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- May 6 - Locals team up to "recycle" solar energy
May 6 - Locals team up to "recycle" solar energy
Royal visit. Top 10 meals so far this year.
Capital Daily Team
May 06, 2024
Good morning !
With the first weekend of May checked off, we are firmly into the spring-summer activity season in Greater Victoria. It looks like that memo went around, because sunny skies and 20-degree highs are projected to arrive by the end of the week.
— Cam
Did you attend any local events this weekend? |
Today’s approx. read time: 4 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
NEWS
Locals team up to try to improve solar batteries
Source: XLYNX Materials
Two Victoria-based companies, Solaires Enterprises and XLYNX Materials, are partnering to build high-efficiency, high-stability perovskite solar cells that aim to unlock the full potential of recycled light.
Most solar cells rely on silicon, but ones using the material perovskite have shown the ability to “recycle” light rather than get it straight from the sun. These cells have improved a lot over the past 15 years but still struggle with stability, durability, scalability, and manufacturability.
The locals at Solaires think they can fix those issues. They report efficiencies as high as 35%, and have partnered with fellow locals XLYNX Materials, the makers of a bonding agent that can help perovskite solar cells last longer.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Possible thunderstorm late this afternoon.
Harris Green London Drugs has now reopened, along with other Island LDs. [Status updates]
Emergency alert test goes out to TV, radio, and phones on Wednesday as part of Emergency Preparedness Week.
WestJet may cut flights after issuing lockout notice to mechanics’ union. [CP]
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
FOOD
10 favourite dishes in Victoria so far this year
Photo: Eva Schnitzelhaus / Facebook
Victoria has an amazing food scene and occasionally it can be difficult to decide just what to eat. Tasting Victoria has spent the first few months this year tasting dishes across the city to determine what foods and drinks are really worth hitting the town for.
These are the standout favourites, ranging from cakes and pastries to burritos and beers, and from excellently executed classics to innovative twists.
[Note: To read the list, you'll be asked to sign up to the once-a-week food newsletter.]
NEWS
Princess Anne visits base, horses, urban farm, and gardens
Image: Shutterstock
This past weekend’s Royal visit has seen the King’s sister sailing in on Esquimalt’s first Arctic ship, the HMCS Max Bernays. In her role as the commodore-in-chief for the Canadian Fleet Pacific, she received a 21-gun salute, attended the ship's commissioning ceremony, and laid a wreath at the base’s cemetery.
On Sat. Princess Anne also visited the FED Urban Agriculture Project, Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association, and the Maritime Museum (which was originally started by a donation arranged by her father). [More details]
One of the locals who caught her appearance at the farm was Louise Marreiros, who talked with Anne 53 years ago after climbing up a street light to photograph the larger Royal visit of 1971.
On Sunday Princess Anne was at the Legislature’s commemoration of the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest battle of WW2 and the cause of 4,000+ Canadian wartime deaths. That event closed the surrounding streets from about 10am to 12:30pm, and was livestreamed.
The princess closed the trip by attending the Government House, which Royals typically visit while here, and establishing a tree and plaque honouring Elizabeth II.
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⭐️ Capital Picks
🌄 All in one shot from our friend James MacDonald: the peninsula, Gulf Islands, and distant Mt. Baker.
🏡 Discover the elements of living at BELLA PARK at Royal Bay. West Coast contemporary 1 and 2 bedroom residences, designed around a unique central wellness concept. Register today.*
🐐 Beacon Hill Children’s Farm now open 10am-5pm for summer season. [Announcement + animal photos]
💎 Get ready to shine: Head over to Beam's Buckles & Boots Event on May 9! Grab your friends and join them for an evening of beauty and fun.*
🤝 Now hiring: Enhanced Executive Support Analyst at ISM.
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🗞️ In Other News
Deep Water Recovery shipbreaker dinged again for noncompliance
A new provincial compliance warning flags that the Island shipbreaker has not submitted the proper materials after being told in March to stop polluting. [The Discourse]
Strikes begin at Cascadia Liquor stores
This week workers picketed three Greater Victoria locations, citing their $18-19 hourly wages which lag behind the local living wage of $25.40. [CHEK]
New long-term care home coming to Colwood in 2027
The 306-unit facility will share elements with fellow upcoming LTCs in Nanaimo and Campbell River; Island Health announced that it has contracted Stantec to design the trio.
Coombs wolf dog shot dead, unconfirmed reports claim
Pet attacks attributed to WD-40 have decreased since early April, the time when the escaped animal was ostensibly killed. But officials have not been able to confirm any of these claims. [PQB News]
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Don’t miss the show everyone is talking about
Experience the raw and powerful journey of love, resilience, and survival in A Dictionary of Emotions in Wartime at Metro Studio.
🗓️ Things to do
♥️ Red Dress vigil: The 28-hour vigil at the Legislature continues until this evening. All are welcome to a day-long event featuring drumming, speakers, smudging, and an art display. The gathering, which calls on BC to implement more of the Missing & Murdered report's changes, will be most active when MLAs arrive just before 10 and when they get out around 6pm.
🎥 The Boy and the Heron at Cinecenta: The Oscar-winning Studio Ghibli film will be shown at the UVic theatre. Today. 5pm and 7:30pm.
🪱 Dune 2 is at RBCM IMAX this weekend and next. [Tickets]
📅 Looking for something to do this weekend? Subscribe to This Week In Vic to get the full list of what’s on this week.
👀 In Case You Missed It
Sunday news: Local composer reflects on final shows. Red Dress Day details. Lytton, BC, 1,000+ days after the fire. [May 5 newsletter]
A snail snacks on a mushroom in Colwood. [Facebook]
Taste the City coming to Victoria: The digital tasting guide connects restaurant-goers with local eateries.
Transit ticket price increase for sheets of 10; at $25, they are no longer cheaper per ride than standard fare.
That’s it!
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