May 15 - Canadian writer with Vic ties Alice Munro, dies

Good morning !

It’s the loss of a great Canadian—a literary giant who walked among us here in Victoria. Maybe you saw her in the bookstore.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

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Today: 🌤️ 18 / 11

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 16 / 8

Friday: 🌤️ 17 / 10

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NEWS

Alice Munro, Nobel-winning author who once lived in Victoria, dies at 92

One of Canada’s most celebrated literary masters, Munro packed depth into the short-story format. Born in rural Ontario, she wrote most often about the lives of small-town girls and women. In 1963 she co-founded Munro’s Books while living here with her first husband, Jim.

Back then, Munro’s was located near the Odeon Theatre, and Munro—a young mother of three girls—would help out in the bookstore. “So she was never like, officially at this location,” Jessica Walker, one of the bookstore’s owners, tells Capital Daily. “She was [here] when the store first opened—but she did work in the bookstore in the early years.”

The couple divorced in the early 1970s and Walker said the “official connection” with the bookstore ended then but the writer came by on occasion. “She and Jim Munro remained good friends and you know, over the years—before I joined the store—she did book signings here.”

Munro returned to Ontario in 1973 often spending winters in the Comox Valley, and had family here on the Island. Walker remembers meeting Munro a couple of times in the mid-2000s, and “she was no diva,” she said.

Read our full story on Alice Munro here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Frito Lay recall on SunChips Harvest Cheddar and Munchies Original Snack Mix. [Release]

LifeLabs privacy breach class-action cheques in the mail. [$7.86]

Current construction in Victoria. Where to avoid driving.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Taking the unhouseds’ possessions: ‘They make it hell’

A baker’s dozen delegation of 13 people from Vancouver’s Crab Park encampment took to the legislature lawn last week to protest the recurring "sweeps" they face in that city’s tent community. Organizer Fiona York said legislators must start listening to those directly affected by the procedure. 

The protest focused on how much the unhoused need supportive housing and how much they also need their personal stuff. What they don’t need, they said, is law enforcement taking their things. The protesters said they suffer serious emotional and psychological costs when their possessions are taken from them.

During a public engagement session on April 11, Nikki Ottenso, founder of the non-profit Backpack Project, criticized Victoria’s city council for “taking things” during clean evictions “that keep people human and indiscriminately throwing them away.” 

At that meeting, Tammy Cardinal, a Vic West encampment resident told the council: “They took everything from me. They make it hell. They make us not want to live.”

Read Sidney Coles’ full story here.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🐻 Bear necessities: If you encounter one. 

🚯 Garbage necessities: If you don’t want to encounter one.

🎭 "Fabulous acting! One of the best shows I’ve seen at the Belfry". The Lehman Trilogy closes on Sunday. Pay-what-you-want tickets are available.*

⚾ HarbourCats home opener. [In 3 weeks!]

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Correction: Yesterday’s newsletter stated that campfires were part of the Category 2 and 3 bans on the Island. While some small fires are banned, campfires are in Category 1 and are still permitted. Capital Daily regrets this error.

Person with a knife arrested on UVic campus
The university issued a campus warning shortly after 1pm yesterday saying a person had “entered First Peoples House (FPH) and threatened staff with a knife.” FPH, near Ring Road, is a gathering spot for Indigenous students. Saanich police arrived at noon, made the arrest, and said there were no injuries, and no apparent connection to the encampment protesting the war in Gaza. [VicPD]

West Shore Campus is going to be a year late for class
Yesterday, we said the Westshore’s post-secondary campus construction was coming along. Coming along delayed, that is. Work on the shared campus for UVic, Royal Roads, Camosun, and Justice Institute of BC is behind schedule because of labour shortages and delays in getting building materials. We’re now looking at an opening in 2025. [Times Colonist]

Kill the cull, Vic-based Pacific Wild says about wolves
The Wildlife conservation group says 248 wolves were killed between last Dec. and this past March, under the guise of protecting caribou, and that wolves are being used as scapegoats for the declining population of that animal. It says the caribou’s real predator is the lumber industry which has cut into its habitat. [CTV]

Motion picture being shot at Royal Roads’ Hatley Castle 
It’s called FATE, and it’s been shooting in Colwood for a couple of weeks now. Scheduled for release next year, the “epic love story” as its director describes it, stars Faye Dunaway, Harvey Keitel, and Andrew McCarthy. The castle sits in for a hotel called the Vista Hotel, which was inspired by Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino’s movie theatre. [CHEK]

🤝 Now Hiring

Thinking of making your next career move? Let us help!

• Line Cook at The Rose Neighbourhood Public House

• Executive Director at Capital Bike

• Director of Operations (Nanaimo) at TAPS

• Bus driver at Victoria Seniors Travel and Social Group Society

• Impact Investment Associate - Thrive Impact Fund at Scale Collaborative

• Enhanced Executive Support Analyst - Full Time - Victoria at ISM

• Cash Accounting Clerk at The Butchart Gardens

• 1st Cook, The Dining Room Restaurant at The Butchart Gardens

Looking for more openings? See jobs open now on YYJobs.

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🗓️ Things to do

🗣️ TEDxVictoria: Listen to speakers during this full-day event. McPherson Theatre. Today. 9am-5pm. [Info]

🎺 Tom Vickery Trio: Enjoy live jazz and cocktails at Hermann’s Jazz Club. Today. Doors 5:30pm. Show 7pm. [Info] 

🎥 Anselm at Cinecenta: The film about artist Anselm Kiefer will be shown at the UVic theatre. Today & tomorrow. 5pm and 7pm. [Info]

🎡 Luxton Spring Fair: Check out the rides, games, and carnival snacks at this fair in Langford. Tomorrow-Sun. 3pm-10pm. [Info]

🧭 Victoria Orienteering. The club’s Determinator series begins, running five weeks. Learn orienteering and how to read a map and navigate as you walk, run, or sprint a 3-5km course. Layritz Park. Today. 7pm. [Info]

🍻 Highland Games. It’s the 161st year, making it the longest-running Celtic festival in North America. See hammer throwing, and caber tosses, and check out the whisky-tasting school. Topaz Park. Sat. & Sun. 8am-7pm. [Info]

🎉 Victoria Day Parade. See the 124th annual parade as it runs along Douglas, from Finlayson to Courtney. Douglas. Monday. 9-11:30am. [Info]

⛸️ Stars on Ice. See some of the world’s best figure skaters show off their skills at this on-ice performance. Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

🎹 Concert: Resilience and Renewal. Celebrate the unshakeable human spirit at this performance by the UVic School of Music faculty. Phillip T. Young Hall. Tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

🎸Arts on View Fundraiser: Keeping it Live! Support local music at Hermann’s with this fundraising event, featuring a special four-course dinner and a showcase of Victoria’s best musicians. Tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

🧑‍🎤👨‍🎤 👨‍🎤🧑‍🎤 Abba tribute: a Candlelight Concert. See this concert lit entirely by candles and Swedish good looks. St. Ann’s Academy. Tomorrow. 9:30pm. [Info]

Want more events? Subscribe to This Week In Vic and get our weekly events newsletter every Tuesday.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Tuesday’s headlines: Add a pair of festivals to your to-do list; Saanich approves official community plan; Bear-spray night near Buccaneer Days site; Nanaimo goes Hollywood; And more. [May 14]

Open fire bans will be in effect on the Island Fri. [Info]

Federal/provincial expanded heat pump rebate plan. [Income-dependent] 

2022 group beating in Vic described as ‘Tarantino-esque’. [CHEK]

Small fire at Victoria Native Friendship Centre. [VNFC]

Moon snails intending to make the Earth move on a beach near Nanoose. Head to the comments to see the sand formations they create for their eggs. [Photos]

That’s it!

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