May 6 - Fundraiser for missing man's family

Good morning !

Welcome to all our new subscribers! Today marks the first Tuesday edition since our sister newsletter, The Westshore, was merged back into Capital Daily and many of its subscribers have come along for the ride.

We’re taking the best parts of The Westshore and adding them to our regular Capital Daily newsletter, and giving all of our readers the information they need to know what’s going on in their community each day.

As today's newsletter shows, major local news is often already connected to the Westshore. A smoky fire yesterday near Sooke has helped ring in the season—BC’s fire season. We also have updates in the heartbreaking and heroic story of a young family thrown overboard while boating near Goldstream.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 19 / 10

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 14 / 6

Thursday: 🌤️ 12 / 8

NEWS

Fundraiser for family after Finlayson Arm boating tragedy

It has now been two weeks since Ryan Mazar, 43, and his family went overboard while prawning just north of the Westshore near Millstream. The official joint search—involving RCMP, military, and coast guard—continued with dive and helicopter teams over the past week. The family also called for help from drone pilots, and at least one has been approved to fly in the area. 

New details about family's survival 

Mazar's partner and three-month-old have been recovering in hospital. Per a GoFundMe started by family members, “Ryan made sure Mykaila had the baby, and she immediately began swimming for the shore with baby Ariel on her chest.”

It took her two hours to reach shore, and another hour for someone to hear her and send rescuers.

Family member Joyce Volek told the Times Colonist that Mykaila last saw Mazar when he helped find Ariel and get the baby onto her chest. Volek called it a “miracle” that Mykaila swam for two hours, all with rubber boots on, because she didn't want to let go of the baby, seeing nothing but “the sky forever” until the treeline emerged. 

Missing man becomes grandfather as searching family welcomes new baby

Ryan Mazar's son was also out searching for him on Thu. when he was called away for the birth of his own son, said Mazar's ex-father-in-law Doug Volek (Joyce's husband). Volek told CHEK that Mazar was like a son to him and that they had seen each other just days before the boating accident, when Mazar brought him some fresh-caught prawns. 

Per the fundraiser, Mazar was long familiar with those waters and often prawned there with his family. Joyce Volek told the Sooke News Mirror that on the April 22 trip, “there was a sudden turn and they were tossed” overboard. Authorities have since been encouraging residents to wear life jackets in case of such unexpected problems on the water.

As of last night, the fundraiser was within $600 of reaching its $10K goal.  

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Sun, cloud, and some rain expected this week.

Sooke Fine Arts Show seeks submissions from artists this month and volunteers for its big summer showcase. [Info]

Westshore Alert test will go out to opted-in locals at 1pm today. The service sends notifications ranging from major emergencies to traffic.

NEWS

Smoke signals: Local fire marks start of BC's wildfire season

Smoke could be seen from Sooke yesterday from a fire on Secretary Island just off the coast. The 0.6ha fire was listed “out of control” mid-afternoon, but two initial attack crews helped to knock it down somewhat and the Coastal Fire Centre listed it last night as “being held.”

BC fire season began with notable weekend blazes in northeast

One west of Williams Lake quickly surged to 500+ ha, while another south of Prince George spurred a local evacuation order (later lifted). On the Island, two fairly small fires were sparked: one near Port Alberni (lightning suspected) and one near Courtenay (humans suspected) that have since been declared Out.

The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) said that fires doubled over the weekend, to nearly 50 active ones, which it attributes to the “spring dip.” This dip involves a period of dry vegetation—especially coniferous trees’ needles—between the snowmelt and the lush green of full spring.

Late last week, BCWS warned of “unseasonable warm, dry, and windy conditions” and discouraged open burning. Some drought and fire risk has been expected due to weather and below-average (though much better than last year) snowpack.

Langford-Highlands MLA now in charge of BC fire response 

As Forests Minister, local MLA Ravi Parmar is also the minister responsible for the BC Wildfire Service. He visited the Kamloops-based BCWS coordination centre last week, and on the weekend returned for Langford's Community Wildfire Preparedness Day. 

At that Sat. event, Parmar praised Langford as one of BC's leaders in local-level fire prevention and planning. This spring, Langford has been completing an update to its Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

New local fire mitigation video for Emergency Preparedness Week

This week marks Canada's annual campaign promoting ways to prevent and handle natural disasters including fire. On Monday the CRD and local Westshore and peninsula municipalities released a new video on reducing wildfire risk through FireSmart principles. 

The video flags that local fire risk has grown due to changes in “weather, fire activity, and wildland-urban interface development” and cites last summer's major fire near Sooke as an “eye-opener” for many residents. 

Practical advice includes booking free assessments, clearing debris, and pruning trees and shrubs within 10m of buildings. 

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🐐 Beacon Hill Children's Farm turns 40. Send in your best photos of the farm! [Info]

📚 At Glenlyon Norfolk School, a world-class education is closer than you think. Schedule a tour to explore their campuses and learn about financial support opportunities.*

🍽 Filipino-style brunch, lunch, and dinner at Benjamin’s Café in Esquimalt (614 Grenville).

Support local journalism by supporting Capital Daily. Become a Capital Daily Insider member today and help bring local stories to life. 

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

7K turn out to turn pages at TC book sale
The Victoria Curling Club was packed on Sat. and Sun. as book lovers turned out in droves for the annual weekend fundraiser. They got to sift through 500K donated books and take home tomes for bargain prices. Yesterday, schools, charities and non-profit groups got to pick out what they like for free. Since it started in 1996, the TC book sale has raised $7 million for literacy projects and school libraries. [Times Colonist]

2,900 rubber ducks dash down Sooke River
The annual Duck Day fundraiser for local charities and food programs saw attendees buy numbered bathtub ducks, with the first five finishers winning cash prizes. Another 30 giant ducks representing local businesses also “competed.” The Sooke Harbourside Lions have hosted the race for 17 years. [Sooke News Mirror]

Royal Roads will host traditional Japanese tea ceremonies this summer
On the last Sun. of the month (May-Sept.) Hatley Park's century-old Japanese gardens will hold Chadō events with matching tea prepared by Urasenke Tankōkai Victoria Association. These are the first recurring summer tea events for the park's new Japanese teahouse, which opened last summer as part of the park's revitalization. [Royal Roads] 

Federal NDP has new interim leader; he’s not from the Island
The New Democratic Party of Canada named BC MP Don Davies interim leader last night. Davies, the MP for Vancouver Kingsway, takes over from Jagmeet Singh, who stepped down immediately after last Mon’s federal election in which he lost his riding. The NDP was reduced to seven seats and lost official party status. Had the party’s national council chosen Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni), it would have made for two of the five federal leaders based on the Island. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands) won Canada's sole Green seat. [CTV]

SPONSORED BY SWAN LAKE CHRISTMAS HILL NATURE SANCTUARY

Celebrate 50 years of conservation

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) with opening remarks from Mayor Dean Murdock. All are welcome; only active members hold voting rights.

🗓️ Things to do

⚽️ Canadian Championship soccer: Pacific FC will host Vancouver FC in an opening-round Canadian Championship game. Starlight Stadium in Langford. Today. 7pm. [Info]

❓Trivia Night: Enjoy an evening that will test all the random knowledge your brain has been stockpiling. Hecklers. Tonight. 7pm. [Info]

🍰 Cake Decoration Workshop: Visit Flourish BeauTea in Langford for a fun and creative evening learning new techniques, meeting fellow cake enthusiasts, and unleashing your inner artist. Tonight. 6:15pm. [Info]

💘 Meet Your Person: A 55+ dating night at the Victoria Event Centre—expect low-pressure vibes, guided convos, and a chance to spark something new. Tomorrow. 6:30pm. [Info]

🎸‍ Hotel California—A Tribute to The Eagles: Experience the music of The Eagles live with Hotel California, the internationally acclaimed tribute band, performing at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney. Tomorrow. 2:30pm and 7pm. [Info]

🧯 Free Emergency Preparedness Workshop on Thurs. hosted by View Royal Fire at 333 Island Hwy. 6:30-8pm. Reserve a seat by calling 250-479-7322 or emailing [email protected].

🏴‍☠️ Esquimalt Buccaneer Days: A community festival with a parade, marketplace, and various family-friendly activities. Thurs.-Sun. [Info]​

🥗 Goldstream Farmers Market on Sat., 10am-2pm in Langford's Veterans Memorial Park.

☕ Metchosin's Coffee with the Mayor returns next Tues. (2-4pm) in Council Chamber at 4450 Happy Valley Rd.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Monday’s headlines: Victoria man kicks off cross-Canada charity cycle; New offshore section coming to Capital Daily; Bike lane turns 8. [May 5]

Mexican food is delicious at this hidden gem. [Tasting Victoria]

Snowbirds are back in Comox, training before their show season. [Facebook]

BC emergency alert test will be sent to TV, radio, and cell phones tomorrow at 1:55pm.

View Royal seeks Canada Day volunteers; contact [email protected]