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Victoria City Council has taken the first step in changing its noise bylaws.
As we wrote earlier this week, the changes include garbage pickup moved up by half an hour to start at 6am on weekdays. Weekend pickups appear to be heading one hour earlier to 9am.
— Mark
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NEWS
Radio Sidney hopes to hit the airwaves as emergency lifeline
The Sidney Community Safety Building, the proposed site for Radio Sidney's FM transmitter and rooftop antenna. Photo: Radio Sidney
Radio Sidney’s plans to leave the internet to broadcast over the air on the FM band have taken a couple of major steps forward.
The volunteer-run community radio station has applied to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for a licence to broadcast on a low-power FM frequency.
The application comes after Sidney’s city council voted unanimously on Aug. 10 to write a letter backing it.
“The unanimous support of Sidney council means a great deal to us,” said Bill Collins, the station manager.
“It confirms that a local FM station can be a genuine community asset, both as a trusted local voice and as a tool for emergency communication.”
In his presentation to the council, Collins proposed placing the FM transmitter in the Sidney Community Safety Building, with the antenna on its roof.
He said in the event of a disaster, where electricity and cellphone coverage are knocked out and transportation routes are compromised, an FM radio station could provide comfort and vital information for residents.
Collins said Radio Sidney applied to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) to land at 92.7 on the FM band and for the call sign CFVI.
The review is expected to take 18 to 24 months.
“This is a lengthy and regulated process," Collins said. “But it is worth the effort to build a strong community asset.”
Radio Sidney’s website has been live since 2018, offering music programming, current events, talk and interviews with residents.
The station recently released a 10-part documentary, Beware Mysterious Mark: A True Account of Financial Elder Abuse—which it said has been downloaded more than 10K times.
The radio doc is available on most major podcast platforms and at mark.radiosidney.ca.
⚠ Capital Bulletin
Campfire ban to remain in place in Sooke. [Details]
Saanich road closure: Savannah between Leslie and Easter today through Tuesday, 8am-3pm.
Driving today? Check current traffic conditions on Google.
On the water today? Check the tide times for Victoria.
NEWS
In honour of Overdose Awareness Day, Island Health wants to get people talking
Photo: Island Health
Monday marked the 25th anniversary of the first International Overdose Awareness Day, and Island Health used the occasion to spark meaningful conversations about drug use.
The health authority has released Caring Conversation Cards, a deck of cards with thoughtful questions and conversation starters to help people talk openly about substance use and reduce stigma.
These cards were initially created to be a resource for Island Health staff, but members of the Community Action Team in Cowichan saw potential for a wider awareness campaign.
They pitched the decks as a tool for workplaces and beyond, and with help from UVic nursing students and Moms Stop the Harm, they revised the cards to suit a wide array of community needs.
“Our goal was to keep the core principles of harm reduction, cultural humility, and trauma-informed practice while making the cards more accessible for community members," said Samantha Hall, a UVic nursing student who led the project alongside fellow student Erin Hardy.
The two gathered feedback from community partners and people with lived experience to refine the language and make the cards easy for anyone to engage with.
Beth Haywood, Island Health's peer project coordinator, said the cards can be kept on coffee tables and kitchen counters at home or in workplaces to prompt conversations about addiction and overdoses.
“When friends and family visit, get curious and start asking questions. That’s exactly the point,” says Haywood. “We need to normalize conversations about substance use.
Purple chair memorial returns to Island Health locations
In addition to the cards, Island Health has placed purple chairs at 12 of its service locations, representing the lives lost to the overdose crisis, which was declared a provincial health emergency in BC in 2016. More than 18K British Columbians have died from unregulated drugs in the last 10 years.
These memorial exhibits will include information and resources, purple ribbon pins, and flower seeds to plant in memory of a loved one. People can also share stories of their loved ones through Island Health's digital memory wall.
This story ran for our Insiders on Aug. 30. Consider becoming an Insider today and be the first to receive stories every Sunday.
⭐️ Capital Picks
⛵ The Classic Boat Festival begins today and runs through Sunday.
🏒 Pre-season WHL: Victoria Royals host London Knights at SOFMC, tonight at 7pm & tomorrow at 4pm.
🌱 Free soil-building materials distribution days by neighbourhood. [City of Victoria]
💼 Langford Job Fair is Sept. 25 at RRU Langford, John Horgan Campus.
🗞 In Other News
3 challengers step up to face Marianne Alto for Victoria mayor’s job
Mike Harris, a real estate agent running on the motto of “a fresh start for Victoria,” is the third candidate to come forward to challenge Alto, who officially declared on Wednesday. Harris lists fiscal responsibility, greater transparency at City Hall, and safer streets among his areas of concern. Lyall Atkinson, founder of Your Friend with a Truck hauling company, and former VIU professor Bruce McGuigan are also vying for the job. McGuigan says the city’s governance is overly bureaucratic, and he calls the council’s approach to dealing with the homelessness issue “chaotic and unsuccessful.” [Times Colonist]
Saanich’s Lumberworld officially sold to new ownership
Central Builders’ Supply, which operates under the Home Hardware banner and recently opened a CBS store in Langford, announced yesterday it has finalized the purchase of all operating assets of Lumberworld Operations Ltd. The sale, first announced in June, includes the property the business occupies near the intersection of Quadra and Reynolds. Lumberworld has been a supplier to area homebuilders and homeowners for 50+ years. Existing Lumberworld employees have been invited to join the new CBS team, the company said. [Business Examiner]
Family shocked as Langford teen's murderer moved to minimum-security facility
Cameron Moffat, one of two men convicted of murdering Kimberly Proctor in 2010, has been approved for transfer to a minimum-security facility despite family objections. Proctor's aunt, Jo-Anne Landolt, called the warden-only approval process unfair and fears it signals progress toward release. The family is pushing for legislative changes that would require youth offenders sentenced as adults to serve the standard 25-year parole ineligibility. [Black Press]
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🗓 Things To Do
🇬🇷 Greek Fest: The cultural festival returns for a second weekend with great food and live entertainment at the Greek Hellenic Centre. Today-Monday. [Info]
🎥 Movies Under the Stars: See an outdoor screening of Goat and help fundraise for the South Island Primary Care Society at Starlight Stadium today. 5:30pm. [Info]
🎻 Strings Open House: Interested in studying violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, or harp? Join us for this free event. Victoria Conservatory of Music. Tomorrow. 11am-12:30pm. [Info]
🎻 Ian Maksin: Hear this immersive cello performance, using loops and electronics, at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]
🏈 CJFL: Westshore Rebels host VI Raiders. The Rebels will honour the players who helped build their legacy on Alumni Night. Starlight Stadium. Tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]
🎡 Saanich Fair: The end-of-summer staple returns to the Saanich Fairgrounds this weekend, with rides, animals, agriculture showcases, and more. Tomorrow-Monday. [Info]
🎶 Jeremy Facknitz: The award-winning singer-songwriter will perform at the Victoria Folk Music Society. Sunday. 7:30pm. [Info]
🏮Autumn Lantern Festival: Illuminated lantern displays, food trucks and a lantern-making workshop. Come dressed up in an illuminated costume. Gordon Head Recreation Centre and Lambrick Park. Sept. 12. 5-8:30pm. [Info]
🍷 Victoria International Wine Festival: Taste widely, connect directly with international producers, and discover featured regions through guided seminars and curated experiences. Victoria Conference Centre. Nov. 6 & 7. [Info]
👀 In Case You Missed It
Thursday’s headlines: New detours coming to the Galloping Goose; Campfire ban is lifted; Cougar activity shuts parts of five Mount Work hiking/biking trails. [Sept. 3]
Tinariwen postpones Canadian tour, including sold-out Victoria show, after fire destroys band's travel documents. [Times Colonist]
Oak Bay Rec Centre closed 9am-5:30pm on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, for a planned BC Hydro outage.
Guinness World Record: Nanaimo woman gives blood for 225th time. [CHEK]
Little Fernwood Harvest Fun Fair is Sept. 12 in Paul Phillips Hall.
BC Ferries Labour Day travel tips.
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