May 26 - Swarm of bees on downtown streetcorner

Good morning !

It's a weekend of racing, with locals competing on foot (and by boat) in multiple events in Greater Victoria today.

But before more event info, here is the story that had downtown buzzing (literally) the other day.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌧️ 13 / 10

Tomorrow: ☁️ 15 / 9

Tuesday: ☁️ 14 / 9

7-day forecast

NEWS

Swarm of bees removed from downtown streetcorner

Police diverted traffic on Wednesday after multiple 911 calls about the bees on a city power box at Blanshard and Fisgard.

Francesco Lopez Nicoletti of Medieval Bees was called in and removed the bees. He told CHEK that swarming is the natural and typically peaceful way that bees seek a new home after leaving a prior hive. 

Honeybee swarming is often seen in these spring months. It's usually caused by a hive population either growing enough that it splits (taking the old queen to find a new home while a newly hatched queen takes over at the current one) or simply deciding that the current hive is uninhabitable and everybody needs to relocate.

Warm winter affecting local bees

Bill Cavers, president of the Capital Region Beekeepers Association, told Black Press that swarm season began early this year. But the warm winter also meant that beekeepers were less able to deal with mites as they usually would while bees are dormant.

Honey bees are often the face of efforts to save pollinators, but experts told Capital Daily that, as imported agricultural animals, they are less important to the state of regional health than native bees and wasps are.

Read that story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Some much-needed rain expected until Thursday.

BC minimum wage rises to $17.40 this coming Saturday.

Oak Bay marathon today will cause these road closures.

Ironman 70.3 race today, from Beaver Beach to Elk Lake with events at Hamsterly Beach. [Info]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

UVic student heads to Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival in Toronto

Mishelle Lavoie has always loved to create. Growing up in a Sahtúot'įnę-Métis household in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, her mother was the first person to teach her how to bead when she was around 10 years old, starting with small designs such as flowers.

“I always wanted to do beading or get into it because I've seen a lot of my aunties, my grandma or my mom doing it,” said Lavoie.

The UVic student—she’s currently working on her undergrad degree in general studies, with plans to eventually study art therapy—was fascinated with the beaded designs her cousins and other Indigenous cultures would wear. But she didn’t revisit the artform until her 20s, when she learned how to do more complicated peyote stitches and flatwork beading, falling back in love with the craft.

Now, she’s taking her beading skills to Toronto to showcase her work at the Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival (IFAW). She’ll be there along with fellow Victoria resident and UVic professor Heather Igloliorte, who will appear on a panel at the festival.

Read more about her brand Capital M and how it’s helped her connect with other Indigenous makers on the West Coast.

NEWS

Spot prawn season has begun—here’s where to get them in Victoria

One of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic food celebrations is happening today in Vancouver, with the Spot Prawn Festival and fundraiser taking over False Creek Fisherman’s Wharf.

Spot prawns are known for their sweet and delicate flavour and their firm texture. Their season runs from May through June—a late start to harvesting that allows them to grow big before catching begins.

But local seafood lovers don’t have to take the ferry to enjoy these tasty crustaceans. Tasting Victoria has rounded up a few Victoria-area restaurants serving spot prawns.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🚸 A Canada Goose “traffic jam” at Esquimalt Lagoon. [Doug Clement Photography]

🪕 Rifflandia wants more musicians: Apply to play at the festival by June 13.

🏀 Canada vs. Portugal: Tickets just went on sale for the women's basketball pre-Olympic exhibition game. 

🐱 Alice Munro and her cat. [Photo from City Lights Bookstore]

🤝 Now hiring: Line Cook at The Rose Neighbourhood Public House

🗞️ In Other News

Car crashes onto rocks at Clover Point, witnesses say
Onlookers said the car suddenly accelerated over the ledge around 3:30pm yesterday. Ambulances were on site, but injuries have not been confirmed. [CHEK]

Swiftsure enters second day as winds boost some boats & bust others
Conditions made two boats quit within an hour and caused damage to several boats' gear, but could help others break records. [Times Colonist]
In 1971, high winds broke or scared off 44 boats. But weak winds can also cause dropouts and make the event more “drift” than “swift.” The races wrap up today; follow their online tracker.

Most Pandora campers back on block, a week after sweep
An Our Place spokesperson said there are also more people camping in parks since bylaw officers removed 50+ tents from Pandora’s 900-block 10 days ago.  [Times Colonist]

Ladysmith seeks public approval to build new city hall
The mayor says the current building “doesn’t meet basic standards,” so the town wants to borrow up to $13.5M on a 30-year loan. The alternative approval process gives a month for 10% of the electorate (741 people) to register objection. [Nanaimo News Now]

No election deal between BC United and BC Conservatives
The parties discussed a united-right deal, via no-competition agreements, after months of being far apart on the terms of a full merger. Talks fell apart last week, with both party leaders decrying the other as unreasonable. [CP]

🗓️ Things to do

 🍻 Spinnakers celebrates 40th birthday: The oldest brewhouse in Canada first opened its doors on May 15, 1984. It will host a historical brunch in celebration today.

🎨 Scattered Artists Tour: Take this self-guided tour of artist studios across ten locations in Saanich. Today and tomorrow.

🏮 Awakening Chinatown: This event celebrating Victoria’s Chinatown includes performances, crafts, games, and more. Today. 12-5:30pm.

💗 Let’s Celebrate Love: A 2SLGBTQ+ variety fundraising show & spring mixer. Doors 6:30pm at the VEC. Tickets.

🎤 Jann Arden and Rick Mercer: The two Canadian icons will bring their Will They or Won’t They tour to McPherson Playhouse. Today. 8pm.

👟 Victoria MS Walk: Walk 1.5km or 3.5km in support of MS research at Cadboro-Gyro Park. Today. Check-in 9am. Opening ceremony 10am.

🎸 Cedric Burnside: The Grammy-winning blues musician will perform at Wicket Hall. Today. 8pm.

👟 All Ages Pop-Punk Show: Doors 5pm today at Little Fernwood. [Info / Tickets]

🏫 Vic High Open House today 11am-1pm to show the public the new upgrades to the oldest high school anywhere in BC, Alberta, or Sask.

👟 Walk for Alzheimer's: The Alzheimer Society of BC’s fundraising walk begins at Fisherman's Wharf. Registration 9am. Walk 10am.

🪀 Ultimate Toy Fair - Spring Show, hosted by Cherry Bomb and the National Toy Museum (read Capital Daily's past profile here). Today 9am-3pm at Pearkes Rec. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

The big boat race: Swiftsure returns for a 79th sailing. Plus: Youth pepper spray attack. Downtown safety survey. Car hits senior, while police cruiser hits cyclist. [Sat. newsletter]

The Flower Moon rises beside the Legislature. [Photo]

More parking near downtown being explored by City of Victoria  [Capital Daily]

Friday news: Swan Lake gets world biodiversity designation. Private island sold; Deer cull costs rise; Two cyberattacks. [May 24]  

 The Beacon Hill donkeys chomp on low branches. [Video]

That’s it!

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