Oct 1 - "We wrap our relatives in love"

Good morning !

I attended the South Island Powwow yesterday—you can check out the story and photos below—and it was incredibly moving to see such a high turnout to mark Truth and Reconciliation Day. The event was packed and a variety of Indigenous cultures and art forms were on display.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️ 13 / 8

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 16 / 8

Thursday: ⛅️ 15 / 9

NEWS

South Island Powwow marks fourth Truth and Reconciliation Day as survivors call for government transparency

Yesterday was the fourth annual Truth and Reconciliation Day, taking place Sept. 30 every year to coincide with Orange Shirt Day—a tradition that began in 2013 to honour residential school survivors.

To mark the occasion, Survivors Secretariat, representing those affected by Canada’s residential school system, released a report calling on the government to increase funding for investigating unmarked graves, provide survivors with their own records, and support memorials and public commemorations. But the most important call to action was to ensure transparency of all government and RCMP documents relating to residential schools, including those unreleased during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 

At the South Island Powwow, the importance of truth in the path to reconciliation was called out by powwow emcee Francis James, who said reconciliation is impossible without full transparency.

Set against the sombre backdrop of the day, the South Island Powwow was focused on celebration, with thousands pouring into Royal Athletic Park wearing orange shirts. It’s estimated that 11K people attended this year, topping last year’s 10K turnout. A representative from Songhees First Nation told CHEK the event could be extended to span multiple days next year.

Dancers from across North America were in attendance, bringing dances from multiple nations and ranging in age from the tiny “juniors” to the “golden age” performers. Drum groups, including host drummers Smokey Valley and Wild River, provided the music that drove the dancers forward in the powwow circle.

An emotional moment came when residential school, day school, and Sixties Scoop survivors, and their relatives, gathered in the middle of the powwow circle, while jingle dancers moved around them.

“We wrap our relatives in love,” said James, expressing hope that the moment could bring healing. 

See our full photo story of the South Island Powwow.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

30% chance of showers late in morning & early afternoon.

Cougar reported in Saanich at South Valley Park, after 2 reports near UVic.

Plan ahead for Cadboro Bay driving, Saanich says after beginning Sinclair construction that will last until 2026.

Saanich seeks public input on pickleball & tennis. [Survey]

Free parking in downtown Nanaimo starting Oct. 1, to encourage customers during construction on Commercial. 

NEWS

No housing-density extensions for Sooke or View Royal

New signature BC policy aimed at boosting housing stock requires that municipalities adjust their own rules to align. Every local government with a population of 5,000+ was supposed to update its bylaws by June 30 to ensure 3-4-unit builds (6 if near transit) were legal on usual single-family or duplex land plots.

But municipalities could apply for extensions if they had concerns about the logistics (particularly strain on infrastructure) of making that shift right away. View Royal and Sooke applied for extensions but were not among the 21 municipalities to get them.

They now have until mid-Dec. to adopt the new bylaws (a short de facto extension, since the original deadline was June 30).

The municipalities had been hoping for multiple years, with Sooke in particular wanting to delay local expansion after its recent 16% growth and congestion problems. The province is doing road expansion and has called on Sooke to alleviate traffic by upgrading Throup—but mayor Maja Tait says that that is still several years (and a lot of money) away.

It's one way that this extension application has highlighted tensions over growth and infrastructure between the province and the two local municipalities.

More on that in the full story at The Westshore.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🦦 River otters get up to mischief on a Nanaimo dock [VanIsleWildlife]

🧁 Deer & Dough, a bakery started by a local documentary filmmaker, is now open downtown. [Tasting Victoria]

🤝 Now hiring: Digital Innovation Manager at Dogwood.

🗞️ In Other News

Victoria aims for $36.5M in grants to offset project costs
This will include $25M for the Crystal Pool replacement, which is estimated to cost $200M+. City staff will prepare applications to multiple grants to secure the money. If approved, some funds will also go to the Centennial Square revamp and bike lanes. [Times Colonist]

Tla-o-qui-aht seek exemption to Tofino growth limits
The First Nation argued it would be ironic if it ended up being constrained due to the District’s concerns about water supply, given that Tofino gets its water from Tla-o-qui-aht lands without giving compensation. [Ha-shilth-sa]

Kittens found in box in Thetis parking lot
The CRD Animal Shelter said they were sick with upper respiratory infections but are now being fostered and will be adopted out soon. [CHEK]

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🗓️ Things to do

👚 Mean Girls Quote-along at the Vic Theatre: On Thursday, wear pink and gather with fellow Plastics on the date from one of the 2004 comedy’s best-known lines (“It’s October 3rd”). [Tickets]

🛍️ Last James Bay Market of the season at the corner of Menzies & Superior. Sat. 9am-3pm. [Info]

🚲 Beacon Pedal Tour to support youth homelessness prevention: Only 10 team spots; early registration encouraged. Oct. 25. Games Room, Sticky Wicket. [Info]

🚵‍♀️ Tour de Rock reaches CRD tomorrow: The cancer-fundraiser cycle trip gets to Sooke / Westshore on Weds., Oak Bay / Victoria / Sidney on Thurs., and Esquimalt / Saanich / Victoria on Friday. 

🎭 Theatre Inconnu presents Significant Other, until Oct. 5. [Info]

🧡📖 StoryWalk at the library: Every day until Oct. 6. Walk and read I Hope (Monique Gray Smith, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard) while taking a moment to reflect on your hopes and wishes for all children. Library gardens at Sidney and North Saanich VIRL branches. [Free]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Monday’s headlines: The evolution of Victoria’s Truth and Reconciliation Day, local ocean companies win US awards, cougar spotted on UVic campus. [Sept. 30]

Corrected web link: Yesterday’s IRSSS supports link went to the IRSSS site but not directly to the current Services page.

“Stinky Island” full of seals. [Facebook video]

Victoria named one of the best “coolcation” spots by USA Today.

Victoria-based Cool Band releases new album of laid-back alt-rock tunes. [Listen]

Winter tires on Malahat & other Island routes required as of today.

Nanaimo’s Ethan Katzberg gets a golden homecoming celebration after throwing hammer 84m (not 84ft) in Olympics.