Nov 23 - BC firefighters need more support

Good morning !

A Mill Bay cat was returned to its owners after ending up in Duncan for nearly seven months. It’s a wild story and comforting to know that even months after a pet disappears, hope remains that it can still be found.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️ 9 / 2

Tomorrow: ☀️ 8 / 1

Day after: ☀️ 7 / 2

7-day forecast

NEWS

BC Legislators in the hot seat to respond to a firefighting crisis

Members of the British Columbia General Employees Union (BCGEU) went to the BC Legislature on Tuesday to meet with MLAs to lobby for transformational investments they hope will enhance public safety and make it easier for them to recruit and retain members.

The BCGEU represents roughly 1,800 firefighter professionals, including frontline wildland firefighting crews from every corner of the province.

When asked what the key aim of their meetings were, BCGEU treasurer Paul Finch said, “We were trying to get across a message to both the governing and opposition parties, that the wildfire system is in crisis and that crisis is rooted in a lack of compensation.”

Their main message to MLAs? Unless they can secure significant additional investment from the province and critical restructuring of the BC Wildfire Service, they will not be able to meet the demands of the coming wildfire season.

Read more from Sidney Coles about the BCGEU’s demands for the province here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Fort to close Sat. between Blanshard and Quadra for road repairs. Expect traffic delays.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

COMMUNITY

Wet Future on their newest single and upcoming Lucky Bar performance

Wet Future is a band with a bright future. The Victoria foursome is enjoying some momentum off the January release of its debut album Under the Weather, playing festival gigs, receiving opportunities to open for established bands, and landing a spot on a popular Spotify playlist that has seen their track “Nothing” getting serious play. 

Hot off the release of their latest single, “Mona Lisa,” the band is set to perform at Lucky Bar tomorrow alongside Base Collective and Darrien Gerard.

Read more from Robyn Bell on the group, their influences and plans for their next album here.

NEWS

Mega-cruise ship Panorama limps into port to prepare for repairs

Capital Daily told you this year’s cruise ship season concluded almost a month ago, so why is there a huge cruise ship sitting dockside at Ogden Point?

“It’s not something that occurs often,” Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) spokesperson Stella Garcia tells Capital Daily.

“It’s happening now because the Carnival Panorama experienced propulsion issues,” she says. “They needed to find a port along the West Coast that could accommodate their needs for repairs, and we were the port that could accommodate them.”

The Carnival Panorama is in Victoria because it’s too tall to get to its next destination where it is to undergo the repairs.

The ship—which can hold 4,008 passengers and 1,450 crew members but arrived eerily empty passenger-wise, with only captain and crew—will have its large, red whale’s-tail funnel removed so it can fit under the bridges along the Columbia River, en route to drydock in Portland.

The ship had left Long Beach, Calif. when the engine problems began. It arrived in Victoria at dinner time Monday and is expected to depart at the end of the week, Garcia said.

SPONSORED BY BELFRY THEATRE

A WONDERHEADS Christmas Carol is coming to the Belfry

Acclaimed theatrical imagineers the WONDERHEADS are bringing their show, A WONDERHEADS Christmas Carol, to the Belfry. This captivating holiday masterpiece has become a tradition for thousands of theatre-goers each December.

This astonishing production features larger-than-life characters, glowing ghosts, and 10-foot-tall puppets – to name just a few of the treats in store for audiences as they are whisked away with Ebenezer Scrooge on his magical Christmas Eve adventure. Prepare to laugh, cry, and be utterly enchanted this holiday season!

The WONDERHEADS have spent more than a decade touring the world to critical acclaim and sold-out audiences who describe the experience as watching animation come to life.

The Belfry offers pay-what-you-want tickets to all performances.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🎅🏿 41st Peninsula Co-Op Santa Claus Parade is this Sat.

🤔 What is counselling all about? It's aimed at rewiring the brain for safety, enjoyment, and connectedness with others. Cool, right? Visit us today.*

⚽ Canada women’s soccer ticket auction (City of Langford) 

📸 Photo: Winter storm magic on the north Island.

🤝 Now Hiring: Accounting Technician at Westin Bear Mountain Resort

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Avian flu has already claimed 5 million BC birds
It’s transmitted when wild birds migrate overhead and pass the virus through their dung. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says 34 premises have been infected in BC this month, 33 of them commercial poultry operations in the Fraser Valley. [CP/CTV]

Oak Bay student goes to Carnegie Hall to bury Caesar, not to praise him
Grade 9 student Liam Pope-Lau’s skills in presenting Shakespeare’s works paid off with him performing in an international speech and drama competition at the venerable NYC theatre on Nov. 11. [Goldstream Gazette]

Mucky the cat back home after hitchhiking to Duncan
The Mill Bay kitty was found by Finding Felines after going missing nearly seven months ago. It’s believed that he hitched a ride on the back of a truck before hopping out near Mt. Prevost. He lived off stolen kibble until he was turned over to the Duncan-based pet finders who posted his picture, catching the attention of Mucky’s owners. [CHEK]

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🗓️ Things to do

Christmas with the Tenors: The singers will take on favourite Christmas songs at this holiday show at Royal Theatre, tonight at 8pm. [Tickets]

Out of Hand Modern Market starts tomorrow! On until Sunday in the magical Crystal Garden. Use promo code SHOPLOCAL when you buy your ticket online and save $2.*

Music of Horace Silver: Kelby MacNayr‘s Blue Note Repertory All-Stars will perform the jazz star’s music at Hermann’s tonight at 7pm. [Tickets]

Destroyer: The popular Vancouver Indie rockers will perform at the Capital Ballroom, tomorrow at 8pm. [Info]

*Sponsored Listing

👀 In Case You Missed It

Langford and Sooke soar onto BC Bird Trail birding hot-spots listings. [Capital Daily]

Wednesday’s headlines: Cougar killed near Gorge, Oak Bay down a fire truck, Vic Coun. Kim staying on. [Nov. 22]

Video: Underwater tornado in Nanoose Bay.

Video: Talk about not not poking the bear in Campbell River. [CBC]

Stolen Bikes: Not just a downtown thing. [Times Colonist]

That’s it!

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