June 21 - Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples' Day

Good morning !

We’ve got a roundup of fun events happening for National Indigenous Peoples’ Day. There are options for everyone of every age, with plenty to learn, see, and hear.

The Cap Daily team is honoured as always to be working on the lands of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️ 17 / 11

Tomorrow: ⛅ 18 / 12

Day after: 🌤️ 16 / 12

NEWS

National Indigenous Peoples’ Day events in Victoria today

Today is National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, an occasion to celebrate First Nation, Métis, and Inuit cultures across the country. 

In Greater Victoria, the land we live on spreads through the traditional territories of multiple First Nations, including lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking people (which includes both Songhees and Esquimalt Nations), SENĆOŦEN-speaking T'Sou-ke and W̱SÁNEĆ Nations (which includes Tsartlip, Tseycum, Tsawout, Malahat, and Pauquachin), and predominantly Hul'q'umi'num'-speaking Scia’new (Beecher Bay First Nation).

Each South Island First Nation has a rich history and diverse culture, and today is a perfect opportunity to dive into learning more about them.

Yesterday, festivities kicked off a day early at Royal Roads with a traditional canoe landing protocol, food trucks—including a frybread station—and performances from dancers, singers, and drum groups.

Today, you can immerse yourself in creative works—spanning film, art, literature, and beadwork—and shop items from local Indigenous artisans.

Broad St. Block Party | Sat. | 11am-4pm

This downtown celebration at 630 Yates will be hosted by Coastal Bead Collective—a “full circle” moment for the creators, who say their “Nana” was born on Songhees land where the Empress Hotel now stands—and Aunty Skoden, alongside UVic Legacy Art Galleries.

There will be 38 Indigenous vendors from multiple First Nations selling their wares, and a jam session with singers and drummers. Check out neighbouring stores for deals during the day as well.

RBCM: Celebrating Indigenous Children’s Literature | Sat. | 1-3:30pm 

The Royal BC Museum will be hosting a book launch for Samantha Beynon’s new children’s book, Celebrating Potlatches. The picture book weaves intergenerational storytelling and beautiful artwork to teach the story of potlatches—traditional Coast Salish ceremonies that mark important occasions in a community. The book explores Canada’s 1885 to 1951 ban of potlatches, and the importance of keeping traditions alive.

Free Day at AGGV | Sat. | 10am-5pm

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria will be free all day today, with artwork by Coast Salish, lək̓ʷəŋən, and Cree creators on display. In addition to the different art exhibits, you can learn about the history of the land where Victoria resides in the film Lekwungen: Place to Smoke Herring by Brianna Bear and Eli Hirtle.

F1RST: A Celebration of Indigenous Film | Sat. & Sun. | Various times

See films from Indigenous creators across Turtle Island at the Vic Theatre or learn the ropes of the film industry from experts. Workshops this weekend will explore set decoration, the art of storytelling, stop-motion animation, and the many possible careers in the film industry.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Sports View Lounge in Oak Bay Rec has closed for the summer, reopening Sept. 8. Pool to reopen Mon. [Details]

Rain today, then sun & cloud later.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

CRD gets approval for new service overseeing region-wide transportation

The service, which could be in motion this year, will combine the CRD’s existing transportation-related work. It will bring services such as trail management together with transportation growth planning, and will spur an update of the Regional Transportation Plan (including a process to determine local transit priorities).

The CRD says the new Regional Transportation Service (RTS) will provide:

• a unified regional transportation vision

• new programs

• more data and analysis

• coordination of regional policies

• management of various regional infrastructure, including trails

The CRD’s core goals here are:

• more walking, cycling, and transit use

• less carbon pollution

• addressing congestion

The RTS is intended to make car travel better for local drivers but also hopes to reduce car travel overall; the CRD flags that transportation is the region’s biggest GHG emitter. Greater Victoria has typically had more pedestrian and bus travel than most cities, due partly to its favourable weather, but the CRD says those numbers have stalled.

The hope is that the new consolidated RTS will make the region more able to plan and execute projects and to secure funding. Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock said last fall that it will be a way of “speaking with a common voice, representing close to half a million people” when dealing with senior governments. 

The CRD had tried to create an RTS back in 2018. But that effort never panned out, mainly because several Westshore municipalities felt it would be too expensive and would overly prioritize the core. 

Another successful AAP, but some dispute on the board

The regional district gained approval for this framework—and its annual budget of up to $20M—through an Alternate Approval Process. The AAP would only have failed if 10% of local electors (more than 33K people) submitted an opposition document. 

Proceeding to an AAP was not unanimous. When the CRD voted this spring, the mayors of View Royal, Colwood, and North Saanich objected, as did the reps for Juan de Fuca and Salt Spring. 

At that meeting, View Royal’s Sid Tobias questioned the price tag, North Saanich’s Peter Jones questioned the AAP process, and Salt Spring’s Gary Holman noted that that island has often preferred to handle its own separate local transit system.

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Donations will be directed to PHS' critical frontline services that care for thousands of extremely marginalized people daily who access supportive housing, healthcare and harm reduction services in Victoria and Vancouver.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🎹 Jazz Fest playlists: Listen to the artist lineup before seeing them live. [Listen here]

🐤 Dinner time: Baby barn swallows sit with mouths wide open as their mother brings back food. [Christy Grinton / Facebook]

🗞️ In Other News

BC Coroners Service won’t hold inquest into Christmas Day 2019 shooting death
Lisa Rauch, 43, was killed when VicPD Sgt. Ron Kirkwood fired plastic ARWEN projectiles through a smoky room, intending to hit her torso but hitting her in the head. The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner found his actions “reckless,” and he was suspended seven days. But her death doesn’t meet the requirements for a mandatory coroner’s coroner’s inquest, “because there was no meaningful connection between the care Lisa Rauch received while in custody and her death,” the chief coroner ruled. [BC Coroners Service]

Saanich renters may get added protections from redevelopment
Saanich council has voted to draw up a tenant protection bylaw to help those who face being displaced by a landlord’s new plans. It would require developers to provide financial help to tenants who have to leave, along with assistance in finding a new place to live, moving costs, and the right of first refusal on a unit in the new development at a rate 20% less than market value. [Times Colonist]

First Nation offers to host Texada Island’s wayward grizzly; province isn’t so sure
Residents on Texada want their new neighbour, a four-year-old grizzly who swam to the island nearly a month ago. They want the bear relocated and Mamalilikulla First Nation says it would happily bring the bear to its territory on Knight Inlet. Mamalilikulla’s chief says leaving it on Texada will likely lead to a dangerous interaction with humans. But BC’s water, land, and resources ministry says the bear has been relocated twice and quickly returned to urban areas—and likely would again. [Global]

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🗓️ Things to do

🎶 Seaside Music Festival: The Sidney festival—formerly known as the Folk ‘n’ Fiddle Festival—is back, with shows at Mary Winspear, Beacon Banshell, and ANAF 302 today and tomorrow. [Info]

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

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

🛍️ James Bay Market: Shop wares and artisanal goods from local vendors today at this weekly market. 9am-3pm. [Info]

🎺 Ska & Reggae Fest’s big day at Ship Point and the Victoria Curling Club. [Schedule / tickets]

🎷JazzFest: Free show in Beacon Hill (1-5pm) along with evening events at The Coda, St. Andrew’s, Hermann’s, and Wicket Hall. [Website]

💃 Sunday Sundown Social: Try out bachata and salsa with other dance enthusiasts at this outdoor party on Songhees Walkway tomorrow. 3:45-7:30pm. [Info]

🔫 Drop-in outdoor laser tag: Have fun running through PKOLS with a game of laser tag, suitable for ages 9 to 99, tomorrow. 12-3pm. [Info]

🎭 JÉHANNE by Colin Doroschuk at Alix Goolden Performance Hall: A new Canadian operatic exploration of the extraordinary vision quest of the French heroine Joan of Arc. The world premiere performance is June 27th. 7:30pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: Jazz and Ska festivals this weekend; Summit replacement proving a hard climb; Vic’s city council moves safety plan forward. [June 20]

Jaws at 50 years: Are you ready to go back into the water? [Capital Daily]

‘A lot of tears’: Terminally ill Langford girl received her last treatment on Thu. after the province ended funding. Her mother and doctors say BC made the wrong decision. [Times Colonist]

Sooke 2026 budget: Sooke residents can now share their thoughts on next year’s financial planning. [Survey]

Missing person, Oscar, 65, who parked his car at Goldstream Provincial Park. [VicPD]

Ska Fest playlists: Check out music from this year’s lineup. [Listen]

Wildlife wonders in Sooke. [Al Bright / Facebook]