Sept 19 - Radio host arrested, off the air

Good morning !

A disturbing story involving one of the city’s more prominent and popular media types is unfolding. Nothing’s been proven, but a well-known radio personality is off the air, and there are some serious reasons for it.

BC’s longest-running transit strike is over.
And I couldn’t get Grace Slick’s voice singing White Rabbit out of my head when reading our second story.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

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NEWS

CFAX morning host Al Ferraby charged with child luring

The veteran morning radio man was arrested in February and, on Wednesday, was charged with two counts of child luring.

Court documents indicate he was charged with one count of telecommunicating to lure a child under 16 and one count of telecommunicating to lure a child under 18.
The offences are alleged to have taken place in Victoria and Vancouver.

None of the charges has been proven in court. 

In an email to Capital Daily, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) said its internet child exploitation unit began an investigation last September, “which resulted in the arrest of a 59-year-old Victoria man” this past February.

“We are not prepared to share additional evidentiary information which may form part of the criminal proceedings,” VPD Sgt. Steve Addison said in the email. 

Bell Media—CFAX 1070 Radio’s owners—said the company found out about the investigation yesterday.

“We are aware of the charges and can confirm that [Ferraby] has been suspended, pending an investigation by Vancouver Police,” a spokesperson for Bell Media said in a statement that was included in a news story on the CFAX website.
“We have no further comment at this time.”

Ferraby has been working at CFAX since 1994 and is well-established within the community, where he has hosted numerous charitable activities and has sung the national anthem before sporting events.

He has been released from police custody. His profile has been removed from the station’s website.

Child luring is defined in Section 172.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada as “the use of telecommunication to communicate with someone who is, or who the perpetrator believes to be under the age of 18, for the purpose of facilitating the commission of an offence against that child.”

In 2002, the Criminal Code was amended to include the offence of luring a child through the internet.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

E-bikes: This is the last week to share thoughts on Victoria’s future e-bike share program. [City of Victoria]

BC to receive $18M from feds to support survivors of gender-based violence. [BC Gov]

Single-lane alternating traffic in Saanich: Cedar Hill Cross between Lochside and Borden, 8am-4pm until Sept. 26. Quadra between Tattersall and Rock, 8am-4pm today.

Traffic disruptions and CCTV deployment downtown tomorrow. [12pm-4pm]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

UVic study finds psychedelics can help heal brain injuries

Worldwide, each year, an estimated 69 million people deal with traumatic brain injuries—including concussions—from falls, car accidents, sports, drug overdoses, and interpersonal violence.

Human brains are incredibly complex, and there’s still much to learn about how they work—and how to treat them.

A study out of UVic’s Christie Lab—part of its Concussion Lab—has found promising healing benefits from a trippy source: psilocybin (colloquially known as magic mushrooms) and 5-MeO-DMT (a type of tryptamine secreted by a species of toad).

These psychedelic compounds are typically used recreationally for their hallucinogenic effects, but UVic’s research has found they can also reduce inflammation in the brain and enhance neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to change, adapt, and respond to stimuli).

The past decade of scientific research on these compounds has shown them to be a safe and effective treatment for depression, anxiety, and PTSD, says the Christie Lab team. The group pulled data from preclinical and clinical studies and found the mental-health benefits didn’t stop there.

Inflammation from head trauma can initially help repair brain tissue, says Josh Allen, a research team member. But when that inflammation lingers, it can lead to long-term issues such as memory loss, learning delays, and other mental-health issues. 

“These conditions share features, such as impaired neuroplasticity, that keep patients trapped in rigid loops of thought and behaviour,” Allen says. 

Brian Christie, the director of UVic’s Concussion Lab and the study’s lead researcher, says, “classical psychedelics have the potential to reduce inflammation in an injured brain,” while also helping it reorganize and create “new neural pathways” to repair or replace damaged connections.

The team sees it as a step forward, but knows that it’s early days in determining what role it will play in real-world treatments, as age, sex, and other health conditions impact the results. 

“With further research, these compounds offer great promise to both patients and overstretched health-care systems,” UVic said in a release.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🤣🍁 2 great Canadian comics in town. [Butt] & [Mercer]

📈 Greater Victoria has been graded a "B" for overall quality of life in 2025. Curious to see the other grades and insights? Read the 20th anniversary edition of Victoria's Vital Signs today!*

🕷️ That’s one pretty spider: A banded garden spider was seen in Comox. [Facebook photos]

✈️ Catch the next opportunity! Sharpen your skills with online professional development programs with Continuing Studies at UVic.*

💾 New digital media lab now open at the GVPL Esquimalt branch, allows people to digitize photos, VHS tapes, cassettes, and more. [GVPL] *Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

BCGEU says striking workers were attacked with bear spray in front of RBCM
VicPD is investigating an incident where an irritant was deployed on a group of people near the museum by the Inner Harbour, causing "respiratory distress.” The BC General Employees Union (BCGEU) said some of its picketers were hit with bear spray on Tuesday night, just before the end of the picketing shift. They were also spat on and had “racialized and homophobic” verbal assaults hurled their way, the union said. The Royal BC Museum (RBCM) was one of the first workplaces to be picketed when the strike started on Sept. 2. [VicPD]

Long-running Cowichan transit strike ends with mediated deal
Transit workers in the valley agreed to a deal—recommended by a provincially appointed mediator—with operator Transdev. This ends the longest-running transit strike in BC history. Union workers, including bus drivers, cleaners, and HandyDART drivers, voted 92% in favour of the recommendations. Workers were expected to return to their jobs yesterday, though Transdev says a full return to operations will be phased in over three weeks. Buses will also be inspected after months of sitting unused. [Times Colonist]

Pacific FC owners are more than just kicking around the idea of selling the team
SixFive Sports & Entertainment has confirmed it’s putting up the for-sale sign. Four years ago, SixFive bought another Canadian Premier League (CPL) club, Vancouver FC, and the company says owning both isn’t in its long-term plans. The footy club’s lease at Starlight Stadium is up at the end of the year. Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson says he wants the team to stay under a long-term lease. SixFive says this is not a goodbye, it’s a transition, and it’s not looking to leave. [Black Press]

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🗓️ Things to do

🎸 Groove Kitchen at Fisherman’s Wharf: See the local favourites performing at Puerto Vallarta Amigos today. 5pm. [Info] 

🎶 Jordan Hart: The Toronto singer-songwriter will perform at Lucky Bar tonight. 7pm. [Info]

📽️ 15th Annual Latin and Spanish Film Festival: Head to Cinecenta to see a lineup of Hispanic films. Daily through Sunday. [Info]

🛍️ Luna Collective Turns 8: Makers Market: Celebrate the store’s birthday with 25+ vendors, sales, and exclusive new product launches at 1048 and 1044 Fort Street tomorrow. 11am-4pm. [Info]

🇻🇳 Soul of Vietnam Festival: Celebrate Vietnamese culture and heritage at this cultural connection and community celebration at Ship Point tomorrow. 11am-9pm. [Info]

🌱 Native Plant Workshop: Learn about drought-resistant native plants, their cultural history and ecological benefits at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary tomorrow. 12-3pm. [Info]

🍺 Oktoberfest at Whistle Buoy Brewing: Enjoy live music and food from Los Panas in Market Square's expanded patio space tomorrow. 12-10pm. [Info]

📚 Beats, Bites, & Books: Celebrate 1000 Little Free Libraries with funky beats by Guitar Bill, delicious bites from local vendors, and family activities at Oaklands Community Centre tomorrow. 4:30-8:30pm. [Info]

🏠 Ross Bay Villa Historic House Museum Tour: Walk down the path past heritage apple trees and beautiful gardens, and step into one of the few 1860s houses still standing in Victoria. Every Saturday at 2pm. [Info] 

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: Turns out the ash wasn’t from Mount St. Helens; Beecher Bay beefs up our area’s oil spill response abilities; Preparatory construction for new tower starts Monday at PKOLS. [Sept. 18]

Bay Street Bridge construction delay: work slated to begin next month has been sidetracked due to supply chain issues. [CHEK]

3.0-magnitude quake strikes 40 km northwest of Victoria. [Times Colonist]

Death cap mushrooms found in Oak Bay: Learn how to identify the deadly mushrooms. [Oak Bay] 

Victoria chef vying for Top Chef Canada wins: Nick Maharaj of Part and Parcel on Quadra will compete with other culinarians, including two more from BC. [Vancouver Sun]

Ask a GVPL librarian: Let Librarian Leah know what you’re looking for in your next read, and she’ll suggest custom titles on Friday. [GVPL]

Male golden-crowned kinglet shows off its vibrant colours on Gabriola Island. [Cliff LeSergent / Facebook]

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