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- Sept 6 - Sheltering motion shot down
Sept 6 - Sheltering motion shot down
Great Canadian Beer Fest is back, Victoria Conservatory of Music announces record bursary funding.
Capital Daily Team
September 06, 2024
Good morning !
Today’s 28C weather is proof that fall hasn’t arrived quite yet. I’m all about the summer, but lately I’ve been craving the crisp weather, spooky movies, and cozy clothes that come with the fall season.
— Robyn
Are you ready for fall? |
Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
NEWS
Mayor’s motion to provide space in parking lots for homeless voted down
Victoria City Hall. Photo: James MacDonald / Capital Daily
The tents are up. The tents are down. The tents are back. The tents are gone.
A very long and drawn out chess-game in Victoria continues to play out as the city looks for more ways to manage the unhoused in its public spaces. The city’s efforts of containment were complicated further when a motion raised by the mayor was voted down by council on Thursday. The motion encourages “ethnocultural facilities” to permit temporary overnight sheltering in parking lots on their properties in return for an increased tax exemption.
The proposed exemption for the parking lot portion on 13 properties listed, already subject to a permissive tax exemption, would be reduced by 20% each year, over a five-year period if they agree to the proposal. The organizations on the list include the Anglican Church of St. Barnabas, the BC Muslim Association, the Polish White Eagle Hall and Bayanihan Cultural Society.
The motion was defeated in a 5-4 vote.
The parking lot proposal seems to run counter to the city's efforts to deter public sheltering and to get people into housing. While the city has seen a noticeable decrease in recent months in encampments and public sheltering, ongoing challenges make for band-aid solutions to deep socio-economic wounds.
“The proposal does feel inconsistent with the direction that we've been going in as a city. The one major success that we've had since we've been elected in 2022 on the topic of homelessness, pertains to getting people into housing who have been sheltering in parks,” said Coun. Jeremy Caradonna.
The question of where unhoused people can be in Victoria, without being in contravention of bylaws now on the books, was the stump question in chambers as councillors debated the merits of the motion.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Missing person: Jennifer Blackburn, 40, was last seen in Nanaimo on Aug. 20. Nanaimo RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance in finding her.
Highway 4 single lane alternating traffic to be in effect from Sept. 9-13 near Tofino.
Wanted person: Neil Fahlman, 37, may be in the CRD or Okanagan. He has a history of violent offences.
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
EVENTS
30 years of Canadian beers: Weekend fest brings 200+ brews to Topaz
A woman enjoys a glass of beer at the GCBF. Photo: The Georgia Straight
The Great Canadian Beer Festival marks three decades today and tomorrow in Topaz Park. Billed as the country's longest-running beer-tasting festival, it harkens back to a time when Victoria was one of the forerunners of the craft beer movement.
We've just seen two of the earliest local breweries shut down their operations, but this showcase of 20+ Island breweries (among 80+ total brewers) and 200+ beers and ciders is proof positive that the local beer legacy is alive and well. It's no stranger to change, though—with Royal Athletic recently busy with CFL hosting, the fest is now over in Topaz.
Fest continues local beer scene’s expansion into non-alc beers
Musician Aidan Knight will be bringing in his bike cart full of zero-proof beverages, which is usually found set up at Dallas Beach, Banfield Park, or Centennial Square. Knight told Capital Daily that locals are increasingly interested in beer alternatives.
While “near beers” such as the Phillips Iota line are now common in local stores, he’s also seeing interest in hop water, mocktails, and other ways to indulge in the flavours of drinking without the, well, drinking. That should come in handy for thirsty beer fest attendees who want to taste as much as they can without overdoing it.
A festival of flavours
Of course, nobody could manage to taste everything on offer, so the breweries will be competing for tastebuds with their best—and wildest—offerings. Expect plenty of unique beers on tap with notes ranging from pineapple to vanilla to pickle to apple blossom.
More info on the fest (which starts at 4pm today) here.
Read a profile of Knight's “Free* Beer” cart at Tasting Victoria.
SPONSORED BY DANCE VICTORIA
2024/25 single tickets on sale now
In just two months, Dance Victoria will debut its 2024/25 season of the World’s Best Dance, bringing a vibrant array of international talent to the historic Royal Theatre and McPherson Playhouse stages.
This season’s program features seven standout productions, offering a diverse range of performances: from cutting-edge contemporary dance and classical ballet to ambitious and allegorical Indigenous dance and a contemporary flamenco performance. Each presentation invites audience members to step into the creators’ artistic visions, where new possibilities for transformation and meaningful cultural conversation can be unlocked.
Dance Victoria's 2024/25 Season includes A.I.M by Kyle Abraham (New York), Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (New York), Ballet BC (Vancouver), Compañia Rafaela Carrasco (Spain), Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Nutcracker, Dancers of Damelahamid (Squamish), and Shamel Pitts | TRIBE (Brooklyn).
Find out about single ticket pricing including our Pay Your Age (for ages 12-29) and Night Moves (for ages 30-45) programs here.
⭐️ Capital Picks
⛈️ Victoria Climate Action. [Have your say] [Survey]
🏡 Quarry Villas at Royal Bay: These 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom, duplex or triplex homes line European-inspired streets. Only moments from the ocean, and including a wealth of amenities. Learn more today!*
🥍 Mann Cup: Victoria Shamrocks at Six Nations Chiefs in Game 1 of best of 7. [Watch here tonight at 5]
*Sponsored Listing
🗞️ In Other News
Victoria Shamrocks begin battle for national lacrosse title today
The Shamrocks are in Ohsweken, Ont., just south of Brantford to begin the best of 7 national box lacrosse final against defending champion Six Nations Chiefs. Both clubs dominated this season: The Shamrocks tore it up at 25-2, including a perfect 18-0 in the regular season. The Chiefs went 20-2, including a perfect 12-0 season. The teams have faced each other three times for the Mann Cup, with Six Nations winning each series. [Viewing party]
Victoria Conservatory of Music announces record bursary funding
The $168K available this year is from a new bursary fund established through an $890K legacy gift by Thomas Underwood of Shawnigan Lake, who passed away in 2022. Also, $45K in new bursary funds will be available to students in financial need. Underwood’s gift will be endowed, benefitting students in perpetuity, allowing some to receive savings of between 30% and 60% off their VCM fees. [VCM Release]
SUV strikes mother and 11-month-old child in Langford roundabout
Westshore RCMP say it’s “remarkable” there were no serious injuries from the Wed. afternoon collision in the Peatt and Brock traffic circle. The 25-year-old woman was crossing the sidewalk with the child in a stroller when they were hit by a Nissan Pathfinder traveling at a high speed, RCMP said. The child did not suffer major injuries and was rushed to hospital as a precaution. The mother suffered non-life-threatening injuries. [West Shore RCMP]
🗓️ Things to do
🍻 The Great Canadian Beer Festival: Taste a variety of beers, enjoy tasty local cuisine, and listen to live music at this popular annual fest at Topaz Park. Today 4-9pm; Sat. 12-5pm. [Info]
🍖 Esquimalt Ribfest: This tasty food festival will feature local beverages, live music, and, of course, some tasty, smoky ribs in Bullen Park. Today-Sun. 11am-10pm. [Info]
🇨🇴 Colombian Rumba Night Party: Start the night with a Colombian dance class before showing off your moves to Latin hits at Victoria Event Centre tonight. 8:30pm. [Info]
🤘 HOG, Jesse Heinz, Highdive: Check out this evening of all ages punk music at the Little Fernwood Theatre tonight. 5pm. [Info]
🕺 Talk Tuah: UVic students can enjoy this evening of dance music and socializing at Capital Ballroom tonight. 10pm. [Info]
🎵 The Journeymen: See the folk trio perform at the Charlie White Theatre tomorrow. 7:30pm [Info]
⚽ Pacific FC vs. HFX Wanderers FC: See this local kick off of the soccer game at Starlight Stadium tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]
🎉 Sooke Fall Fair: Check out the annual fall fair—this year’s theme is Water is Life. Sat. 11:30am-6pm; Sun. 9am-5pm [Info]
👀 In Case You Missed It
Thursday’s headlines: Supportive housing slow to materialize; Formerly trapped orca OK but alone; BC Ferries cancellations; And more. [Sept. 5]
New mental-health and substance-abuse facility opens in Colwood. [The Westshore]
Watch: Suspected Bay Street-Bridge road-rage incident. [CHEK video]
DVBA Meet & Greet on Sept. 19. [Register here]
2 orcas breach up-Island. [Comox Valley Wildlife Sightings]
Beacon Hill Children's Farm is now on fall hours, open 10am-4pm with goat stampedes at 10:10am and 4:10pm. [Details]
What’s that smell? Burning smell from Central Saanich farm fire on Wednesday reaches Victoria. [Victoria News]
That’s it!
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