Nov 5 - It may get more expensive to live in Victoria

Good morning !

The calm after the storm. That was a blustery one. Here’s hoping you didn’t lose power yesterday as many did. Speaking of power, the leader of the free world will be elected today—although we may have to wait to find out who that will be.

And Victoria’s city council is mulling over strategies to bankroll the city over the next five years.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌥️ 9 / 6

Tomorrow: 🌥️ 9 / 5

Thursday: 🌥️ 9 / 6

7-day forecast

NEWS

Aging infrastructure a concern as Victoria releases its draft financial plan

Residents of Victoria may have to fork over more money in utility fees—and for homeowners, property taxes, too—as the city deals with various external pressures and aging infrastructure, according to its draft financial plan released on Monday.

“For the average household, there would be an annual increase of $22 for water, $7 for sewer, $26 for stormwater, and $13 for solid waste,” the draft plan states.

The draft plan outlines the city’s operating and capital budgets for 2024 to 2029. It details the city’s projected operating revenue sources and line-by-line expenditures as well as anticipated capital projects over the next five years. 

The city cites significant cost increases across both budgets due to supply chain challenges, labour shortages, increased interest rates, and inflation. To combat rising costs, the city's council is considering expanding its revenue-gathering options. That could mean an increase in utility fees in 2026 and another in property taxes, beginning in 2028.

Read Sidney Coles’ full story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

The next Crystal Pool info session is on Sat. [Moss Street Market]

Volunteer city board members wanted. [Closes on Fri.]

Got leaves? Leaf collection information. [City of Victoria]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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NEWS

America votes, Victoria and the world await

It’s no Super Bowl and to some, it’s a super bore, but make no mistake, there will be plenty of eyeballs on the US election when the polls close in Hawaii and Alaska at 9pm our time.

Four years ago, 66.8% of eligible voters cast ballots in the US presidential election—that’s about 158 million people 18 years old or older—according to the US Census Bureau.

Today’s election is expected to attract a similarly robust number. 

Funny, we scoured the city but couldn’t find any scheduled viewing parties, except one. The Canadian International Council (CIC) Victoria Branch has a private bash at the Sticky Wicket downtown. It’s a private event exclusively for CIC members and their guests, so it’s not open to the general public.

But about 80 or so business people, academics, and folks generally concerned about how Canada will be affected by the voting outcome will get together to down a few chicken wings and most likely, something a bit stronger and wet.

It should be noted that today’s election stateside is about more than electing a president. The way it works south of the border is there are hundreds of elections today. A new Congress will be chosen, with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives up for grabs, and the Senate, where 34 seats are on the line. 

In addition, there are 13 gubernatorial races, and some cities and towns will elect mayors and city council members, school board reps, library trustees, and sheriffs.

Some 600K expats live in Canada, and about one in five of them lives in BC. Hopefully, most of them voted in this momentous selection process.

Good luck, America. We’ll be watching (just at home, I guess).

SPONSORED BY THE CANADIAN CLUB OF VICTORIA

The Canadian Club of Victoria presents

From Self-Driving Cars to ChatGPT: Demystifying Artificial Intelligence featuring Rich McCue from the University of Victoria

Nov. 12, 11:45 AM - 1:30 PM at Hotel Grand Pacific Visit here for details. Deadline to register: November 8. Non-members are welcome to attend.

The Canadian Club of Victoria monthly lunch meetings are now held on the second Tuesday of each month unless otherwise specified.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🧑‍🍳 16th Gingerbread Showcase volunteers wanted. [Habitat Victoria]

🏠 Winter shelter spaces across BC. [400 in Victoria]

🤝 Victoria-Saanich Citizens’ Assembly public meeting. [Nov. 20]

🎼 Victoria Conservatory of Music presents Daniel Lapp's Home for Christmas concerts on Dec. 18 and 19 at the Royal Theatre. Celebrate the season with us - get your tickets today!*

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Saanich Police find Honda stolen in Halloween carjacking
But they’re still looking for the masked person who brazenly approached its driver Thu. night at the McDonald’s near Uptown, said they had a weapon, and told them to get out. The driver was shaken up but not hurt. Police say they found the black 2002 Civic Sat. morning on Swartz Bay Road. They’re looking for dashcam video from Saanich and Oak at around 6:45pm Thu., and Swartz Bay and Wain roads from 2-6am Sat. [Saanich Police]

Petting farm euthanizes birds after Campbell River Avian flu outbreak
Approximately 50 chickens and ducks were put down at Holly Hill Farm over the weekend. Owner Katie Denne says she’s heartbroken—the animals were buds, each with a name. She says the birds contracted the highly contagious bird flu when a wild migratory bird flew into her barnyard. After some in her flock were found dead, the rest were humanely killed to prevent the spread of the disease, as mandated by the federal government. [Campbell River Mirror]

Windy: 225K BC Hydro customers across the province lost power yesterday
Some of those were in Langford and Colwood where 6K were without electricity for part of the day. Esquimalt, Central Saanich, and Metchosin also had blackout pockets. By mid-afternoon, the number affected was down to about 149K—including 34K on the Island—as BC Hydro crews made their rounds amid the strong winds that whipped through. Some customers won’t get their power back until today, BC Hydro said. The high winds forced some cancellations on BC Ferries and BC Transit had to make detours where there were fallen trees. Parts of Dallas were closed to traffic (as seen below). [Times Colonist]

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🗓️ Things to do

🦇 24-hour Batman marathon & contest: Anybody who stays—and stays awake—through nine consecutive Batman movies at the Vic Theatre will win free movies there for a year. Nov. 9, 10am to Nov. 10, 10am.

🎥 Victoria International Jewish Film Festival: 10th annual edition. Matinee and evening screenings—many with live music and nosh. Vic Theatre and online. Through Thu. [Info]

🤣 Tommy Tiernan: tommedian: The Irish comedian offers a wild, uninhibited, and fiercely physical display of stand-up talent eliciting many guffaws. Royal Theatre. Tonight. [Info]

🏒 Victoria Royals host Kamloops Blazers: back-to-back WHL hockey. Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena. Tonight & tomorrow night. 7:05pm. [Info]

🎾 Oak Bay Victoria ITAF Masters 100 Tennis Tourney: Watch some great men’s, women’s, and doubles play. Oak Bay Rec Centre. Tomorrow-Sun. [Info]

🐟 International Fly Fishing Film Festival: The world’s leading fly-fishing film event. Meet fellow anglers and find out the latest in the world of fly fishing. Robinson’s Outdoor Store. Tonight. 6-9pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Monday’s headlines: UVic field hockey team is a dynasty; Employment growth of 6.2% on the Island; Sports parents ask for sheltering ban in Saanich parks; And more. [Nov. 4]

Ballots missed in BC election: won’t affect the outcome. [CP / Toronto Star]

Wildlife watchers want a new coastal bird sanctuary. [Victoria News]

BC Ferries shipbuilding begins in Romania. [Times Colonist]

Eerie & atmospheric photos from around Victoria, posted by Doug Clement, Halloween weekend.

Music residency program for emerging artists launched by the 50-50 Arts Collective. [Apply here]

That’s it!

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