Sept 15 - $13M for Royal Athletic & Centennial upgrades

Good morning !

After some up-and-down recent weather, it looks like we may have a few more chances at enjoying a final 20-degree day of 2024.

Today we have updates on some of Victoria's main recreational infrastructure, conflict-of-interest rules around developer donations on the Westshore, and the fate of a seal that was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ⛅ 18 / 10

Monday: ☀️ 19 / 11

Tuesday: 🌧 15 / 12

7-day forecast

NEWS

Victoria gets nearly $13M for Centennial and Royal Athletic

The city will put its funding from BC’s Growing Communities program toward the baseball stadium’s upgrades ($8.3M) and the square’s redevelopment ($4.5M).

Royal Athletic will get improvements to its seats, washrooms, lights, and general accessibility, wrapping in 2027. The North Park stadium recently hosted the Island’s first CFL game—an event it won over Langford’s Starlight Stadium, whose planned expansion is currently in limbo awaiting a referendum. But the ballpark also lost this weekend's Rifflandia music fest to the Matullia lands (more on those below).

The rest of the funding will go to the new lights, green space, trees, splash pad, and more envisioned for the square beside city hall. Specific design details for the $11.2M renovation are still being finalized, with Phase 1 set for 2025-26, but council advanced the project this July.

The reno is intended to get more public use of the central public space, though plans have been divisive due to the relocation of the fountain sculpture and removal of the large sequoia tree near Douglas—whose roots city staff say have already damaged some underground infrastructure and may yet damage more.

Tax breaks for Matullia lands in Rock Bay

Victoria council also unanimously proceeded with a property tax exemption bylaw for the Songhees and Esquimalt nations’ revitalization of Rock Bay lands, the Times Colonist reports. The First Nations jointly own 3ha of north-downtown land previously owned by BC Hydro and Transport Canada, and have looked at adding educational or arts-and-tech buildings in the future.

Part of those lands are being used for this weekend’s Rifflandia fest; yesterday we explained why the festival moved there from Royal Athletic. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Some fog this morning, dissipating by afternoon.

Overnight repaving of Malahat begins tonight & runs Sun-Thu until mid-Oct. 

Paving on Blanshard from Pandora to Caledonia. Monday to Sept. 27, 6am-8pm.

Dallas closed from Mile Zero to St. Charles for Terry Fox Run. 10am-12pm.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Colwood looks at rules around councillors receiving money or gifts from developers

In the months and weeks leading up to Colwood's 2022 election, campaign contributions by developers became one of the biggest issues. In Royal Bay in particular, even small donations were put under a microscope when it came to council decisions and public engagement around development.

Two years later, on Sept. 9 last week, Coun. Kim Jordison tabled a motion addressing potential conflicts of interests between Colwood elected officials, developers, and other interest groups.

Her motion requested that elected officials recuse themselves from any discussions, plans, and decisions for anything that could be of value to a developer if the official has gotten anything above $25 (in money or gift value) from the developer or “any closely associated individuals.”

The motion was unanimously referred by council back to staff for revision.

Jordison and other councillors pointed to legal but “shady things” that “we as a council need to address” regarding donations from developers—and their family members.

Read more in the full story at The Westshore about those past events, and about the details of the newly proposed policy.

NEWS

Salish Sea seal ends up in humpback’s mouth

“Yep, that’s me. You’re probably wondering how I got into this situation.”

Well, according to the photo-takers at Eagle Wing Tours, it all started when humpback Zillion lunged for a school of fish. A fellow fish fan was in the vicinity, and got scooped up along with its prey.

But because humpback throats are only grapefruit-sized, the seal wasn't at risk of ending up in a Jonah- or Pinnocchio-esque adventure in a whale's belly. Instead, the tour guide company says, it spilled out after the whale tried to close her mouth a few times.

Humpbacks eat sea species much smaller than seals—mainly plankton, krill and other small crustaceans, and small fish. But while their prey itself is small, the volume they consume is anything but. These whales swallow up to 1.5 tonnes of food every day.

Humpback whales were nearly eradicated in our region half a century ago, but have bounced back to record numbers in recent years.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

☀️ Golden ocean photos taken by Work The Angle

🎻 New music from Blue Moon Marquee: The Juno-winning Island band just released its new album New Orleans Sessions.

🤝 Now hiring: Nursing Opportunities in Senior Care at Amica on the Gorge.

🗞️ In Other News

Dragon statue stolen from North Nanaimo porch
Its owner says the 180lb, 70cm statue has major sentimental value as the first purchase she made with her late husband, 46 years ago.

“Beyond scared”: Kid faces cougar on path from SEAPARC Rec to school
A Sooke couple says their daughter's best friend, age 12, ran terrified to their house on Friday after being just 2m from a big cat in “pounce mode.” [Times Colonist]

Pacific FC pulls back into playoff position with weekend win
Yesterday's 3-0 win over Vancouver FC pulled the BC-based sibling soccer clubs into a tie with 26 points each. But PFC had the advantage on games-played and on goal differential (-3 vs. -12). Watch the match highlights below:

🗓️ Things to do

👟 Terry Fox Run: Along Dallas to St. Charles and back. No entry fees; donations encouraged, but no minimum. Mile Zero/Terry Fox statue. 10am. [Info]

🌽Vic West Corn Roast: Delicious roasted and boiled corn, fresh apple juice, & local music. Raynor & Craigflower. 12-4pm. [Info]

🍞 Sourdough workshop: Join Megan Hennis for a comprehensive sourdough baking class, creating your own loaf from start to finish. Victoria Public Market. 5-8pm. [Info] 

🎭 In Sight Festival: In its third year, the fest will showcase local performing and visual artists including special cultural performances. Meadow Park. 10am-4pm. [Info]

🎶 Rifflandia: Victoria’s biggest music festival is back in its new location. Today features De La Soul, The Beaches, K-OS, & Feist. Matullia Lands at Rock Bay. [Info]

🏈 Langley Rams at Westshore Rebels today at 4pm. Featuring a food drive for the Goldstream Food Bank and free entry for minor football players in jerseys. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Marmot baby boom: The Island critters are back from the brink with revord-high births this year. [Sat. newsletter]

Friday news: Salish Sea too noisy for orcas. Vic author up for UK lit award. Learn what friggatriskaidekaphobia means. [Sept. 13]

The unique beak of a northern shoveler duck in Esquimalt. [Facebook photo]

A 1982 photo of the E&N Dayliner [Facebook]

4 Island hotels make Michelin’s inaugural hotel guide; highest spot was Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge. 

Concert clip: Watch as a Victoria crowd helps TLC sing their classic hit “No Scrubs” at Rifflandia.

rifflandia

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