Oct 3 - New carrier for Inner Harbour

Good morning !

If you’re planning a getaway to Vancouver, there’s good news in the air for you. You’ll soon have more options for how to get there.
Fewer options, I’m afraid, if you’re looking for some grub. We have tons of great downtown restaurants, but we’ve lost a bunch lately.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌥️ 15 / 10

Tomorrow: 🌥️ 15 / 10

Sunday: 🌤️15 / 11

7-day forecast

NEWS

Another option to get to Vancouver lands Oct. 20

That’s when Seair Seaplanes will launch a Vic-Van service, offering flights from the Inner Harbour to downtown Vancouver.

“We are thrilled to introduce this Vancouver–Victoria air service, connecting more travellers to our coastal communities with the convenient, scenic travel experience Seair is known for,” said Jared Williams, president & CEO of Seair Seaplanes, which has provided air travel in BC since 1982.

Randy Wright, who oversees strategy and expansion for Seair in Victoria, tells Capital Daily the company plans to start with five flights per day, likely at $199 one way during the tourist shoulder season, with more flights during high season. 

Yesterday, Wright was overseeing last-minute touches on the old Hyack air terminal in the Inner Harbour, beneath the Victoria Regent Hotel on Wharf.
Construction on what will be the Seair terminal has been going on for months, including the rejigging and replacement of the docks.

“We're close,” Wright said about the construction’s progress. “It's getting very close.”

The 35-year-old air terminal, owned by the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, had been used by Kenmore Air before the Washington state-based carrier moved just south on Wharf, into the floating seaplane station with the cool, wave-like roof. From that terminal yesterday, Harbour Air offered 30 flights between Vic and Van. 

When asked why customers should choose his airline over the established Harbour Air, Wright pointed to comfort and performance.

“The planes are a bit smaller and more comfortable, and they're faster, and so I would say the comfort,” Wright tells Capital Daily.

According to its website, Seair Seaplanes has the world’s largest fleet of factory-new Cessna 208 Caravan turboprop passenger planes on floats.

“This dependable 9-passenger aircraft is renowned for its exceptional safety, comfort, and performance, providing a spacious cabin, a smooth and quiet ride, and enhanced all-weather reliability,” the company said. 

Richmond-based Seair Seaplanes began as a charter operation before expanding its service to the Gulf Islands and Nanaimo.

Wright said he has hired a manager and five others and at least two more hirings are pending.
“The team and ownership are very excited to start this up,” Wright said.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Temporary closure in Elk/Beaver Lake Park: Film crews will be at Hamsterly Beach and Governor General Fields today through Sunday. [CRD]

Got a story to share? Submissions now open for GVPL’s Emerging Authors Collective. [Apply]

Traffic disruptions and CCTV deployment downtown tomorrow. [2pm-4pm]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Rebar joins growing list of downtown restaurant closures

A string of downtown Victoria restaurants has quietly closed up shop over the last four months. The latest eatery to bite the dust was the 37-year-old vegetarian institution in Bastion Square, Rebar. 

Rebar is marked as permanently closed on Google, and its website is no longer active. 

It appears, however, that a new iteration of the restaurant is on its way—Google Maps is showing a restaurant called Urban Rebar in its place, with an opening date of Oct. 16. The new venture’s Instagram account describes its offering as “South Asian fusion, blending rich traditions with modern flair for bold, fresh, unforgettable flavours.”

Rebar was known for its health-conscious cuisine—its former owner, Audrey Alsterburg, and chef Wanda Urbanowicz released a popular vegetarian cookbook in 2001 with the same name and ethos as the restaurant—and was a pioneer in Victoria’s meat-free restaurant scene. 

Since June, other restaurants popular with the downtown lunch crowd have closed

Azuma, a long-standing sushi spot on Yates, shuttered in August after its owners attempted for months to sell the business online for $50K. There were no takers despite its prominent location by the Bay Centre and its reputation as a go-to spot for many since 2001.

Pho Boi, another long-running restaurant on Fort, shut down permanently Sept. 14. A note left on the door said the decision was “not made lightly.” The eatery had served Vietnamese cuisine in the downtown core for 16 years.

The day after Pho Boi served its last meal, Menbow Ramen shut its Blanshard location. Another ramen outlet, Ghost Ramen, closed in June.

That’s five, MeeT the sixth

In August, not far from downtown, MeeT on Blanshard, the popular vegan eatery on Hillside, closed its Victoria location after almost three pretty good years in the old Boston Pizza digs.

“We actually had a really decent customer base, but it wasn’t enough to sustain what we wanted to operate out of there,” said Jason Antony, one of three co-owners of the Vancouver-based chain.

“We love Victoria,” he told CHEK. “We wanted to be in Victoria for many years before we got there—and we ended up with what we thought was a great space, really high profile, a lot of drive-by traffic, but it’s a big space.”

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🏃 Royal Victoria Marathon: spots left for 8K, 5K, Kids’ run. [Registration]

😜 Fall Fun Family Event at Royal Athletic Park tomorrow 1-4pm. 

🎞️ 28th Antimatter Image Art Festival. [Oct. 16-26]

🗞️ In Other News

Island woman accuses ex-Canuck Willie Mitchell of sexual assault
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, an Island woman claims the former NHLer sexually assaulted her at his Tofino home in 2022. The woman said that after working a restaurant shift, she had some drinks at a pub. She said Mitchell escorted her out of the bar, drove her to his home, and assaulted her. She said she doesn’t remember everything from the evening and alleges Mitchell did not use a condom, something she said she would have insisted upon had she consented. Mitchell, who was born in Port McNeill, played for six NHL teams, including the Canucks from 2006 to 2010. He retired in 2016, after 14 seasons. [The Province]

More police presence at Oak Bay Rec Centre
Oak Bay Police say they plan to step up foot patrols at the rec centre during the evening. On Sept. 23, two people were removed from the premises for reportedly using drugs. Oak Bay Police were called at 9:20 that night after it suspected someone was doing drugs inside the centre’s universal change room. Officers said they noticed a “strong chemical odour” when they got there. They assisted rec staff in removing the two people from the property without incident. [CHEK]

Major rule change marks the beginning of the high school sports season
The new regulation means out-of-catchment students attending sports academies won’t be allowed to play on their school teams, as they have for the last 10 years. Last year, BC School Sports, the provincial overseeing body, voted for the change which came in this year, allowing schools to pivot. The new rule doesn’t apply to Ice hockey, which doesn’t fall under the overseeing body’s umbrella. [Times Colonist]

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🗓️ Things To Do

👻 Haunted Halloween Tour: Hear spine-tingling tales of Victoria's haunted history and restless spirits while riding behind a beautifully adorned draft horse through the city's dark past. Tally-Ho Carriage Tours. Today-Nov 2. 12-6pm daily. [Info]

🩰 Ballet Victoria presents Aladdin: Experience a magic carpet ride of classical ballet with contemporary flair, exotic costumes, and a fantastic score in this high-octane adventure. Royal Theatre. Today. 7:30pm. Tomorrow. 2pm. [Info]

🎺 Waleed Kush Afro-Jazz: Journey through ancient African rhythms fused with modern jazz improvisations as Waleed sings in 15+ languages, celebrating the African diaspora. The Coda. Today. Doors 9pm, show 9:30pm-1:30am. [Info]

🪑 Willow Chair Workshop with Andrew Kent: Learn rustic building techniques in this full-day, hands-on workshop. The Classroom at the Gardens at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific. 9am-5pm. [Info] POSTPONED.

🔧 Turn a Pen at Lee Valley Tools: Learn the fundamentals of woodturning and craft your own pen with expert instruction and all materials included. Lee Valley Tools in Colwood. Tomorrow. 9am-12pm or 2-5pm sessions. [Info]

🛍️ Last day of James Bay Community Market: Shop for fresh local produce, baked goods, prepared foods, crafts, and art before the summertime market closes for the season.494 Superior (corner of Menzies & Superior). Tomorrow. 9am-3pm. [Info]

🥕 Moss Street Farmers Market: Browse local and organic farm-fresh produce, handmade crafts, artisanal clothing, and more at Victoria's beloved year-round market. Sir James Douglas School grounds and Porter Park. Tomorrow. 10am-2pm. [Info]

🌍 Issamba Market: Celebrate community and culture with multicultural goods, delicious food, and festivities at this two-day marketplace. Market Square. Tomorrow & Sunday. 10am-7pm. [Info]

🕯️ Scented Soy Candle-Making Workshop: Learn to make eco-friendly candles with natural soy wax and phthalate-free oils, creating custom scent blends to take home. Wychbury Ave Soap & Gifts. Tomorrow. 10am-12pm. [Info]

👻 Monster Mash Halloween Vintage Fair: Kick off Halloween season with 80 vendors selling vintage treasures, plus superhero photo ops raising money for BC Children's Hospital Foundation. Mary Winspear Centre. Tomorrow. 9:30am-4pm. [Info]

🎻 Violin Studio Recital: Flights of Fiddle Fancy: Enjoy violin miniatures performed by UVic School of Music students in this donation-based concert with reception to follow. Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, UVic. Tomorrow. 7:30pm. [Info] 

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: Man sentenced to 6 years for Colwood attack; BC announces new high school in Langford; Deer disentangled from sports netting. [Oct. 2]

BC Ferries ships could have been built here, says leaked report. [CHEK] 

Thousands take in powwow marking National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. [Times Colonist]

Paying City accounts: See how residents and businesses can pay their city accounts during Canada Post strike. [City of Vic]

Tzom Kal: Yom Kippur began Wednesday night. [Premier’s message]

BC’s Korean Heritage Month and Islamic Heritage Month began Wednesday.

The Reuse Stamp Card Contest is back: Bring your reusable cup to participating cafes in Victoria this month for a chance to win prizes. [City of Vic]

That’s it!

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