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- Oct 26 - Adopt an Island bat for Halloween
Oct 26 - Adopt an Island bat for Halloween
New spaces for children and families dealing with abuse, children's clothes recalled, more cars in the road
Capital Daily Team
October 26, 2023
Good morning !
This week marks International Bat Week—I’m not sure if it’s meant to coincide with the Halloween weekend, but it sure seems fitting. It’s the perfect chance to learn about the sometimes spooky, often misunderstood creatures that fly through BC’s night sky.
— Robyn
Do you or someone you know own a bat box? |
Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
🚘️ Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
NEWS
The VCAPCC unveils its new spaces during Child Abuse Awareness Month
Spaces include this "outdoor" playroom, activity rooms, therapy spaces and lounge areas. Photo: Sidney Coles / Capital Daily
The Victoria Child Abuse Prevention and Counselling Centre (VCAPCC) has completed renovations and upgrades at its Wharf Street location and is showcasing how it has transformed what was once a warehouse and club space into safe, inclusive and comfortable spaces for children, youth and their families who have been impacted by abuse.
Executive director Laura Vye says she’s excited about what the new spaces mean to individual children but also to the Greater Victoria community. “The impacts of childhood abuse are devastating, to not only the child but also their families, their siblings, anybody connected to them. And that impacts our society.
“We need to start putting our efforts and our resources and our money into helping children and youth that are in crisis because they're our future.”
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Recall: Various Will & You children’s outerwear are being recalled due to risk of entanglement and vehicular dragging from its drawstring cord.
Road work on Tillicum between Craigflower and Gorge Bridge to continue until tomorrow—expect traffic delays.
NEWS
Locals can adopt an Island bat in time for Halloween
Little Brown Myotis photographed on the Island. Photo: Shutterstock
It’s currently International Bat Week (Oct. 24-31), in which humans are encouraged to learn more about bats and how to help these often at-risk flying mammals. It coincides both with the appearance of cardboard and plastic bats for Halloween and the disappearance of flesh-and-blood bats, which typically begin hibernation by November.
Victoria-based Habitat Acquisition Trust is going a step further than education this year, asking locals to adopt a bat, a trio of bats, a bat box, or even a whole colony.
The adoption is only symbolic, of course (“You will not receive a live bat,” the campaign makes sure to clarify). Instead it offers adoptees bat illustrations and other prizes in return for pitching in to sponsor initiatives including:
research and data collection on local populations
bat-supporting infrastructure
education (of other humans, not the bats)
The Island species available to “adopt” are the Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat, Little Brown Myotis, and Hoary Bat. Many live right here in a large colony of 1,500 in Metchosin, which Capital Daily has profiled.
Risk to BC bats is now very high
It’s been an especially difficult year for Island bats, and the worst may be yet to come. White nose syndrome, a devastating fungal condition that has decimated bat populations across North America, was spotted in early 2023 in eastern BC after years of the province being spared despite infections in Washington.
The fungus grows on bats in the winter, waking them up early and wasting the energy that they need in order to survive until spring. People are asked to help monitor for WNS on the Island by reporting any bats they see awake and outdoors over the winter, starting next month.
Read more about things you can do around your home and around the region to help bats here.
-Cam Welch
SPONSORED BY PHILOSOPHY MD
Mark your calendars: annual holiday bash coming to Philosophy MD
The Philosophy MD Holiday House Party will return November 30 2023! Meet the remarkable team and toast the season as you shop your favourite cosmetic treatments and skincare brands.
This magical event will feature a return of fan-favourite offerings including 'Bank your Tox', complexion and injectable packages, skin tightening offers, exclusive gift sets, and so much more! Plan for an in-person visit or join online.
Curiosity peaked? Subscribe HERE for insider access. Event offers will drop November 13!
⭐️ Capital Picks
📸 Photo: Check out this moss-covered skull found in Ma'amtagila lands on the North Island—commenters speculate it belonged to a bear.
❓ Have questions, comments, or concerns about provincial policies, programs, and services in Oak Bay-Gordon Head? Contact BC NDP MLA Murray Rankin at [email protected] or 250-472-8528.*
👻 It’s that time again! Market Square has once again become Market Scare.
📚 One book, one community: Join this virtual community book club in reading best-selling Island author Susan Juby’s book Mindful of Murder, including events online and in-person at GVPL’s Esquimalt branch.
*Sponsored Listing
🗞️ In Other News
Vic high schoolers crush ‘Code Orange’ mass casualty drill
Dozens of volunteer students acted as casualties from a bus crash to help train staff last Saturday. Mock-disaster scenarios are required at hospitals every four years. [CHEK]
Saanich teen’s driving test delayed over his diabetes
Cole Alexander, 16, wants to take his N test just as his twin brother did. But his twin doesn’t have Type 1 diabetes, which is at the route of a bureaucratic traffic jam, holding up the process for Cole. [Saanich News]
11k more vehicles on area roads in 2022 than in 2018
The number of insured vehicles in the CRD went up by more than 4% between 2018 and 2022, according to ICBC. More vehicles were insured in the Westshore, where the population also has been growing. [Citified]
Coroners inquest scheduled for Island man who died in police custody
Aaron Lee Prince, 35, died in custody in Nanaimo in 2017. While there was an investigation by the IIO, inquiries from the Coroners Service are mandatory. The public inquiry will be held in November in Nanaimo to review the circumstances of the death and potentially make recommendations for how similar deaths can be avoided. [CHEK]
SPONSORED BY SHELLEY DAVIES
Artist Shelley Davies introduces prints and fabrics
Local Victoria artist and well known Jigsaw designer, Shelley Davies is offering a chance to win 1 of 5 prizes by Cobble Hill Puzzles.
Sign up for her quarterly e-newsletter to enter. Shelley has launched a line of Art Prints, fabrics and even wallpaper, all made from her modern abstract designs.
🗓️ Things to do
Joan Bessie: The singer will perform her music at Hermann’s at 7pm. [Info]
Thursday Night Fever: Join this spooky ’70s dance party at Hermann’s Upstairs at 9pm. [Info]
👀 In Case You Missed It
The worst maritime disaster in BC history happened near Victoria 105 years ago when the Princess Sophia struck a reef. [Capital Daily]
🕷️Amazing arachnid recovery: Island shutterbug Susannah Anderson saved this spider, giving it new life under her kitchen sink.
Photo: See a cushion star found near Clover Point by a snorkeler.
Video: A cyclist filmed his ride home—through bumper-to-bumper traffic—from Saanich to Colwood. [Victoria News]
Victoria extreme weather startup selected by Seattle accelerator program. [Victoria Tech Journal]
A black bear splashes through the water in these photos taken near Campbell River.
That’s it!
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