Dec 25 - Our top photo stories of the year

Good morning !

It’s a day when plenty of people will be snapping photos of new cherished memories, so we’re taking the opportunity to look back at some of our photo stories from the year.

Here are the ones that were most popular with readers like you, and some you may not have seen the first time around.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌧️ 8 / 7

Boxing Day: 🌧️ 10 / 7

Wednesday:🌧️ 13 / 8

NEWS

Our top photo stories of the year

This year some of our most-read stories have been the photo essays in which photojournalist James MacDonald has gone behind the scenes to show you the workings behind many of the institutions we see every day in the region. Here are a few of the most popular:

Meet the BC coast pilots guiding ships into Victoria Harbour
A photo series following Pacific Portage Authority workers as they navigate the local portion of the 25,000km of BC coastline that they are responsible for.

Goodside makes pastries that are worth lining up for
A photo series following the pair behind a Granville Island bakery that has found a permanent home in downtown Victoria, and taking you through their process of making delicious baked goods.

Meet the people behind the scenes at the BC legislature building
Get to know the workers who keep the 125-year-old building running, rain or shine. From sweeping the legislative chamber’s floor to maintaining 3,500 lights, they take you through the halls (and up onto the roof) of Victoria’s most famous building.

Behind the scenes at Swartz Bay
We looked at how the peninsula’s ferry terminal moves masses of people and vehicles every day.

Life in the aquarium
We looked into and behind the tanks in Sidney to introduce you to the fascinating aquatic creatures that star at the marine centre—and the humans who form their supporting cast.

What really goes on at the museum
How the returning Old Town, traveling exhibits, and specimens are handled at the RBCM and prepared for the public.

Inside the local wrestling scene
The daring performers and enthusiastic crowds of some of the South Island’s most exciting and most physical entertainment.

What happens if there’s an oil spill in Island waters?
James rode along with the people training to tackle aquatic disaster.

See the full list of MacDonald’s stories here.

For the fourth year in a row, Capital Daily is holding a holiday donation drive! Every dollar our readers donate to Saanich Neighbourhood Place will be matched by our generous local business donors. 

Saanich Neighbourhood Place will use the funds to support inclusive childcare, parent education and support programs, and food equity services. Get all the details here. 

Help us reach our goal of raising $100,000 by the end of the year. Donate now! 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Wind warning for Victoria (up to 70 km/h) and other parts of Island

Rainfall warning for west, north, and parts of east Island. Up to 120mm, with risks of flooding, road pooling, and low visibility.

Esquimalt & James Bay UPCCs are closed all day today, but other care centres are open.

4.0 earthquake yesterday, near the Olympic mountains, was felt by some Islanders.

NEWS

Charges fall through in 2019 Christmas Eve killings in Duncan

A vigil was held yesterday in a Duncan park for Nellie Williams and Francois “Fran” Shurie, the unhoused couple killed there four years ago. They had been scheduled to see their children in foster care the following morning. But Shurie was killed, and Williams fatally injured, in what is believed to have been a targeted attack. Shurie had been pursuing his stolen cell phone. 

Police said soon after that they had identified two persons of interest, and recently they presented an evidence package to Crown Counsel so charges could be considered. But the BC Prosecution Service told CHEK last week that that evidence ended up not meeting its standard for charges, and so none have been laid. 

That setback, and lack of action over four years, is prompting the mothers of the two victims to call for people to come forward with information. There were multiple witnesses to the fatal public beating, some of whom Williams’s mother has spoken to.

Shurie, 37, and Williams, 29, had been together a decade and were grappling with homelessness together. The violent death of Williams, a Ditidaht First Nation member, was not the first such tragedy for her family. Her uncle John T. Williams, a woodcarver, was killed by Seattle police in a 2010 shooting later found to have been unjustified—though ultimately no charges were laid in that case, either. Her brother died of a drug poisoning.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

 🕊️ Beautiful bird goes by in a blur: Island photographer Gerry Ambury just barely catches a shot of a white raven.

🕵️ The ballad of last-minute shoppers: Someone in Cowichan Valley was driving around the Superstore parking lot blasting U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” a fellow resident reports.

🍸 Local non-alcoholic drinks & recipes to try over the holidays. [Tasting Victoria]

🗞️ In Other News

Vehicle flips fully upside-down in crash near Oak Bay school
A medical episode appears to have caused the rollover near École Willows Elementary. The driver, 72, escaped with minor injuries. [CHEK]

Not all deer killed on Sidney Island were invasive
The cull of 84 deer by a trio of marksmen included 7 black-tailed deer, confirms WSANEC community engagement coordinator Eric Pelkey. Pelkey believes other black-tailed deer will swim to the island and re-establish the population. [Peninsula News Review]

Mt. Washington ski hill doesn’t have enough snow
With only a tenth of its 81 runs open on this past Sat., the alpine resort has resorted to making extra snow to top up its 23cm base. [Times Colonist]

$10K fine for Victoria firm’s asbestos violations
WorkSafeBC says that inspections of the local asbestos abatement company turned up failures to properly prevent spread, handle asbestos, and train and outfit workers. [Victoria News]

🤝 Now Hiring

Thinking of making your next career move? Let us help!

• Sales Development Representative at Waterworth

• Manager - The Dining Room Restaurant at The Butchart Gardens

• Digital Marketing Specialist at Westin Bear Mountain Resort & Spa

• Executive director at Capital Bike

Looking for more openings? See 40+ jobs open now on YYJobs.

Hiring? Post your job to have it featured here, and fill your opening fast!

🗓️ Things to do

 🎶 Cookeilidh cooks up a festive feast of Celtic and holiday faves. New Year’s Eve. Craigdarroch Castle. 1pm. [Castle]

⛸️ Winter Wonderland skating: This week, but not today, at Panorama rec centre.

🍽️ Local Christmas dinners, rounded up by Tasting Victoria (some reservation deadlines may now have passed).

👀 In Case You Missed It

How does a ship’s crew spend Christmas? Last year Capital Daily spoke to mariners anchored at Ogden Point here to learn about their multi-national dinner spreads, homesickness, and challenges at sea.

A new way to pay BC Hydro: Fresh opt-in model drops prices overnight and raises them in peak hours (4-9pm).

Canucks now #1 team in NHL, pulling out of a tie with Vegas with win on Sat. 

That’s it!

Happy holidays!