Oct 10 - World Mental Health Day

Good morning !

Today’s a good day to remind yourself to take a little inventory of your loved ones.
I think in 2025 it is more than acceptable to ask them how they’re doing, how their mental health is, don’t you? A good check-in with a friend can also be helpful and caring.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌧️13 / 10 

Tomorrow: 🌦️14 / 9

Sunday: 🌧️10 / 8

7-day forecast

NEWS

Going green with a golden reason

If you’re near the Inner Harbour this evening, you’ll notice the legislature is lit green. It’s not for Saint Paddy’s; it’s for something even more ubiquitous and serious.

Today is World Mental Health Day. 

The BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) requested the provincial government light the building green—the internationally recognized colour for mental-health awareness—to shine a spotlight on mental health and to encourage people to seek help if they’re struggling with theirs.

World Mental Health Day was first commemorated in 1992, an initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global organization with members in 150 countries. 

Island Health reminds us today about its single telephone number to access a broad array of community-based services focused on mental health and substance use. 

The Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) Service Link was launched in 2023. It helps people connect to information and services in their community. People seeking information can phone 1-888-885-8824 seven days a week to speak directly with a call taker.

“Service Link helps people navigate and connect to the right resources, including harm reduction services, drug-poisoning prevention, addiction medicine (opioid agonist therapy, prescribed safer supply, and other medication options), withdrawal management, and treatment and recovery services,” a spokesperson for Island Health said. 

Island Health said it’s important to note that Service Link is a navigation tool and that call takers are not trained to provide emotional support or crisis intervention.

If you are experiencing a mental-health or substance-use crisis, please call the Vancouver Island Crisis Line, available 24/7: 1-888-494-3888.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Saanich water main upgrades: Cedar Hill Cross between Borden and Cumberland. Single lane alternating today.

Royal Marathon traffic closures this Sunday. [Map]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Province kicks in for 510 more student homes at UVic

It’s always a challenge, but finding a place to live should be a bit easier for UVic students four years from now after the BC government announced last week it will help fund a major new student residence.

The plan calls for a 17-storey tower—with a proposed location behind the Tower Residence—containing 360 beds in 90 four-bedroom apartment-style units designed for upper-year undergraduate students.

A seven-storey adjacent wing would have 150 studio apartments for graduate students, the province said in a release.

Robina Thomas, UVic’s acting president and vice-chancellor, called the plan “transformative” for the university’s undergraduate and graduate students, many of whom face challenges finding affordable housing near campus, as first-years often get first crack at on-campus housing. 

“The new units will also play a pivotal role in relieving pressure in Victoria’s rental market, while ensuring more students can live and learn in a supportive community,” Thomas said.

Once completed in fall 2029, the proposed project would increase the university’s total student-residence capacity to more than 3,500 beds.

“This new housing will provide students with stable, affordable homes right on campus, helping them focus on their studies and thrive in our community,” said Diana Gibson, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head.

The project would also include amenities for students to connect, including a lounge, outdoor and multi-purpose spaces, and a community kitchen, along with secure storage for sports equipment and bicycles, the province said.

“By expanding on-campus options at UVic, we’re not only supporting learners, we’re also helping to reduce demand on the broader rental market,” said Grace Lore, MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill.

“This is a meaningful investment in education and in our community.”

The plan is for the high-rise to be a green, “fully electric, zero-carbon building,” serving as a model of climate-resilient design, the province said.
The university said building up, rather than building out, will limit the project’s footprint and minimize impacts on surrounding green space.

The estimated cost is $178M, with the province supplying $121M and UVic contributing $57M.

Construction is expected to start next spring.

This story ran for our Insiders on Oct. 5. Consider becoming an Insider today and be the first to receive stories every Sunday.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🐈‍⬛ The Black Parade Halloween Victoria Emo Night: Join the Black Parade. We’re spinning classic emo bangers and more all night. Wicket Hall, Strathcona Hotel. 10pm-2am. [Info]

📑 Canadian Library Month. [Get a library card]

🌞 Make career goals feel less like a dream. Skill up today with Continuing Studies at UVic and step into your future with confidence.*

🎞️ Victoria International Jewish Film Festival. [Oct. 18-23]

🐐 Last weekend to visit Beacon Hill Children’s Farm before it closes for the season on Tuesday. [BHCF]
*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Victoria’s ‘poster child for online dating scams’ gets no jail time
But he will have to repay $89K to the 14 people in Greater Victoria and Duncan whom he defrauded, and he will be under house arrest. In January, Brodie Lyle Brooks, 31, pleaded guilty to defrauding 14 people, most of whom were women, between 2019 and 2023. The judge, who said it was difficult hearing the disturbing details of the case, noted Brooks could have been incarcerated for his offences, but she opted to impose a conditional sentence of two years less a day that Brooks will serve under house arrest so that he can earn money to repay his victims. [Times Colonist]

Humpback appears to have been protecting seal from orca off Sooke
A whale-watching tour got to see the rare interaction in the Juan de Fuca Strait, west of Sooke, last weekend. Sooke Whale Watching captain Mollie Cameron says the humpback, identified as Nike, looked to be protecting a seal that was hiding within a kelp bed as a group of Bigg’s killer whales looked for dinner. The whale kept repeatedly positioning itself between the seal and orcas. Eventually, the killer whales got their meal, but the humpback followed the orcas as if to force them out of its territory. It’s not uncommon for humpbacks to help other animals, one expert said. [CHEK]

Sooke Road traffic ‘pawsed’ as RCMP ‘chase’ dog near Langford
Drivers on Highway 14 between Langford and Sooke had to slow down, which allowed many of them to watch in disbelief as a police car with lights flashing chased/escorted a runaway dog down the highway. One witness said roughly 100 vehicles were backed up as the police cruiser pursued/followed the dog at about 20 km/hr. The dog, which may have been a husky, eluded a bylaw officer who had gotten out of their vehicle to give chase, only to be left in its dust. After about eight minutes or 2 km, the police eventually got the dog to pull over in a driveway. [Black Press]

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🗓️ Things To Do

🍎 3rd Annual Apple Harvest Fest: Enjoy tea and apple pie under a tent in the historic Ross Bay Villa garden. Tomorrow. 10am-2pm. [Info]

🏃 Victoria Marathon Fuel Up Dinner: Get race-ready with keynote speaker Darrell Fox as he shares his brother Terry's inspiring Marathon of Hope story at Hotel Grand Pacific. Tomorrow. Doors 5:45pm. [Info]

🤠 Country Barn Dance at Langtry Walk: Don your western wear and boot scoot to country hits with The Rob Curtis Band and Cassandra Smith in a stunning vintage barn at 1872 Stellys Cross Rd. Tomorrow. 7-10pm. [Info]

🎸 Get Back Unplugged: The Beatles Reimagined: Six stellar musicians reimagine late-period Beatles songs with folk, Celtic, blues, and jazz influences featuring The Wahs and special guests. Upstairs Lounge, Oak Bay Recreation Centre. Tomorrow. 7:30pm. Doors 6pm. [Info]

🎭 Harold Night: Watch Victoria's funniest improvisers perform improv's high-wire act with hilarious characters and interwoven stories from a single audience suggestion. Theatre SKAM. Tomorrow. 8:30-9:40pm. Doors 8:15pm. [Info]

💃 Colombian Rumba Party: Dance to live Fuerza Vallenata plus DJs spinning salsa, bachata, cumbia, merengue, and reggaeton all night long. The Coda. Tomorrow. 9pm-2am. [Info]

🎸 Frances Hope Single Release Party: Celebrate the new single "Catch and Release" at Frances Hope's final Victoria show with her first globally distributed single on Amalien Records and Virgin Music Group. Bar Stage, The Coda. Today. 6:30-8:30pm. [Info]

💃 MOVE for Mental Health: Live Music Celebration: Dance away anxiety and depression with live music from Alle Bernardi plus DJ sets in this World Mental Health Day celebration. Sizzling Tandoor Downtown. Today. 7-10pm. Doors 7pm. [Info]

❤️ Straight Speed Dating Ages 25-35: Meet like-minded singles in your age range through fast-paced connections in a fun and exciting environment. The Canadian Brewhouse & Grill. Today. 7-9pm. [Info]

🎭 Improv Comedy with Musical Guest: Laugh along as comedians create completely original scenes inspired by live music from Derry of Lake Placid. OK, Dope HQ. Today. 7:30pm. [Info]

🎸 RATTLESHAKE: Get on the dance floor with funky-bluesy-rockin' tunes given the band's unique spin at this high-energy show. Wheelies Motorcycles & Cafe. Today. 7-11pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: BCGEU strike hits remaining provincial liquor and cannabis stores; BC going after vaping companies; Ex-HarbourCat’s big hit leads Blue Jays over Yankees. [Oct. 9]

Why a traffic jam is tasty in Saanich. [CHEK]

Wavy cloud formations soak up the sky over Victoria. [Times Colonist]

Pistachio recall due to Salmonella. [Pistachio Kernel]

Traffic disruption: Fort, between Vancouver and Cook, will have intermittent lane closures today. 9am-3pm. [City of Vic]

Book ahead: BC Ferries says Thanksgiving weekend will be busy.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show! 50th anniversary: 5 screenings at Vic Theatre.

That’s it!

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