March 16 - St. Patrick's Day events this weekend

Good morning !

Yesterday I asked what your plans were for this sunny weekend and the No.1 answer not listed was gardening—I can’t believe I forgot to include this perfect spring-time activity. If you’re planning to work on your garden this weekend, let us know what you’re growing!

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️ 17 / 6 

Tomorrow: ☀️ 18 / 6

Day after: ☀️ 17 / 6

7-day forecast

NEWS

Victoria council votes to raise their salary by 25%

Councillor pay rises from $52K to $65K as of May, while the mayor stays at $131K a year.

Coun. Jeremy Caradonna tabled Thursday’s motion, saying councillor salaries should be half that of the mayor’s, given the scope of their role—which he says is not part-time work. 

“Either this is a part-time job with part-time pay and benefits, or it is a full-time job with full-time pay and benefits,” he said. “But it cannot simultaneously be a full-time job with part-time pay and benefits, which is what it currently is.”

Last fall’s living wage report estimated that a local family would need to bring in $93K to afford standard expenses in the region. 

Council pay was comparatively low, report said

A report outlining the role and salaries of councillors was requested in 2022, but was not completed by the firm prior to the municipal election. It was again requested by council last summer and was released last month, showing the salaries of Victoria councillors are below councillors in other cities, considering their work is more full-time.

Mayor Marianne Alto argued that the change shouldn’t come into effect until the next council is voted in, saying “it is never appropriate for any agency ever under any circumstances to vote itself a raise either individually or collectively.” 

Council, however, voted against the wait, with councillors  Dave Thompson, Krista Loughton and Susan Kim saying councillors shouldn’t have to struggle financially. Loughton argued the previous council should have made the salary change before the last election.

Lower salaries can limit representation

Capital Daily previously reported on the awkward position local councillors are in to choose their own salaries—and the importance of a liveable wage in encouraging diverse individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds to run for office. 

In 2022, the two youngest Victoria councillors, Matt Dell and Susan Kim, told Capital Daily they had to work second jobs to keep up with living costs. 

Kim said in Thursday’s meeting that living on her current salary remains “untenable,” saying she lives “hand to mouth” while paying student loans and renters insurance.

“If I can do something about it, I will,” said Kim, in support of the raise.

Several councils got recent raises

Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Sooke, and Colwood councils voted for pay raises just before the 2022 election, though Colwood revised and reduced the amount after the election.

- Robyn Bell

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Ceasefire pilgrimage walk. Broad View United Church

Man missing, last seen in Ladysmith. RCMP

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

St. Patrick’s Day events happening this weekend in Greater Victoria

Sunday is St. Patrick’s Day, a day to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland—or simply an opportunity to drink green beers with your friends. 

Join in on an assortment of Irish cultural celebrations, like watching performers from the O’Brien School of Dance, catching live Celtic music at a pub, or taking in a history lesson about the mythology surrounding St. Patrick. Revel in the fun of the holiday with some late-night dancing with fellow green-clad party goers.

Whatever you’re looking for, there are plenty of ways to have some mighty craic this St. Paddy’s Day in Greater Victoria. 

Check out our roundup of St. Patrick’s Day events here.

TASTING VICTORIA AWARDS

Check out the finalists!

The Tasting Victoria team has narrowed down the top 8-10 finalists in each of the 18 categories in the Tasting Victoria Best Restaurant Awards. Who made it to the voting round for best bakery, best restaurant with a view, best fine dining spot? Check out the finalists and cast your votes for the winners here.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🎤 Victoria’s got talent: Three Greater Victoria performers will vie for $1M prize on Canada’s Got Talent, premiering tonight. 

👷🏽 Plumbers and Pipefitters reach your full potential with UA Local 324. Enjoy steady and stable employment, higher wages, healthcare benefits, pension plan, and more. Learn more.*

🛥️ Derelict boat removed from Oak Bay. [Photos]

👐🏼 It’s not just a shelter: Sanctuary Youth Centre is a safe space for young adults in Victoria to access food, showers and invaluable community. Read the rest of the Victoria Foundation article here.*

🤝 Now hiring: Program Coordinator at Scale Collaborative.

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Tribunal calls maskless complaint baseless, in Saanichton
A woman told to put on a mask to shop in a farmers market during the pandemic took the matter to a BC Human Rights Tribunal, claiming her disability precluded her from having to wear one. The tribunal said she couldn’t prove her impairment prevented her from complying. [Victoria News] 

April fools: You’ll pay to park on streets near Nanaimo hospital
Beginning next month, it’ll cost $1.25/hour, and there may be a two-hour limit, to park on some sidestreets near NRGH. It’s the city’s response to residential, hospital visitor, and business complaints about a lack of parking in the downtown core. [Nanaimo News Bulletin] 

UBC says it may have discovered a new orca population
Researchers spotted a group hunting sperm whales and other large marine animals in open water near Cali and Oregon. Many of the 49 whales had a cookie-cutter shark bite scar, a clue about where they live, and they may belong to a subpopulation of transient orcas. [UBC News]

Sidney wins Greater Victoria Flower Count again
For the second straight year, Sidney is the region’s most blooming community: 17.4 billion blossoms counted, some 1.5B more than runner-up Victoria, per statistics for the 49th count. Overall 38B were counted locally, up 5B from 2023.

Man who killed UVic student in 1987 granted day parole
Scott Ian MacKay got a life sentence for murdering Marguerite Telesford, who was a pianist studying to become a teacher at the time of her murder. Earmuffs the 20-year-old was wearing and other evidence was discovered on Mount Douglas Cross Road, but her body was never found. [Times Colonist]

🗓️ Things to do

✂️ Shredathon. Reynolds Secondary’s robotics team holds paper-shredding fundraiser for world championship trip to Texas. Reynolds Secondary School today, 10am-1pm. [Info]

📚 Giant Spring Book Sale: Shop secondhand books and jigsaw puzzles at St. Mary’s today, 10am-2pm. 

🎹 David Vest: The Maples Blues Award winning musician will perform blues music at Hermann’s Jazz Club today. Doors 5:30pm, show 7pm. 

😂 The Arrogant Worms: The musical comedy trio will perform at Mary Winspear Centre today at 7:30pm. 

🪩 Tight Hair: The disco group will perform ‘70s hits at Hermann’s Upstairs tonight. Doors 7:30pm, show 9pm. 

🎥 Amélie at Cinecenta: The French comedy about a waitress who helps people find happiness will be shown at the UVic theatre today. 2:45pm, 5:10pm, and 7:30pm.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: Vic council declines delay condo regulations; Parents request school police; WD40 wolf still prowling Parksville. [Mar. 15] 

CRD rolls lucky 7s budget. Capital Daily

Red Fish Blue Fish reopens for the season. The seafood shack recently named among the best restaurants in Canada is back to business as usual at 1006 Wharf. 

Kinu by Sizzling Tandoor now open: The new restaurant at 3600 Uptown serves globally-inspired tapas and offers a South Asian cocktail menu. 

Belleville Terminal: Work begins on CoHo and Clipper passenger port.

BC Ferries’ new ‘Saver’ price for advanced bookings.

That’s it!

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