have killed dozens. [Vancouver Sun]
City tries to halt traffic confusion at Fernwood and Haultain
Vehicles going north-south on Fernwood don’t have a stop sign but must slow down, hugging the roundaboutish curb. It’s bikes-only east-west on Haultain, but many aren’t stopping and that’s led to a few honked horns and exchanged words. The city will restore a four-way stop to the site. [CHEK]
Navy sailor sentenced for sexual assault at CFB Esquimalt
Hayden Chokrev-Evans, 23, was given three years, eight months for sexually assaulting, choking, and suffocating a woman he met on a dating app in 2022. In her testimony, the woman said the attack was traumatizing, leaving her depressed and isolated. Chokrev-Evans was fired May 15 and showed no remorse for how he hurt the woman, the judge said. [CTV]
🗓️ Things to do
🎡 Oak Bay Tea Party: The annual community event at Willows Park will feature amusement rides, a parade, and a floating teacup race, today and tomorrow.
🏳️🌈 Pride Pop: Celebrate the beginning of Pride month with this dance party at Capital Ballroom, featuring performances from Vivian Vanderpuss, Eddi Licious, Sylvester Stalletto, and Ket Bush tonight. Doors 9:30pm, show 11pm.
🦞 Lobsterfest: The annual lobster dinner featuring live music and a silent auction returns to Mary Winspear Centre today, 6pm.
🎶 The Sounds of Spring: Victoria’s Children Choir will perform a spring concert at Alix Goolden Performance Hall today and tomorrow, 3pm.
🎤 Luca Fogale: The Juno-nominated Canadian musician will be joined by Haley Blais at McPherson Playhouse today, 8pm.
⚽️ Pacific FC plays today vs Cavalry FC at 4pm in Langford. [ Info / Tickets]
🎵 Music in the Park: Listen to Aftershock perform at Lagoon Beach and enjoy eats from food vendors today, 5:30-7:30pm.
🎙️ Latin Funk Night: The West Coast Cuban Orchestra will perform soul, funk, reggae, and R&B music at Victoria Event Centre today. Doors 7:30pm, show 8:30pm.
🎈 Folktoria: This festival is back in Centennial Square with live performances, international food, games, and art today. 11am-7pm. [Info]
👀 In Case You Missed It
Friday’s headlines: Lambrick Park may get long-term reno; VicPD arrests 3 in pepper-spray incident; Ironman artist wins own medal; And more. [May 31]
Ocean Week: Your guide. [Capital Daily]
PKOLS-Mt. Doug tower to go in trees, not parking lot. [Capital Daily]
Donate soap at HarbourCats games. [Soap for Hope]
Sarah McLachlan coming to Victoria for her tour's final stop this fall.
Racist Incident Helpline: Call the new toll-free support service is at 1-833-HLP-LINE.
That’s it!
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