Nov 17 - How a river became a person

Good morning !

Today's top stories touch on movies, books, and hockey—all fitting activities for a fairly wet Sunday in what is shaping up to be a fairly wet November.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️ 9 / 3

Tomorrow: 🌧 8 / 1

Day after: 🌧 7 / 4

7-day forecast

NEWS

How a river became a person—with help from UVic environmental lawyers

A Peruvian-Canadian film that helped convince a Supreme Court judge that a river is a legal person will screen tomorrow night at UVic. It will air just a few minutes’ walk across campus from the non-profit law clinic that played a key supporting role in that same court case.

 Karuara, People of the River chronicles the efforts of Mariluz Canaquiri Murayari and the rest of her Kukama Indigenous Women’s Federation to rescue their culture, their river, and their revered “spirits” (or “Karuara”) that live within it.

They fought in Peru's top courts to stop oil spills, illegal mining for gold, and dams and other developments on a key water source of the Amazon Basin—which holds 20% of the world’s freshwater.

Lawyers and academics from UVic’s Environmental Law Centre (ELC) presented to the court with information on Indigenous resource management recognition by Canadian provinces, which helped bolster the Kukama case.

The documentary depicts not only the efforts around that case but also, with the help of years of animation work, the underpinning Indigenous worldview that shapes how the river is conceptualized by those who live around it.

Read the rest of this story at Capital Daily. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Expect rain nearly every day for the rest of November.

Elevated ocean levels today at high tide, in South Island along Juan de Fuca Strait; flooding near shoreline is possible.

Deadline extended to give City of Victoria feedback on draft budget. Survey now closes Dec. 20, not today.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Stanley Cup coming to Victoria for 100th-anniversary championship parade

Lord Stanley's mug itself has been secured for the “Century Celebration” events coming up in March, the Times Colonist now confirms.

As Capital Daily covered in the summer, the spring 2025 celebration is being thrown to mark the 100th anniversary of the Victoria Cougars defeating the Montreal Canadiens, 3 games to 1, to win the Cup in 1925. It was the last time the Cup was won by a non-NHL team—or by a team in BC.

It's being organized by the Victoria Hockey Legacy Society (VHLS)—which staged the successful Hockey Day in Canada events in the Inner Harbour in Jan.—after encouragement from Oak Bay locals. Oak Bay was the site of the Cougars' old Patrick Arena, which burned down in 1929.

The VHLS plans to do a “mini-parade” on Oak Bay Ave., set up the Hockey Day arena somewhere in Oak Bay, raise a Cup banner at Save-on-Foods Memorial arena, and involve the families of the original team members.

Though Victoria lost the Cougars the year after winning the Cup, the team has had plenty of success over the past century—as the Detroit Red Wings, winners of 11 Stanley Cup championships.

NEWS

Bolen Books co-founder dies aged 81, as local shop approaches its 50th anniversary

The late Patrick Bolen opened the original Bolen Books in Victoria with his ex-wife Madeline before splitting off to open a bookstore in Calgary. He had been back in Victoria for the past decade to be close to family, per CHEK.

Madeline Bolen took over the Victoria store's operations in 1977, later passing it down to their daughter, Samantha Holmes, and granddaughter, Madeline Holmes, who run it together today. Next year will be the 50th anniversary for the store, a multi-time winner of the Bookseller of the Year award from the Canadian Booksellers Association. A mainstay at Hillside Shopping Centre, it has sized up space multiple times to accommodate its popularity.

Since 1996 it has been one of the physically largest independent bookstore in Canada, and lays claim to the title of largest in Western Canada. The Island is home to a third of BC’s independent bookstores.

Capital Daily interviewed Samantha Bolen in 2021 about the store's past and present.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🏈 Grey Cup is today in Vancouver. [Argos-Bombers] The CFL finale comes shortly after Victoria completed its report on the success—and cost—of hosting a game this year.

🦃 "Funny, insightful, pretty much true, and wonderfully universal." Mom's the Word: Talkin' Turkey starts December 3 at the Belfry. Limited tickets are available.*

🍄 Massive mushroom found in Langford backyard. [Facebook photo]

🌕 November full moon rises over Weir’s Beach. [Doug Clement photo]

🎅🏽 The Esquimalt Celebration of Lights Parade and Festivities FREE annual event takes place on December 1 at 5pm. Indulge in hot dogs and hot chocolate by donation, along with pictures with Santa himself!*

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

After 77 years, Cowichan Trading will close down this month
The family-run gift shop on Government stocks Indigenous art and other items and first opened in 1947. The store—one of the oldest in the region—closes Nov. 30. [CHEK] 

Sexual assault trial of downtown masseur closes; verdict in Dec.
Final arguments were heard on Thurs. on allegations that Ajesh “Sam” Jacob sexually touched 10 different women while working at Big Feet spa. Jacob’s lawyer argues that some testimony was tainted by discussion on social media in 2021, when accusers came forward. [VicNews]

Hiker frees Roosevelt elk tangled in parachute
The hiker says the bull elk must had been trying for days to escape the cords binding its head and antlers to a tree. Despite the danger, she went to cut it free and says it knelt down to allow her to do so. [Ha-Shilth-Sa]

Are you eligible for the $12.5M WestJet class-action settlement?
Claims can be made by any passengers who paid for their first checked bag on domestic flights Oct. 29, 2014 to July 29, 2017 or international flights Jan. 6, 2016 to Feb. 27, 2019. [CP / Yahoo]

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🗓️ Things to do

🎅 AIl Sooke Arts & Crafts Christmas Show. 60+ vendors: arts, crafts, ceramics, jewelry, baking, honey, and more. Fri-Sun. Free entry. Sooke Community Hall

🌲 Yuletide Market at Bilston Creek Farm continues on Sun. 90+ local businesses showcasing their products, food vendors, live music, and more.

⛄ Christmas Craft Fair & Tea at the Langford Legion Ladies Auxiliary on Sunday.

🐶 Pet Photos with Santa: Make memories at Buckerfield’s Langford with a photo of your pet with Santa. 10am to 2pm. [Info]

❄ Kids Winter Craft Market. 1:30-4:30pm. Family fun at Oaklands Community Centre. Browse handmade goods created by young entrepreneurs—all vendors are kids. Shop art, jewelry, trinkets, and more. [By donation]

🎻 Kluxen & Chooi Barber Violin Concerto: Romantic beauty with bittersweet melancholy paired well with Barber’s Violin Concerto at Royal Theatre. [2:30pm today]

🌲Make a holiday wreath at either the Bard & Banker (2-4pm) or Beacon Brewing (5pm)

👀 In Case You Missed It

City strives to keep Quadratic Sound venue open for shows. [Capital Daily]

Ecostar award winners from tourism companies working to decarbonize the industry, to construction companies keeping waste out of landfills.

Friday’s headlines: Locals living on street are losing storage spaces. Holiday markets: Where & when. Confederation Garden Court is missing crests. [Nov. 15]

Mysterious pink goo found on beach outside Sayward. [Facebook photos] 

No mail: Canada Post is on strike.

Crystal Pool closed & expected to reopen Weds.

HarbourCats 2025 schedule is out, with games beginning May 30 on the road & June 6 at Royal Athletic.