May 2 - UVic students' campout for Palestine

Good morning !

Today we have stories on the encampment protest at UVic and the expected rise in oil tankers along our coast as the TMX pipeline officially opens.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

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NEWS

UVic students set up encampment on campus in support of Palestine

In solidarity with universities across North America, student protesters at UVic have erected an encampment calling for a ceasefire in Palestine and for the university to divest funds from companies supporting Israel. 

“There are no moves being made [by UVic] towards divestment in a real tangible and meaningful way,” said an encampment protester, who asked not to use her name. “So we're escalating our calls to action with this encampment aligned with additional groups across North America and Turtle Island.”

Tents were pitched on UVic’s quad around 8am yesterday, with Palestinian flags and signs calling for a ceasefire surrounding the camp. Protesters were seen wearing keffiyehs, a traditional Arab scarf that has become a symbol of support for Palestinians.

UVic’s encampment appeared the morning after hundreds of students at Columbia University in New York were arrested during a similar pro-Palestinian encampment. Several encampments have appeared at Canadian universities over the past week, with VIU students in Nanaimo also joining yesterday.

The protesters are calling on UVic to divest from companies that arm Israel’s military, break ties with Israeli universities, and for the school’s president Kevin Hall and board of directors to publicly call for a ceasefire.

Read the full story by Robyn Bell here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

London Drugs still closed following cyber threat. [Updates]

‘Violent’ man wanted by police. [Nanaimo RCMP]

Gorge construction from Blanshard to Harriet. [Bike Lanes]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

We will soon be seeing more oil tankers in our waters

A new era slipped in yesterday at one in the morning.

That’s the time the long-anticipated (not necessarily in a positive way) Trans Mountain oil pipeline officially became functional. 

The twinned version of the original 1953 pipeline that runs from Alberta to BC took four years and $34 billion to build. 

It will increase shipping capacity almost threefold, to 890K barrels of crude oil per day from the 300K barrels the original pipe was able to move. 

Trans Mountain says it doesn’t expect the twinned pipeline to service its first tanker until mid-month, at which time we’ll be able to spot at least a tanker a day in the waters off Vancouver Island.

Don’t forget, you own this pipeline. The federal government bought it in 2018 for $4.5B but will unload it in a heartbeat, and likely at a loss, experts say.

Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, who as chief of the Neskonlith Indian Band fought the TMX pipeline expansion on her territory, tells Capital Daily “We need to continue working together on solutions and an economy not dependent on dirty fossil fuels."

She said: "The tar sands oil is further exacerbating the climate crisis and increases extreme weather events and is not the solution.” 

Read more about the increase in tanker traffic and the concerns around it in the Westshore.

SPONSORED BY THE BELFRY THEATRE

“Quite extraordinary!...every word was worth it!”

The Lehman Trilogy is onstage to May 19 at the Belfry Theatre.

On a cold September morning in 1844, a young man from Bavaria stands on a New York dockside, dreaming of a new life in the new world. He is joined by his two brothers and an American epic begins.

163 years later, the firm they established—Lehman Brothers—spectacularly collapsed into bankruptcy and triggered one of the largest financial crises in history.

Featuring a cast of three playing the Lehman brothers, their sons, and grandsons in an extraordinary feat of storytelling told in three parts on a single evening.

The Belfry Theatre offers pay-what-you-want tickets to all performances.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🎵 Victoria Music Strategy Grant info session: [Next Wed]

🦭 Emerson’s moult underway: See these close-ups (using a zoom lens) of the “celebrity” seal’s shedding process: [Photos]

🌺 Translucent-looking petals on this Trillium in Seal Bay Nature Park.

🤝 Now hiring: Enhanced Executive Support Analyst at ISM.

🗞️ In Other News

NDP nomination secured, Plant takes back Elizabeth May comments
Saanich Coun. and CRD Board Chair Colin Plant is the New Democrats’ federal nominee to represent Saanich–Gulf Islands. Plant won over the weekend but an NDP news release sent out Sun. suggested the Green Party incumbent May no longer was up to the task. Plant says sorry, that was an inappropriate mistake. [CHEK]

Nighthawk protections expanded on Pender Island
Protected areas for the sanctuary of the common nighthawk have doubled in size with the help of Island Trust Conservancy. The loss of wetland habitat and the use of insecticides on their food source has threatened the numbers of the “special status” birds. [Coast Reporter / LJI]

Saanich police search warrants turn up drugs, money, ‘ghost gun’
That’s a weapon modified to fire live ammunition. Police said they found the loaded 9-millimetre firearm along with $55K in cash and a quantity of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and steroids with a combined street value of $200K. Searches were conducted on residences on Drummond Way near Braveheart and Millstream near the Liquor Planet. A 35-year-old man was arrested. [Saanich Police]

Students to pay more as UVic closes free McKinnon gym
The Canadian Sport Institute Pacific (CSI Pacific) moves in this fall and students will have to pay—on top of their mandatory $94 athletics & rec fee—to use the newer CARSA rec facility. UVic argues the fee is meant to fund overall athletic services, not a weight room. [Martlet]

You may have noticed more for-sale signs in Greater Vic
That’s because there were more properties up for new ownership, the Victoria Real Estate Board says. After record low inventory levels, listings topped the 3K mark for the first time in five years when 3,017 properties were for sale at the end of the month—47% more than last April. [Times Colonist]

SPONSORED BY HOUSE OF MILES BOOKS

Who laughs during a funeral?

Your mum will when you give her The Goodbye Girls - Putting the Fun in Funerals for Mother's Day! Winner of the 2023 American Fiction Award for Humour, the oddball characters and their banter will captivate your mother on her special day.

Available in-store or online at Bolen Books

🗓️ Things to do

🎭 Bach’s Coffee Cantata: See this touring 30-minute opera about a woman’s unshakeable thirst for coffee. Tonight-Sat. [Info] 

🎤 Emotionz & Sirreal: See the rappers perform at Lucky Bar tonight, 10pm. [Info]

🍽️ Courtney Room X Lupo: Enjoy a multi-course menu by chefs of the Alberta restaurant at the Courtney Room tonight. [Info]

🍿 Short Circuit Pacific Rim Film Festival. Dozens of local and international short films at the Vic Theatre. Various times. Today through Sun. [Info]

🎶 Kim Churchill. See the Australian musician at Capital Ballroom tomorrow, 8pm. [Info]

🎤 TEDxRRU. An evening of insightful talks. Dogwood Auditorium at Royal Roads University tomorrow, 6pm. [Info]

🎵 Peninsula Singers: The performers will take on Hollywood hit songs at the Charlie White Theatre. Fri.-Sun. 7:30pm. [Info]

☂️ Mary Poppins: See the VOS production of the beloved musical at the McPherson Playhouse. Opens Fri. 7:30pm. Running through May 12. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Wednesday’s headlines: Decriminalization pilot project to plow ahead; Emerson has a couple more weeks of skin-shedding; Erotic film festival not coming; And more: [May 1]

Renoviction worries: Tenants in Esquimalt apartment complex face unknown: [Capital Daily]

New low-income housing becomes available in Sooke: [The Westshore]

Short-term rental rules now in effect: [Times Colonist]

The Last of Us to film in Nanaimo: [Daily Hive]

Peanut Butter remembered: The Beacon Hill Farm horse died two years ago Apr. 26: [Read the farm's tribute]

TEDxVictoria is taking place on May 15. Visit this Instagram post and tag a friend, colleague, or family member who inspires you to make a change and they could win two tickets to the event.*

*Sponsored Listing

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