Oct 21 - Cold week coming -- Will Victoria's shelters be ready?

Good morning !

Whether you tally it as one month in or 7 weeks in, there’s no denying we’re now well into fall. As October starts to wind down, get ready for temperatures to dip again. In the chilly upcoming week, highs drop a few degrees to 10-11C and lows will fall into single digits—even as low as 4C.

Today’s stories touch on that seasonal shift, looking at the limits of local shelter space and at some of the best seasonal food and scenery to take in at this time of year.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 4 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☁️ 15 / 10

Tomorrow: ⛅ 16 / 8

Day after: ☁️ 12 / 7

7-day forecast

NEWS

Downtown shelter operators want more—and earlier—spaces to bring people indoors

“Last year we were discussing it and it snowed,” said Mills.

As the weather cools and storms start to set in, local shelter providers are setting up spaces for the season.

But although some additional spots have been added to bring people on Victoria’s streets inside for a night, these operators say that there aren’t enough to go around given the recent increase in homelessness seen in the latest formal local count.

Several providers—such as Our Place, Peer2Peer, and Salvation Army—are also hoping for changes to scheduling.

Rather than hashing out funding and planning in the fall, on the brink of heavy weather that can trigger emergency shelter spaces, some are hoping for more of that work to be done in spring and summer. Others seek more consistent shelter days rather than relying on the sudden temporary expansions via emergency weather protocols.

Recent years have seen shelter response lag behind needR

The concerns here are rooted directly in Victoria’s recent reality. In recent years the capacity to get people indoors has often lagged behind the onset of snow, cold, and flooding.

Just under a year ago, an early burst of cold and snow left shelter services scrambling—and many of the beds that did open up weren’t adequately communicated to people living outside.

Read more here on the state of Victoria’s overnight shelter system and the possible changes to it.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Pacific FC plays in semifinal today in Calgary, in the third round of a gauntlet that requires the locals to beat every other playoff team without a single loss.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

10 of Victoria’s best soups

It’s getting cold, rainy, and further and further away from the days when the sun would shine all day and well into the evening.

A dire situation? Perhaps—if not for the fact that soup season is officially upon us!

From clear broths with noodles to bisques and creamy chowders, they might be the best part of the fall and winter months.

Grab your spoons and check out Tasting Victoria’s top 10.

NEWS

Where to watch the leaves change in the Westshore

The weather is turning, and so are the leaves and the Westshore is filled with spots to watch the red, orange, and yellow colours take over the trees.

From scenic roads to sprawling parkland, and from the far reaches of the Galloping Goose in Sooke to the edge of the core in Esquimalt, here are 5 of the best areas for fall sightseeing.

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Their automated window shade tech is now launching in Best Buy stores, and is poised to dominate the fast-growing Smart Shades market. They’ve also just launched a new investment round and their share price has already grown 25% from their last round!

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The exclusive public offering closes this month - learn more here.

⭐️ Capital Picks

📷 Fog surrounds the breakwater at Ogden Point in these eerie photos captured this week by Colin Smith.

☕ Get a sip of the season with these autumnal hot drinks from local cafes. [Tasting Victoria]

🤝 Now hiring: Sales development representative at Waterworth

Last time: Turf equis = sod / Dos. Congrats to everyone who submitted the correct answer

🗞️ In Other News

Grieving Sidney family will lose housing after woman’s death
Partner and son must move out of subsidized unit by month’s end, Capital Region Housing Corporation (CRHC) says, because only the deceased was on the lease. [CHEK]

North Cowichan liquor store broken into 4 times in 9 days
The latest thrift was Tue. when windows were smashed and booze was pilfered. The manager thinks a group of up to four teens is responsible for at least three of the burglaries. [Cowichan Valley Citizen]

Ladysmith ends plan for waterfront artist studio after cost estimate triples
The municipality opened bids for construction, but says the average submission exceeded its budget by 200%. Other plans for the waterfront appear to be moving forward with federal funding. [Chemainus Valley Courier]

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🗓️ Things to do

🕯️Frankenstein at Craigdarroch: A one-man show of Mary Shelley’s horror story. 6pm & 8pm.

👠 Rocky Horror at Bluebridge: It’s just a jump to the left in this local run of a true cult classic. Multiple showtimes this weekend.

📽️ One Take Super 8. A mini-festival of 20 new analogue short films. Metro Studio on Quadra. 7pm. [Tickets]

🎃 More Halloween events in Capital Daily’s October roundup.

🏈 Football semifinal: The Westshore Rebels take on the Langley Rams today at 4pm at Starlight Stadium. [Tickets]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: Gaps in Island intercity travel, and a man who built 50 little libraries. [Oct. 19]

Halloween Happenings: What’s going on this weekend and next in the region. [Capital Daily]

Are schools doing enough to limit illness? Advocates argue classrooms aren’t doing enough to keep kids and families well. [Capital Daily]

Do you know whose chicken was found running around in Colwood?

Islander guilty of killing Roosevelt elk illegaly must now pay $5,100 and cannot hunt for 2 years. [BC Conservation Officer Service]

That’s it!

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