Oct 5 - Victoria-Beacon Hill candidates face off

Good morning !

Halloween and harvest events are starting to pick up as we head further into the fall season. Let us know how you’re spending this first October weekend.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 4 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ⛅ 15 / 9

Tomorrow: ⛅ 15 / 9

Monday: 🌧️ 17 / 11

NEWS

Provincial candidates talk business and safety in Victoria

On Wednesday, the Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) brought NDP, Green Party, and Conservative candidates for Victoria-Beacon Hill face-to-face-to-face to discuss topics ranging from tourism to public safety. 

Held at the Victoria Conference Centre and moderated by Gregor Craigie, host of the popular CBC radio show On The Island, the meeting featured veteran MLAs Sonia Furstenau, leader of the Green Party; first-term NDP MLA Grace Lore; and Conservative newcomer Tim Thielmann.

The DVBA’s invite was for "business owners and operators [who] want to know how the candidates in Victoria-Beacon Hill plan to address the challenges of and opportunities for the area.” Over the nearly 2.5 hours of intense discussion, the candidates didn’t disappoint. Spotlighted throughout the evening was a broad range of policy topics that directly impact lives and businesses downtown.

See what candidates had to say about top issues, including bike lanes, safety, and supporting local businesses. Read Sidney Coles’ full story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Sun & cloud for weekend; rain early in week.

T. Swift Swindle: Saanich police are warning the public not to fall for Taylor Swift ticket scams on Facebook.

Downtown demonstration for Palestine & Lebanon planned; expect disruptions & CCTV from 2 to 4pm today downtown.

Victoria Royals 3 Portland Winterhawks 5 in Friday hockey game.

NEWS

Construction recycling program launches on the Island

The idea is to keep construction site waste materials—including lumber, brick, and carpet—out of landfills, and at the same time, reduce the cost for building companies.

Vancouver-based Lighthouse recently launched the Building Material Exchange (BMEx) program on the South and Central Island, through funding from the CRD, the Nanaimo Regional District, and the Cowichan Valley Regional District.

The program, which is entirely free to use, aligns with the CRD’s goal to divert construction materials away from Hartland Landfill, especially as dump space increasingly becomes a concern. Wood and wood products comprise the largest share of the CRD’s overall waste, with construction materials making up one-third of the region’s waste. 

Two years ago, Victoria began the first phase of its deconstruction bylaw, ensuring buildings are “deconstructed” rather than demolished, which keeps materials intact. While this process takes more time than simply knocking a building down, the city estimates the bylaw could help to save roughly 3K tonnes of materials from landfills each year. In July, the CRD enacted a bylaw banning asphalt shingles and treated wood from disposal at Hartland.

BMEx will work as a middleman to help construction companies find a home for their salvageable materials. Through the program, construction companies are “matched,” pairing a company in search of materials with a company looking to get rid of said materials.

Read more about how the program works here.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🗣️ Indigenous language lesson: ĆENQOLEW̱ is the W̱SÁNEĆ word for this time of year, when the new moon marks the arrival of dog (chum) salmon. [Pronunciation]

🧍 Why get a Dexa body composition scan? A Dexa scan gives you a complete picture of your bone density, lean mass, and fat tissue and helps identify health risks. Book now at Tall Tree Health.*

💼 Int’l Conference on Community Safety and Wellbeing. [Registration]

🩰 On November 2, IGNITE Dance Victoria's 2024/25 season of the World's Best Dance at Luxe Home Interiors! Early bird tickets on sale until October 15.*

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

First animal behaviour centre in Canada to open on the Island
The facility to help animals better make the transition into adoption will be built in Duncan. The BC SPCA says an increasing number of cats and dogs arrive fearful and under-socialized, and shelters cannot provide adequate support or training. The centre is to open in 18 months and it’s hoped it will free up space in South Island shelters with capacity issues. [Times Colonist]

Passenger falls through doors of moving bus on Pat Bay highway
The passenger had no serious injuries after falling off a slow-moving Route 70 BC Transit bus at the intersection of Beacon and Hwy 17 in Sidney. The Sept. incident is being investigated and the double-decker was promptly pulled from service. It was confirmed that a mechanical issue caused the door to open. [Victoria Buzz] 

Commonwealth Place in Saanich is getting a new waterslide
The old one’s been around since 1993 so it’s time for a new one with new features and possibly lower height requirements to allow more people to use it. Requests for proposals will go out soon. The slide will be out of service until the new one is installed during the pool’s annual maintenance closure next fall. [Saanich]

🗓️ Things to do

🧹 What’SUP Witches: Put down the broomstick and pick up a paddle board to join the 2nd annual spooky, festive, paddle event at Thetis Lake today. 2-4pm.[Info]

🍵 Victoria Tea Festival Revival: Join the tea fair with tastings, a tea symposium, live music, food, and the World Tea Championship at Nootka Court today. 11am-5pm. [Info]

⛰️ Himalaya Fest: Celebrate the rich cultural traditions of the Himalayan region with live performances of dancers and musicians, and delicious food in Centennial Square today. 11am-4pm. [Info] 

🍂 Harvest Market: Support local, discover new treasures, enjoy seasonal delights, and celebrate the community spirit at Hillside Shopping Centre today. 10am-3pm. [Info]

🍻 Oktoberfest at Oaklands Community Centre: The German festival with a bratwurst meal, Hoyne beer, and entertainment is now sold out.

🏢 Arts hub open studio tour at 780 Blanshard with 80+ artists opening their workspaces and new shows at Rockslide Gallery, Vault Gallery, & Ministry of Casual Living. 2-8 today. [Info]

Want more? See our whole list of weekend events in This Week in Vic, released every Tuesday.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: Southern Resident pods down to 73 whales; NDP releases campaign platform; Another earthquake; A $33K mess; Algae blooms; And more. [Capital Daily]

Victoria Event Centre to close at month’s end. [Capital Daily]

One fewer downtown location for both Subway (Quadra landlord cited safety concerns) & 7-Eleven (likely part of reported 100+ store rollback). [CHEK] 

Don’t look at this if you have arachnophobia. [Facebook photo]

If you're driving up the Malahat, remember that winter tires are now required.