Oct 23 - UVic takes aim at coffee cups

Good morning !

Grab a cup of java before you read our top two stories today. The first one is all about coffee—well, more about the cups it’s poured into and an environmental initiative at UVic.

Our second may make your mouth water. It’s got descriptions of scrumptious foods that’ll be served today when a new fancy-schmancy restaurant opens in Esquimalt.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 11 / 6  

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 10 / 7

Friday: ☁️ 11 / 7

7-day forecast

NEWS

UVic pilot project targets disposable coffee cups

University students are known to use caffeine to fuel their study sessions. While a cup of joe may get them through exam season, the standard to-go cups from most cafes start to add up—and they don’t always end up recycled. 

In 2022, UVic’s campus waste audit report projected that more than 19K non-waxed cups would end up in the landfill each year, despite being accepted through the campus waste diversion program. 

To address the issue of to-go cups getting chucked in the trash, UVic has partnered with the school’s Surfrider student club to launch a pilot program to shift the culture of disposable food containers. 

Two campus coffee spots—the Boardwalk Cafe and Port Cafe—have started providing reusable travel mugs for students to borrow like a library book and return to stations throughout campus. The pilot will eventually be rolled out to all UVic campus food services.

“We knew something had to change," said Matt Miller, a UVic PhD student in oceanography who has worked on the initiative since 2018. "As a student myself, we recognize how busy students are, and why there is a large demand for ‘to-go’ food and beverage packaging.”

He said that while there is a 25-cent discount for those who bring their own reusable cups to the cafes on UVic’s campus, many students don’t take advantage of it. With so much on the go, bringing a reusable cup to campus might not be top of mind. The program takes the work out of it for students—no lugging a thermos to campus and no need to clean it after using it.

When ordering a drink—it doesn’t have to be coffee—customers can borrow a stainless-steel reusable mug. They’ll need to download the Reusables app and sign up for a Reuser ID (similar to a library card, but on their phone). Once the drink is drunk, the mug can be returned to any of the locations on campus.

Miller submitted the pitch for the project earlier this year and it was awarded $25K from UVic’s Campus Sustainability Fund to cover the cost of the mugs and operations.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Updated vaccines for the flu, and COVID-19 are available. [BC Gov’t]

Wanted Canada-wide: Hugh Garlow, 70, is known to frequent downtown and James Bay. [VicPD]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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

NEWS

A new restaurant in restored Rosemead House wood-fires it up today

It’s called Janevca Kitchen and Lounge and it’s the cherry on top of the almost-renovated former English Inn on Lampson, in Esquimalt.

New ownership took over the 1906-built mansion nine years ago and a methodic, $13M makeover is almost complete: more than two dozen boutique hotel rooms—many with ocean views—and spa are expected to open in the spring, owner Lenny Moy, of Vancouver’s Aragon Properties, told the Times Colonist.

A set of 13-foot-tall iron gates from TV’s The Crown—stand-ins for Buckingham Palace’s gates—welcomes visitors and a pair of patios beckon them to take in the stunning coastline.

Back inside, a separate lounge offers a front-row seat with views into the kitchen, where culinary artisans are at work. The 96-seat dining room and 30-seat lounge opens today with a kitchen led by executive chef Andrea Alridge, a former finalist on the cooking competition show Top Chef Canada.

Alridge has previously led renowned Vancouver restaurants Osteria Savio Volpe and CinCin Ristorante. Her family-style menu blends international flavours with wood-fired cooking techniques. 

“Janevca will bring an entirely new culinary concept to the Victoria area, showcasing the power of tradition, using age-old methods to create dishes bursting with flavour and complexity,” Alridge says.

Alridge uses the open-fired method to mouth-watering heights on vegetable dishes such as the mafaldine pasta, which features locally foraged mushrooms. 

Signature dishes like the scallop crudo with pyanggang sauce pay tribute to Alridge’s Filipino background and a wood-grilled bone-in pork chop with pickapeppa sauce is inspired by a favourite childhood dish.

For dessert, try a peach melba served on plates from London’s Savoy Hotel, which pays homage to the dessert and the inn’s English heritage.

And if you’re wondering, the name Janevca is derived from the first names of the owner’s children.

SPONSORED BY PACIFIC OPERA VICTORIA

Live Opera in Victoria

Pacific Opera Victoria’s Season at the Royal Theatre is underway!

In February, audiences of all ages can enjoy the fantastical world of Rachel Portman’s The Little Prince. Based on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved tale, this opera sparkles with joy, wonder, and humanity. Tickets for youth are just $15.

Next up in April is Verdi’s Rigoletto. A tragic tale of love, betrayal, and revenge. With the return of favourites such as mezzo-soprano Marion Newman, host of CBC Radio’s Saturday Afternoon at the Opera, and baritone Justin Welsh.

And new this year is The Luminary Series, Featuring world-class artists including Barbara Hannigan & Bertrand Chamayou, Lawrence Brownlee, and the Gryphon Trio.

Season subscription packages and single tickets are on sale now!

⭐️ Capital Picks

🦆 Bird of a feather: See the beautiful plumage of a male wood duck swimming at Royal Roads University. [Facebook photo] 

🤝 Now hiring: Carpenter at The Butchart Gardens.

🗞️ In Other News

Victoria took in people from other municipalities during last cold snap
And that caused overcrowding, says Vic. Coun. Krista Loughton, whose upcoming motion on Nov. 7 will ask staff for an update on the 2024/25 Emergency Weather Response Plan for Victoria and what is expected in other regional municipalities. Loughton says we need a regional plan. Many municipalities have cooling centres for hot days but the concentration of dedicated cold-weather spaces is in Victoria, she said. [CHEK]

Furstenau to stay on as Greens leader, despite losing her seat
Sonia Furstenau’s move from the solid Cowichan Valley riding to Victoria-Beacon Hill was thwarted when NDP incumbent Grace Lore won the riding that has been an NDP stronghold since 2005. Furstenau says she will remain the Greens’ leader “to provide guidance and counsel as our party and our province enter this new chapter.” The Greens won two seats in the yet-to-be-resolved provincial election. Rob Botterell won in Saanich North and the Islands. Jeremy Valeriote took West Vancouver-Sea to Sky. [BC Greens]

Polarizing professor Jordan Peterson coming back to Victoria 
When he was here last year, protesters picketed against the controversial author’s criticisms of political correctness, particularly the use of genderless pronouns. The tenured U of T prof says he is currently considering legal action against the prime minister who has asserted Peterson is one of several conservative media types receiving funding from Russian state media. Peterson’s We Who Wrestle With God Tour hits town on March 31. [Times Colonist]

SPONSORED BY OLIVE FERTILITY VICTORIA

Struggling to conceive? Get expert help

If you’ve been trying for more than a year, have irregular cycles, or are over 35, it’s time to see a fertility specialist. Olive’s experts provide personalized care and advanced treatments. Consultations are MSP-covered—book here.

🗓️ Things to do

🪦♥️ Doing Death Different: The Victoria Holistic Death Care Community presents a discussion on assisted dying Royal Canadian Legion Trafalgar. Sun. 1-4pm. [Info]

🎸 JJ Wilde: Hear the Canadian rock singer perform her new album Vices at Capital Ballroom. Tonight. 9pm. [Info]

🎉 Party for a Purpose: Head to the Bard and Banker for live music and a silent auction to support Christ Church Cathedral. Tonight. 5pm. [Info]

👠 Rocky Horror: A Drag Show: Experience an all-drag cast performance of the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Metro Studio Theatre. Tonight through Sun. [Info]

🎶🔚😚 The VEC’s Last [Band]stand. The Victoria Event Centre holds its final event. Featuring Fangirl, Sofia Miller, Charis Tazumi, and Sweet Delirium. VEC. Tonight. 8:30pm. [Info]

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

👀 In Case You Missed It

Tuesday’s headlines: What’s the deal with the BC election?; Cyclist killed in Central Saanich bike race; Suspicious man arrested at Central Middle School; And more. [Oct. 22]

I’m not Julia: Esquimalt’s Jennifer Childs is on The Great Canadian Baking Show. [Tasting Victoria] 

Friends remember Rajinder (Ronnie) Singh, the 25-year-old taxi driver killed Sat. in a downtown collision. [CHEK ]

Don’t waffle: Multiple frozen waffle products recalled due to possible listeria contamination.

Photos of a fall stroll through the misty forest near Royal Roads, captured by Doug Clement. [Facebook photos]

Mama bear with salmon, and cubs in tow. Photographed by Juan Rodriguez. [Facebook photos]

That’s it!

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