August 1 - Saanich calls to increase emergency mental health care

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning !

French Beach has reopened after last week’s bear scare, where three tents and a vehicle were damaged, with officials saying there’s no longer any sign of the food-conditioned bear in the area. As someone who loves to camp, but has a healthy fear of bear encounters, I’m wondering how many readers would brave the campsite after this incident.

— Robyn

🌤️ Today's weather: Mainly sunny. High 23C / low 13C.

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

NEWS

Saanich petitions province for mental health measures

Saanich council has written to the provincial government asking for more support for its police force and the Mobile Integrated Crisis Response Team to respond to mental health calls.

In an email sent Friday, council is requesting “an increase of support for Saanich Police to better deal with the increase of mental-health calls for service, including providing additional funding to increase the capacity of the Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Team to operate in the CRD.”

The missive also asks the province “to recognize the burden that a lack of provincial health services is having on Saanich Police, its members, and the entire District of Saanich.”

According to a BC government website, one-in-five interactions with police involves someone with a mental health disorder.

Coun. Nathalie Chambers, who spearheaded the motion, says the ratio is even higher in Saanich.

“Up to 30% are mental health calls and they can tie up about three officers for many hours, and as you know, we need our frontline officers to be able to deliver a criminal response,” Chambers told Capital Daily.

“We look forward to working with the province and our regional partners to increase IMCR Team capacity and identify solutions that address the ongoing challenges that impact community safety and well-being,” Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock told Capital Daily in an email.

Last month, the provincial government announced an additional $3M in funding to expand the Mobile Integrated Crisis Response Team program (MICR Teams) to nine more BC communities, including the Westshore. Currently MICR Teams are active in 10 BC communities, including Victoria.

MICR Teams are specialized crisis response units that pair a police officer with a health-care professional to provide on-site emotional and mental health assessments, crisis intervention, and referrals to other aid.

The idea is to free up police resources so officers can focus on crime.

“We have a serious crisis on our hands right now in terms of dealing with these mental-health treatment issues and they are medical issues,” said Coun. Karen Harper.

“And of course, we have the challenge that we have a police force and then we have the health system who are funded by totally different areas and don’t always come together well.”

Capital Bulletin

🚧 Store street closed between Pandora and Swift until Aug. 4.

🌕 Full Sturgeon Moon: The supermoon will peak at 11:30am today.

NEWS

Ditidaht members blanketed at mural unveiling in Duncan

The Duncan community gathered on Saturday, July 29 for the unveiling of Cowichan artist Charlene Johnny’s mural in downtown Duncan.

Malinski Painting is a company based in the Cowichan Valley, owned by a Ditidaht member. The company volunteered for four days to lay the primer for the mural at 221 Jubilee St., and were blanketed for their contribution at the unveiling event.

“It’s nice to see the communities come together,” said Braiden Malinski of Ditidaht.

Johnny spent nearly two weeks stenciling and painting the mural depicting themes of being truthful with feelings, reconciliation, the past, present, and future.

“There’s a lot of meaning behind every single little piece of this mural,” Malinski said.

In consultation with Cowichan elders, Johnny’s mural includes imagery of a spear fisher on the Cowichan River, a canoe family returning to shore where smoke emerges from the big house, four sacred trees, hummingbirds, the thunderbird and orca, said Johnny.

The reconciliation portion of the mural is reflected in orange footprints and the crying sun, she shared.

“There's a toddler, and then an adult, and a few paces ahead there's the same people but it's now an adult and an Elder,” Johnny said. “That showcases our intergenerational family links and how we take care of each other.”

For Johnny, she said it was an honour to collaborate with and learn from Elders and the community.

“To hear what they wanted to see and to bring that to life is an incredible honour,” she added.

“I can’t wait until I’m older and I can point it out to my kids and [say], ‘I helped with that’,” Malinski said. “Definitely looking forward to that part.”

By Alexandra Mehl, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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Capital Picks

🌊 Music by the Sea: The concert tonight at Victoria International Marina will include performances by pianist Melody Chan and classic guitar duo Ibison Guitar, 8pm.

🏛️ John Di Castri, Architect: A Retrospective (1924-2005): The retrospective exhibition at Wentworth Villa Architectural Heritage Museum will showcase the esteemed Victorian architect’s work. Until Sept. 9.

🫙 Naoko Takenouchi at The Avenue Gallery: The exhibition of Takenouchi’s hand-blown glass vessels begins today until Aug. 7.

⚾ Victoria HarbourCats vs. Nanaimo NightOwls: The teams face off today in the first game of their final regular season series at The Wilson's Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park, 6:35pm.

🌻 Visit The Butchart Gardens this summer to enjoy the spectacular floral displays, casual or fine dining, evening entertainment, night illuminations and the Seed & Gift Store.*

Upcoming events this week

🎤 Wonderment: Enjoy ambient electronic and electro-acoustic music all weekend long at locations across the city, Friday-Monday.

💃 Viva! Victoria Latin Festival: Events this weekend at Centennial Square will include music, dance, and food. Saturday and Sunday. [Details]

👗 The Relove Market: Shop secondhand and vintage clothes and accessories Saturday and Sunday in Market Square, noon-5pm.

🎉 Cadboro Bay Festival: Activities at Cadboro-Gyro Park this Sunday will include live music, games, face painting, and arts and crafts.

🏮 “Honouring Peace" at Gorge Park Pavilion: In remembrance of the 78th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, events on Sunday will include lantern-making, drumming, dancing, and poetry. 7-9pm.

🧶 Local Folk Fair: Shop from artisan vendors and enjoy food, drink, and live music at Junction Cidery this Sunday, 11am-4pm.

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In Other News

🤝 BC port workers labour dispute reaches tentative deal
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and BC Maritime Employers Association issued a joint statement late Sunday saying a deal had been reached with help from the Canada Industrial Relations Board, which was brought in to end the month-long strike that affected 7,400 BC port workers.

🐻 French Beach open again following bear scare
Campers are back after the entire park was closed Wednesday when a bear entered several tents and even tried to break into an occupied vehicle. BC Conservation officers set up traps and checked video surveillance cameras, but said they believe the bear has moved on.

💰 Victoria mayor says councillors can’t decide own salaries
Mayor Marianne Alto explained at Thursday’s council meeting that when a review of council salaries comes back to the table this fall, she’ll ensure that it will not increase councillor salaries until after the next election, saying “you should not be in a position to affect your own salary.” [Times Colonist]

In Case You Missed It

👶 Baby- and kid-friendly restaurants: Check out these eight restaurants that can accommodate small children. [Tasting Victoria]

🏥 New dedicated West Shore RCMP mental health unit will begin operating this fall. [The Westshore]

📰 Monday’s headlines: Victoria tightens short-term rental rules, passersby saves twin toddlers from car fire, Islander receives 18 months probation for coughing on grocery worker, and more. [July 31]

🎶 Underground dance music at VEC this Saturday as part of Wonderment 2023, featuring Khotin (Edmonton), Ænniæ, Big Body and a special live set by OKPK.*

💄 Jimbo announces 58 tour dates for 2024, concluding June 12 in Victoria. The local drag clown just won RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars in the US.

⚽ Canada eliminated from the FIFA Women’s World Cup when they lost to host Australia 4-0 yesterday, placing third in Group B with a 1-1-1 record.

*Sponsored Listing