Sat. July 15 - The future of local pickleball

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning !

Today we’ve got the latest on pickleball in the region. The game itself may not be very complicated, but the situations it causes for Islanders often are

— Cam

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny. High 26C/ low 13C.

🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (3/10), no smoke expected.

NEWS

Planning the future of local pickleball

Pickleball has surged in popularity in recent years, and the local pickleball community—now grown to some 683 registered players—doesn’t want to have to play second fiddle to tennis players. The two similar sports often share courts out of necessity, but it’s a fraught arrangement.

Tension over court time sparked a coup at a Mayne Island community centre. In Central Saanich, locals warned council of possible “fisticuffs” if the groups had to share space. In James Bay, noise complaints forced pickleball off of the Todd Park tennis courts.

Victoria built the pickleballers three temporary courts in Beacon Hill, but beyond that the region has very few dedicated courts.

The city is now looking to further lessen courtside tension between pickleball and tennis players. it’s joining Oak Bay, Saanich, and Esquimalt in working on a Greater Victoria Pickleball Strategy to “address the needs of pickleball court users while sensitively integrating existing and proposed courts into communities.”

There’s currently a public survey, which closes tomorrow, and then the strategy will be finalized over the rest of 2023.

Some pickleball players want indoor courts…

Victoria Regional Pickleball Association president Connie McCann wants a pickleball hub built on an old soccer pitch at Beacon Hills south corner, where Dallas meets Douglas.

Overall, “we’re looking for a dedicated indoor facility,” McCann told Capital Daily, adding that the association would raise funds to help pay for it.

“We’re willing to be an upfront partner,” she said. An indoor court would at least mitigate the common noise complaints about pickleball, which last year had North Saanich trying unsuccessfully to hire security guards for a nightly lock-up.

…but may not relish city’s response

Victoria’s manager of recreation services says the city has no plans to build any dedicated indoor courts, and it may be up to other municipalities to pony up for pickleball, especially since Victoria is constructing 10-12 dedicated courts, slated for 2024 launch, in just-renovated Topaz Park.

“In Victoria, we have priorities like Crystal Pool, which are going to take our attention before investing in another facility,” Jeff Brehaut told Capital Daily.

“Our commitment right now is to the outdoor facility at Topaz,” Brehaut said.

McCann remains undeterred by the rejection. “I won’t give up,” she said, “I will continue to lobby for the sport.”

By Mark Brennae and Cam Welch

Capital Bulletin

🍷 The Collective Wine bar is closing its doors for good after this weekend, after being a fixture of Cook St. Village for five years.

🛣️ New lanes on Hwy 14 open near Sooke: Two new lanes have been completed between Connie and Glinz Lake.

NEWS

New milestone for local volunteers helping seniors keep their dogs

As local dog owners age, many often struggle to keep up care for their pets. That’s where ElderDog comes in—its volunteers help walk and wash those dogs, and sometimes drop off food and supplies. Its Victoria “pawd” (chapter) began in 2019, but at this point it’s grown so large that it has just spun off a new Westshore chapter.

Member Bev Gosling knows how important it is for people to keep their best-friend during a time of need, and says many of the dogs she’s walked have left an impact on her. One woman was having surgery and chemo, meaning that she needed more help with her dog than one volunteer could provide.

“What happens in those situations is that you get a team together and ask during a two week period ‘when can you walk’ and everybody replies with their schedule,” said Gosling. It was a situation that took a team effort—but that effort meant that someone’s last days could be spent with a beloved pet.

Read the full story at The Westshore on the volunteers and their new branch.

SPONSORED BY PACIFIC OPERA

Free! Full-Flavoured Opera

Enjoy a free taste of Pacific Opera Victoria’s delicious upcoming season at the Cameron Bandshell on August 4 and August 5. Join Maestros Timothy Vernon and Giuseppe Pietraroia, with soprano Aviva Fortunata, tenor Adam Luther, and the Victoria Symphony, for full orchestral concerts in beautiful Beacon Hill Park.

Take a bench seat, or bring your own blanket and chair to enjoy this early evening concert featuring excerpts from the Symphony’s upcoming Masterworks and Pops Series, as well as excerpts from Pacific Opera’s 2023/24 season, including Wagner’s Die Walküre - opening in October, Golijov’s Ainadamar - opening in February, and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro - opening in April. Subscriptions to Pacific Opera’s season are on sale now. Single tickets go on sale August 4.

Capital Picks

🍺 Langford Beer Festival: Explore craft brews and ciders from over 80 vendors today at Starlight Stadium. 3-8pm.

🦀 Crabben in the Park: Celebrate Dungeness crab today by digging into a bucket of fresh crab while listening to live music at Banfield Park. [Details]

🎉 Uptown Multicultural Festival: Celebrate Saanich’s community and cultural diversity today along Uptown Boulevard. 11am-5pm.

🖌️ Art Gallery Paint-In: AGGV’s summer arts festival today will showcase 160 Island artists. 11am-4pm.

🛝 Retirement isn’t always a walk in the park. The counsellors at Intertidal Counselling & Wellness help people to navigate later life. Book a free consultation today.*

🎭 SKAMpede: Theatre SKAM’s outdoor performing arts festival continues today with venues around the Galloping Goose trail, Songhees Park, and Songhees Walkway. July 14-16.

👗 The ReLove Market: Shop vintage and secondhand clothing and housewares today in Market Square. 12-5pm.

🌻 Beyond Yoga at Beyond Van Gogh: Do yoga today surrounded by Van Gogh’s masterpieces and to a symphonic score. 9am.

🚲 Test drive e-bikes at Saanich Municipal Hall. 12-3pm today.

🎙️ The Sutcliffes at Butchart Gardens: The Beatles tribute band will perform tonight on the open-air stage. 7pm.

🎧 Neon Steve & Friends at Capital Ballroom: The DJ will be joined today by Xavier, I.M.Fast B2B Fram3s, and Loblova. 9pm.

👕 The Island Mavins Handmade and Vintage Market: Check out over 40 vendors today and tomorrow at this vintage market at 2734 Island View Road.

😊 Now Hiring: Administrative Assistant at Fernwood NRG.

*Sponsored Listing

In Other News

💻 Landfill fire prevented after employee finds smoking laptop
The laptop’s smoking lithium-ion battery was able to be extinguished at Hartland Landfill after it was discovered to have been improperly disposed of. Hazardous waste such as lithium-ion batteries should be disposed of at Hartland Depot.

🐟 50 dead fry found in Cowichan River
The dead fry were found at the bottom of the river by a swimmer on Monday near Horseshoe Bend. The cause of the mass death is currently unknown, but the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Cowichan Tribes are taking samples of the area’s water to determine what went wrong. [CHEK]

🤝 Now Hiring

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

•  Seasonal Custodian at The Butchart Gardens

• Mid to Senior Software Engineer at SingleOps

• Ages 3-5 Program Team Lead at Fernwood NRG

• Digital Marketing Specialist at Westin Bear Mountain Resort & Spa

• Vice President, Deals at Tenzing

• Community Engagement Manager at Dance Victoria

• Office administration, receiving, shipping at Anchor Marine Electric

Looking for more openings? See 50+ jobs open now on YYJobs.

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

In Case You Missed It

☕ Victorians’ love affair with tea: The drink has mass appeal in Victoria, and plenty of places to enjoy it either luxuriously or humbly. [Capital Daily]

🛳️ New wastewater guidelines for cruise ships: The rules now make sewage dumping limits mandatory—but do not ban acidic scrubber discharge, a major pollutant. [Capital Daily]

💧 Island moved to drought level 5: The province is asking people to conserve water as Island water basins reach the highest point on the drought scale.

🎧 Victoria’s summer playlist: Listen to music from 30 local artists from City of Victoria’s first summer playlist “Daydream & Bloom.”

📰 More Friday headlines: Suspected human-caused fire at Summit Park, SKAMpede begins, marmot travels to find love, and more. [July 14]