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June 30 - Could you run from Victoria to Sooke?

Long weekend events. Tomorrow's schedule. Flights cancelled. Short-term rental loophole.

Good morning !

Most of us like to spend a long weekend relaxing, but one local is doing the exact opposite: Running right across the region. More on that below.

Cam

Could you run all the way from Victoria to Sooke in a day?

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Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️ 24 / 13

Tomorrow: ☀️ 22 / 11

Tuesday: ☀️ 20 / 12

NEWS

What to do on holiday Monday

Past year photo from canadadayvictoria.ca

Victoria’s Canada Day celebrations bring live performances, food, and a family zone to the Legislature Lawns. 11am-11pm. Hey Ocean! and Blasé Blasé are among the day's musical acts. International food trucks will be on Belleville and there will be a family zone on the lawn. 

The night ends with music from DJ Shub (the Juno-winning forerunner of the PowWowStep subgenre) along with the usual fireworks and the event's first-ever drone show in the sky. Full info.

Downtown parking in parades and at street meters will be free. 

Langford Canada Day

The family-friendly free event at Starlight Stadium will include a pancake breakfast, live music, street hockey, magic, henna, a firefighter obstacle course, a corn hole tournament, a hot-wing eating contest, a beer garden, and food vendors. 10am-3pm. [Info

Sidney Days

Festivities begin today with an opening ceremony at 7:30pm, then music, and fireworks at 10:15pm. On Monday comes a pancake breakfast, parade, a family fair, and a build-a-boat challenge. 

Fort Rodd Hill / Fisgard Lighthouse

National historic sites are free on July 1, and the local former fort will have programming from 10am to 4pm. Games, education, booths, photos, ice cream, refreshments, a grill, and a performance by the Band of the 5th (BC) Field Artillery Regiment of RCA.

National parks are also free

In the South Island region, those include Gulf Islands Reserve and Pacific Rim National Park Reserves.

…but Victoria busses aren't 

Victoria Transit will run a Saturday schedule, with extra night runs, while Nanaimo will have Sunday service and Comox will be the Saturday schedule but free of charge. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Sunny week coming up, rising to 27C by weekend.

Summer bus schedule begins tomorrow: See it here.

Statutory holiday tomorrow.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Local student will run full 55km of Galloping Goose tomorrow

Zahra Ardali after completing the Oak Bay half marathon. Photo: Submitted

Before beginning her Master's at UVic, Zahra Ardali represented Iran as a professional duathlete. She even took third in both the 2022 Asia Triathlon Duathlon Cup Tabriz and the 2020 Karaj ASTC Duathlon Asian Cup.

On July 1, she'll run all the way from Victoria to Sooke to promote peace on both an international and a small local scale.

“These days I hear very sad news from all over the world,” she says, “and I decided to run 55km—not just to push me physically, but because peace is something that's close to my heart.”

To prepare, she has run 20km daily and strength trained, while still balancing school. Ardali has set up a GoFundMe page to help with her running supplies and is documenting her run on social media platforms. She wants to convince people, here and beyond, not only to be peaceful but to believe in what they can accomplish with small but determined actions.

“I believe that peace can start with small things and that we should be kind and understanding to everybody no matter who they are or where they come,” says Ardali. “If everybody starts from a point, and I believe that, a very small action can show peace to all of the world.”

FOOD

Saanich will get its first Flavour Trail next weekend

Next weekend (July 6-7), a series of 9 trail stops will let visitors learn more about local food production, shop at unique vendors, and bask in Saanich’s beautiful landscape. The self-guided tour will include community gardens, flower farms, honey farms, distilleries, and multiple tastings and demonstrations along the way.

The trail stops will switch up on the Sunday, and will incorporate the 57th annual Strawberry Festival at Beaver Beach in Elk Lake Provincial Park. That will feature the Savour Saanich Farmers Market, a zucchini race, and family-friendly activities such as floral bouquet designing and cupcake decorating.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🚚 Guide to Victoria food trucks: Grab some good food on the go this week. [Tasting Victoria]

🛳🗻  The ship & the mountain: HMCS Regina sails through Gulf Islands as Mt. Baker looms behind. [James MacDonald]

🐦 Woodpecker in a polka-dot vest: A northern flicker gets a drink in Campbell River.

🎵 Bring the family to the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park, TODAY! 1:30pm. Songs for the Summer of Love! Heather Ferguson sings with horns and drums and stuff!*

🏵 The moody oranges & greens of a morning walk in Victoria. [Photos]

🤝 Now hiring: Community Engagement Consultant at Sooke Region Museum & Visitor Centre.

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Victoria will close loophole that could have let short-term rentals reclassify as hotels
Council has paused building permit applications from The Falls on Courtenay and a building at 529 Pandora. Both sought to classify former STRs as hotels, but the city has an upcoming bylaw to more specifically definine hotels—and that would rule out these applicants. [Times Colonist]

Car-motorcycle crash closes parts of Hwy 4 for 6 hours
One person was taken to hospital by air ambulance after the crash just before 10am on Sat. in Port Alberni. On Friday, a pedestrian, 44, was fatally struck by a car in Courtenay.

Local hammer thrower can’t throw hammer locally
Adam Keenan of Victoria had trained for the Olympic sport at his old high school, Lambrick Park. But in 2022, the throwing cage his friends set up was locked by the school district. A new one is slated for Oak Bay High—but will come too late for Keenan’s Paris Olympic training. [CBC]

Sudden strike strands WestJet passengers as company cuts flights
The company abruptly cancelled trips after mechanics walked off on Friday afternoon, saying the airline had been unwilling to negotiate. The federal government has directed the sides toward binding arbitration. [CP]

🗓️ Things to do

🎙️ Hollow Coves: The Australian folk duo play Capital Ballroom today with opener Billianne. Doors 7:30pm. Show 8:30pm.

🎵 Music in the Park: Jazz & blues from Heather Ferguson and Calluna will in Beacon Hill. 1:30-3:30pm. [Info

🎶 Laketown Shakedown: Laketown Ranch welcomes Gwen Stefani, BBNO$, Miina, Murge, Illvis Freshley, The New Groovement, Blase Blase, and more today. [Info]

🛠 Musical construction continues: See local artists make instruments, and audiovisual soundscapes, from scratch. Ministry of Casual Living. 12-2pm. [More info]

⚾️ Fireworks night at Royal Athletic as HarbourCats battle Nanaimo NiteOwls. [Tickets]

🎖🌶😔💕♣️🩹 The Love You Make: This choral concert will present Beatles tunes at Charlie White Theatre. Today. 2pm. [Info]

🇵🇭 Filipino food market: 11am-7pm at the Phillipine Bayanihan Community Centre. 

🎷 JazzFest finale in Esquimalt's Bullen Park: Free show noon-4:30pm. $39 after 7pm. More info here, and schedule below:

  • 12pm: Jaya Bremer Quintet: Victoria-based vocalist & co.

  • 1pm: Louis Rudner's Fusion Throwdown: The bassist invites friends on sax, keys, & drums.

  • 2:15pm: Apollo Suns: Winnipeg-based instrumental collective.

  • 3:30pm: Best Laid Plans: New Orleans style soul and R&B.

  • 7pm: Grapefruit is Impossible. Funk, hip hop, and jazz sextet.

  • Headliner: Five Alarm Funk: Juno-nominated funk band & JazzFest mainstays since 2010. [Tickets]

👀 In Case You Missed It

New charge for new developments could help pay for more water infrastructure in CRD. [Capital Daily]

Kid in the Hall on the Island: Capital Daily interviews Canadian comedy legend Bruce McCulloch.

Friday news: Langford City Hall flooded; Anti-drowning measures for local beaches; UVic expands naloxone. [June 28]

Good food at Pride in this Tasting Victoria guide.

Senior attacked by bear trying to break into garage in West Van; she had only minor injuries. [BCCOS]

The faces of Ska & Reggae Fest [Colin Smith]

Baby Premier premieres: David Eby welcomes new daughter. [Global News]

Planning a summer driving trip in BC? [Know Before You Go]

That’s it!

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