May 11 - Mother's Day planning and Emerson ejection

Good morning !

The weather is above 20C and the Canucks are still playing?
Wake me up, I must be dreaming!
Go Canucks. Go!
Stay sunshine and warmth. Stay!

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 23 / 10 

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 21 / 8

Monday: 🌤️ 17 / 8

7-day forecast

NEWS

Mother’s Day events in Greater Victoria

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day and the weather forecast couldn’t be better for some sweet family time outdoors. There are plenty of ways to enjoy the day in Greater Victoria—you could have a picnic at a park or beach, check out one of the plant sales happening around town, or head to Esquimalt for Buccaneer Days. 

But if you’re looking for extra inspiration to celebrate the mother figure in your life, check out our full roundup of Mother’s Day events.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Stop for school crossing guards reminder. [RCMP video]

New live webcams at BC Ferries. [For minor routes]

Missing woman Gemina Mitchell, 26, of Westshore. [Photo/info]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Camosun College cabinet creators cover Craigdarroch Castle

Craigdarroch Castle is getting a temporary minor makeover as students of Camosun’s fine furniture program take over several Victorian rooms to show off their contemporary furnishings. “Students have been creating original work based on the history, architecture, and visual referents of the castle,” says Sandra Carr, the program’s instructor. 

“Most of the students took something about the interior that inspired them, and created the piece based on that,” Carr tells Capital Daily. “Some of the pieces look like period-contemporary, other ones are completely contemporary,” she says. “Other ones are totally period, it's just whatever direction they wanted to go in.”

Sixteen students, four alumni, and three instructors have been planning the project for a couple of months and students were given three weeks to build their pieces. Visitors to the ornate and highly decorated castle will see their finished products: cabinets, benches, plant stands, and other decorative pieces, each identified with numbers.

The two-week exhibition—a first of its kind at the castle—is part of the Design Victoria festival, a four-day event celebrating the city’s growing design community in design of many forms, including architecture, interior, ceramic, furniture, fashion, illustration, and lighting.

The Fine Furniture / Joinery Trades Foundation Certificate is a full-time, 10-month program taught at the Interurban campus. It combines classroom theory with hands-on experience so students can develop the skills and knowledge for employment.

Carr says the program has been successful in sending students into the workforce. “On Vancouver Island, we have quite a thriving cabinet-making industry and different associated job placements like boatbuilding, finishing, finished carpentry, restoration work, refinishing, furniture making—there's quite a few areas that students go into.”

Camosun’s exhibition runs until May 26. Tickets and admission details are available on the Craigdarroch Castle website.

NEWS

Emerson the seal gets himself kicked out of town—again

The 225kg local celebrity has spent moulting season in Greater Victoria, first appearing in the Gorge and then visiting Oak Bay last year. After lazing about at an intersection, he was sent up-Island. But the young seal swam the 200km back in less than a week and re-emerged on Gonzales Beach. 

Locals, mainly in Oak Bay, helped keep Emerson safe as he chilled on the beach, the grass, and a parking lot. Beach Drive was briefly closed two weeks ago because he had been crossing it. 

But after he went up to the foreshore office of the yacht club (which Princess Anne also recently visited), the federal Fisheries dept. (DFO) sent him up to Nootka Sound—the fifth time he has been relocated. DFO told the Times Colonist Emerson is nearly finished his moult.

⭐️ Capital Picks

♥️ Hundreds marched in the ‘Our Women are Sacred’ walk for Red Dress Day last weekend. [Photos from Colin Smith]

🪨 Stonehenge exhibit opens at RBC Museum. [Until Jan.5]

🍩 Empire Donuts opens Duncan location: The new spot is a kiosk in The Old Farm Market.

🌊 Island beach named one of North America’s best: San Josef Bay ranked 26th on The World's 50 Best Beaches.   

🐳 Marine encounters: Kayakers got to hang with a pod of orcas in Oak Bay. [Photos]

🤝 Now hiring: Executive Director at Capital Bike.

🗞️ In Other News

Aurora Borealis visible over Island this weekend
For the first time in nearly 20 years, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch caused by explosions on the sun. The Northern Lights were visible last night here and across Canada, and may continue to be for 2-3 more days. The storm may even disrupt electricity and communications tech. [CHEK]
If you caught the light show overnight, we'd love to see (and show) your photos.

Nanaimo just received its first cruise ship visit in 5 years
When MV Seabourn Odyssey pulled into Habour City on Thu., the 350 or so passengers became the first to disembark there since pre-COVID. The ship is on its way to Alaska and will be the only one to call Nanaimo a port of call until Aug. when the second and final ship is to arrive. Four are scheduled for next year with more anticipated in 2026. [Nanaimo News Bulletin]

VicPD looking for downtown changeroom voyeur suspect
A man was seen peering into a changeroom of a Douglas clothier on Wed. afternoon. A woman says he was either taking photos or videos of her while she changed. She reported it to staff and the suspect ran away. [VicPD]

BC starts a squad dedicated to gang-related homicides
The province said gang killings represented 46% of all BC homicides last year, up from 21% in 2003. The Integrated Gang Homicide Team is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year or early next. [CTV]

🗓️ Things to do

🌷 Mother's Day Musical Garden Tour: The Victoria Conservatory of Music is hosting its annual self-guided tour of 10 private gardens. Today and tomorrow. 10am-4pm. 

🍶 Pacific Rim Potters Show and Sale: Shop pottery and ceramic art from local makers. Knox Presbyterian Church. Today. 10am-4pm.

🖼️ Hills to Shore Artists Studio Tour: Discover work from 18 artists across nine locations in Gordon Head, Ten Mile Point and Mount Tolmie. Today and tomorrow. 11am-4pm. 

🌱 Victoria Horticultural Society Plant Sale: Shop seeded or dug-up plants with proceeds going towards a new rooftop garden. Garth Homer Centre. Today. 10am-2pm. [Info] 

💗 Mother’s Day at Bannockburn Farms: Celebrate mums with tea in the garden at the Saanichton heritage site. Today and tomorrow. 10am, 12pm, and 2pm. (Waiting list)  

🖼️ Traces of Old Victoria: Ross Bay Villa is hosting its first art exhibit featuring landscape paintings by Mone Vogel. Until May 18. 11am-4pm. The historic house is also hosting a plant sale today. 10am-2pm. 

🔬 Science Rendezvous: This kid-friendly event hosted by UVic and Camosun College includes activities, demos, and presentations. Food trucks will be available on the UVic campus. Today. 10am-3pm.

🧺 Neighbourhood Yard Sale: Discover treasures at more than 50 yard sales across Fairfield and Gonzales. Today. 10am-2pm.

👗 ReLove Market: Shop vintage and second-hand clothing and accessories in Market Square. Today and tomorrow. 11am-5pm. 

🎨 Art Battle: Watch four artists compete in 20-minute rounds at Victoria Event Centre. Today. 6-9:30pm.

👗Elysium Fashion Showcase: Part of Design Week Victoria, Studio 531 Architects, the Pacific Design Academy, and Intention Wares Inc. invite you to a night of intention and design. 546 Herald. Today. 5:30-10:30pm. [Info] 

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: Green-thumb weekend ahead; Unleashed dogs vs. Comox livestock; Sophisticated cyberattacks on BC gov’t websites; And more. [May 10]

Overdoses more difficult to treat: [Capital Daily]

TLC announced as Rifflandia Day 2 headliner. [Lineup]

Greater Victoria Business Awards: Outstanding businesses and business people celebrated. [Recipients]  

Burger Crush opens in Colwood: The burger and shake spot’s new location is at 116-1901 Sooke Rd.

Royal Oak Fire Station: Help select public art for the new fire hall. Apply before May 21. 

4.2 Quake off the coast yesterday morning. [Didn’t feel it]

That’s it!

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