Sun. June 11 - Rain falls, but Island fires (and detours) continue

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning !

There was very big news in the soccer world yesterday! No, not Man City’s Champions League victory—Langford’s Pacific FC’s win in Hamilton to move into first place in the Canadian league.

We’ll catch you up on what has been a promising season for the local pro team, but first we have a fresh round of updates on the Island wildfires and the chaos they’re causing.

NEWS

Long detours cause struggles as Cameron Lake Bluffs fire remains large despite rain

Supply convoys will head along the four-hour detour to Port Alberni today in two waves each direction, getting essential food and fuel to communities cut off from most of the rest of the Island by the Cameron Bluffs wildfire. That fire continues to burn at 208 hectares as of Sat. afternoon despite rains. This weekend 20 more firefighters were added, bringing the total to 80 along with 4 helicopters and 8 pieces of heavy equipment.

Short bursts of rain have little ability to undo dry conditions built up over the previous seasons, including the record-setting drought and heat on the Island last fall, and little relief is expected this month.

We are entering what the federal government fears could be Canada’s worst fire season on record, and the province announced last week that this year has already burned more of BC than 16 of the past 20 full fire seasons. A campfire ban began on Thursday.

Fallen trees (above) and the overall danger of the fire proximity led the province to close down Highway 4 (the major roadway to west-Island communities) this past week. Its status will be updated tomorrow at noon.

Non-essential traffic has been told to stay home and not take the four-hour detour (map below) that was opened up going west above Lake Cowichan and then north to Port Alberni. Tourists have been discouraged from coming to the Island’s west coast, in what would otherwise have been a busy tourist week for Tofino and Ucluelet, and locals were asked to “only purchase groceries as needed.”

The province warned that the detour has “difficult driving conditions” along its forest-service and private industry roads, including a long stretch of gravel with “narrow sections, sharp curves, single-lane bridges, and challenging terrain.” The route also doesn’t have cell service, gas stations, or bathrooms, although info boots were set up at several checkpoints along its length.

There is a significantly shorter passage via Horne Lake that could have been used, but the Ministry told Ha-Shilth-Sa that it was not used because its narrow, winding, and steeper roads make it more dangerous and because it is on private land owned by Mosaic forestry.

That detour was itself closed on Friday for eight hours to allow removal of a container truck that tipped off of Franklin Road and partly into Francis Lake on Wednesday (see below). There have also been multiple car crashes along the detour road this past week.

By Cam Welch

Capital Bulletin

🌤️ Sun and cloud today: Clearing late in afternoon. High 22C (17 near water) / low 13. Humidex 25.

🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (3/10); possible light smoke overhead.

🔎 Missing person: Westshore man Dalton Austin, 23, last seen May 31. May be in a red Dodge Hemi. [Photos]

🐕 Saanich People, Pets, and Parks survey: Until midnight tonight the public can weigh in on Round 3 of the strategy, which has been contentious due to its limits on off-leash dog areas.

NEWS

The region’s most diverse culinary scene is in Esquimalt

If you don’t live there, when you think of Esquimalt you might think of the naval base, or Buccaneer Days, well before the food scene.

But throughout the municipality—from the Gorge to Saxe Point—restaurateurs from around the world are establishing themselves. From Ethiopian injera to authentic Québécois poutine to Mexican street food, Esquimalt is home to a variety of global dishes.

And behind those dishes is just as wide a variety of stories—like the story of Safaa Naeman, who fled the Syrian civil war, came here to the Island six years ago, and has now opened up a restaurant that has eager eaters lining up every day.

This month Tasting Victoria spoke to her, to other restaurateurs, and to the mayor to learn more about the diverse tastes of Esquimalt.

Read the full story here.

NEWS

Pacific FC takes over #1 spot in Canada’s soccer league with win over top rival

The Island’s Langford-based pro soccer team beat Forge 1-0 in Hamilton on Sat., leapfrogging to the top spot in Canadian Pacific League (CPL) with 18 points. Pacific weathered Forge’s first-half’s onslaught, then pounced on the increasing buildup of unforced errors. Djenairo Daniels broke open a scoreless game in the 85th minute after the opposing goalie and defender mishandled the ball and crashed right into each other (see the play below).

Pacific head coach James Merriman of Nanaimo just won the CPL’s Coach of the Month, while Player of the Month went to fellow Islander Sean Young, the PFC midfielder whose 3 assists are tied for league lead. PFC has three of the CPL’s top five in both the assists and goals categories.

Newcomer Ayman Sellouf, who came over this year from The Netherlands, is on both lists. He joins veterans Manny Aparicio and Amer Đidić with 3 goals apiece. As a team, Pacific is first or second in every major statistical category and have by far the best goal differential (+10).

PFC rejoining top-tier after 2022 setback
Pacific FC won the 2021 championship over powerhouse Forge, only to lose two top players to Forge and the Coach of the Year to the US. Last year’s team made the four-team playoffs but fell in the first round to Ottawa. With a very strong start through nine games (a third of the season), Pacific may have the chance this year to reclaim its place in the league’s top tier after 2022’s step back.

Merriman had framed this match as a test of that status, saying Forge’s multiple championships have “set that standard.”

“That’s where we want to be,” he said before the match, “That’s where we see ourselves at Pacific and that’s how we want to be recognized.”

By Cam Welch

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Capital Picks

🎈 Cook Street Village Block Party: The annual neighbourhood celebration will have live music, family-friendly activities, food trucks, and vendors. 10am – 5pm. [Details]

🌳 Music in the Park: The Emily Carr String Quartet plays 1:30-3:20.

🐦 Blue Bridge Theatre presents Miss Julie by August Strindberg. A devastating examination of gender politics and class struggle. Final performance today at 2pm! The Roxy Theatre | 250-382-3370.*

🎙️ Postmodern Jukebox at the Mcpherson Playhouse: Celebrate iconic 20th century music with this talented cast of singers and dancers. Tickets $49 / show 8pm. [Details]

🐟 World Ocean Day Celebrations at Fisherman’s Wharf: Ocean Week Victoria wraps with this fun, free family celebration. Multiple conservation and education orgs will present exhibits including floating whales, live divers, touch tanks, and book readings. 11am-4pm. [Details]

🏌️ The Royal Beach Open begins: The golfing event launches on June 11 and runs toJune 18. Tickets start at $10 / all proceeds to Salvation Army. [Details]

🗓 What’s happening in Victoria this week? This weekly email answers that.*

🎹 The Shoah Songbook: A free recital tonight honours and explores, through song, the lives of victims of the Holocaust. 7pm at Baumann Centre. [Details / RSVP (required)]

🎨 Fernwood Art Stroll concludes today! The art walk is back for its 15th year, with a free self-guided tour using this map.

🇵🇭 Centennial Square’s celebration of Philippine culture, food, and music continues today. 10am-5pm.

👟 Walk to cure diabetes: Beaver Lake hosts the Sun Life Walk to Cure Diabetes for JDRF today. Registration 9am / start time 10:30am.

🤝 Now hiring: Receptionist at Revera Inc.

*Sponsored Listing

In Other News

🪵 Man pleads guilty to pushing log off cliff onto kayakers
He rolled the 6m log down at a duo after a dispute over them being on the rocks below at the edge of ​​Jesse Island, a small occupied island in Departure Bay. The log knocked the woman into the water but caused no major injuries; RCMP, however, said its weight could have made the attack deadly. [Nanaimo News Now]

🏃‍♀️ Saanich woman racing for Canada at ​​World Mountain and Trail Running Championships
Saanich’s Care Nelson told CBC that morning runs at PKOLS—which she fits in while parenting three kids—helped prepare her for this weekend’s 13.7km international challenge in the Alps at Innsbruck, Austria.

⚾ After hot start at home, HarbourCats remain winless on road
It took extra innings on Friday for Wenatchee win 10-9 and hand Victoria its first loss of the season. But on Sat., the AppleSox cruised to a 13-6 win. The teams play again today.

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Come see it for yourself, June 12-24.

In Case You Missed It

⛴️ Vehicle traffic record for BC Ferries: Nearly 10 million cars took the ferry last fiscal year, but expenses and sailing cancellations also increased. [Capital Daily]

🎧 Witness Blanket seeks sounds: Local artist Carey Newman wants to add sound to the virtual version of his art installation compiling everyday items from those who went through residential schools. [June 7]

🚨 Hit-and-run on Bay: Police, who seek more info on the crash, said the driver of a black truck or SUV (plate beginning MW) sustained front-end damage and fled north up Bridge Street. The victim had minor injuries.

📷 Photo story: An inside look into the sea creatures and staff at Sidney’s nonprofit aquarium. [Capital Daily]

📰 Friday’s newsletter: First Nations flotilla in the Inner Harbour; delays to open-net fish farming transition; a humpback gets tangled in fishing gear; and more. [June 9]

📩 Go beyond the headlines for an in-depth understanding of the stories that affect the Westshore, from View Royal to Sooke. Subscribe for free to The Westshore for the latest news and stories, in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday.