June 18 - Photo challenge could reveal mountain changes

Good morning, !

Our top story is for those of you who like to climb to the top. And if you haven’t yet made any plans, maybe a scientific recon mission is in your summer vacation future.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️ 18 / 10  

Tomorrow: ⛅ 19 / 10

Friday: 🌧️ 14 / 11

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NEWS

Photo challenge could give a ‘peak’ into the past

One good thing that has come out of Canada’s trade dispute with the current American administration is that Canadians are expected to do a lot less visiting in the US—and a lot more in their own country. 

For some, it’s the beaches of BC. For others, it’s all about the climb.

If you like to ascend “because it’s there,” here’s a way to combine your vacay and climb with a research mission.

UVic’s Mountain Legacy Project and the Alpine Club of Canada are looking for recreational climbers to recreate decades-old photos of glaciers to provide researchers with a reference on how mountain landscapes have changed.

The 2025 Repeat Photography Challenge centres on nine photographs that organizers would like to see retaken.

Climbers are asked to stand in the same spot where the pics were snapped and take a photo with their cellphone camera.

“For people that are travelling to those places anyway… it would help us because we would get the repeat photographs, and hopefully it would be a valuable experience for people to do that and experience the [landscape] changes,” said Sonia Voicescu, a Ph.D. candidate and Mountain Legacy Project researcher.

Changes in the landscape happen at an incredibly slow pace, but comparing new photos with ones taken years ago may provide clues of how years of changes affect mountain ecosystems, Voicescu says.

Read the full story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Modified hours for all GVPL branches until June 27 while library staff training takes place. [GVPL]

A black bear was spotted yesterday near UVic in Saanich. [Wildlife tips]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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NEWS

Langford company owner convicted—again—of sexually assaulting employee

A two-week trial ended with Kyle Mostowy, a construction contractor, found guilty on one count of sexual assault for workplace incidents in 2014.

His accuser testified that, as early as her job interview, Mostowy made inappropriate comments about her body and relationship status and gave an unsolicited shoulder massage. She said that this escalated to outright groping and slapping at several points, which she hoped would stop at the job site. She said she spoke against the advances but did not quit because she needed money to move out of her existing home. The landlord, she testified, told her to stay at the job despite being told of the assaults.

The second trial for this case

Mostowy received a nine-month sentence after the original 2019 trial.
But he was retried because the BC Court of Appeal ruled last year that a breach-of-conditions charge should have been separated. Its inclusion, the Court of Appeals ruled, risked biasing the original jury (by implying a previous similar conviction).

Those conditions originate from another trial against Mostowy in 2016, in which he was sentenced to three years for sexual assaults in 2010-11 against five women employed by his All Canadian Construction. In 2021, he was ordered in a civil suit to pay nearly $1M to one of those ex-employees, who said she experienced PTSD and depression following repeated coercion to perform and tolerate sexual acts. 

The ex-employee in the 2019 and 2025 trials came forward to police after seeing the 2016 trial. 

Mostowy was found again this year to have violated conditions not to employ or supervise women; a BC court determined that he was employing two women.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🏃 Mental-Health run: Sachin Latti attempts to run 100km a day for 75 days. [Livetracker] 

🏳️‍🌈 GVPL’s Pride book list: Check out titles for adults and teens. [GVPL] 

🦅 Big catch: A Cooper’s hawk guards its freshly caught meal. [Facebook video]

🛩️ Snowbirds to fly over Victoria on July 22.

🗞️ In Other News

Premier ‘not happy’ about BC Ferries’ China decision
David Eby returned from a trade mission to Asia to a series of questions about the Far East, specifically why the ferry company—whose lone shareholder is the province—decided to hire a Chinese company to build its new ships. “I want ferries built here at home in Canada, but I also know that we need ferries built right away for families that are ferry-dependent here on Vancouver Island and across the province,” he told reporters at the legislature. [CHEK]

China tariffs are hurting the BC spot prawn industry
China’s 25% tariffs on Canadian seafood have made it hard for local exporters to turn a profit. Until recently, China purchased close to 80% of BC’s spot prawns, but the tariffs—which went into effect March 20—have led fishermen to try to shift their focus to the Japanese market. They say customers in China don’t want to pay the additional fees and expect BC exporters to reduce prices by 25%—BC Seafood Alliance says this would be impossible. [CBC]

BC school principal punished for spanking First Nations student
Pehgee Agnes Boholst Aranas was working at a certified band school when she spanked the Grade 1 student in 2023 and later made remarks “inconsistent” with truth and reconciliation, according to a consent agreement between the principal and the BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation. Aranas falsely claimed the student’s parents were on board with her actions. She was fired in 2024, and after reviewing the case, the teaching regulatory body added a three-day suspension to her teaching certificate. [CTV]

Body found in the waters off Oak Bay 
The Canadian Coast Guard recovered the body from waters near Oak Bay Marina on Mon. Police did not share whether the body was that of a female or a male. They said the next of kin have been notified. They don’t consider the death to have been suspicious, and the case has been transferred to the BC Coroners Service. [Times Colonist]

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🗓️ Things to do

🎺 Ska Fest: Kick off the summer season with this popular Ska & Reggae Festival at Ship Point. Today-Sun. [Info]

🎶 Louise Rose: The local favourite is back at Hermann’s with her Alone Together show. Tonight. 7pm. [Info]

🗣️ Behind Beyond the Beat: RBCM curators host a free Live at Lunch talk discussing how they put together the new exhibit on music and social change. Noon-1pm. Today. [Info] 

🎷 Victoria Jazzfest: Celebrate the 41st edition of this annual music festival with 10 days of great tunes. Various venues. Fri.-June 29. [Info] 

 🍗 Victoria Wingfest: The festival, hosted by Victoria firefighters, will feature wings, pints, and other treats from local restaurants. The Roundhouse. Sat. 1-4pm. [Info]

🔬 Under the Microscope: Join this free workshop to understand the complex life existing in dirt at the Compost Education Centre. Sat. 10am. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Tuesday’s headlines: Langford to help fund new clinic; Victoria floats proposed safety plan; Island Health defends taxi policy. [June 17]

Campers told to take down tents on Princess. [CHEK]

Mosquito noise device at the centre of complaints near Mayfair. [Times Colonist]

What BC Ferries should call its new ships, tongue pressed firmly in cheek. [Georgia Straight]

Volunteers needed for rebuilding the clam wall in Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring. June 25. [WSANEC Leadership Council]

The Great Horned owl was chosen as Saanich’s official bird.

Big flex: A bald eagle is seen swivelling its head around. [Facebook photos]