Mon. June 5 - How fast can you get to Alaska?

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning !

Wow, what a weekend for Victoria—from the stunning weather to the endless amount of events and festivals, these past couple of days showed just how lucky we are to live in the capital region. Hopefully those returning to work today aren’t struggling too much with a case of the Mondays!

Get yourself back into the swing of things with today’s newsletter—we take a look at the Race to Alaska, the kickoff to Pride, and lots more.

NEWS

Victorians racing to Alaska this week

“It’s a race, but it’s much more than that, it’s an adventure.”

So says Kevin Greenwood, team member of Victoria’s Ship of Fools, a six-person team racing in an 11-metre engineless monohull.

The team is one of the five Island crews racing to Alaska against 34 others from around the globe and in a wide variety of vessels from kayaks to rowboats to corsairs. The R2AK (Race to Alaska) is a physical endurance race that forbids vessels from having motors or supports. Its first leg begins today with a 64-kilometre “Proving Ground” qualifier from Port Townsend, Washington to Victoria.

The Ship of Fools has been preparing since October but is more concerned with making it in one piece (physically and emotionally) than the $10K prize.

“Our main objective is to not live up to our team name.”

Read about the Fools, the other local racers, and the big race itself, at Capital Daily. 

Capital Bulletin

☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny. High 24C (18 near water) / low 11. UV 7 (high).

🌡️ This week’s weather: Most days will be sunny and clear with a 22-25C high and 11-12C low.

📚 Oak Bay Library reopens tomorrow at 10am after four months of asbestos abatement and renovations.

🐻 Royal Roads gardens reopen after closing on Friday due to bear sightings. The campus recently announced a $196K revitalization of the gardens.

NEWS

Pride month begins with rainbows going up—and some torn down

Rainbow colours marking LGBTQ2S+ pride have been unveiled around the region for the start of June, including a fully rainbow-wrapped BC Transit bus.

But in Langford, councillor Kimberley Guiry reported that five of the city’s vertical rainbow banners, which it put up along Goldstream Avenue and at main landmarks, were torn down within the first day. It comes two years after homophobic slurs were painted onto a rainbow crosswalk in neighbouring Colwood—one of several rainbow crosswalk defacements in Island communities, with others including the Cowichan Valley and Qualicum Beach.

While June is increasingly celebrated as Pride Month Canada-wide, Greater Victoria’s actual Pride Week begins at the very end of the month and runs into early July. Its events include the main parade, the Big Gay Dog Walk, and the popular Drag Baseball event, which Capital Daily profiled last year.

Greater Victoria has one of the country’s largest LGBTQ2S+ communities per capita, including the largest percentage of trans and non-binary residents of any metro area.

SPONSORED BY BLUE BRIDGE THEATRE

Blue Bridge Theatre—Miss Julie by August Strindberg

Follow the intense affair between Miss Julie and Jean, her father’s valet, one hot Midsummer’s Eve night. A devastating examination of gender politics and class struggle.

Miss Julie: Directed by Mercedes Bátiz-Benét. Starring Melissa Taylor, Kholby Wardell and Stephie Bright. Designed by Rachel McAdam, Mary Downs, Rebekah Johnson, and Aidan Dunsmuir.

May 30-June 11, 2023 | The Roxy Theatre | 250-382-3370

Capital Picks

🏥 Victoria Hospitals Foundation raffle: The 50/50 raffle for new local hospital equipment closes Monday night. [Details]

📩 Go beyond the headlines for an in-depth understanding of the stories that affect the Westshore, from View Royal to Sooke. Subscribe for free to The Westshore for the latest news and stories, in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday.

🗳️ Have your say: Fill out the survey for Tourism Victoria’s 10-year master plan until June 30. [Survey]  

🤝 Now hiring: Vice President, Deals at Tenzing.

In Other News

🧑‍🚒 Sayward fire now under control, but new wildfires started up
The Sayward wildfire is no longer out of control and is holding steady at 208 hectares according to Coastal Fire Centre. Two additional fires were reported on the Island yesterday near the Cowichan Valley’s Stocking Creek, and off Highway 4 near Cameron Lake. The first was put rapidly under control and was burning less than half a hectare, the second is burning out of control and is half a hectare in size. [CTV]

👟 Operation Trackshoes on its final lap
The sports festival for people with developmental disabilities will have its final gathering this week after 50 years. With events for ages 6-80, Operation Trackshoes’ legacy has helped thousands take part in sports. Organizer Judith Armstrong said the decision to call it quits was not easy, but lack of staffing for leadership roles made the festival too hard to execute. The last event will take place June 9-11. [Times Colonist]

SPONSORED BY TALL TREE HEALTH

Tall Tree Speaker Series: Explore the Miracle of the Present Moment

Join acclaimed spiritual teacher John Astin to learn simple, elegant practices for welcoming and embracing each moment. Discover lasting wellbeing in the midst of daily life.

Get your tickets for the evening event or full-day retreat!

In Case You Missed It

🗳️ Byelection candidates set: The official list for Langford – Juan de Fuca includes the four already confirmed as well as Tyson Riel Strandlund of the Communist Party of BC. The race to replace John Horgan runs until June 24.

🪵 Old growth deferral extended: The 2021 logging suspension on Pacheedaht territory will now extend to 2025. [Sunday newsletter]

🐝 Damp spring sets back South Island bees: Fungal infections were more common, cool and unpredictable weather undermined foraging, and colony losses were 30-40%, an aviary inspector tells CTV.