Thurs. July 6 - Victoria Pride events to take part in this weekend

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning !

We’re taking a look at some of Victoria’s worst intersections, many of which are along the Pat Bay and Trans-Canada highways. I’ll be driving up-Island in a few weeks to attend a friend’s wedding, so I’ll definitely be taking some extra precautions as I navigate these roads.

Dangerous intersections aside, I’m still looking forward to all of the fun road-trip stops I can make along the way. I’m thinking this could be the perfect opportunity to finally check out the Malahat SkyWalk—though I will admit some hesitation on my part due to an immense fear of heights. Fingers crossed that the vertigo will hold off long enough for me to enjoy the view!

Let us know if you’ve been or if there are any other attractions to see on the drive up-Island.

— Robyn

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, mix of sun and cloud in morning. High 28C / low 14C.   

🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (2/10), light smoke expected.

EVENTS

Victoria Pride events to take part in this weekend

As the Victoria Pride Festival continues this week, Pride events will ramp up over the weekend. Celebrate Victoria’s 2SLGBTQ+ community with these performances, parades, and festivities.

Today’s activities kick off with the Big Gay Dog Walk at Clover Point, 4:30-8pm. Bring your fluffy friends to this community celebration and participate in trick and costume competitions.

Later this afternoon, VIDEA is hosting a Two-Spirit Poetry Night at the Fernwood Community Association to celebrate the launch of the Two-Spirit Regalia Library, 6:30pm. After, test your Pride knowledge tonight at The Vicious Poodle’s Pride Trivia.

Friday:

There's No Place Like HOMO, a Wizard of Oz-themed RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 8 viewing party at the First Met United Church Hall, 5:30pm.

That evening, enjoy a delicious dinner while watching drag performances hosted by Queen Mina Mercury at Friends of Dorothy’s Dinner & Drag, 5:30-8pm.

Saturday:

Pride festivities start early with Blossom Your Pride at Yates Street Community Garden, 10am-12:30pm. Enjoy pride-themed treats and make your own free Pride-themed bouquet.

Decorate your bikes and join in on the Pride Ride, starting from Central Park at 11am. At lunch, watch drag performances hosted by Leo Moon at Moon Under Water’s Served Up! A Drag Lunch Experience, 11:30am-2:30pm.

In the evening, watch drag and comedy performances and play for prizes at Paparazzi’s Pride Bingo, 7-9:30pm. Pride in the Word, Canada’s largest Pride literary event kicks off at Lecture Theatre at the Victoria Conference Centre at 7:30pm.

Sunday:

The final day of Victoria Pride Week begins with the Pride Parade at 11am. Watch thousands walk in support of 2SLGBTQ+ visibility, activism, and community.

Eat brunch and watch special drag performances at Friends of Dorothy’s Pride Drag Brunch, 11am-2pm.

Spend the afternoon at Pride Festival in the Park at MacDonald Park, noon-8pm. Take in performances from some of Victoria’s very best queer talent while enjoying a refreshing drink in the beer garden.

Follow it up in the evening with some dancing at The Vicious Poodle’s Pride Dance. Finally, conclude Pride Week with performances at Paparazzi’s Pride After Party, 8pm-2am.

Capital Bulletin

🌱 Climate action tax credit: The first quarterly payment of BC’s enhanced tax credit will be paid out this week to low- and middle-income individuals and families to offset the cost of the carbon tax.

📃 BC SPEAK survey extended: The health survey on programs, services, and experiences will remain open until July 31.  

NEWS

Greater Victoria’s most dangerous intersections

ICBC released its latest four-year crash data, looking at vehicle crashes from 2018-22. Greater Victoria’s top 15 most dangerous intersections experienced over 1,300 casualty crashes that led to injury or death. This is down from last year’s four-year data that showed a total of 1,527 casualty crashes between 2017-21.

Saanich topped the list of most casualty crashes in Greater Victoria, with 10 of the top 15 most dangerous intersections found there. Unsurprisingly, many of these crashes took place at intersections along highways.

The 15 intersections with the most deaths and injuries:

1. The turnoff for the Pat Bay Highway at Mckenzie (116 casualty crashes in the four-year period).

2. Intersection of the Pat Bay and Sayward Road (114 casualty crashes).

3. Down a spot from last year’s count, the Langford intersection at Trans-Canada Highway and the Veterans Memorial Parkway (112 casualty crashes, down from 132).

4. Admirals and Mckenzie at the Trans-Canada, with 109 casualty crashes, though it had the highest number of crashes overall at 267. This was a significant drop from its previous casualty crash rate—157 casualty crashes from 2017-21. The drop is likely attributable to the overpass that began service in mid-2020.

5. Blanshard and Saanich Road, en route to the Pat Bay Highway (108 casualty crashes).

6. Boleskin and Saanich at the Trans Canada (94 casualty crashes).

7. Goldstream and Veterans Memorial Pkwy at E&N Rail trail crossing (91 casualty crashes).

8. Mckenzie and Glanford (91 casualty crashes).

9. Mckenzie and Quadra (86 casualty crashes).

10. Trans-Canada and Tillicum near Galloping Goose (82 casualty crashes).

11. Happy Valley and Sooke at Glen Lake (80 casualty crashes).

12. Blanshard and Finlayson (79 casualty crashes).

13. Elk Lake and Haliburton at the Pat Bay (79 casualty crashes).

14. Blanshard and Hillside near Quadra Village (78 casualty crashes).

15. Shelbourne and Mckenzie (77 casualty crashes).

The Island saw over 5,000 casualty crashes in total in 2022.

SPONSORED BY BLUE BRIDGE THEATRE

Blue Bridge Theatre presents The Guardsman by Ferenc Molnar (adapted by Bonnie Monte)

A classic farce about the perils, and joys, of infidelity!

Directed by Kevin McKendrick. Starring David Sklar and Cherise Clarke with Jenn Griffin, Sophia Radford, Andrea Lemus, and Ben Francis.

Designed by Cimmerian Meyer, Yi Misty Buxton, Giles Hogya, and Jocelyn Dickson.

July 4-16 | The Roxy Theatre | 250-382-3370

Capital Picks

🏳️‍🌈 Big Gay Dog Walk: Join in on the community dog walk at Clover Point that includes costume and trick contests, 4-7pm.

🎧 Open decks at Hermann’s Upstairs: DJs of all experience levels are invited to share their music tonight, 8pm.

🎶 Join Pacific Opera Victoria at Oak Bay’s Arts Alive Opening Celebration 5-8pm tonight, with Pop Up Opera performances throughout the Living Sculptures Tour.*

🎻 Marc Atkinson Trio at Butchart Gardens: The trio will perform with Cameron Wilson tonight at the open-air stage, 8pm.

🌊 See Logan Staats at Victoria Event Centre July 13! Join RAVEN for an inspiring benefit concert to support Heiltsuk Nation ocean protection. Get tickets today!*

🤝 Now hiring: Office administration, receiving, shipping at Anchor Marine Electric.

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In Other News

🚒 Third suspicious fire in a month being investigated
Victoria Police are calling the fire at a heritage building in the Burnside area that happened Sunday evening suspicious. Two other fires in the last month, one at Ricky’s Grill just blocks away from the latest fire, have been determined to be arson, although police have not concluded that these incidents are linked.

🛥️ Boater seen harassing orca near the Island
The boater was captured on camera allegedly driving into the middle of the pod of orcas in Baynes Sound and taking selfies. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is investigating the incident. [CHEK]

In Case You Missed It

🥕 Growing food insecurity in Victoria: Demand for food banks has increased by 25% since last summer, but donations have been unable to keep up. [Capital Daily]

🚨 New clues about Melissa McDevitt’s disappearance: Newly uncovered GPS data might aid in the search for the Victoria woman who went missing six months ago in Sea to Sea park. [Capital Daily]

⛵ Superyacht docked in Victoria: Athos, the world’s largest privately owned two-masted schooner, is moored at Victoria International Marina.

💻 Swipe right on oxio for lightning-fast internet, affordable prices, radical transparency, and excellent online customer service. Use code CAPITALDAILY for your first month free.*

🔥 Fire ban tomorrow: Categories 1, 2, and 3 open fires and fireworks prohibited from July 7 at noon until Oct. 31.

📰 Wednesday’s headlines: Victorians appointed to Order of Canada, another Pride crosswalk vandalized, supportive-housing buildings getting anti-overdose alarms, and more. [July 5]

*Sponsored Listing