June 27 - We Unify unable to unify Victorians

Good morning !

Canada Day is next week and the list of events includes both a drone light show and a fireworks show. Do you have a preference for one or the other?

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️ 17 / 11

Tomorrow: ⛅ 17 / 12

Saturday: 🌧️ 18 / 11

7-day forecast

NEWS

We Unify conference did not unify Victorians this past weekend

We Unify’s Reclaiming Canada conference at Victoria's Conference Centre (VCC) sparked heated debate and protests during Pride Month, exposing deep divisions over peace, security, personal freedom, and equality. It featured speakers such as Tamara Lich and Chris Barber from the Freedom Convoy, drawing criticism from 2SLGBTQ+ advocates and local leaders who wanted the event cancelled.

Critics of the conference argued that some speakers promote hate, which clashes with Victoria's values of inclusivity and support for gender diversity and Indigenous communities. Outside, protesters voiced their outrage due to the presence of Alberta preacher Artur Pawlowski and former Justice Centre speaker John Carpay who have fueled controversy because of past remarks, which were seen as disrespectful to 2SLGBTQ+ and Indigenous communities. Pawlowski infamously said the 2SLGBTQ+ community had perverted God's symbol [the rainbow] and said “They are using it for sin." Carpay once compared the rainbow flag to the Nazi flag.

Despite calls for dialogue and understanding, tensions remained high. While some attendees sought common ground, others condemned what they viewed as entrenched biases. The conference, held in a publicly supported venue, highlighted ongoing challenges in bridging differences and fostering mutual respect within Canadian society.

Read Sidney Coles’ full story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Canada Day in Vic festivities information. [City of Victoria] 

Missing teen: Madison Waterhouse, 14, is still missing. This is the second time in three weeks that she has been listed as missing by Campbell River RCMP, which says she is considered at-risk.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Arrow House to provide a safe, ‘stigma-free’ recovery home for new mothers dealing with addiction

When it opens later this summer, it will offer refuge for six mothers and their babies as they go through detox and work toward recovery. They’ll have the option to stay at the home for up to a year. The home is operated by Union Gospel Mission (UGM), a Vancouver non-profit that helps those experiencing homelessness, addiction, and food insecurity. 

This is a first-of-its-kind program for the Island—prior to its opening, women had to go to Vancouver to access this form of care from UGM. 

Victoria also has HerWay Home—a drop-in counselling program for new mothers or pregnant women dealing with substance use issues—which has operated since 2013. But while HerWay Home provides assistance in finding affordable housing, it does not offer overnight sheltering.

“I had so many friends die from toxic drugs, and at the peak of my addiction I was using fentanyl every day—I knew it could be me next,” said Hannah Ferguson. 

Ferguson moved from Victoria to Vancouver in order to access UGM’s women’s recovery program after attempting to detox on her own in Victoria.

“I wanted help but I didn’t know where to get it, and there was nothing available for me [at that time] on the Island,” she said.

According to UGM, the number of women dying from toxic drugs has doubled since 2020, with more new mothers seeking care. For many of these mothers, societal shame can make it harder to seek treatment—be it because of a lack of accessible resources or fear of asking for help.

UGM said it hopes to provide a safe and “stigma-free” environment for recovery.

Those working in the recovery sector have argued that these services are not receiving enough support to address the many people looking for recovery treatment. Evan James at Umbrella Society, a Victoria non-profit that provides recovery treatment services, told Capital Daily last year that progress for these services since the beginning of the opioid crisis has been “a colossal failure.”

⭐️ Capital Picks

🦀 Crab trails on Qualicum Beach [Photos]

📖 BC Summer Reading Club for kids 12 and under. [GVPL]

🤝 Now hiring: Operations Manager at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary Society

🗞️ In Other News

Court refuses to discharge Greg Martel from bankruptcy
A BC Court said the Victoria mortgage broker’s debts of $300M will remain intact. A person is often eligible for an automatic discharge after nine months of filing for personal bankruptcy—Martel hit his nine months in May—however, the trustee overseeing Martel’s bankruptcy wrote a scathing report arguing Martel should not be discharged, citing his alleged Ponzi scheme that cost investors roughly $300M. [Times Colonist]

2 people arrested during Gorge weapons call
Yesterday’s call on Gorge, near Washington, prompted a response from Greater Victoria’s Emergency Response Team (GVERT), a unit that deals with threats to public safety. Few details were available on the arrest, but police said the file has been transferred to the general investigations sector. [CHEK]

Out of control wildfire near Shawnigan Lake likely human-caused
The fire is now considered under control, down to .24 ha from 1 ha. The exact cause is currently being investigated but is considered human-caused. This is the second wildfire on the Island in the last week to be considered human-caused, with another starting near Port Alberni last Thurs. CTV reports that five kittens were rescued from the Port Alberni fire, and are now being treated for burns at the SPCA.

WestJet preps for possible strike tomorrow
The carrier said it had received a second strike notice from the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), which represents its aircraft maintenance engineers and other technical employees, warning a strike could happen as early as tomorrow at 4:30pm Victoria time. The notice comes a week after the union, which overwhelmingly rejected an offer last week, called off its strike plans. [WestJet]

🗓️ Things to do

🎷 Jazz Fest Victoria: This festival of shows will continue this week, with concerts at Bullen Park, Hermann’s, and Wicket Hall, running through Sun. [Info]

💍 Chi Cheng Lee: See artistic jewelry made by Lee at the Avenue Gallery, available to see for free until next Tues. [Info]

🎵 Goin’ Underwater: Catch this live music show, featuring local bands at Victoria Event Centre tonight. 8pm. [Info]

💄 Peaches’ Palace: This monthly show is back at Friends of Dorothy tonight featuring drag, comedy and burlesque. 8:30pm. [Info]

🎭 Entertainment Village: Head to The Mint tonight for this improv comedy show hosted by OK Dope. 8pm. [Info]

🎶 Laketown Shakedown: The music festival will take place this weekend at Laketown Ranch in Youbou, with headliners Gwen Stefani, Busta Rhymes, and Jesse Roper. Fri-Sun. [Info]

😂 Bruce McCulloch: The Kids in the Hall legend will take the stage at the McPherson Playhouse to perform his solo work. Sat. 8pm. [Info]

🎸 Hollow Coves: See the Australian indie rockers at the Capital Ballroom. Sun. 7:30pm. [Info]

🇨🇦 Victoria Canada Day: Join in on the celebration at the legislature and Inner Harbour, with live music, food vendors, and a special drone and firework show. Mon. 11am-10:30pm. [Info]

🍺Vancouver Island Brewing's 40 Years Birthday Bash: VIB on Government. Fri. July 12. 3-8pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Wednesday’s headlines: Victoria pre-zones for unhoused services; Adam Olsen exits election; John Horgan has cancer again; And more. [June 26]

VicPD officers’ driving tactics questioned. [Capital Daily]

Strawberry moon pics from Cadboro Bay and Cecile Brisebois Guillemot.

Nearly one-third of BC’s independent bookstores located on Vancouver Island. [CBC]

Prepare for heat this summer, BC Coroners Service says. [CHEK]

Saanich to allow secondary suites on rural properties. [Times Colonist]

That’s it!

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