Sept 9 - Rooftop drinks at The Empress, anyone?

Good morning !

The Empress Hotel is hoping Victoria city council will approve its application for a new 250-person rooftop bar. It would be one of the only rooftop establishments, along with the Sticky Wicket, serving drinks in the downtown core.

I personally love outdoor dining and drinks, especially with a view. I’m wondering what Capital Daily readers think about the proposed expansion.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

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Today: 🌤️ 20 / 13

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Day after: 🌤️ 17 / 14

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NEWS

The Empress Hotel wants a rooftop patio

Victoria’s tourist gem, The Fairmont Empress Hotel, is looking to expand its food and drink offerings with a new rooftop patio and interior bar. 

Victoria City Council will review the proposal this Thursday. If approved, the city will recommend the application to the BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, which makes the final decision on licensing.

The hotel is proposing an occupancy load expansion to 779 people from 449 (an additional 330 people). The rooftop would accommodate 250 people, and the interior would hold 80. 

The two spaces would feature a “variety of dishes,” according to the proposal, including hot and cold options, appetizers, main courses, and vegetarian/ vegan fare. The bars would be liquor-primary, meaning patrons could order alcohol without food, but food must be available throughout its licensed operating hours (proposed to be daily from 9am to 1am).

Floor plans show the rooftop patio would be situated above the main lobby of the hotel, with the interior space going where the Library Room—a space typically available to rent for events—currently is.

The Empress’s neighbours—900+ residents who live within 100 metres of the building—were notified about the proposed patio and interior bar, with a 30-day period for comments. The city received three letters from residents who disapproved the proposal, all of whom noted that the outdoor portion and possible noise level were their main concerns. However, the Downtown Residents Association had no comments or concerns for the council.  

The Empress operators say they plan to mitigate unease about noise by shutting down all entertainment by 12am, ensuring events are carefully managed, and responding to any concerns from neighbours.

“We are excited about the opportunity to expand the Fairmont Empress Hotel and believe that it will bring growth and a valuable experience to the Victoria community,” Laura Scagliati, senior licensing specialist on behalf of The Empress, said in a letter to the council.

City staff are recommending that the council approve the proposal, saying the expanded capacity “is anticipated to have a positive economic impact on the community” and could boost employment opportunities and tourism. 

“The establishment has a history of responsible operation,” the staff report reads. “The application is likely to support small businesses and the visitor economy, and work to strengthen and add vitality to the downtown core.”

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Temporary road closures in Elk/Beaver Lake Park—access to West Saanich Road and Elk Lake Drive affected—for one week, starting tomorrow. [CRD]

Single-lane alternating traffic on Cedar Hill between Lochside and Cumberland for water main upgrade. 8am-4pm today. 

Road closure on Dallas, between St. Charles and Memorial, today through Friday for paving. [City of Victoria]

NEWS

After seven months, BC intervenes
in Cowichan bus strike

They’ve been on strike for seven months now, and the province is hoping they’re Ready for a settlement.

Vince Ready, that is. He’s the mediator that Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside has just appointed to bridge the chasm that exists between 44 bus drivers and eight HandyDART operators and Transdev, which, under contract with BC Transit, operates transit services in North Cowichan. 

The workers have been without a contract since March, and the two sides have been negotiating since January. 

Key issues at play are money and bathroom breaks.

Unifor Local 333, which represents the workers, states that its HandyDART drivers earn $28 per hour, while standard bus drivers earn $31. That’s about seven dollars less an hour than their Victoria counterparts.

Equally pressing, members want a guaranteed washroom break. The union says drivers can stop at a Duncan mall and try to use the bathrooms at a London Drugs or Save-on-Foods. 

“In many cases, when the driver gets there, the washroom is already occupied, and in some cases, there’s a line of actual customers that are waiting,” union president Stephen Bains said. 

“For transit operators who are already under the pressure of a schedule, that does not work.”

The two sides have 10 days to reach a settlement before Ready can make recommendations for a new contract.

“This dispute has gone on for far too long,” Whiteside said in a statement. 

“There’s a real urgency for the parties to get back to the table, find a fair resolution, and get transit services back on the road.”

Read the full story here.

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Interested in sharpening your skills? Explore new communication and public relations opportunities.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🦭 Seal abs: A harbour seal was seen using its powerful stomach muscles to grab a salmon fillet on land in Cowichan Bay. [Video]

⚽ Downtown Derby: Pacific FC hosts Vancouver FC at Royal Athletic Park. [Saturday at 4pm]

🛟 Open House: Western Canada Marine Response Corp. Response Base. [Tomorrow 3pm-7pm]

🗞️ In Other News

Victoria to remove 133 trees this fall
The city will replant double that number later this year. Each tree underwent a safety assessment—other options, such as pruning, were considered before removal was approved. Reasons for removal include the age of the tree and its resilience amid climate change. The city says removal is a last resort when other options have been exhausted. In total, 167 trees will be taken down this year, including the 133 this fall, and 350 will be planted. [CHEK]

Victoria Fire chief disagrees with province’s 1-stair edict
Last August, the province removed the requirement for a second stairwell per floor in new buildings up to six storeys. The idea is to make it easier to build more housing. But Victoria Fire Chief Dan Atkinson says the province didn’t do its due diligence in studying the issue, and he thinks it could lead to safety risks. The province said new buildings with only one exit stairwell would be required to have other safety features, such as sprinklers and wider stairwells. Victoria’s city council voted to study ways to conform to the province’s dictum. [Times Colonist]

Victoria boater arrested after $7K in stolen fishing equipment found onboard
A Sept. 4 search of a vessel in Fleming Bay in Esquimalt revealed a cache of equipment matching what was reported missing from a boat moored at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club on Aug. 29. The RCMP Border Enforcement Team worked with the US Coast Guard on the case, and Oak Bay Police obtained a search warrant to board the boat and retrieve the items, the OBP said. The suspect has not yet been charged and was released on conditions. [Oak Bay Police]

SPONSORED BY BC DAIRY

Tidal current pulls Warren to aquaculture

Emily Warren is part of a wave of young professionals reinventing aquaculture. As Licensing & Development Officer, she’s pushing innovations like semi-closed containment systems and eco-smart farming practices that prove food production can be sustainable, science-driven, and future-ready.

Meet the next generation shaping how we feed the world in the Young Farmers Series.

🗓️ Things to do

🏃 South Island Sole 5K: Join Victoria's BIPOC and ally-led run club, starting at the Cook-Dallas crossing (near the Beacon Hill sign) today. 6:30-7:30pm. [Info]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish Country Dancing Open House: Try out Scottish country dancing for free—no partner or kilt needed— at City Light Church tonight. 7:30pm [Info]

🔮 Sound Sanctuary: Oracle + Music: Find insights through tarot and music, led by artist Rosy Aronson at Ashtanga Yoga Studio tonight. 7:30-9pm. [Info]   

🏮Autumn Lantern Festival: Celebrate the arrival of fall with an impressive lantern loop display, local food trucks, and a community lantern promenade at Gordon Head Rec Centre and Lambrick Park. Sat. 5pm-8:30pm. [Info]

⛸️ Public skating: Join this family-friendly skate at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, starting Sept. 16. Limited skating aids available. [Info/schedule]

👗 Attic Treasures Vintage Market: Discover vintage clothing, jewelry and accessories, collectibles, and curiosities at St. Luke’s Community Hall. Sept. 20. 9am-4pm. [Info]

🪩 Shade Burlesque Festival: Check out this all-BIPOC Victoria burlesque event, which highlights talented performers from around the world, at McPherson Playhouse. Sept. 25-27. [Info]

🫖 10th Victoria Tea Festival Revival: Enjoy a farm-to-cup experience and try teas from around the world at Nootka Court. Oct. 4. [Info]  

👀 In Case You Missed It

Sunday’s headlines: Victoria was the third-most expensive city for renters in Canada last year; Weekly roundup; Parking changes coming to Victoria. [Sept. 7]

Body of 19-year-old recovered from Thetis Lake, says family. [CHEK]

Cook Street property owner facing $80K in fines for failing to clean up former dry cleaning contamination. [Times Colonist]

BC man booked for driving child-sized Barbie Jeep on city street. [CTV]

Air quality warning: Smoke from wildfires on the mainland and in Washington state is expected to affect Victoria’s air quality today. [Smoke map]

Prior Lake dock at Thetis will be closed this weekend for construction. Sept. 12-15. [CRD]

Rifflandia is this weekend. [Sept. 11-14]

Crab boxing: See multiple crabs battle it out in a tidal pool in Qualicum Beach. [Facebook video]

That’s it!

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