Aug 11 - Rutledge Park revamp

Good morning !

Today we’re looking at Rutledge Park’s upcoming renovations—don’t worry, Rutley the pink elephant will remain—and an update to an ongoing Fairy Creek case. We also touch on the sudden closure of Upstairs Cabaret, which shut its doors due to maintenance issues, cancelling its planned shows—hopefully you didn’t have your heart set on seeing any concerts there this month.

— Robyn

Today’s approx read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 20 / 14

Tomorrow : ☀️ 23 / 13

Sunday: ☀️ 29 / 14

7-day forecast 

🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (2/10), no smoke expected.

🚘️ Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Saanich park lands splash pad, new equipment

It took 25 years, but kids in the Quadra Cedar Hill community soon will be getting their splash pad. The District of Saanich launched a $1.2M renovation plan for Rutledge Park yesterday with upgrades to include a splash pad, a new washroom and change room building, and the latest playground equipment.

“We’re hoping it helps bring people of all ages and abilities to the park more often,” said Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock.

The 2-hectare park is located near Uptown Mall, and bordered by Inverness Road, Scotia and Rutledge streets, and Glasgow Avenue.

Back in 1998, original plans for Rutledge Park included a splash pad for kids, but budget cuts put the idea on hold. Seventeen years later, members of the Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association asked Saanich Parks to look into the possibility of putting in a splash pad. The community agreed and Saanich delivered.

All three levels of government will pony up the money: Saanich will cover $329,508; $535,342 will come from the province; with $370,650 from the federal government.

The washroom/change room building will have private, universal, and accessible spaces that will be open year-round. Other improvements include picnic tables, new benches and chairs, paved pathways, and a drinking fountain/water bottle filling station.

Murdock called the renovations “an investment in community health” that add to the livability of the people who use it.

“We know how important it is to have places where people can get together to spend quality time with friends, family and neighbours, and create lasting memories,” he said.

Work will begin right away and is expected to be completed next year.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Royal Canadian Navy ships to sail past Victoria: Vancouver, Ottawa, and Asterix will start today from Trial Islands at 11:40am and will go past Clover Point, Saxe Point, and Esquimalt Lagoon.

Upstairs Cabaret suddenly cancelled all upcoming shows, citing maintenance issues. Unable to find alternate venues, performers including Regular Occasion cancelled their concerts and issued refunds.

NEWS

Networking event for Island women in STEM

The vision for Island Women in Science and Technology (iWIST) is to connect women and allies in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)—and tonight, dozens will be doing just that. The Island’s community of STEM professionals will be networking at Bar500 in Victoria’s Oswego Hotel in their long-awaited summer get-together.

“We’ve sent a bunch of invitations to past-board members and allies and we’re seeing a great response from people wanting to reconnect,” says Tamara Summers, the organization’s co-chair.

The theme of the evening is “future-powered possibilities,” with icebreaker topics to include:

• Why transition to STEM and how to find your place in a STEM career

• Artificial intelligence

• Careers of the future

• Victoria’s tech scene

“I’d like to see our sponsors connect with our members and our members connect with one another,” Summers says.

Founded 12 years ago, iWist is a Victoria-based non-profit that supports and encourages women, transgender, and non-binary people entering and navigating STEM careers.

It’s an organization familiar with resilience. During the pandemic, active membership dropped to 26 participants, then to fewer than 10. Like many organizations, iWist went virtual; its two flagship events—a midwinter holiday brunch and the summer party—included. Covid restrictions eventually faded and iWist added new events, including free, informal meetups called Wellness Wanders.

“They were the brainchild of Claire Skillen, our past-chair,” Summers says. “The numbers started to rise and so did the number and types of events.”

Some 65 people are expected to attend tonight’s high-end event, which runs from 5:30 to 9pm.

Registration

Read more at Victoria Tech Journal.

SPONSORED BY DANCE VICTORIA

Early bird Nutcracker tickets; Ukrainian Shumka Dancers and Victoria Symphony

Save up to 20% off regular priced adult tickets to Ukrainian Shumka Dancers’ Nutcracker using promo code: Nut-Capital-Daily until Sept. 30, 2023, at 10pm.

Featuring principal dancers of the Kyiv Ballet (National Ballet of Ukraine) and the famed Virsky National Dance Ensemble. Shumka’s Nutcracker blends the grace and lyricism of classical ballet with the strength and power of Ukrainian folk dance.

This classic tale of young Clara and her dream Prince incorporates Ukrainian traditions and symbols, grand orchestral versions of Tchaikovsky's legendary score, and lavish sets and costumes designed by National Opera of Ukraine’s Maria Levitska. Performed to live music by the Victoria Symphony.

Dec. 1-2 at 7pm | Dec. 2-3 at 1pm | Royal Theatre

Tickets at Royal and McPherson Theatres or call the box office at 250-386-6121.

NEWS

Canada’s Supreme Court won’t hear appeal for acquittal of Fairy Creek demonstrator

The Supreme Court of Canada has shot down a request for appeal after BC’s Supreme Court acquitted a Fairy Creek protester in February. Canada’s highest court awarded costs to Emily Henderson after dismissing the appeal application from the BC Crown.

Henderson was cleared of contempt charges after it was found that RCMP officers didn’t read the entire injunction to the hundreds of protesters at the blockade, with BC Supreme Court Justice Douglas Thompson saying the shortened version did not provide “actual knowledge” of the injunction enforced.

Henderson’s acquittal led to 146 withdrawn cases so far against Fairy Creek demonstrators. In total, 158 cases, including Henderson’s, have been dropped.

⭐️ Capital Picks

👚 Zellers pop-up opens inside the Hudson’s Bay at the Bay Centre.

🍎 Look back on 10 years of focusing on food security in the capital region and what's next in the Victoria Foundation's 2023 Pulse Magazine, out now!*

🌭 Saint Franks reopens today after a nearly three-month hiatus.

🎆 Summer Fireworks Saturdays at The Butchart Gardens continue tomorrow starting at 9:15pm. Enjoy The Sutcliffes at 6:15pm and stay for the spectacular fireworks show!*

🌮 Tacofino to open at Westshore Town Centre later this year. It will be the taco restaurant’s second location on the South Island.

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Pitbull that mauled greyhound put down
The pitbull attacked a group of three leashed dogs in a Saanich park after escaping from a nearby backyard, leaving one greyhound—who was recently adopted from a rescue organization—with life-threatening injuries. The CRD confirmed that the pitbull was put down on Wednesday. [CHEK]

Island runner named flag bearer for Commonwealth Youth Games
Cowichan’s Alex Dow was picked from 74 athletes to carry the Canadian flag, along with Toronto rugby player Morgan Di Nardo, at the games in Trinidad and Tobago this month. The flag bearers were selected for their athletic achievements and community involvement. [Victoria News]

Alt route to Island’s west coast under review
After another Highway 4 closure this week, discussions to find a new route to the western Island are heating up. In late July, the Alberni Clayoquot Regional District created a transportation committee to find other routes and look into traffic issues, with the board’s vice-chair Debbie Haggard saying transportation concerns “are very top-of-mind right now for everyone.” They will likely review the Horne Lake connector, which has been considered as an additional route in the past. [Times Colonist] Highway 4 has not been fully operational since June due to a nearby wildfire.  

SPONSORED BY REFIRE KITCHEN

Old School TV Dinners Are Back!

Get your TV tray set up and pre-heat the oven, Refire Kitchen's nostalgic Old School TV Dinners are back in stock. These tasty dinners will bring you back to a time when things were simpler. Don't stress over what to have for dinner, just pop one of these into the oven and enjoy a full meal with no fuss. Continuously rotating new varieties, check them out and see what's for dinner today!

🗓️ Things to do

🎧 Reverb at Phillips Backyard: Phillips Backyard festival returns for its second weekend this summer from today until Sunday. Today's concert will include performances from Jesse Roper, The Blue Stones, and Crown Lands.

🎥 Free-B Film Festival: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off will be shown for free tonight at Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park, 9pm.

🪈 Excursions at Phillip T. Young: Island Chamber Winds will perform a program of classical music from five different countries tonight at the UVic recital hall, 7-9pm.

🎸 Paul Pigat & The Smoking Jackets at Butchart Gardens: The guitarist and his band will perform swing and jump music tonight on the open-air stage, 8pm.

🎷 The Midnights at Hermann’s Upstairs: The 15-piece band will perform Motown, soul, pop, and funk music tonight. Doors 7:30pm, show 9-11:30pm.

🎤 Funky Friday at Victoria Event Centre: Listen to new funk and neo-soul music tonight with performances from Savannah Read, TKTheArtist, and Brayden Wright. Doors 8pm, show 9pm.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Secondary suites could see provincial funding and simpler bylaws, although some believe this is not the solution to the housing crisis. [Capital Daily]

Thursday’s headlines: Pitbull attacks three dogs in Saanich, RidgeView Place builder files for bankruptcy, Victoria buys electric fire truck, and more. [Aug. 10]

Today is the last day to order your bulk box of BC blueberries from MJ Bros Berries. Coming from Abbotsford straight to Victoria, and at great prices.*

No-swimming advisory for Chalet Beach, Tatlow Beach Access in North Saanich after water tests indicated high levels of bacteria.

*Sponsored Listing

That’s it!

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