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- June 25 - Will James Bay ever get its gas station?
June 25 - Will James Bay ever get its gas station?
Feminist wrestling, street named after Vic baseball player, BC files civil claim on forever chemicals.
Capital Daily Team
June 25, 2024
Good morning !
Today we’ve got stories on the long-awaited gas station in James Bay, a newly named street, and a feminist wrestling show.
— Robyn
Have you been to a pro wrestling show? |
Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
NEWS
James Bay residents want gas station renos put in high gear
This gas station remains derelict in James Bay. Photo: Mark Brennae / Capital Daily
A James Bay resident has started an online petition to try to fuel the city council to do something about a gas station project at 308 Menzies that appears to be running on fumes.
“It's such a mess,” Jen Reimer tells Capital Daily. “It's unsightly, it's a magnet for crime and vandalism, and really, the residents deserve better than that.”
The Save on Gas bar, in the shadow of the BC Parliament Buildings, closed for renovations before the pandemic. New tanks and pumps were installed and a two-storey building was erected, but the project has an abandoned appearance, with much of the work unfinished, construction material strewn about, and weeds sprouting up everywhere.
The James Bay Neighbourhood Association has received complaints from residents displeased the lot looks idle, if not deserted, Trevor Moat, the JBNA president tells Capital Daily. “It's particularly galling, at this time of year, because we're in the height of our tourist season,” Moat said.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Missing teen: Madison Waterhouse, 14, has gone missing for the second time in three weeks. She’s considered at risk by Campbell River RCMP.
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
EVENTS
Community and pride through queer, feminist wrestling
Photo: Robyn Bell / Capital Daily
When thinking about the heyday of TV wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s, feminism is probably not the first word that comes to mind. But Riot Grrrls Productions, a local performance company, has created a new flavour of pro wrestling that is queer, feminist, and completely out of the ordinary.
Having teamed with the West Coast League of Legendary Wrestlers, the Riot Grrrls hosted two sold-out wrestling shows Sunday evening that featured costumed wrestlers taking to the ring, with campy comedy and floor-shaking body slams.
“Imagine an old-school WWF show, just without the misogyny,” said Vanny von Baron, the show’s organizer. “We use a lot of satire in our shows—we kind of embody toxic masculinity in a really comical way and flip it on its head.”
With a combined cast of drag queens, burlesque artists, and professional wrestlers, this show featured matches that leaned heavily into professional wrestling’s theatrical nature.
But this was no drag or burlesque show according to von Baron—the performers took their wrestler roles seriously, practising moves in their living rooms for months on end. This was their second time hosting a wrestling show like this, timed alongside Pride month events.
“You have the makeup and costume of the drag world, but this is a pro wrestling event with a proper ring, and people up on the ropes slamming each other around with extra comedy and extra pizzazz,” said von Baron. “The performers put a ton of effort and hours into prepping for this show and it shows on stage.”
NEWS
Victoria names street after baseball umpiring trailblazer
For 40+ years, Doug Hudlin huddled behind catchers to call balls and strikes for Little League baseball games in the city.
He was the first Black umpire in Victoria and the first non-American to ump in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., something he did twice.
But he was best known for being Victoria’s Gentleman Umpire. His name will live on as the city yesterday officially unveiled three street signs in his name along Higgins, near National Little League Park—Jerry Hale Field—the Hillside ballpark he used to patrol, in the Oaklands neighbourhood.
“Doug Hudlin was a trailblazer and a valued member of our community,” Mayor Marianne Alto said in a release. “This signage serves as a lasting tribute to his remarkable contributions to the city, the sport, and generations of ballplayers, and ensures that his legacy will continue to inspire.”
The idea was Barbara Hudlin’s, whose uncle was 91 when he died in 2014.
“Doug was an exceptional umpire, a friend to everyone in the community and he set a standard for his family which we strive to emulate,” she said.
Hudlin is a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, and the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame. He was a founder and served as the first president of the BC Baseball Umpires Association, a position he held from 1974 to 1979. To honour his legacy, the association presents the Doug Hudlin Distinguished Service Award each year to a dedicated and long-serving umpire in the province.
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⭐️ Capital Picks
🥕 South Island FarmHub pop-up market at Vic Public Market. Tomorrow. [11:30am-2pm]
👐 From counselling services to cultural workshops, the Island Metis Family & Community Services Society is an invaluable resource for people of all ages. Read more about the society here.*
🍓🌝 Strawberry moon pics from Cadboro Bay and Cecile Brisebois Guillemot.
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🤝 Now hiring: Organizing Coordinator at Dogwood.
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🗞️ In Other News
BC files civil claim on ‘forever chemicals’ contamination
The national class proceeding was filed last week in the BC Supreme Court to recover the costs of detecting and removing PFAS and PFOS from Canada’s drinking water system. BC is the first province to attempt to hold manufacturers of these chemicals accountable. Nearly everyone on earth has been found to have forever chemicals in their bloodstream.
Victoria-born hockey player making waves in Aussie league
Brody Lindal, 18, has already made a name for himself with the Sydney Bears. Lindal is tied for second in scoring in the Australian Ice Hockey League and 12th in points with 19 goals and 13 assists over 21 games. The Bears and Melbourne Ice sit atop the AIHL standings. Lindal got his start in the Sooke Minor Hockey League. [Victoria News]
BC’s family benefit payments to go up 25% starting next month
The province says approximately 340K families with kids are eligible for the credit, deposited monthly into bank accounts beginning in a couple of weeks. The amount depends on the number of children and the family’s income but the average family is looking at an extra $445 more than last year. [CHEK]
BC’s ombudsperson says appointees got plum government jobs
Jay Chalke said 64 jobs meant to help develop the careers of public servants went to government appointees instead. He said between 2013 and 2023 there was "systemic mismanagement" at the BC Public Service Agency, and it led to existing government appointees applying for temp positions, even though that’s against policy. [Times Colonist / CP]
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🗓️ Things to do
🗣️ 🐦 Francophone Ornithology Cafe Chat: Go birding and brush up on your French language skills at this outdoor cafe chat on the Songhees Trail today. 10:30am. [Info]
🎎 Doll Day exhibit: Features antique and vintage dolls inside the 152-year-old one-room schoolhouse and outside, in the native plant teaching garden. Metchosin Schoolhouse Museum. Sat. 1-4pm. [Info]
🎨 Generations: The Sobey Family and Canadian Art: See 120+ works by some of Canada’s most celebrated artists, including Emily Carr, the Group of Seven, and Kent Monkman at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Sat.-Oct.27. [Info]
🎶 Laketown Shakedown: The music festival will take place at Laketown Ranch in Youbou this weekend. Fri.-Sun. [Info]
Looking for something to do this weekend? Subscribe to This Week In Vic to get the full list of what’s on this week.
👀 In Case You Missed It
Monday’s headlines: Island rowers prepare for Paris; Vic tech sector at 20K+ workers; Panama Flats to be less about agriculture; And more. [June 24]
Langford pushing free bus transport at UBCMs. [The Westshore]
Bright green visitor to bright purple plant in Saanich. [Photo]
Goats Lemon Sorbet and Cookies&Cream delivered three kids between them last weekend. [Photos]
Eventide summer concert series returns July 3. [Announcement]
Community Food Support needs July volunteers. [Info]
That’s it!
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