Nov 10 - Lions' share: Victoria's CFL costs come in high

Good morning !

A wet long weekend continues, though the Lower Mainland will weather stormier skies than we do in the coming days. It could make for a soggy Grey Cup next Sunday in Vancouver—and as that championship game approaches, Victoria has received a report on the impact and cost of the CFL game it hosted this season.

More on that below, plus news of the province's first human case in the avian flu outbreak that has been hitting many BC farms.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌧️ 11 / 8 

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 12 / 8 

Tuesday: 🌧️ 11 / 7

7-day forecast

NEWS

Victoria went over budget on CFL game & paid BC Lions $210k—but for good reason, city says

A year ago, when the visiting CFL game was announced for Royal Athletic, the city said it would support the event with up to $300k in-kind. 

That included field prep, traffic control, staffing, and other event-staging expenses for the Labour Day weekend game vs Ottawa. Mayor Marianne Alto said specifically that “We’re not writing them a cheque.”

Perhaps the city sent an e-transfer or paper bills instead, because at Thursday’s meeting it was revealed that Victoria did pay the Lions $210k. 

The meeting’s report [beginning at 29 minutes here] by deputy city manager Thomas Soulliere also said the event was successful but went over budget. Total cost (after offsetting concessions revenue) was $443k—though part of that spending was in a future budget and was fast-tracked. 

CHEK reports that the original motion at a closed-door meeting last Nov. ended up allowing for up to $350k of in-kind as well as cash. This doesn't appear to have been conveyed to the public, or to Capital Daily and other media at the announcement. 

Lions cash & higher costs were due to adding long-term upgrades, city says 

Originally, changes were all supposed to be temporary (such as expanding seats from 5K to 14K). The benefits of the investment would be in the form of one-time tourism.

But ultimately, the city ended up bumping up $93K in planned future stadium upgrades and fixes to the concessions, electrical, and other infrastructure. The $210 given to the Lions was reimbursing them for temporary upgrades that the city will keep handy, including grandstands and football goalposts. 

Soulliere also said that bringing the field up to league standard also took more time and money than expected, but that some of the field investments can make RAP more usable in winter.

Alto told CHEK that her original “cheque” quote was meant to convey that the city wasn't paying the Lions just to come play in Victoria—not to rule out reimbursement.

8-figure local impact estimated

Destination Greater Victoria calculated that the Touchdown Pacific event brought in a massive $16M in economic benefit to the region, from hotels to jobs to direct (e.g event food & drink) and indirect event spending. Victoria was aiming to generate about $10M, as Touchdown Atlantic had in Halifax.

Soulliere told council that the city hopes to host more football and soccer events going forward, but has not yet heard from the Lions about another Touchdown Pacific. He recommended that the city have a year of prep time if it hosts such an event again.

He also told council that while concerns about long lineups were heard, those were mainly at temporary vendors on the stadium's north side managed by a Lions contractor rather than the city.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Heavy rain & wind for Lower Mainland prompts weather warning. No warning for South Island, but be aware during long-weekend travel.

Ross Bay TD Bank will close and merge with the downtown branch in the spring, according to signage at the Fairfield-area bank. 

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Local restaurants join up for newly opened Breakfast Shop

A new food venture just opened on Friday in the former Bear & Joey space at Cook & Fort. The restaurant is a collaboration between a quartet of some of Victoria's food-industry favourites.

Chris Jones, who owns Jones Bar B Que and The Ruby,  said the new spot has its own style and look but is like “if The Ruby and Discovery Coffee had a baby.”

Logan Gray, owner at Discovery Coffee and Yonni’s Donuts, elaborated that the goal was to bring the speed of Discovery and Yonni's to serving breakfasts that boast the meal quality that The Ruby and Jones are known for.

The restsurant will have breakfast sandwiches, breakfast bowls, lunch sandwiches, coffee, and a menu for kids. 

More on the vision—and the food—at Tasting Victoria. 

NEWS

BC teen has Canada’s first presumed human case of H5 bird flu

A BC CDC lab recorded the positive test, the health ministry is investigating, and the Fraser Valley teen is now at BC Children’s Hospital.

So far human cases of A(H5N1) are rare, with just a handful currently in the US. The only one in Canada was in 2014; it killed the person, who was likely infected abroad. This latest case would, if fully confirmed, be the first animal-human transmission known to occur within Canada.

There has been no evidence so far anywhere of human-human transmission (which could theoretically lead to a pandemic, potentially after mixing with seasonal flu).

What there have been, though, are numerous outbreaks in farmed birds and cows, leading to the culling of millions of birds in BC alone. Recently Campbell River’s Holly Hill Farm and petting zoo was devastated after having to cull all 50 of its chickens and ducks after several died from bird flu. 

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🌊 A giant dendronotid nudibranch swimming in local waters [Owl & Bear Studio video] 

🐈 These stylized ceramic cats are among the creations bring sold at the Creative Craft Fair this weekend at Pearkes Rec.

📖 Remembrance Day reads curated by the Greater Victoria Public Library. [List] 

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

6 years in jail for Sooke father whose impaired car crash killed son 
Matthew Darlington, 49, pleaded guilty last month and was sentenced last week. The fall 2021 crash into a tree also injured his then-wife and other children. Before the crash he had been convicted 9 times of driving while prohibited; the judge has now banned him from driving for 35 years. [CBC]

Pacific FC’s Emil Gazdov named Canadian league’s best goalie 
The soccer star, 21, won the CPL Golden Glove award after tallying the second-most shutouts and second-lowest save% among qualifying goalkeepers. [Pacific FC]

Saanich peninsula war monument honours local trio of Tsawout brothers
The Underwood brothers were among thousands of Indigenous service members who volunteered to go to war for Canada and the Commonwealth but were often not recognized at Remembrance events. George / Swihalesup, an infantryman and boat builder, returned from WWII and lived to 90. Benjamin / Kwastene was a Royal Engineer, while Edward died in 1945 of TB and was buried in Holland. [CHEK / Saanich News]

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🗓️ Things to do

🎁 Creative Craft Fair: Final day of 125 exhibitors at Pearkes Rec with crafts, gourmet food, fine art, photography, clothing, glass art, and imports. 10am-4pm. 

📽 Dunkirk in IMAX: Christopher Nolan's WWII film plays today today and Nov. 14. Nolan’s Inception and The Dark Knight will air at the RBCM IMAX later in the month. [Schedule]

🎭 Sidney Concert Band: Women and the War Effort, followed by Meet the Musicians band showcase. Mary Winspear Centre. 2pm. [Info]

❄ Nomad Holiday Market: 11am-4pm at Songhees Wellness Centre, with top-quality artists, beverage makers, apparel, potters, and creators of unique holiday gifts. Plus a colouring contest for kids of all ages, live music, delicious food, multiple door prizes, and more.

🎄 Calico Christmas Market: Leather, pottery, gems, woodwork, crafts, samosas, jerky, and much more. 10am-5pm, with extra Canucks tickets draw entries 2-5pm. Spectrum school. [Info]

💐 Remembrance Day Tour at the Esquimalt Veterans’ Cemetery (God’s Acre). Speaker John Azar and guests will share stories of contributions and sacrifices by service members. Access off Colville Road near the Base Hospital. 3pm start. [Info]

🕯 ‍Sooke Legion Service: A solemn candlelit service, with light refreshments afterward, at Royal Canadian Legion Branch #54. 6pm.

🎼 ‍Concert in honour of Remembrance Day: A musical deep-dive into the spirit and exuberance of the legendary bands of the swing era at Hermann’s. [Info/tickets]

🎖 Remembrance Day events tomorrow: See the list of ceremonies and other events here. 

👀 In Case You Missed It

Stop relying so much on our shelters, City of Victoria tells local munis that send people to the core during extreme weather. [Capital Daily]

Saanich's climate plan is outdated, and its progress is not on track. The district's new plan: making a new plan. [Capital Daily]

BC port lockout: Talks have broken off after yesterday’s attempt at negotiations. [CP]

Film commission auction, with Pacific FC box seats, Canucks tickets, and a video call with Atom Egoyan, closes today.

Victoria Royals 5, Seattle Thunderbirds 2 in yesterday's hockey game.

Cozy food to warm up with as the temperature dips.  [Tasting Victoria]