Aug 15 - HarbourCats finish season

Good morning !

Today we take a look at the last wooden freighter that still serves Island communities, and the final game for our Victoria HarbourCats—and if all that reading makes you thirsty, you can also check out where to grab some refreshing South Island ciders.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️ 30 / 16 

Tomorrow: ☀️ 28 / 12

Thursday: ☀️ 26 / 11 

7-day forecast 

🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (3/10). No smoke expected.

🚘️ Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

‘Last wooden freighter on the coast’ still operating in Island waters

The Uchuck III cargo and passenger vessel has been serving Nootka Sound for decades, bringing the Mowachaht/Muchalaht Nation back to its ancestral home, Yuquot, while delivering supplies to remote First Nations and industry camps.

Originally built in 1943, it once operated as a US navy ship patrolling the Pacific coast of North America. The vessel was purchased by Barkley Sound Transportation Co. Ltd. in 1952 as a stripped-down hulk to be revamped for its fleet of passenger and cargo ships. It was converted in 1955, and remains the only Uchuck vessel still operating in 2023.

The vessel is key for the yearly ancestral celebrations of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht Nation, and has become a beloved community fixture for those travelling to Yuquot.

Read more about the vessel’s history and significance.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Rutledge Park revamp construction begins: The park’s upgrades will include a splash pad and a new washroom facility.

Cooling stations: As the heat wave continues, cool down at these misting and water stations, splash pads, and air conditioned spaces across the city.

NEWS

HarbourCats fall in Oregon as Knights win WCL championship—again

Corvallis just isn’t the ‘Cats’ kind of town.

For the third time in the last five seasons of play—the league paused for the pandemic in 2020 and ’21—the HarbourCats travelled to this Oregonian city 135km south of Portland only to lose to the juggernaut Knights in a one-game showdown for the West Coast League (WCL) title.

The Corvallis Knights blanked Victoria 5-0 on a steamy, smoky Monday night to win their seventh consecutive WCL championship.

“Empty,” was the one-word response from HarbourCats managing partner Jim Swanson when asked how he felt immediately after the game.

Corvallis starter Merit Jones—who struck out eight of the first nine ‘Cats he faced—Zach Johnson and Sean Wiese cooled the HarbourCats’ bats on a night when the stadium thermometer read 84F (28C) in the seventh inning.

The Knights took a 1-0 lead on an unearned run in the second inning and parlayed a lead-off walk, bunt single, sacrifice bunt, sacrifice fly and an RBI single to plate a pair of insurance runs to make it 3-0 in the sixth.

They added two runs in the seventh, including one after outfielder Jesse Brown lost a fly ball in the breezeless, hazy sky, allowing Mason Lee to reach second and eventually score on catcher Tyler Davis’ throwing error.

The daytime temperature in Corvallis reached 40C, pushing the game’s first pitch back 90 minutes. The playing surface at Goss Stadium—also home to the Oregon State Beavers and the oldest continuously-used college venue in the US—is FieldTurf, making playing conditions seem more like a sauna.

In addition to the heat, smoke from area wildfires wafted in the air, which may have affected ticket sales, as the game was played before a crowd of 1,097.

Read Mark Brennae’s feature on the HarbourCats season leading up to this championship match. 

SPONSORED BY THE ROOT CELLAR

Locally grown goodness from your locally owned green grocer

Time spent gathered around the table is what connects us as people, families, and communities. Step into one of the two Root Cellar markets here in Victoria to experience it, including their second location in Cook Street Village.

Both markets offer Vancouver Island’s largest selection of locally grown, organic, and conventional produce as well as full-service butchers, delis, artisanal grocery, and more. Poised at the intersection of Victoria’s urban and agricultural regions, their McKenzie Corner flagship, founded in 2008, is also home to the Potting Shed, a boutique florist and beloved garden centre.

Cultivating a strong appreciation of fresh local food and sustainable food systems in the community is a responsibility the award winning Root Cellar takes seriously

Discover it for yourself at TheRootCellar.ca.

NEWS

Discover the cideries of the South Island

The region has long been known for its craft brewery scene, but the Island is increasingly home to unique and award-winning cideries.

You may not need much convincing to visit beautiful orchards, but this guide will tell you where to find them and what their specialties are.

Check it out at Tasting Victoria.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🎧 Story Map on CFUV: A documentary podcast telling the stories of spots across the city. Click on its interactive map to learn about specific places.

🗞️ In Other News

New Nanaimo-Vancouver service cancels debut sailings: Hullo had to cancel the first four sailings of its passenger-only fast ferry service between downtown Naniamo and Vancouver because of high winds and power outages in the Nanaimo area yesterday. The “Van–Nan” direct sailing is faster, but more expensive, than BC Ferries’ Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen routes. [Times Colonist]

Body of drowned woman recovered at Thetis Lake: Divers found the body of the woman, 49, yesterday after searching Prior Lake over the weekend when it was reported she did not reemerge from the water Saturday afternoon, forcing the closure of the park. [CTV]

Oldest Chinese temple in Victoria fundraising for repairs: The oldest Chinese temple in Canada—right here in Victoria—needs some serious repairs for its leaking roof and windows. Founded in 1876, the Tam Kung Temple was rebuilt in 1912 after it was destroyed in a fire. Repairs are going to cost $650K, which the temple owners will need to pay upfront before the Victoria City Heritage fund can kick in its promised $200K contribution. To reach this goal, a fundraiser celebrating the Autumn Moon Festival will take place Sept. 23. [Victoria News]

Heat wave day 3: Victoria remains at a Level 1 warning as a heat wave continues across the province. Victoria’s 13 misting stations are open but the city hasn’t opened community centre cooling stations. The city says it is following the lead of Environment Canada and the province. It offers this list of places to cool down and this tip sheet. The BC CDC suggests these heat-safety tips.

SPONSORED BY TALL TREE HEALTH

Nature Based Therapy 

A walk in the woods may be your path to better health. Tall Tree’s nature therapy combines clinical counselling with time outdoors. On trails, beaches, and park benches, kids, youth, and adults can experience a new path to healing outside the clinic walls.

🗓️ Things to do

🎙️ Jeremy Wong at Hermann's Jazz Club: The baritone jazz singer will be joined tonight by pianist Ashley Wey, bassist Louis Rudner, and drummer Hans Verhoeven. Doors 5:30pm, show 7-9pm.

🎶 Music in the Park: Classic rock band Demographix will perform tonight at Rutledge Park, 6-8pm.

🎥 The Miracle Club at The Vic Theatre: The drama comedy starring Maggie Smith, Laura Linney, and Kathy Bates will be shown today, 5:15pm.

Upcoming events this week:

🎥 Free-B Film Festival: Free movies at Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park will continue this weekend with Paris When It Sizzles being shown Fri. and Napoleon Dynamite being shown Sat.

🍴 North Saanich Flavour Trails Festival: Follow a self-guided tour through North Saanich to discover 18 food maker and producer venders, Friday-Sunday. A community celebration market will also take place at Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture on Saturday from 4 to 8pm and Sunday, 11am-2pm.

🎤 The Function Festival: The arts and music festival celebrating Canadian BIPOC talent will take place at Ship Point Harbour Sat.

👕 Community Garage Sale: Hunt for old treasures and used gems Saturday at Victoria Event Centre, noon-4pm. Entry is free.

🍻 Lighthouse Brewing block party: To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the craft brewing company is hosting a community party at 836 Devonshire Rd. on Saturday, 3-9pm.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Federal government unveils Powering Canada Forward: Victoria outfits UVic and Rainhouse Manufacturing Canada provided insight during a discussion about the long-term energy sector transformation report. [Victoria Tech Journal]

Monday’s headlines: Drowning death at Thetis Lake, two inspiring bike journeys, Westshore Rebels start season with three wins, and more. [Aug. 14]

Peninsula campground extension: Island View Beach Regional Park Campground will be open until Oct. 9 (Thanksgiving), instead of until Labour Day.

Island photographer captures Perseid meteor streaking above Miracle Beach early Sunday morning.

That’s it!

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