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- Nov 22 - Victoria charity cleans up on donated soap
Nov 22 - Victoria charity cleans up on donated soap
Plus, a birder's best friend, a cougar killed near the Gorge, and these Campbell River peeps were unbearable
Capital Daily Team
November 22, 2023
Good morning !
I’ve just been introduced to a cool charitable organization that takes those little hotel shampoos and mini-soaps many of us never use and gets them to people who need ‘em. I’m really happy they do this, but I’m saddened they have to.
— Mark
What do you do with those mini-soaps and shampoos you get at hotels? |
Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
NEWS
Victoria’s clean, green repurposing program showers dignity on needy
Photo: Soap for Hope
Were you privileged this morning to have a shower or to brush your teeth?
That's a question C. Anne McIntyre often begins her presentations with when promoting the charitable organization she founded eight years ago, right here in her hometown.
Soap for Hope Canada collects and repurposes hygiene products such as soap, shampoo, linens, and lost and found items—that otherwise would end up in landfills—from hotels, and distributes them to people who need them.
"It's something that not everybody has a privilege to have," says McIntyre, whose organization provides approximately 20K people in this city each year with self-care items such as toothpaste, shampoo, and deodorant.
"Everybody needs hygiene," says the executive director of Soap for Hope, which now runs provincewide and has grown to have 110 recipient organizations in Victoria, and to more than 500 across BC and into Alberta.
The Inn at Laurel Point and Hotel Grand Pacific are at the forefront of the dozens of CRD hotels that regularly fill Soap for Hope collection bins with soaps, shampoo, and linens. However, they can’t donate items such as deodorant and feminine care products. That’s where funding comes in, and so next Tuesday, Soap for Hope will hold an open house from noon to 6pm on William, in Vic West.
McIntyre and her army of close to 100 volunteers hope Victorians will donate—and visit the registered charity’s Second Hand Hope thrift store—to raise money to buy hygiene products for more than 800 seniors living in lower-income care facilities in Greater Victoria.
McIntyre says the "hardest demographic to give to is seniors because they don't want charity."
Soap for Hope also collaborates with food bank school programs, because as McIntyre says, “If kids don’t have food, they don’t have hygiene.”
As of last year, Food Banks BC no longer wants to provide hygiene items, and there’s no secret that this comes at a time of increased dependence on those facilities.
“It’s shocking to me, “McIntyre says. “I never realized when I started this eight years ago, that there would be such a need.”
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Toxic algae bloom at Durrance Lake: Don’t swim or allow pets to swim or drink there. [CRD Alert]
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
NEWS
BC Bird Trail takes flight in Langford, Sooke
Western Grebe. Photo: All About Birds
The BC Bird Trail is becoming a go-to guide for ornithologists—and beginners to the bird-watching world—and has been since it debuted three years ago.
As the website itself says, “Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just taking off, The BC Bird Trail is your guide to exploring birding, conservation, and community in British Columbia."
The site offers inside advice on where to check out birds and it provides information on attractions and things to do when you've seen your share of feathered friends and it's time to find accommodations so you can hang out with the human kind.
The BC Bird Trail comes as an app with maps, that recommend trails where birders can pinpoint Northern pintails and spot black swifts.
SPONSORED BY THE BAY CENTRE
Black Friday flash sale at the Bay Centre
Delightfully in savings this Black Friday at the Bay Centre. This Friday only, get a bonus $50 Bay Centre gift card with purchase of $150 or more in Bay Centre gift card(s) on Black Friday only. This is the Bay Centre's best gift card offer of the year that you surely don't want to miss. This in-person offer has limited quantities, so be sure to get there early. One bonus $50 gift card per customer.
Visiting Black Friday week or on Black Friday weekend? Get 3 hours of free parking on weekends and free parking after 4 pm in the Bay Centre's parkade this weekend and throughout the entire holiday season. PLUS get a free holiday photo on Nov. 25 from 1-4pm.
⭐️ Capital Picks
🌪️ Video: Underwater tornado in Nanoose Bay.
🎁 Support Indigenous businesses this holiday season! Explore an array of unique businesses on the South Island Indigenous Business Directory. Buy Indigenous, support local artisans!*
⚽ Canada women’s soccer ticket auction [City of Langford]
🎸 Rolling Stones’ only Canadian date: Vancouver, July 5.
👻 "Fantastic, in every sense of the word." A WONDERHEADS Christmas Carol opens at the Belfry Theatre on Dec. 2. Pay-what-you-want tickets here.*
🤝 Now Hiring: Part-Time Cook at Rose Bank Gardens.
*Sponsored Listing
🗞️ In Other News
Police kill cougar after ‘uncommon’ all-day sojourn near Gorge
The beautiful but dangerous animal was spotted early yesterday morning near the Montessori school on Jutland, and it hung around the Selkirk Precinct all day. VicPD says it made the “difficult decision” to shoot it. [CTV]
Province unfair in COVID benefit payback: BC ombudsperson
The BC Emergency Benefit for Workers was a tax-free payment of $1K, which paid out $643 million in 2020. Not until 90% of applications had arrived did the province add the condition recipients must have filed or agreed to file their 2019 income taxes, Jay Chalke found. [Ombudsperson release]
Video: Showing people brazenly engage bear in Campbell River
The video is from the summer but it’s making its rounds now and many who view it wonder what these people were thinking as they approach a big black bear while it eats, to take selfies. [CHEK]
Eby says affordable housing begins at home, government
The premier calls it “hard to understand” why some governments rely so heavily on the private sector to build. He says government should erect affordable housing on its many properties. [Van Sun/CP]
Vic councillor issues statement about controversial letter
The open letter called for a ceasefire in Gaza and questioned the veracity of alleged sexual assaults by Hamas on Israeli citizens. Coun. Susan Kim now says she regrets how her signing it polarized the Victoria community. She plans to remain on council. [Victoria Buzz]
🗓️ Things to do
Christmas with the Tenors. The singers will take on favourite Christmas songs at this holiday show. Royal Theatre. Tomorrow night. 8pm. [Tickets]
Music of Horace Silver. Kelby MacNayr‘s Blue Note Repertory All-Stars will perform the jazz star’s music. Hermann’s. Tomorrow night. 7pm. [Tickets]
Tim Baker: The indie musician will hit the stage at Capital Ballroom. Tonight. 8pm. [Info]
String Chamber Concert: Featuring UVic School of Music string students. This performance at Phillip T. Young Hall will be available for live stream. Tonight. 8pm. [Info]
👀 In Case You Missed It
Monday headlines: The landfill is almost full. A local CEO wins an international award, UVic rugby wins national silver, and someone wins $5M in the lottery. [Nov. 20]
Tuesday headlines: A job doesn’t guarantee you a home, Sidney releases its accessibility plan, humpback whale spotted. [Nov. 21]
Unlicensed driver arrested, facing $1,200 in fines after Toyota Corolla ended up under a tractor-trailer in Colwood. Booze involved, police say. [RCMP]
Oak Bay down a main fire truck after a collision with a van on Cadboro Bay. [Times Colonist]
Langford’s Western Speedway doc: Demo Dummies, Hit-to-Pass-Racing film on YouTube. [Oak Bay News]
That’s it!
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