Nov 9 - Victoria to CRD: Hey, help us out

Good morning !

Both our main stories today concern Victoria’s CRD neighbours and what they can do to ease the financial and social burden their big sis Victoria bears as the capital city magnet to the many in need.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌧️ 10 / 8 

Tomorrow: ☁️ 9 / 11 

Monday: 🌦️ 11 / 6

7-day forecast

NEWS

Victoria’s council to ask Saanich for extreme weather shelter support

Tired of bearing the brunt of finding shelter for the vast majority of unhoused people who need a place to escape extreme weather, Victoria’s city council is appealing to other municipalities to lend a hand—and a few warm rooms and rollout mats. 

When things got cold and rough outside last winter, the tough got going—and they went to Victoria. Some were dispatched one-way in taxis, COD, with Victoria picking up that cab tab. 

The situation highlights the need for more shelter spaces in nearby CRD municipalities, most of which currently have limited or no emergency mats and shelter beds.

Tanya Seal-Jones, Victoria’s emergency program coordinator, told council that under the BC Emergency Disaster Management Act municipalities have a responsibility to provide shelter to those at risk of exposure to extreme weather.  

The problem is that some municipalities have different interpretations of this requirement, and that leads to inconsistencies in what they can provide. 

If a municipality doesn't have spaces, it must transport at-risk people to somewhere that does. Locally, this means Victoria. But once sent to Victoria, shelter seekers from elsewhere compete with the core city's own population for its limited spaces.

So Victoria council is sending a letter to its largest neighbour, Saanich—which has more available land and warehouse space than Vic—to say, ‘Hey, you guys have to step up.’ 

Read Sidney Coles’ full story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

High streamflow advisory for West & North Island regions.

Rainstorms to hit South Coast on Sun‐Mon and Tue-Wed.

Swartz Bay: Noisy overnight work starting Tuesday. [6pm-2am]

CCTV to be deployed & roads to be closed near cenotaph for Remembrance Day activities. [VicPD]

Road disruptions & CCTV also set for today, with a rally for Gaza & Lebanon slated for 1pm.

NEWS

Time is running out on North Park’s Tiny Town

If you’ve been to a HarbourCats game, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with Tiny Town. Formally known as Caledonia Place, it’s a 30-person modular supportive housing project in the parking lot at 940 Caledonia, slightly more than a foul ball’s distance from Royal Athletic Park.

And it’s gotta go. 

By next October, the city will have exhausted its employment of temporary use permits (TUPs). (There’s also this little thing about the city promising North Park residents that this was going to be temporary.) 

4 years, and 2 versions, of tiny-home project

Tiny Town was put together during the pandemic through a public fundraiser. It opened in 2021, and after extensions it closed a year ago with residents moving on to more permanent housing. It was then bought by BC Housing and—after some discussion of moving it—opened early this year in the same spot as Caledonia Place, welcoming a crop of people who were already in shelters.

There were some neighbour concerns about the reopening; in 2021 nearby calls to police rose after the units arrived, though they tapered off to about the area's 10-year averages per VicPD data and there were never any criminal charges toward the town residents. Since the reopening there have been “minimal disruptions” nearby, per a city council memo.

Councillors want other local munis to adopt-a-town

Next Thurs., Councillors Jeremy Caradonna and Stephen Hammond plan to ask the Committee of the Whole (CoTW) to call on other CRD municipalities to become the host of the 30-unit project, which they say BC Housing will keep funding.

Caradonna says one option is to move it to Saanich which he says has plenty of parking lots and the incentive to start satisfying its provincially imposed supportive housing target of 131 spaces.

“Langford is another option,” Caradonna tells Capital Daily. “But really, anywhere could work, especially jurisdictions with supportive housing targets.” 

Seeking public input on lot's future

The councillors will also ask the CoTW to start a community consultation process about what to do with the space after the Tiny Town units are gone. That motion also calls for another public discourse, about the old Romeo’s and Urbana lots on Blanshard which the city bought intending to build a park.

“It will likely take a few years before a park can be built, due to competing priorities, but the visioning should start now,” the councillors said in their motion notice.

These motions (to seek a new site for Caledonia Place, and to ask the public what to do with the current one) are among several housing-issues items at the upcoming CoTW.

SPONSORED BY CHILDREN’S HEALTH FOUNDATION OF VANCOUVER ISLAND

Can’t-miss holiday event for families

Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island invites families to its signature fundraising event, Pancakes & Pajamas, a heartwarming holiday celebration on December 8 at the Hotel Grand Pacific. With cozy pajamas encouraged, attendees will enjoy a decadent brunch buffet, perfect for the season. Choose from two seatings filled with festive activities, holiday cheer, and a special visit from Santa Claus. Guests can make memories with their families while supporting children with complex health needs across Vancouver Island, fostering a spirit of care, community, and holiday magic.

Tickets are $75 for adults, $25 for children aged two to 12, and free for children under two. Exclusive hotel packages are also available, making it a truly memorable start to the holiday season. 

⭐️ Capital Picks

🎬 Film commission auction: Items to bid on include Pacific FC box seats, a cruise, a Helijet trip, Canucks tickets, and a video call with renowned filmmaker Atom Egoyan. [Closes tomorrow] 

♥️ 📺 CHEK to broadcast Remembrance Day ceremony on Mon. morning.

🍷 Register for the Crush+ Online Auction. This carefully curated auction features wine, brandy, whisky, dining, travel, gift packages, and other unique experiences.*

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

CORRECTION: A story in this space yesterday gave an incorrect date for an information session on the Crystal Pool project. It is today at the Moss Street Market.

2 big Beach Dr. homes are being torn down in Oak Bay
Waterfront mansions at 1069 and 1101 Beach—along what used to be known as Bankers’ Row across from the Royal Victoria Golf Club—were bought for a total of $20M last year. They’re being pulled down, which will leave 5+ acres (2+ ha) on which to build. A numbered company paid cash for them and has not made any plans public. One home—1069—used to be owned by members of the Ross and Butchart families, who owned The Butchart Gardens. [Times Colonist]

This could have been worse: flatbed appears to force plumbing van off McKenzie
Dashcam video has appeared online that appears to show a large flatbed truck attempting to pass and ultimately running the smaller truck off the road. Earlier this week, Dylan Rehman was in his work van westbound on McKenzie just before Burnside when the big rig moved from the left lane into the right. Rehman says it’s fortunate there wasn’t a sidewalk or bike lane and he instead had room to veer onto the shoulder. Saanich Police is investigating. [CHEK]

Hikers alert: parts of some parks closed because of storms
One of Victorians’ choice spots, the trail in Juan de Fuca Provincial Park in Sooke, is closed as inspectors assess the damage from recent heavy rains. Campsites, the Sombrio Beach suspension bridge, and Parkinson Trailhead are also off-limits. China Beach, Second Beach, East Sombrio Beach, Botanical Beach, and Botany Bay all are accessible. [BC Gov]

SPONSORED BY PATIO GARDENS

Christmas Has Arrived at Patio Gardens

Let the joyful holiday season begin!

Gather your loved ones for our Wreath Making and Holiday Workshops.

Support local artisans at the Christmas Market on Saturday, December 7th, 10am-4pm.

Photos with Santa dates on the website (for pets and kids).

Discover festive décor to adorn your home and garden this season!

🗓️ Things to do

🍄 Mushroom ID Walk at Millstream Creek: Presented by The Land Conservancy of BC. [Today 10am-1pm; registration full but there is a waitlist]

🎭 Sidney Concert Band: Women and the War Effort. Honouring Canadian women and their many contributions during times of war, followed by Meet the Musicians, a feature for all the sections of the band to showcase their talent. Mary Winspear Centre. Tomorrow. 2pm. [Info]

🥖 Moss Street Farmers Winter Market: Discover local vendors, get farm-fresh produce, and listen to live music at this weekly market. Garry Oak Room and Sir James Douglas school gymnasium. Today. 10am.-1pm. [Info]

🎹 Kluxen—Mozart & Bartók: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta. Two musical giants converge in a program that touches on the music of the night. The Farquhar at UVic. Today. 2:30pm. [Info]

🦇 24-hour Batman marathon & contest: Anybody who stays—and stays awake—through 9 consecutive Batman movies at the Vic Theatre will win free movies there for a year. Today 10am until tomorrow 10am. [Info]

💃 Capital City Stomp: Victoria's Workshop Weekend. For these workshops, some prior swing dance experience is recommended. Today & tomorrow. All day. [Info] 

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

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: Teen says she was unwittingly drugged at Oak Bay house party; Dive into Crystal Pool project info sessions; Rental prices down overall, but still up over last year for many available Vic units. [Nov. 8]

Remembrance Day events for your planning. [Capital Daily]

Saanich’s climate action plan needs more action. [Capital Daily]

Support local journalism by supporting Capital Daily. Become a Capital Daily Insider member today and help bring local stories to life.