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Sunday: 🌤️ 23 / 12

NEWS

7 years after being built, troubled Langford apartment tower to be torn down

Ridgeview Place (Danbrook One). Photo: Zoe Ducklow / Capital Daily

The 11-storey rental apartment building at 2770 Claude has sat vacant since April 2023, when—for the second time—it was deemed unsafe for people to live in.

Owner Centurion Properties says they’ve spent the last three years working extensively with structural engineers, construction specialists, and other industry experts to address significant structural deficiencies at Ridgeview Place. 

“Following this work, Centurion has concluded that the best course of action is to demolish Ridgeview Place," the Toronto-based company said in a statement.

“This is deeply disappointing news for our community,” said Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson.

“The loss of 96 rental housing units in the heart of downtown Langford is not the outcome any of us had hoped for, particularly at a time when housing availability remains a significant challenge for many residents.”

Centurion said it is working “with trusted development partners” to rebuild on the land, and it’s too early for a construction timeline or a demolition date.

The company said it didn’t design or build the tower formerly called Danbrook One, which it bought in August 2019. Only a few months later—and just before Christmas—residents were told they had to leave after engineers determined the complex couldn’t be trusted to withstand a minor seismic event.

Centurion said it spent millions to strengthen the building’s base and reinforce walls. Tenants were allowed back, but in April 2023, the regulatory body Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EGBC) determined the remedial work didn’t meet standards, and for the second time, the city revoked occupancy permits, effectively evacuating the building once again.

Centurion is suing Langford for $45 million, saying it failed to identify “readily apparent defects” in the building’s blueprints, and in November 2025, it alleged the city was negligent for allowing the building to be sold and occupied.

Langford says with the matter before the courts, it won't comment further.

Capital Bulletin

Emergency Response Drill on Dallas and at Victoria Harbour Heliport today, 10:30-11:30am.

Road closures Sunday in James Bay for Terry Fox Run: [VicPD]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

On the water today? Check the tide times for Victoria.

NEWS

RBCM opens 'fresh' exhibit on climate change

Photo: Jimmy Jeong / Climate Disaster Project

More than 20 years after opening its first exhibit on climate change, the Royal BC Museum (RBCM) is revisiting the subject in a new section of its Natural History gallery.

Climate Change: Everything is Connected opened on Sept. 11.

It explores the connections between climate, people, and the environment through archival photographs, specimens, scientific instruments, and interactive displays—and how changing climate will affect people in BC.

"The evidence for human-caused climate change is clear," says Victoria Arbour, manager of research and collections at RBCM.

"In this new exhibit, we're not just telling the story of what might happen, but what is and has been happening, and how the people of BC will need to adapt."

The exhibit begins with a look at the Earth's history of natural climate shifts over hundreds of thousands of years, offering a glimpse into the science of these cycles. Visitors can then explore the causes of modern-day climate change and how fossil fuels and deforestation have contributed.

The exhibit doesn't just address how human actions have caused climate change—it also highlights the toll it has taken on people, particularly in our province.

The museum's Climate Theatre will screen the real-life stories of five British Columbians who survived climate disasters, from fires and floods to the heat dome. The testimonials were collected in partnership with UVic's Climate Disaster Project.

“The climate conversation in this province has too often included nearly everyone except the people it happened to. That needs to change,” said Sean Holman, a climate journalism professor at UVic.

RBCM said the new exhibit offers a "fresh look" at climate change on a local level and shows how scientists' understanding of it has evolved since the museum first opened an exhibit on the subject in 2005.

Climate Change: Everything is Connected is located on the second floor of RBCM and is included with admission.

This story ran for our Insiders on Sept. 13. Consider becoming an Insider today and be the first to receive stories every Sunday.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

👚 Fall Clothing Swap on Oct. 3 at Bay Centre. [Registration open]

🏮 The Esquimalt Lantern Festival is today 6-10pm at Gorge Park.

💪  Step into your opportunity! Learn while you work through professional development programs with Continuing Studies at UVic.*

Pacific FC hosts Vancouver FC tomorrow at 5pm at Starlight Stadium.

🪀 The Ultimate Toy Fair: tomorrow and Sunday at Pearkes Arena.

🏡 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.*

💻 Victoria Tech Week is Monday-Friday. [Across Victoria]

*Sponsored Listing

🗞 In Other News

BC Conservatives hired a private investigator to target critics 
And that list of critics includes current and former MLAs, Lululemon founder Chip Wilson—and a CHEK News reporter. CHEK reports that their political reporter, Rob Shaw, was among 14 people the BC Conservatives had a PI investigate. Brennan Day, who now sits as an independent from Courtenay-Comox and is one of nine MLAs who recently quit the party, confirmed that a PI was assigned and that he was among those investigated. BC Conservative Party Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay said she “had no knowledge” of a private investigator being hired. [CHEK

UBCM: BC mayors call for provincial help on social problems—now
Mayors from across the province signed a “Contract with Communities” yesterday and said they were united in demanding more from the provincial government to fill funding and procedural gaps in addiction, mental health, homelessness and housing. They asked for the same thing at last year’s Union of BC Municipalities meetings. Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West said municipalities are united in their concern about social disorder, and the time to do something is now. Black Press reports the contract calls for the provincial government to make addictions and mental-health services a priority this year. [Black Press]

BC liquor and cannabis store patrons donate $1.4 million for wildfire relief
People picking up alcohol or marijuana at their provincial outlets put tippy before tipsy over the last month or so. From Aug. 7 to Sept. 4, 2026, all BC liquor and BC cannabis stores invited customers to donate to the Canadian Red Cross’s BC Wildfires Appeal in support of relief, recovery, and resilience efforts for those impacted by wildfires in the province. They generously donated $726,711. The federal government matched $672,725 of that, bringing the total to $1,399,436. [Multiply the Good]

🗓 Things To Do

🎶 Drew Storey, Dani Black, and Shane Terry: All three BC performers play live at Fort Tectoria. Today. 7-10pm. [Info]  

🎵 Bahahams: Afie Jurvanen and his band bring on their Industrial Sport & Sound Tour. Royal Theatre. Today. 8pm. [Info

⏺️ Album-Release Party: TK–Trapped in July builds on the momentum of TK’s successful debut album, A Journey Under the Stars. The Coda. Today. 9:30pm. [Info]

🎶 Flava D: The Bournemouth-born producer plays all the flexes of UK garage, drum & bass, grime, and bassline. Capital Ballroom. Today. 10pm-2am. [Info] 

♻️ Sustainability Fair: Clothing swap. Repair cafe. Market. Kids’ activities. Vic West Community Centre. Tomorrow. 10am-3pm. [Info

🎳 Oddfellows Lawn Bowling Classic: Perfect for all levels. Proceeds of this charity event are going toward the Single Parent Resource Centre. Canadian Pacific Lawn Bowling Club. Tomorrow. 2:30-8pm. [Info]

🎸 Creedence Clearwater Relived: CCR tribute concert at The Roxy tomorrow. 7:30-9:30pm. [Info

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

🥁 A Truth & Reconciliation Event: BRIDGE Impact’s official launch party and a XAXE TEṈEW̱ Sacred Land Society fundraiser at SṈIDȻEȽ—Gowlland Tod Provincial Park. Wednesday. 6-9pm. [Info

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday's headlines: Feds commit $500K for studies on Greater Victoria rail; Songhees artist transforms BC Transit bus; Greater Victoria teachers say student-on-teacher violence is rising. [Sept. 17]

Missing person found: Katie, 27, was located yesterday.

Underage Oak Bay e-bike rider caught for speeding, not wearing helmet, carrying passenger: e-bike impounded. [Times Colonist]

Free transit for cyclists during GoByBike Week, tomorrow through Sept. 25.

5th Annual South Island Powwow: The powwow returns to Royal Athletic Park on Sept. 30.

September reads: Find new and notable adult fiction books now at local libraries. [GVPL]

Cat Video Fest 2026: Tomorrow and Sunday at Vic Theatre.

That’s it!

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