May 17 - Inquest into UVic student's death reports

Good morning !

And welcome to your Victoria Day weekend.
Recommendations are made in a UVic drug tragedy.

Also: it’s bagpipes and caber time—when big, strong men and women wearing kilts toss big poles of lumber, and we drink beer and watch them.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️ 14 / 8

Tomorrow: ⛅ 14 / 8

Monday: 🌦️ 12 / 9

7-day forecast

NEWS

Key findings from inquest into UVic student’s on-campus death

During the three-week-long BC Coroner Service (BCCS) inquest, a jury of five heard from 33 witnesses to understand the events that led to 18-year-old Sidney McIntyre-Starko’s death in Jan. 2024. 

McIntyre-Starko died from lack of oxygen, leading to cardiac arrest, after consuming what she thought was cocaine, for the first time, with two friends in their UVic dorm. Within minutes of consuming the illicit drug—which was laced with a fatal dose of fentanyl—McIntyre-Starko and one other student collapsed and began seizing. Security was called, and the third student who consumed the substance called 911.

Several missteps, a lack of protocol for overdoses, and miscommunication left McIntyre-Starko waiting 13 minutes for life-saving naloxone and 15 minutes for CPR. Her heart was restarted at the scene, but she died three days later at the hospital.

An independent review of McIntyre-Starko’s death—led by former Abbotsford Police chief Bob Rich and released in April—found that it was preventable. Rich was hired by UVic to conduct the review and made 18 recommendations for the university to implement to prevent future deaths. 

The purpose of the BCCS inquest was not to place blame for the death, but to determine the facts of the night’s events and make recommendations to prevent a similar death from occurring. The jury for the inquest determined the death was accidental and provided 10 recommendations to UVic, the province, and BC Emergency Health Services. 

Read the full story to learn about the key testimonies from witnesses, security guards, and health agencies, and the 10 recommendations to prevent similar deaths from occurring.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Expect busy ferries this long weekend as peak travel season begins.

Traffic disruptions & CCTV downtown this afternoon 2-4pm.

Expect sun, clouds, & rain this long weekend.

Windy near Juan de Fuca Strait today / tonight.

Safe Boating Awareness Week starts today. [Tips]

To access the full Sunday newsletter tomorrow, become a Capital Daily Insider member.

NEWS

Highland Games take over Topaz Park today and tomorrow

The 162nd edition of the Victoria Highland Games brings Scottish culture and sports to Topaz once again this long weekend.

It’s the longest continuously running Celtic games festival in North America—it was still held during the world wars and even during the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to its outdoor setting (although it relocated away from Topaz for 2020 and 2021). 

The games were started in 1863 by Scottish settlers at Fort Victoria working for the Hudson’s Bay Company. The Scottish diaspora brought their traditions all over the world, Victoria Highland Games Association president Jim Maxwell told Capital Daily last year, and those traditions included games played for centuries in Scotland.

He said the games can draw more than 20K attendees when the weather cooperates, but that “hardcore people” will come rain or shine.

Attendees will get to see a mix of international and local performers and athletes, with weekend events including:

• World champions competing in field sports and “heavy events” such as hammer throwing and caber tossing

• Drum bands from across Canada competing at the Canadian Invitational Drum Master Championships

• Pipe bands from the US and Canada competing, including SFU’s multi-time world champion pipe band

• A free children's entertainment tent

• Local bands performing in the Celtic Music Tent

• Highland dancing and Scottish country dancing

• Bagpipes and fiddling 

• “Fortissimo” (meaning “very loud”), in which military pipe bands play, well, loudly

• Scottish / Celtic food, merch, and clan genealogy stations

• Historic military demonstrations and displays

• Whisky and wine-tasting classes

Kids under 12 get in free, while adult tickets can be bought here or at the gates. 

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🧑‍🦽 Accessibility mat returns to Ross Bay Beach off Dallas. [City of Victoria]

🪷 Celebrate 50 years of Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary! Join them June 12 at the Nature House for a free community social (4:30–5:30pm) with refreshments, followed by their Annual General Meeting (5:30–6:30pm)*

✍️ Vancouver Island Festival of the Word. [June 7]

⚽ Sports and recreation in Victoria was graded a B+ last year. Do you agree in 2025? Take Victoria's 2025 Vital Signs survey for a chance to win a $100 Country Grocer gift card!*

🍜 6 Victoria restaurants named top 100 in Canada for outdoor dining. [OpenTable]

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Investigators following multiple new leads after announcing charges against SD61 teacher
A Saanich PD officer says that so far, investigations of the leads have been “successful.” Marnie Burnham, who also went by Marnie Forin, has been charged with five counts: three for sexual exploitation and two for telecommunication to lure a child. None of the charges has been proven, and a jury trial for two counts will begin June 16, with the other three at a later date. Burnham, 36, worked at Oak Bay High and Mount Doug Secondary and was arrested last Feb. [CHEK]

Saanich asks for firehall to be excluded from UVic development plans
The No. 3 Saanich Firehall sits on a parcel of university-owned land where the Ian Stewart Complex is located. The complex once housed a recreation centre with an outdoor pool before it was closed and turned into office and lab space. That building is expected to be redeveloped next year. According to UVic’s website, the redevelopment has expanded to include the firehall, but Saanich councillors say the edifice still has “a lot of life in it,” and tearing it down would be unnecessary. [Times Colonist]

BC sending 100 firefighters to battle Ontario forest fires
This, in addition to the 42 firefighters already dispatched to Manitoba, where a fire in Lac du Bonnet (near the Manitoba/Ontario border) killed two people and destroyed 28 homes and cottages. Cool weather in BC has made for fewer forest fires so far this spring, allowing for the British Columbia brigade to be available for inter-provincial deployment. [CTV]

🗓️ Things to do

🥁 Victoria Day Parade: Celebrate Victoria Day with a world-class parade showcasing diverse cultures and community partners. The parade route runs from Douglas and Finlayson to Douglas and Courtney. Mon. 9am. [Info]​

🎡 Luxton Spring Fair: Enjoy thrilling rides, games, live entertainment, and delicious fair food at the annual fair—perfect for families and fair lovers of all ages. Luxton Fairground. Now to Sun. 12-6pm. [Info] 

🎯 Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival: Celebrate Scottish culture with heavy athletic events, pipe bands, Highland dancing, whisky tasting, and more. Topaz Park. Today and tomorrow. [Info]

🥳 Block Party: Celebrate Turnabout’s 6th birthday and the grand opening of the Ottavio patio. Free mini gelato scoops, samples, bites, live DJ, prizes. Ottavio. Today. 11am-3pm. [Info]

🎸 Backyard Fest: Nanaimo's big annual celebration of underground music, arts, and community returns to the Harbour City this long weekend. [Info / tickets]

🍵 Japanese Tea Ceremony: Experience the beauty and tradition of a Japanese tea ceremony at the Royal BC Museum, featuring demonstrations by local Urasenke practitioners. Conference Hall. Today. 11am. [Info]

😂 Harold Night: Enjoy an evening of improv as local comedians perform with hilarious characters and interwoven stories. 849 Fort. Tonight. 8:30pm. [Info]

🍷 Averill Creek Open House: Visit the vineyard in Duncan for a spring open house with $2 wine tastings, lunch from Bicycle Pizza and Cold Comfort, and a pop-up from Westholme Nursery. Averill Creek. Today. 11am-5pm. [Info]

🎵 BYU Living Legends: A vibrant celebration of the cultural heritage of North and South America and the South Pacific, through music and dance. McPherson Playhouse. Tonight. 7pm.  [Info]

🥁 Roots and Rhythms Party: Dive into a world of beats and culture with Michel Rivero's band, celebrating music and dance. The Coda. Tonight. 6:30pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: Toxic death numbers drop; BC Ferries expecting ‘busiest summer yet’; Teens accused of selling drugs at area detox centres. [May 16]

Rain is expected this weekend, but we’re actually in a bit of a drought. [CHEK]

Moose Hide Campaign events draw hundreds to the legislature, thousands across the country. [Times Colonist]

Cougar alert: Saanich PD is warning those in the Lochside Trail area (near Swan Lake) to be cautious as the cougar is exhibiting “concerning” behaviour. [Safety tips]

Non-stop Victoria-Ottawa service announced by Porter Airlines.

Victoria Shamrocks announce new youth ticket initiative.

The world’s largest Nanaimo bar is to be assembled today at VIU.