Sept 2 - Empress bans sale of fur

Good morning !

Welcome to the after-summer. Oh, I know the autumnal equinox is three weeks out.
It’s just that Labour Day weekend always seems to demark the end of summer.
Hope yours was a good one.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 26 / 15

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 24 / 15

Thursday: 🌤️ 22 / 15

7-day forecast

NEWS

Fairmont Empress Hotel goes fur-free following Victoria campaign

The Empress Hotel—and the entire Fairmont chain—is going fur-free, much to the satisfaction of a local animal rights group that has been calling for the policy changes.

“All Fairmont hotels must cease sourcing, selling, or promoting real animal fur products by Dec. 31, 2025, at the latest,” the company said in a statement. “This includes but is not limited to fur derived from angora, fox, chinchilla, mink, rabbit, squirrel, coyote, and raccoon.”

Karin Nelson, a Saanich resident, started two petitions that appear to have been pivotal in helping force the policy change.

“Oh, it feels fantastic,” she tells Capital Daily.

“You know, this is the lowest of the low-hanging fruit, that we can stop killing animals simply for a fashion statement and for self-adornment.”

Nelson organized a paper petition that garnered 700+ signatures, and last August, she launched an online one that secured 7,790 John Hancocks. And for the past three years, fellow members of the Victoria chapter of Direct Action Everywhere staged monthly protests by the Empress and wrote chalk messages on the sidewalk in front of the hotel. 

But it may have been a push from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) that solidified the Fairmont’s change in direction. 

“As an escalation, we thought, ‘I wonder if PETA would be interested in getting involved,’” Nelson says.

“So I talked to my contact there, and apparently they must have sent a letter, because you know, a few weeks ago, PETA put out a press release.”

“After hearing from PETA that animals are electrocuted, suffocated, and even skinned alive in the fur industry, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts—which runs more than 70 luxury properties worldwide—has banned the sale of fur in Fairmont-managed retail stores, the release, dated July 30, said.

Read Mark Brennae’s full story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

BC Public Service workers expected to begin picketing today. [BCGEU]

Commonwealth Pool reopens today. [Saanich]

Single-lane alternating traffic for drain upgrades on Sparton at Wray today from 8am to 4pm.

Partial closure of Elk Lake fishing dock on Thu. [CRD]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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NEWS

Province to open 640 child-care spaces: 76 here

As the new school year begins, parents will find 640 more licensed child-care spaces available in a dozen communities across the province, including 76 new spots in Victoria. 

Under the Greater Victoria School District, 40 new spaces have been made available at the McKenzie School Kids Klub Centre, and 36 openings have been created out of Vic High. 

"These new spaces will make life easier for parents by giving them an easier drop-off and pickup location,” said Nina Krieger, the MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake, in a release.

Krieger’s NDP government has allocated $23.5M from the province’s ChildCareBC New Spaces fund to create the new child care spaces in the 12 communities, including 52 in Nanaimo, 76 in Tofino, and 44 in Ucluelet. The New Spaces Fund is a provincial-federal project that was recently extended to 2030-31.

"These new child care spaces are one more way we are supporting families now and into the future,” Lana Popham, MLA for Saanich South, said in a release. 

The province says its fee reduction program reduces the cost of child care by up to $900 per child per month.

In 2021, the federal government committed to $27B in new spending over five years to expand access to affordable licensed child care. With provincial governments kicking in, the goal is to create 250K news spaces. 

Despite some progress, many parents are left scrambling or on waiting lists at this time of year, and those looking to take advantage of BC’s $10-a-day child care are at the mercy of each location’s licensed capacity. 

Providers wishing to join the intake for the $10-a-day ChildCare BC program have until October 1 to apply through the MyChildcareBC Services portal.

SPONSORED BY CITY OF VICTORIA

Beyond the Curb: Recycling Simplified

Let’s keep recyclables out of the landfill! Victoria’s new Beyond the Curb pilot program makes it easier to recycle flexible plastics, foam packaging, and small appliances and electronics.

Visit Victoria’s weekend recycling hub at 1234 Yates Street on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drop-off is free.

Planning to shop local this summer? You can also drop off flexible plastics and foam packaging at the Moss Street Market, James Bay Market and Oaklands Sunset Market.

Learn more about accepted items and locations here.

⭐️ Capital Picks

Commonwealth Pool reopens today. [Saanich]

Single-lane alternating traffic for drain upgrades on Sparton at Wray today from 8am to 4pm.

Partial closure of Elk Lake fishing dock on Thu. [CRD]

🗞️ In Other News

‘Concerning behaviour’ from kayakers in Sooke basin, says wildlife group
Wild Wise Society (WWS) is reminding those out on the water to keep their distance from seals and their pups after volunteers witnessed—multiple times over the last few weeks—kayakers getting too close to the animals so they can snap cellphone photos. Several harbour seal pups have been rescued this year because of maternal separation; if a pup is approached or touched, it can prevent the mother from returning. “Remember, wildlife aren't interested in having ‘magic’ experiences with humans,” WWS said. [WWS]

Start of classes at new Cedar Hill Middle School delayed
The school is expected to open Thu., two days after the start of the school year for the rest of BC, as construction wraps up. Parents have been informed about the delay as finishing touches—including adding desks to classrooms—are completed. The new building was constructed while classes continued in the old school, which once operated as Mount Douglas Secondary. Once the new building is up and running, the old one will be demolished. [Times Colonist]

Azuma Sushi closes after serving downtown for almost 25 years
It’s been a sushi go-to since 2001, but patrons who recently visited the restaurant on Yates and Broad were met with closed doors and a handwritten sign on the front entrance that read: “Close for business. Thank you for your supports in the past.” The sprawling eatery in the shadow of the Bay Centre has been listed for sale for several months—asking price: $50K. The monthly rental fee—according to this article—is $23K. [Victoria Buzz] 

Olympian Clara Hughes finished the West Coast Trail in a teenager’s Croc
The multi-Olympian—who won medals for Canada in speedskating and cycling—was crossing a river early in her Island hike when the shoe she was carrying fell into a moving stream. With 21 km left to go until she could exit the hike, she said she began to panic. But a father-son duo saw what happened and lent her one of the 15-year-old son’s Crocs. Hughes ended up hiking 28 km with one Croc and one trail running shoe. [CTV]

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SPONSORED BY ROCKY POINT BIRD OBSERVATORY

You can make a difference for owls...

...by learning more about how to protect them.

The Rocky Point Bird Observatory's Nocturnal Owl Monitoring Project studies the Northern Saw-whet Owl. This tiny owl is the most common small forest raptor in North America, but is rarely seen.

Interested in learning more and visiting the banding station? Visit our website.

🗓️ Things to do

👟 South Island Sole 5K: This BIPOC and ally-led run club welcomes all levels for a community 5K—starting at the Beacon Hill sign on Cook and Dallas today. 6:30pm. [Info]

🍺 LampPost Beer Bus at Ship Point: A third-space community hangout featuring food, live music, and beer at Ship Point today. 4pm. [Info]

🎶 Inter-Tidal Relations Concert Series: This series uplifts Indigenous and global cultures through music and storytelling at the Cameron Bandshell tomorrow. 4pm. [Info]

🎞️ Social Impact Movie Club: Join or Die: Documentary screening, featuring Harvard Prof. Robert Putnam, exploring the erosion of social connection in America at the Dock Centre for Social Impact. Thu. 6pm. [Info]

📚 Unlock your potential! Become a Community Scholar! GNS offers renewable scholarships of up to $15,000 for exceptional new local students in Grades 6-12.*

🍖 Esquimalt Ribfest: Enjoy tasty BBQ and beers at this annual food festival in Bullen Park this weekend. Bullen Park. [Info]

🍻 Great Canadian Beer Fest: Check out 200+ brews from across Canada—plus, music, games, and a free bus ride home—at this popular tasting fest in Topaz Park this weekend. Sat. 4pm-9pm & Sun. 12pm-5pm. [Info] 

💎 When opportunity appears, be ready! Stay current in the job market and choose from 70+ programs with Continuing Studies at UVic.*

*Sponsored Listing

👀 In Case You Missed It

Sunday’s headlines: Island Health marks International Overdose Awareness Day; Weekly roundup; Langford family mistakenly drops off heirloom lamp at Value Village. [Aug. 31]

Langford man who killed his mother is likely to remain in a psychiatric hospital. [Times Colonist]

Nanaimo’s Ethan Katzberg to defend his world hammer throw title in Tokyo. [CHEK]

BC Summer Reading Club complete: The seven-week reading program is finished; kids who have participated can pick up their medals at any Greater Victoria Public Library branch. [GVPL]

Snag a reso: A Facebook group acts as a marketplace for unused BC Ferry reservations.

Gordon Head Rec Centre weight room to remain closed until December. [Saanich]

BC General Employees' Union in position to strike this week. [BCGEU]

That’s it!

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