May 5 - Marching for the Missing & Murdered

Good morning !

A busy weekend continues with a little rain and a lot of events. Read more below on a few of the most prominent ones.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌧 14 / 9

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 13 / 6

Tuesday: ⛅ 14 / 6

7-day forecast

NEWS

Where to observe Red Dress Day in Greater Victoria

Today is Red Dress Day, honouring missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S). In Canada, Indigenous women and girls are six times more likely to be murdered than their non-Indigenous counterparts, and four times more likely to experience violence. 

On Friday hundreds of schoolchildren marched to honour the day in the Westshore, and there are several Sunday events in the Greater Victoria area, including:

• A march and rally in Brentwood Bay at ȽÁU, WELṈEW̱ Tribal School, 12-4pm

• The Our Women Are Sacred Walk in Esquimalt starting at 10am from Hallowell Rd., ending at Maplebank Rd. 

• A 28-hour vigil at the Legislature, beginning 4pm Sunday. All are welcome to an event featuring drumming, speakers, smudging, and an art display. 

The significance of the red dress began with Métis artist Jaime Black, who first created her ongoing visual series REDdress Project in 2010 by hanging red dresses in trees to represent the thousands of unsolved cases. 

May 5 is also the birthday of Lisa Marie Young

The Tla-o-qui-aht woman went missing in Nanaimo in 2002, aged 21. Her case was never solved despite hundreds of tips from the public. She’s one of the MMIW on the Island who inspired the Lil’ Red Dress Project: beaded pins made to raise money for awareness campaigns.

National changes remain slow

The National Inquiry into MMIWG was completed in 2019, resulting in 231 calls for justice. The Assembly of First Nations states that since its completion, they have “yet to see real, on-the-ground changes”—only 2 of the 231 calls were completed by last summer.

On Friday, the federal government announced a partnership with Manitoba to create a red dress alert system to inform the public when an Indigenous woman or girl goes missing.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Weather this week: Sun and cloud, with highs rising to 20+ by next weekend.

Last day for 50% off pet adoptions at Victoria BC SPCA.

London Drugs is gradually reopening after cyber breach, company says. Nanaimo & Victoria store status updates here.

NEWS

‘The joy of singing’: Choral director reflects on his final concerts this weekend

Choral Evolution’s artistic director Gordon Miller has spent years fostering musicality and community. But now, with his final concerts, he’s ready to watch the local choir evolve beyond him.

Miller grew up as a United Church choir boy, playing rock and roll in his teens but returning to his choral roots to train formally in Victoria. Later in life he returned here and co-founded Sing Your Joy—a non-auditioned barrier-free chorus for youth and young adults to connect and express themselves creatively. Then Choral Evolution came calling, with a different mandate.

“[The previous choirs were] more about the lifting up of people and the use of singing to enhance the community. With Choral Evolution they wanted to be a performance choir.”

Miller said he and the singers have challenged each other in pursuit of the best performances, right up to this finale. But for him, singing success isn’t just about techical excellence.

Miller hopes he has helped people feel “the joy of singing”

“There are too many people in the world who’ve been told that they can’t sing," he said, and too many singers who come to him talking about all the mistakes they made and feeling negatively about their singing.

“It doesn’t take much in the way of positive reinforcement and a little bit of training to discover that you’ve got a voice and you should use it.”

Choral Evolution performs today at James Bay United (2pm).

Read more of Miller’s story at The Westshore.

SPONSORED BY BEAM BEAUTY & WELLNESS CENTRE

Beam Beauty: Buckles & Boots Bash

Join Beam Beauty on May 9 as they celebrate their inaugural event. The evening will feature special pricing, bubbles, and a little boot scootin' fun. This event presents the ideal occasion to indulge in a touch of self-care.

If you're still searching for the perfect gift for the special mother figure in your life, what could be lovelier than showing her your affection with a session of relaxation and rejuvenation? Treat her to a day of pampering at Beam Beauty & Wellness, where she can unwind and revitalize. It's a heartfelt gesture that speaks volumes, conveying your appreciation in the most delightful and thoughtful way possible. They can’t wait to celebrate with you.

Find out more today.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🍄🐌 A snail snacks on a mushroom in Colwood. [Facebook]

💬 Need to talk? Tall Tree’s experienced, compassionate Psychology Team is here to partner with you to improve your mental health and enhance your wellbeing.*

🤎 Heart-shaped rocks made by grads of the Victoria Lapidary Workshop. [Facebook]

🤝 Now hiring: 1st Cook at The Dining Room restaurant at Butchart Gardens. 

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Battle of Atlantic commemorates today at Legislature
Today the Royal visit continues as Princess Anne will be at the commemoration of Canada’s longest WW2 battle. The event will close the surrounding streets from about 10am to 12:30pm, and will have a livestream beginning around 10:45am.

Firefighter and police testimonies clash in fatal 2019 shooting inquiry
Officer Ron Kirkwood testified that an ongoing fire was why he quickly shot Lisa Rauch, despite her not being a close-up threat, and that heavy black smoke made him think he was aiming at her torso rather than her head. But firefighters testified that the fire had been put out, and that the smoke was light-coloured and reduced by the sprinklers. [Black Press]

Pacific FC advances to Canadian Championship quarterfinals
The CPL-leading club beat Richmond semi-pro team TSS Rovers on Wed. to move on in the inter-league national tourney. The match was originally all-Victoria, with the Highlanders facing PCF due to winning League1BC. But last month they withdrew from League1, which is under new ownership and corporate restrictions.

Over 1,000 days later, what’s happening with Lytton?
Our colleagues at the Fraser Valley Current just won a National Newspaper Award for their dedicated coverage of the burned BC town and the troubled efforts to rebuild it. Read the stories about archeological concerns, pre-fab houses, the Chinese History Museum, Mennonite volunteers, and a health centre that may not finish until 2028. 

SPONSORED BY SOUTH ISLAND PROSPERITY PARTNERSHIP

How design influences Greater Victoria’s economy

Join the Rising Economy podcast for a fascinating talk with Carla Sorrell, Director of Design Victoria, a 4-day festival (May 9-12) celebrating Victoria's design community. Carla offers insights into how design—from architecture to graphic, product and software design—shapes the economy and culture of cities, including the Metro Victoria region.

Listen here.

🗓️ Things to do

🇲🇽 Cinco de Mayo: Here's where to go today. [Tasting Victoria]

🎻 In the Trees: Poet Lorna Crozier joins Victoria Baroque for a musical program at St John the Divine inspired by trees and forests. Today. 5-8pm.

🖼️ Spring-Loaded: This art exhibit opening at Little Fernwood Gallery will feature live jazz. Today. 1-4pm.

🎺 CanUS Jazz Band: The jazz group comes together for a performance of New Orleans traditional jazz and early swing at Hermann’s Jazz Club. Today. Doors 12pm, show 1pm.

🎸 Matthew Good And His Band: The alternative rock musician will perform at Capital Ballroom. Today. Doors 7pm, show 8pm.

📚 TC book sale continues, 9am-5pm today at the Victoria Curling Club.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Pickleballers in a pickle: North Saanich has kicked the divisive sport off its court. Plus: Cinco de Mayo in Victoria. Esquimalt eviction update. [Sat. news]

Friday news: The school police liason debate; Study on Saanich e-bike program; and more. [Newsletter]

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

Sunset Sips at The Empress: Tea-infused cocktails and mocktails served in glass teapots are back.