Sept 28 - We approach National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

Good morning !

Today is World News Day—a global initiative to draw public attention to the role journalists play in providing trustworthy news and information that serves citizens and democracy. 

This year’s theme “Choose Truth,” emphasizes the commitment of journalists to report facts and the challenge readers face navigating misinformation online. 

This is a good reminder that it’s not only our work as local journalists in this community that makes Capital Daily possible—it’s the support of our readers, especially our Capital Daily Insiders. Capital Daily would not be possible without those of you who have made a financial contribution to keep our lights on and allow us to report on the stories that matter in our backyards. 

So today, on World News Day, we say thank you to all of you. If you’re not a Capital Daily Insider, you can learn more about membership and become a member here.

— The Capital Daily Team

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌥️ 14 / 9  

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 14 / 9

Monday: 🌤️ 13 / 9

7-day forecast

NEWS

National Truth and Reconciliation Day is Monday

The Sept. 30 federal holiday marks a damaging legacy of Canada’s residential school system. The story is dark and awful and still haunts this country. 
There’s a lot of pain in need of healing. 

The day also allows us to learn more about Indigenous history, culture, and resilience. 
On Monday Royal Athletic Park is expected to be a sea of orange as throngs take part in the South Island Powwow in honour of residential school survivors. It’s one of the many events over the next few days where local Indigenous culture will be celebrated through song and dance. 

There are plenty of events as we observe National Truth and Reconciliation Day for the fourth time—and we’ve got a list of them.

Read more to see what’s happening in Greater Victoria for National Truth and Reconciliation Day 2024.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

13K Sooke, East Sooke residents urged to reduce discretional water use. [H2O supply break]

Traffic disruptions today for BC Law Enforcement Memorial Ride to Remember. Lower Johnson, Government to the legislature. [2:30-3:30pm] and a March for Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria (12:30-3pm) starting at legislature.

Traffic disruptions tomorrow: BC Law Enforcement Memorial Parade. Government to the legislature via Superior and Menzies. [12-3pm]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Victoria council wonders how small is too small

The City of Victoria is mulling over the idea of setting a minimum unit size for apartments in the downtown core, where some are as small as 312 square feet (29 square metres).

The council has asked staff to look into making the minimum size 355 sq. ft (33m²)—generally, the smallest you’ll find throughout most of the city.

That could trigger some left-on-the-table revenue for the city because provincial regulations preclude it from levying builders' development cost charges on units smaller than 29m² .

Coun. Stephen Hammond brought the motion. “The idea came to me,” he told Capital Daily, “when I found out the development on 937 View Street was able to avoid approximately $40K of development cost charges (DCCs) by building 33 units of less than 29 square metres.”

The province does not currently allow charging DCCs for units with a footprint of less than that size. 

Read Sidney Coles’ full story here.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

☑️ All-Candidates meeting on business: [Oct. 1 6:30-9pm]

🧍 Why get a Dexa body composition scan? A Dexa scan gives you a complete picture of your bone density, lean mass, and fat tissue and helps identify health risks. Book n ow at Tall Tree Health.*

🏒 Victoria Royals win first game of first road trip of the season.

🎭 Don’t miss Pacific Opera Victoria’s lush production of Mozart’s final opera, La clemenza di Tito, at the Royal Theatre in October. Tickets from $35 are on sale now.*

🤝 Now hiring: Digital Innovation Manager at Dogwood. (Remote).

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

2 men shoplifted $10K worth of goods in 1 afternoon: West Shore RCMP
And that was just from stores in the CRD. Men aged 30 and 45—who live off-Island—were arrested on Sept. 12 in Duncan with purloined items in their car, police say. Both were seen at Home Depot, Best Buy, and London Drugs in the CRD. RCMP said one man's New West home was searched and had $30K worth of stolen merch (incl. electronics and tools), $20K in high-end clothing, a lot of drugs, and $30K cash. [RCMP]

UVic building evacuated for ‘police-related incident’
People inside the Cornett A-Wing building, just off Ring Road, were ordered to leave yesterday afternoon after a “suspicious item” was found. “Police are currently investigating, but we do not believe there is a safety risk for those in the area,” the university posted at 1:20pm. An hour later, the building reopened. [CHEK]

Olympic gold-medallist Ethan Katzberg gets feted up Island
He threw the hammer 84+ feet, so Nanaimo threw him a party. Mayor Leonard Krog even declared it Ethan Katzberg Day and named the hammer-throw cage at Rotary Bowl after the John Barsby Secondary graduate, who proudly wore his medal around his neck. “Some of my best memories were on this track eating dirt and doing whatever event I could,” Katzberg said. [Times Colonist]

🗓️ Things to do

🎭 Canadian College of Performing Arts: 2024/25 season includes Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. But first, Ten Lost Years, depicting working-class Canadians during the Great Depression, opens the season. Through Oct. 20. [Info] 

🎭Theatre Inconnu presents Significant Other by Joshua Harmon: Jordan is a gay man whose three female best friends are exiting his orbit, leaving him struggling to fill the void. Theatre Inconnu. Through Oct. 5. [Info]

🍷Victoria International Wine Festival: Seminars, wine dinners, and grand tastings at the Victoria Conference Centre. Oct 4-5. [Info]

🐶 4 Paws & Critter Carnival: Pet parade, best-dressed contest, a novice agility course, raffles, vendors, and more at Langford Station. Today. 11am-3pm. [Info]

🇳🇬 Nigerian Independence Gala Night: The 64th Nigerian Independence Day will be celebrated. Victoria Edelweiss Club. Today. 4-11pm. [Info]

🎤Joshua Hyslop performs: After a US tour and two gold records in 2023, local artist Joshua Hyslop drops in for an intimate set at Vinyl Envy. Today. 7:30-10pm. [Info]

🍏 Apple Pressing Day: Junction Orchard & Cidery. Celebrate fall and apple season by pressing the community apples. Enjoy an autumn scavenger hunt, photo booth, and seasonal pizza. Tomorrow. 12-6pm. [Info]

🎹 Mozart’s Prague Symphony: The Victoria Symphony will perform works by Mozart, with Christian Kluxen conducting. The Farquhar at UVic. Tomorrow. 2:30pm. [Info]

🎸Fleetwood Magic: Rumours have it this Fleetwood Mac tribute band will transport you in sound and time as you experience the band’s biggest hits. Charlie White Theatre in Sidney. Tomorrow. 2pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: Earthquake felt around the region; 2 young Island construction workers die; HarbourCats’ new First Nations logo; And more. [Sept. 27]

Stolen signs: Esquimalt-Cowlwood candidate’s signs taken, chucked. [Capital Daily]

Colwood councillor red-faced over blackface photos.[The Westshore]

E-vote counters could speed up election results. [CP / Times Colonist]

Sooke wildlife, as captured by Al Bright. [Facebook photos]

Wanted man Devon Robert Wayne Woodford was arrested. [VicPD]