March 22 - Victoria's sports history recognized

Good morning !

Victoria’s contributions to BC’s and Canada’s sports history have officially been recognized by the BC Sports Hall of Fame. The city has been named a Sports Heritage Community for producing many notable athletes and champion teams, in addition to playing host to major sporting events, such as the Commonwealth Games.

We also happen to be the last city in BC to have won the Stanley Cup—an honour that’s being recognized 100 years later, with centennial events happening next weekend.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

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NEWS

Victoria named Sports Heritage Community by BC Sports Hall of Fame

Next week, Victoria will mark 100 years since its Western Canada Hockey League Cougars won the Stanley Cup. As the famed trophy makes its way to the Island to mark the occasion, Victoria’s contribution to sports history is being recognized—the BC Sports Hall of Fame (BCHOF) has officially designated the city as a Sports Heritage Community. 

The designation is a new recognition by BCHOF and is meant to shine a spotlight on communities that have shaped BC’s sports culture over the years. Victoria is one of two cities bestowed the honour, following Kamloops, which was designated in the fall.  

Victoria has been showing off its sports community prowess lately. Last year, the city hosted Hockey Day in Canada, drawing NHLers to town and countrywide recognition on TV. The shinny weekend generated nearly $4M in economic activity for the region, according to the Greater Victoria Sports Tourism Commission (GVSTC) .

GVSTC Executive Director Keith Wells says the community’s sport history is "synonymous with leadership, excellence, and civic pride.”

“These are all qualities that help attract athletes, coaches, sport scientists, and other sport leaders, not to mention everything from major events to training camps,” Wells said in a release.

The city boasts many athletic feathers in its cap. In addition to being the last city in BC to win the Stanley Cup—sorry, Canucks—Victoria also hosted the XV Commonwealth Games in 1994. Teams from UVic, Camosun, and Royal Roads have excelled in university competitions—just last week, UVic won the men’s national basketball title—and the Victoria Shamrocks are nine-time Mann Cup winners. Greater Victoria also produced Steve Nash, back-to-back MVP for the NBA, and is home to the Pacific Institute for Sport Education (PISE) and has hosted Canada’s formidable national rowing squads and rugby teams.

Next week, March 29-30, multiple events to honour the centennial of the Victoria Cougars’ win will take place in Oak Bay—once home to the Patrick Arena, where the championship was won before it burned down in 1929. There will be ball hockey games, a synthetic outdoor rink, live music, an unveiling of a new monument for the centennial, and, of course, the Stanley Cup.

Check out the full schedule here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Missing man: Donald Dion, 46. [Shawnigan Lake RCMP]

What a rainbow! If you caught a photo yesterday evening, send it in and we will feature a few.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Local municipalities consider tax increases to fund
E-Comm 911 dispatch service

In the run-up to finalizing their budgets, nine local governments grappled with the financial impact of assuming 100% of costs for E-Comm emergency dispatch services. 

The cost download was first announced in 2020, when it was revealed that these communities would need to fully fund E-Comm 9-1-1 dispatch services, previously shared with the province and the feds in a 70:30 split. The cost burden is a significant issue, especially as municipalities face fiscal pressures post-COVID-19.

Several municipalities—such as Sidney and North Saanich—have integrated these costs into their budgets, with Sidney planning to use a prior surplus to cover the initial $331.5K cost for the first nine months of service. 

Others, such as Sooke, continue to deliberate. The situation is complicated by a lack of provincial consultation and cost calculations, leading to confusion and unpaid bills. E-Comm’s leadership admitted that even they were surprised by the financial adjustments.

This cost download is part of a broader issue of inequities across BC’s emergency dispatch funding model. Major cities such as Victoria already pay 100% of their costs. 

Affected municipal leaders have urged the province to explore alternative funding solutions and introduce a telecommunications levy, similar to models in other provinces. 

Municipalities must submit their final budget plans by May 15, with some, like Langford, warning that property tax increases may be the only way to cover the rising dispatch costs.

On Tue., the City of Langford announced a property tax increase of 9.77% and cited emergency dispatch services as part of the reason. 

Read Sidney Coles’ full story here.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🚌 VI buses of the past: See different methods of transit on the Island from long ago. [Facebook photos]

🐙 Massive sunflower sea star and a sneaky camouflaged octopus nearby. [Facebook video]

Support local journalism by supporting Capital Daily. Become a Capital Daily Insider member today and help bring local stories to life. 

🗞️ In Other News

Trade war brings abundance of goods to food banks
Amid the Buy Canada movement, food banks in BC are receiving American produce rejected by shoppers. One food bank in Nanaimo says it received nearly 400kg more of American produce than usual. It’s a small silver lining for food banks, though many are bracing for an uptick in people using these banks as tariffs put a strain on cost of living. [CP/ City News]

Langford couple raises $92K in under 24hrs after terminal diagnosis
Sarah and Geri Kramer are celebrating their 29th wedding anniversary next week, which will likely be their last as Sarah found out Mon. she has weeks to live. Sarah, a popular vegan cookbook writer, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer. Geri is currently in recovery from her own surgery. But the well-known tattoo artists have built a massive community in Greater Victoria and were flooded with support in less than a day of creating a GoFundMe, allowing them to both take off work and spend their final weeks together. [Victoria News]

Local Hudson’s Bay stores not among 6 locations saved from liquidation
Those stores are all in Ontario and Quebec, though the retailer—Canada’s oldest—says that it may be able to keep some of the other 74 open if sales overperform. But the saved stores may be liquidated, too, if a restructuring is not figured out soon enough. Sales run to June 15, with stores vacated by June 30. [CTV]

🗓️ Things to do

🧚 Peter Pan on Ice: Experience the classic tale of Peter Pan brought to life on ice by the Racquet Club of Victoria at the Archie Browning Sports Centre. Today 2pm & 7pm; tomorrow 1pm.  [Info]

👠 Hot Pink: See Victoria’s award-winning burlesque troupe, The Cheesecake Burlesque Revue, at this fundraising show at Belfry Theatre tonight. 8pm. [Info]

🎤 The Miranda Sage Vocal Jazz Quintet: Celebrate the release of Miranda Sage's seventh album Music of the Spheres with her quintet, featuring Phil Dwyer, at Hermann's tonight. 7pm. [Info]​

🧵 For the Love of Fabric: See the work of Designing Women, a group of six local artists who create innovative art with fabric, at Gallery Splash in Esquimalt today. 2-4pm. [Info]

🏄 The Beach Boys: See the legendary band at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre tonight. 7pm. [Info]

🦦 Science Saturday at RBCM, today featuring the funny (both ha-ha funny and peculiar funny) side of nature. 1-3pm. [Info]

🧠 Psychic & Spiritual Arts Fair: Check out all things metaphysical at Mary Winspear Centre today. 10am-5pm. [Info]

🏮 Chinatown History Walking Tour: Find out why Victoria has Canada’s oldest Chinatown in this tour by John Adams of Discover the Past. Meet at 579 Fisgard St tomorrow. 1pm. [Info]

🍹 World Cocktail Day Mixer at Sheringham Distillery in Langford. 11am-5pm. [Info]

🛍️ Spring Bean Market: Shop this market, with queer, BIPOC, and disabled creators selling wares, at the Da Vinci Centre today. [Info]

🌱 Seedy Workshop: Check out this family-friendly workshop on seed starting with Platinum Floral Designs at Westshore Town Centre tomorrow. 1pm. [Info]​

✊🏿 Black History Beyond February Exhibition Pop-Up Series continues at Mayfair mall (Centre court area). 10am-6pm Sat. 10am-5pm Sun.

🎶 Jazz Flute Reimagined: Enjoy a unique jazz flute performance by Jeremy Price and his ensemble at Hermann's tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]​

🏃 Michael Dunahee Keep the Hope Alive Run: Participate in a 5-km run/walk—raising awareness for missing children—starting at Esquimalt Recreation Centre tomorrow. 10am. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: Victoria Public Market closing in favour of grocery store; Improv troupe adds new shows; BC Ferries raising prices. [Mar. 21]

Video: Victoria woman wrestles would-be bike thief to ground. [CHEK]

3 VicPD cruisers vandalized, including 2 at police HQ. [Times Colonist]

Foamy seas and herring spawn seen in Hammond Bay. [Facebook photos]

New music: Victoria-based Cold Fame released a new track, “Jawbreaker.” [Listen here]

Island flowers are starting to bloom. [Facebook photos]