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What was intended to be a fun, high-energy video from a Greater Victoria school ended up being a target. That’s our first story.
Harbour Air is expanding.
Plus, police and fire crews made a grisly discovery early yesterday morning while putting out a car fire near the old Travellers’ Inn off Blanshard.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

Today: ☀️ 24 / 11

Tomorrow: ☀️ 23 / 11

Friday: 🌤️ 21 / 12 

7-day forecast

The Greater Victoria School District says the video, which showed teachers celebrating the return to class with a Progress Pride flag on a classroom wall in the background, “was created as a fun and lighthearted way for staff to share their enthusiasm about welcoming students back for the new school year.”

At least one politician—and others who reacted to the video—felt it was inappropriate.

Dallas Brodie, interim leader of the OneBC party and MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena, went online to call the educators “radical ideologues” and “woke people.”

Brodie also said parents should remove their kids from SD61.

In a written response, the school board said it “stands behind all staff members and the work they do each day to create learning environments that reflect our shared commitment to inclusion, diversity and belonging."

SD61 said the video had “been misused and shared by individuals and groups whose values do not align with those of the district, generating discriminatory comments and hate speech targeting the presence of a Rainbow Flag displayed on a classroom wall.”

The video was no longer posted on the school’s social media yesterday, but the topic continued to be a hot online issue, with many coming forward in defence of the teachers.

One poster called it a reminder of the conversations and work that still need to be done and the importance of supporting each other. 

The school district said it recognizes that the nature of some of the comments has been “distressing and harmful” to staff and students alike and encouraged them to access school and district supports.

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Two BC airlines will soon become one—Harbour Air is set to acquire Pacific Coastal Airlines (PCA), forming a new regional airline group, the companies announced yesterday.

The Vancouver-based carriers, which both operate flights to and from Greater Victoria, say the move will "unlock more destinations for its guests and expand valuable air service" across BC. The new airline group will use Harbour Air's seaplanes and PCA’s wheeled flight network.

The new group will have a fleet of 59 aircraft, serve 25 communities with land- and water-based airports, and employ more than 900 people.

The companies said their commitment to BC "remains steadfast," and they intend to maintain up to 300 daily flights in the province. The new group will have more partnerships with other airlines, connecting travellers to international destinations via YVR, the companies said.

“Since 1987, Pacific Coastal Airlines has been proud to connect communities across BC, and, through merging with Harbour Air, we will be able to deliver even more for our guests, employees and the communities we serve,” said Quentin Smith, PCA president. 

Bert van der Stege, Harbour Air’s CEO, said the seaplane company is looking forward to "welcoming [PCA] into the new group and investing together in building the leading regional airline group in Western Canada.”

The deal isn't set in stone quite yet—the transaction still needs regulatory approval. The companies said an expected close date and timeframe are still being confirmed.

In the meantime, the companies will continue to operate as separate airlines.

Early bird tickets to Royal Winnipeg Ballet's Nutcracker, accompanied by Victoria Symphony, are available only until tomorrow, Sept. 17! With Mounties, polar bears, reindeer, and a battle on Parliament Hill, RWB brings the wintertime classic we all love—with a Canadian twist! Nov. 27–29 | Royal Theatre.

🥪 Meat & Bread opens a Victoria location at Broad and View. 

😆 Jimmy Carr performs tonight at SoF Memorial Centre.

🎵 Lyle Lovett performs tonight at the Royal Theatre.

🫎 Women of the Fur Trade, the Belfry's latest comedy, runs until Oct. 4. Watch a scene from the play here.*

♻️ Sustainability Fair on Saturday at Vic West Community Centre.

🏡 Planning beats reacting. Seniors and their families are using this free Aging in Place Home Walkthrough guide to screen a home for the long run.*

🏃 Terry Fox Run is Sunday at 10am, starting at Terry’s statue at Mile Zero.

*Sponsored Listing

Person found dead inside burning vehicle on Queens near Blanshard
A VicPD officer was on their way to work yesterday around 7am when they saw a vehicle on fire in front of the derelict Travellers’ Inn. They called 9-1-1, and Vic Fire arrived shortly after to put out the flames. Detectives from the Major Crime Unit were called in when a body was discovered. Police closed the area and continued to investigate through the day. VicPD is asking drivers to check their dashcam video for any footage taken in the area between 3am and 7am. [VicPD]

$5K per month: temporary high costs of highrise have James Bay resident considering moving
Gail Stenberg lives in the 22-storey Orchard House on Michigan. Like the building’s 200+ other leaseholders, she doesn’t own her unit or a share of the land but rather the right to occupy her apartment for 99 years—until Dec. 31, 2073. Because the building doesn’t fall under strata regulations, its owner, Westsea Construction Ltd., can unilaterally decide to make upgrades, passing much of the costs to leaseholders like Stenberg, who says she expected to pay a little more than $1K a month in maintenance fees for the two-bedroom. She says over five years, those costs have exploded to $4,932 each month. [Times Colonist]

Sidney resident loses $19K in RCMP impersonation scam
Earlier this month, a caller posing as an RCMP officer convinced the Sidney man to share cryptocurrency account details, claiming his information was compromised. Nearly $19K was quickly withdrawn. The RCMP is reminding residents that police never request banking or crypto passwords by phone—hang up and verify independently through a trusted number if contacted unexpectedly. [CTV]

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🖼️ Displaced. Dispersed. Dispossessed: Contemporary artists explore the lasting influence of the Second World War on Nikkei communities globally. Legacy Art Gallery. Today-Dec. 5. 10am-4pm. [Info]

🌀 An Asymmetric Balance: Mathematics, Art and Architecture. Logician and math philosopher Stella Moon connects math and art. Wentworth Villa. Today. 7pm. [Info]

🎵 Lalmba Canada Music Bingo Fundraiser: All money raised goes to a Kenyan scholarship program. Fernwood Inn. Today. 7:30pm. [SOLD OUT]

🐻 Victoria Bigfoot Town Hall: Four researchers discuss eyewitness encounters and unexplained phenomena surrounding the mythical creature. Sngequ Conference Centre at UVic. Tomorrow. 3-7pm. [Info]

✨ Elevate: Victoria’s Only Spiritual Salon: All are welcome to open their heart, nourish their soul, and expand their mind. Victoria Truth Centre. Tomorrow. 7-8:30pm. [Info]

🎶 Lunchtime Organ Music With Tina Christiansen: The renowned Danish organist performs on the newly restored Cathedral organ. Christ Church Cathedral. Friday. 12:30-1:30pm. [Info]

🏮Esquimalt Lantern Festival: This fest brings interactive light and art installations, music, entertainment, and food to Gorge Park this Friday. 6-10pm. [Info] 

 🎵 Aretha—A Tribute: The Victoria Symphony and singers Capathia Jenkins and Ryan Shaw honour the Queen of Soul's legacy at the Royal Theatre. Saturday 7:30pm; Sunday 2:30pm. [Info]

Tuesday’s headlines: 2 new medical clinics will serve Greater Victoria residents; BC Ferries avoids possible fare hikes; Municipal elections: What you need to know. [Sept. 15]

Hit-and-run video: Bull elk slams into Lake Cowichan man’s parked car. [CHEK]

Ontario man completes cross-Canada marathon at Terry Fox statue and raises $500K for Children’s Aid Foundation. [Times Colonist]

Crew Girl: The new Island-filmed Netflix series highlights Greater Victoria landmarks, including Hatley Castle and Elk/Beaver Lake. [Trailer]

Victoria Kids Consignment's seasonal pop-up sale is this Friday through Sunday in Langford. [Details]

International Coastal Cleanup Day is Saturday at 11am at Clover Point.

Victoria Mayoral Debate: Sept. 27, 4-6pm at Vic Theatre.

11th Victoria Tea Festival Revival is Oct. 3 at Nootka Court. 

Grey whales seen hunting near the shores of Sombrio Beach last Saturday. [Facebook video]

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