Feb 11 - Suspicious fires, past & present

Good morning !

It was one of Victoria’s most notorious suspicious fires in recent memory, and there has still been no resolution to the case. But there may soon be resolution for the site itself, with a new proposal arriving last week.

More on that below along with the latest on other, newer fires from this weekend.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 4 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌧️ 10 / 2

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 8 / 1

Day after: 🌦️ 8 / 1

7-day forecast

NEWS

New 198-unit hotel pitched for Plaza Hotel lot,
nearly 4 years after major fire

The empty, burnt-out lot could soon see 70,000 guests per year. Ocean Gate Developments (OGD) has submitted a proposal for a hotel, outlining a mid-priced, family focused hotel with ground-floor storefronts on Government. 

OGD says the style of the “Hampton Inn” will be Edwardian, to blend in with the architecture of the surrounding Old Town. The proposal also notes a plaza would be added in front, with amenities like a misting station and increased tree canopy planned.

A plaza at that intersection has been envisioned for several years, as a “gateway” to Chinatown, in the upcoming Government Street redevelopment and pedestrianization.

Previous plans for the Plaza Hotel site have included 100 condo units and 150 hotel rooms in 7 storeys. A public session on the latest proposal is set for Tues. Feb. 20 at 6pm at the Ambrosia Event Centre.

Site has been in ruins for 4 years

The May 2019 fire appeared to start in two different parts of the building fuelling arson suspicion. Its smoke clogged downtown and led to nearby evacuations of nearby buildings including city hall. A year later, police announced they had exhausted all leads, due in part to the disappearance and possible death of the building’s caretaker.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Stamps may cost more starting in May: $0.99 in booklets and $1.15 individually. [Details] 

Partial road closure tomorrow to Fri., Sinclair from Finnerty to Cadboro Bay, 8:30am-4pm. [Saanich]

Downtown demonstration, for environmental and human rights concerns in Gaza, expected to occupy Legislature grounds and city streets around 1-3pm.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Where you can watch the Super Bowl in Victoria

The final showdown of the 58th National Football League post-season kicks off this Sunday with the San Francisco 49ers facing off against last year’s champs the Kansas City Chiefs. Victorians can enjoy the match, and Usher’s performance, at pubs across the region—plenty will have it on. 

But some venues are going a step further and have made a full event out of the sports spectacle. Here are a few of the places you can watch the big game, enjoy tasty food and drink specials, and win prizes. 

Read on at Tasting Victoria.

NEWS

Local municipalities take top 3 spots on BC resiliency rankings

For 4 straight years, BC Business has named the Island BC’s most economically resilient region.

The list uses 10 economic criteria to rank BC’s 50 largest communities. It credits the Island with “strong household finances, low residential GHG emissions, minimal unemployment, and sturdy residential sales and housing starts.” 

On top were Central Saanich, Sidney, and Langford, ahead of Burnaby and Kelowna. Saanich was #9, Victoria #16, and Sooke #25, with a host of other Island communities in the top 50. The peninsula takes the top sports, the report says, with its advantages of the airport, ferries, and ocean. 

Read the full rankings.

For more of the week’s Island tech, business, sustainability, and innovation news, check out the Victoria Tech Journal.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🦝 “Blonde” raccoon photographed on the Island.

📈 Rising Economy 2024 is March 6 - 8 in Victoria. Get your tickets now for this transformative business conference about succeeding in the new economy.*

 🪱 A giant underwater worm, over a foot long, caught in motion near Nanaimo. [Video]

 🤝 Now hiring: Executive Director at Capital Bike.

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

 Home badly burned in Rockland roof fire
The Victoria firefighters’ union said no residents were hurt in the Friday blaze, which they believe was accidental. It began in the attic of a house whose upper floor was undergoing renos; crews fought it from above with a 30m ladder.

Suspicious fire guts Duncan thrift store
The fire at 1am on Sat. engulfed Good Neighbours and damaged neighbouring businesses in the complex just off the Trans-Canada. [My Cowichan Valley Now]

Warm weather brings bad ski season across BC
Resorts resorted to artificial snow and outright closures last month, and experts say this could be the norm going forward. [Canadian Press]
For more on the past and future of skiing on the Island, read this feature story on Mt. Washington and the people who work on it.

Senior sisters take last look at childhood home on Esquimalt
Margo, 81, and Elizabeth, 70, arranged to tour the 1956 home they grew up in before it was demolished to build 135 apartments along Esquimalt. The nearby bingo hall also got the wrecking ball. [Times Colonist]

🤝 Now Hiring

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

• Gelato Producer – 2nd Cook at The Butchart Gardens

• Membership and operations coordinator at The Narwhal

• Operations Coordinator at Sprout Family Health

• Facility Management Assistant at Jawl Properties

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

🗓️ Things to do

🏮 Lunar New Year Esquimalt: Ring in the Year of the Dragon at Esquimalt town square with live performances, today at 2:30pm. 

🍝 Dine Around & Stay in Town wraps up: Last chances to try these menus at local restaurants.

🎞️ Victoria Film Festival is concluding—check the list of films here.

🍝 🎞️ VFF: The Taste of Things: Get a taste of both festivals with this film following 19th-century chefs preparing a meal for a prince. The Vic Theatre, tonight at 7:45pm.

🎙️ Great American Songbook Trio: The Victoria musicians are back at Hermann’s to perform the best of 20th century American music, today at 1pm.

🚲 GoByBike Week wraps up its new winter edition today.

🎷 Ryan Oliver Quartet: Hear the musicians perform a tribute to John Coltrane’s Ballads at Hermann’s, tonight at 7pm. 

🎶 Feist: The iconic Canadian indie singer will take the stage to perform music from her new album Multitudes at the Royal Theatre, tonight at 8pm. 

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: Lawsuits over birds’ broods and bride’s bud. [Feb. 9] 

Island has Canada’s highest rates of assisted death, and VIU researchers are looking at MAID issues as feds weigh whether mental health qualifies. [Capital Daily]

Body of missing woman recovered from Nanaimo’s Millstone River. [Nanaimo News Now]

3 Island hotels on Canadian top 25 list. [#10, #14, #25]

That’s it!

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