Oct 28 - Halloween weekend is here

Good morning !

Today we’ve got a massive roundup of Halloween events happening throughout the CRD, polishing off with a pumpkin smash in View Royal on Nov 5—an ideal way to get rid of your old pumpkin, and probably some stress.

Plus we’ll look at BC Hydro’s concerns about fall storms and the winners of this year’s Premier’s Award for Excellence in Education, including the Islanders who received it.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️ 9 / 3

Tomorrow: ☀️ 9 / 2

Day after: ☀️ 11 / 4

7-day forecast

NEWS

Here’s everything happening in the CRD for Halloween weekend

With Halloween not taking place until Tuesday, we get to enjoy an extended run of the spooky holiday starting this weekend. From dance parties and costume contests to candy giveaways and bonfires, there’s something for everyone—and everywhere—in the CRD.

Be sure to check out family-friendly activities like the haunted house at View Royal’s Fire dept, the firework show in Sooke and an afternoon of Halloween magic at Mayfair Mall.

For the adults looking to have a scary good time dancing, there will be a Barbie-themed costume party at Darcy’s in Langford, DJ sets in Victoria at The Hallway and Capital Ballroom, and more.

For more ideas to keep the Halloween spirit alive this week, check out the full lists—we have your roundup of all things wicked in the Westshore, including events in Colwood, Langford, Sooke, Esquimalt, Metchosin, and View Royal.

We’ve also updated our Halloween guide on Capital Daily.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Missing person: Ravannah Ounsted, 30, has been missing since Oct 22. She’s believed to be in the Nanaimo area.

Road work on Hillside, east of Douglas will take place today and tomorrow.

NEWS

Expect more fall outages due to summer drought, BC Hydro says

Storms are likelier to bring down trees that endured this extremely dry summer, BC’s electricity provider said in a Friday release.

BC Hydro wrote that it has replaced 1,400 power poles and almost 90km of power lines since May, and expects that dead and damaged trees and branches will soon cause even more damage to lines. Some drought-affected trees also kept their leaves later, making it easier for branches to weigh down and break.

Trees and adverse weather cause more than half of outages in BC, the provider said.

BC Hydro also said that the drought put its hydroelectric generators’ reservoirs at below-normal levels, which has been resolved for the smaller south coast generators but not the northern and southeast ones. It says it is importing extra power in order to make up for this low-water year.

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NEWS

Six Islanders awarded for excellence in education

Of the 34 education professionals to receive the 2023 Premier’s Awards for Excellence in Education, these ones work in south and central Island schools.

Island recipients include:

• Heather Coey, teacher at Reynolds Secondary in Victoria, awarded for community engagement

• Angela McLeish, vice principal at St. Patrick’s Elementary in Victoria, awarded for school leadership

• Tanya Leech, head secretary at Q’shintul/Mill Bay Nature School in Cowichan Valley, awarded for outstanding support-school community

• Jolene Parsons, district inclusion assistant at David Cameron Elementary in Sooke, for best outstanding support teacher assistant

• Scott Stinson, superintendent of SD62 (Sooke School District), for district leadership

• Vanessa White, district principal of SD62 (Safe and Healthy Schools) for community engagement

Award recipients were selected after nominations were received in the spring from both the public and those in the education sector.

Each category had three recipients across BC, with every honouree receiving a $2K personal bursary and a $1K contribution to their school for professional learning—they also took home a commemorative trophy.

⭐️ Capital Picks

📸 Photo: Stunning sunrise in Cowichan Bay.

📚 Book and Bling drop-offs take place this weekend at the Salt Spring Farmers’ Institute main hall. Bring out your used books and jewellery in good condition.

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🗞️ In Other News

Man found adrift in life raft near Island was missing for 2 weeks
After setting off on a planned three-day sailing trip, the man and his friend were reported missing Oct. 22—a week after their expected return. He was found off the coast of Tofino. Rescuers are still searching for the other man. [Times Colonist]

Victoria teen who helped save grandfather’s life given Good Samaritan award
Carter Burkard was 13 when he and his grandfather were in an ATV accident in the Lake Cowichan area, with his grandfather suffering severe injuries. Without cell service, he used a GPS device to call for help, carried his grandfather up the road and helped direct the air ambulance to get him to Victoria General. [CBC]

Victoria 1-bedroom rental turns out to be an RV
An ad for a $1K rental home turned out to be a 250 square foot RV parked on a Victoria property, upsetting interested renters. Adding insult to injury, the bedroom is not a separate space—making it, at best, a studio. [Victoria News]

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🗓️ Things to do

🛝 Stadacona Playground Grand Opening: Kick off the opening of the playground with games, activities, music and refreshments, today at 10am. [Info]

🏈 Westshore Rebels in BC football championship today at Starlight Stadium, facing last year’s national champ the Okanagan Sun. 3pm. Tickets.

🍂 Harvest Festival at HCP: Enjoy a day of family friendly activities at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, including “pumpkin people” displays, workshops and plenty of fall ambience. Today from 9am-3pm. [Info]

🎵 Victoria Choral Society presents Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi and Requiem by Matthew Coleridge. Christ Church Cathedral. Today 2:30pm. [Tickets]

🎨 Oak Bay’s Avenue Art Gallery features artist Linda Wilder, whose paintings of mountains, waterfalls and abstract shapes are on display for the next week. Tomorrow until Nov. 4.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Sidney’s Beacon Wharf to remain as is—for now. [Capital Daily]

Autumn snowfall in Duncan: See some shots of the Island’s first snowfall of the season.

Passengers cried, held hands, called loved ones after lightning struck Vic-bound chopper. [CTV]

Attempted murder suspect from mainland arrested in Westshore. [Chek

That’s it!

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