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- June 17 - A trip to the ocean floor
June 17 - A trip to the ocean floor
Locals investigate undersea earthquakes. Cougar bites rugby captain. New street services hub.
Capital Daily Team
June 17, 2024
Good morning !
I hope you had a great weekend. I was able to catch some of FernFest over in Fernwood Square—one of my favourite local events, and one that still never gets old for me after a decade of going every summer.
— Cam
How did you spend this past weekend? |
Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
NEWS
A 3-week local expedition is exploring underwater earthquakes
The Nautilus. Photo: Ocean Exploration Trust
In March, Ocean Networks Canada detected a spike of over 200 earthquakes per hour at Endeavour field. It was the biggest spike in nearly 20 years at the hydrothermal vent field, located off the Island’s west coast and 2,250 metres below sea level.
Researchers have now gone out there to check it out. As part of an annual system maintenance program, the exploration vessel E/V Nautilus left Sidney Harbour on June 6 for a 21-day mission to the area.
Expedition aims to service UVic-led NEPTUNE observatory
NEPTUNE is a fibre-optic cable loop and network of observatories hosting thousands of aquatic sensors at five key sites. By uploading the data from all these sensors, NEPTUNE lets scientists all over the world virtually “surf” the ocean floor.
The crew will map the seafloor with the ship’s sonar system and send down remote-controlled vehicles to do maintenance and collect samples. It’s an expedition to strange parts of the seafloor populated by 15-storey-tall vents given names like Dudley, Hulk, and Puffer—and you can follow it all from home.
More at the Westshore about the trip, the ocean floor, and how you can tune in to see it all.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Highs up to 25 as sun returns this week.
Bear busts up shed in Langford. [CHEK]
HarbourCats swept by RiverHawks in weekend series.
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
NEWS
Victoria funds new homelessness services hub
The access hub facility will be at 2155 Dowler across from Island Farms. Image: Google Maps
The city will help fund a facility that will connect people on the street with services, housing, and treatment, it announced Friday. SOLID Outreach is buying a building at the edge of North Park, where it will provide services ranging from food to overdose prevention to housing arrangements to help getting to the hospital.
SOLID executive director Jack Phillips says the intent is to offer low-barrier “tailored supports” to locals with mental-health or addiction issues “rather than a cookie-cutter approach that often leaves people behind.” The space will open soon on Dowler, with a fence and security, and run 8am-8pm serving up to 50 people at a time.
Victoria puts its money on proactive move
The city is giving SOLID $300K to help buy the space and $1.8M to run it for a year. Mayor Marianne Alto argues that reducing the impact of homelessness and addiction is urgent enough to justify stepping outside the city's jurisdiction. Alto has been suggesting for months that the City will begin to act more boldly on key issues; council became frustrated last year with a perceived lack of help, particularly on homelessness.
Alto told Canadian Press that the city has ended up “picking up the tab” for a breakdown of social services such as housing and healthcare, spending millions on police, bylaw, and maintenance. The intent now is to reduce such costs by being more proactive—even if that involves stepping into other governments’ arenas.
SPONSORED
Andrew Wilkinson showcases Never Enough in exclusive book launch event
Join local entrepreneur and investor Andrew Wilkinson on July 9, 7pm at Bolen Books at The Hillside Shopping Centre for the launch of his debut memoir, Never Enough: From Barista to Billionaire. This will be the first public reading from Andrew’s highly anticipated memoir, detailing his journey from college dropout to tech investor and businessman.
⭐️ Capital Picks
🦑🐕 A dog finds a squid on the beach up in Haida Gwaii. [Photo]
🐐 Papa goats at Beacon Hill Children's Farm. [Photos]
🆘️ Victoria’s crisis-response teams: Learn how they work in these slides.
🍦 Where to get local craft ice cream when things heat up this week. [Tasting Victoria]
🤝 Now hiring: 1st or 2nd Cook, The Blue Poppy Restaurant
🗞️ In Other News
Campbell River student makes Canada’s first commercial electric flight
Air Cadet Edwin Clements, 15, took a half-hour flight with an instructor on Friday after winning the contest to be the first flier. Sealand Flights hopes to convert its whole training fleet to e-planes. [My Campbell River Now]
Saanich delays Shelbourne expropriation to make plan for tree
The homeowner whose land would be taken for the road project says her only concern is that the tree on it might die. She says the tree blocks crosswalk lights that could give her daughter a seizure. Council gave staff 28 days to work out a plan with her. [Times Colonist]
Canada Rugby captain bitten by cougar in Strathcona park
Olivia Apps, 25, is back with the Langford-based Sevens team for Olympic training after minor hospital treatment. The big cat attacked Apps, another hiker, and their two dogs last weekend but was bear-sprayed away. [Global]
SPONSORED BY VICTORIA BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY
Brain injuries change you
Brain injuries can profoundly alter the way individuals act, feel, and think, often leading to significant challenges in daily life. The Victoria Brain Injury Society (VBIS) provides crucial resources and support for those affected.
🗓️ Things to do
🪁 Wingsuit Flyers debuts today at the RBCM IMAX. See humans hurtle through the air, and learn the science behind how they do it.
🎞 Indigenous films presented by Sidney Museum & W̱SÁNEĆ School Board. Animated short ṮEṮÁĆES, then feature film ĆELÁṈEN TŦE ṮEṮÁĆES screen at 10am.
📽 Mulholland Dr. at Cinecenta: The David Lynch classic plays at UVic tomorrow and Weds. 4:45pm and 7:30pm.
🎷 JazzFest begins this Friday and runs until June's end. [Schedule]
🎺 Ska & Reggae Fest kicks off with free shows on Wednesday and Thursday at Ship Point. [Schedule]
💃 Summer Splash at Centennial Square: Hear Latin, reggae, dub, & electro cumbia for free as Brazil, Mexico, & Canada unite! Sunday 5-10pm. [SkaFest]
📆 Missed a cool event last weekend? Get our weekly events roundup every Tuesday so you always know what’s coming up. Subscribe here.
👀 In Case You Missed It
Our stories of Island fathers. Plus: New faster mental-heath help coming to local facilities. [Sunday newsletter]
Your guide to local food trucks in Victoria this summer. [Tasting Victoria]
Our earthquake and tsunami risk: Capital Daily spoke to an expert about what the latest seismic research says about the Island.
Teen in critical condition after being pulled from Langford Lake. [CTV]
Crash on Johnson Bridge hospitalizes cyclist. [Times Colonist]
Construction along Island Hwy for RapidBus service starts in one week. [BC Transit]
That’s it!
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