Oct 30 - 7 years later, it's a gas again in James Bay

Good morning !

Yikes. Check out that forecast below. We’re into single-digits. Let’s warm up with a good news story out of James Bay. We also call it a wrap on the cruise ship season, and we’ve got all the bones on what you and the kids can do for Halloween.

Boo!

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌧️ 9 / 6

Tomorrow: ⛅ 9 / 7

Friday: 🌦️ 9 / 7

7-day forecast

NEWS

James Bay’s gonna have gas again

Except for some spicy food surprises, the last time residents of James Bay got gas in their community was seven years ago.

But a dormant gas station at the corner of Menzies and Michigan that last pumped out fuel in 2017 is set to reopen in the early new year, Capital Daily has learned.

“My plan is [to open] late in January, sometime,” James Zhai, the project manager tells Capital Daily.

When it does, it will be under the Chevron banner, he said.

The shuttered gas station has been boarded up and fenced in with the occasional sign of construction taking place since the outbreak of the pandemic. That less-than-stellar look—just footsteps from the legislature in the heart of tourist territory—did not go down well in the city’s oldest neighbourhood.

Just shy of 1K residents signed a petition asking the city to get the owner to either fix it up or sell it.

“Since 2017, this despicable eyesore has been stalled on a main artery in our beautiful community,” the petition begins.

Zhai said the owner, Xuegun Shan—who splits his time between Vancouver and China—faced a series of challenges in reopening the gas bar, from construction shortages, and complications with consulting engineers to the pandemic itself, which kept Shan in Mainland China for 18 months.

“This is great news that our community has been waiting for and working towards,” said Jen Reimer, a James Bay resident who started the petition.

Read Mark Brennae’s full story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Witnesses sought in sword, knife incident. [VicPD]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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NEWS

The last cruise ship of the year ends an ‘on par’ season

The Norwegian Jewel was slated to pull into the Breakwater District at Ogden Point at seven this morning and when it departs this afternoon at four, it’ll represent the 316th vessel visit and leave the 2024 cruise ship season in its wake.

If full, onboard are some 2,300 passengers who will add to the total of more than 970K passengers who have travelled here this cruise season, which began in March.

Of that total, as many as 700K disembarked to explore the city’s attractions, landmarks, and restaurants, according to the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA), which assesses the season as “on par” with last year’s.

“The industry remains a strong economic driver for Victoria,” said Robert Lewis-Manning, the GVHA CEO. 

“The GVHA team is already looking towards the future, with a similar number of cruise ship calls anticipated for 2025,” he said in a release.

The next cruise ship slated to visit is the 2,400-passenger Disney Wonder, which will pull in in the new year—on March 6.

Here’s the draft schedule—which anticipates 322 visits—for next year’s arrivals.

The GVHA said the cruise ship industry contributes $130M to the regional economy each year and provides some 800 direct and indirect jobs.

For the last several years, Capital Daily has been writing about the benefits and challenges the cruise ship industry brings to our city. Visit these stories for more. 

NEWS

Halloween Events in Greater Victoria 2024 

Here's everything happening in the city to celebrate the spooky season.

It should come as no surprise that Victoria knows how to have an exciting Halloween season—rumour has it our local Garry oak trees were the inspiration for the creepy forest in Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, so nature has already set the scene for a spook-tacular October. 

This year, Halloween falls on a Thur., and the entire day is jam-packed with events—trick-or-treat parties, late-night dancing, costume parties, and even a laid-back night of Halloween trivia are all taking place, guaranteeing fun for children and adults alike. If you’re busy on Halloween day, events are happening Wed. through the weekend—including Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations infused with Mexican culture. 

Check out our full list here.

SPONSORED BY PACIFIC OPERA VICTORIA

Pacific Opera's Luminary Series

World-renowned soprano/conductor Barbara Hannigan is at the McPherson Playhouse for ONE NIGHT ONLY!

Gramophone Magazine’s Artist of the Year (2022) continues to inspire and innovate in the world of music.

On Dec. 2, experience an evening of captivating compositions, transcendent nature-inspired pieces, and avant-garde sound. Limited tickets are available for this musical journey through the works of Messiaen, Scriabin, and Zorn, with pianist Bertrand Chamayou, and featuring special guests Benjamin Butterfield and Terence Tam.

Part of Pacific Opera Victoria's inaugural Luminary Series, where a dazzling showcase of exceptional artists bring their notable projects to Victoria for one-night-only events. Upcoming concerts feature Lawrence Brownlee on March 19, 2025, and the Gryphon Trio’s ECHO: Memories of the World on May 29, 2025. Tickets start at $65.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🎭🏰 Murder on Paper Street returns to Craigdarroch Castle.

🩰 Dance Victoria kicks off the 2024/25 season on Nov. 15 and 16 with one of the most sought-after contemporary dance companies worldwide: A.I.M by Kyle Abraham!*

🚶Night Light Walk raises $30K for Cridge transitional housing.

😋 Brasserie l’Ecole to reopen tomorrow for dinner after a temporary closure, according to the owner. 

🤝 Now hiring: Lead Medical Office Assistant (MOA) at Sprout Family Health.

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Victims at sexual assault trial say liquid sprayed on them caused their tights to melt
Two women and a teenager have testified in the trial of Sean James O’Reilly, who has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of sexual assault. The women contend while walking in downtown Victoria, they felt something splashing their leg—it left a burning sensation (which went away after showering) and caused their nylon tights to disintegrate immediately, they said. The trial will determine whether the assaults were sexual. [Times Colonist]

Not humerus: Someone steals arm from elaborate Oak Bay Halloween display 
Longtime Oak Bay Coun. Hazel Braithwaite and her husband Rod would give their left arm to find out where the right arm of their Halloween lawn skeleton is. The metre-long appendage from their “Groundbreaker” display on Lincoln was stolen on Sat. The Braithwaites’ All Hallows' Eve display gets better every year, and they love taking the month to set the ghoulish arrangement, although they say they could use a hand getting the arm back. [CHEK]

Victoria ranked 5th ‘rattiest’ city in Canada
It’s not exactly a badge of honour, but Victoria has cracked the top five for the worst rat problem in Canada, up two spots from last year when it was ranked 7th. The city was ranked 4th in BC and 5th in the country for its large rat population, according to pest control company Orkin Canada. The only other Island city included in the list was Nanaimo in 19th place.

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🗓️ Things to do

🍴 Culinaire: Vancouver Island’s finest food and beverage event will return to the Victoria Conference Centre on Feb. 26, 2025. Tickets go on sale on Fri. [Info]

🌲 Festival of Trees at the Bay Centre: Back this year in support of BC Children’s Hospital and showcasing beautifully decorated trees for all to enjoy over the holidays. Nov. 15. [Info]

🎨 Paint Night: Visit Bard and Banker for a creative Halloween paint night. Tonight. 6:30pm. [Info] 

🎹 Yellow Brick Road Experience: See Andrew Johns command the stage performing hits by Elton John at McPherson Playhouse. Tonight. 7:30pm. [Info]

Read our full list of Halloween events here. 

👀 In Case You Missed It

Tuesday’s headlines: NDP wins provincial election; Man with sword Tasered downtown; Vic library staffer books human rights hearing; And more. [Oct. 29]  

$21M road safety project gets green light in Saanich. [Capital Daily] 

This fish is all teeth. [The Marine Detective]

Camosun and Malahat FN help adults’ education SOAR. [Times Colonist]

Cops confiscate counterfeit cannabis candies. [CHEK]

Malnourished, injured sea lion freed from fishing net. [CTV]

That’s it!

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