Sun. June 4 - South Island old growth logging deferrals extended

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning !

We’ve got another classic summer week coming up, with mostly sunny and clear days all week and highs around 22-25C (lows of 11-12C). Among today’s main stories we’ve got a few suggestions of where you can go to cool down with some ice cream during this warm week.

NEWS

Fairy Creek old growth logging deferrals extended to Feb. 2025

The province announced on Friday the continued protection of 1,184 hectares of old growth forest on Crown land within Pacheedaht territory. The deferral was first placed in 2021 at the request of the Pacheedaht Nation, and was intended to give the province and local First Nations time to work on a long-term plan for forest management in the area.

Nations sought deferrals two years ago
The Huu-ay-aht and Ditidaht had also called for deferrals; the Capital Daily podcast interviewed Huu-ay-aht Chief Councillor Robert J. Dennis Sr. about their reasons. That fall, the province launched BC-wide old growth deferrals and First Nations consultations; Capital Daily hosted Dennis again, with the Wilderness Commitee’s Torrance Coste, to break those down. The Union of BC Indian Chiefs called for longer timeframes to consult with First Nations.

Scope of deferrals has been questioned
Summer 2021’s Fairy Creek protests and blockades continued after the deferral, with participants arguing not enough of the area’s forest land had been included in it. Other advocates have also argued, in 2022, that the deferrals are not sufficiently transparent and that logging activity still happens in deferral zones in the North Island and elsewhere.

Recently, a group of researchers urged BC to expand logging restrictions by 996 hectares at the Fairy Creek Watershed in order to protect the rare marbled murrelet spotted in the region.

Capital Bulletin

☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny. Wind light except near Juan de Fuca Strait. High 21C (17 near water) / low 9. UV index high.

🚧 Shelbourne will be fully closed from Donnelly to Pear, beginning June 12, for up to a month. [Details]

🔍 Missing person: Nancy Wilde last seen May 17, travelling from Sidney to Hope in a brown ​​Mazda Protege. [Image / info]

NEWS

John Howard Society of Victoria gets 1.5M to help locals with disabilities get and keep jobs

The federal funding came this past week as part of $118M over three years, marking National AccessAbility Week 2023, given to 60 projects across Canada under the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities (OF). These projects, including the one at the John Howard Society, aim to improve access to jobs and workplace accessibility for Canadians with disabilities. The Society’s project plans to integrate about 120 people into the workforce.

“What’s unique [with our program] is that we’ll work with workforce participants and employers, meeting participants where they’re at, whether that be with employability support, finding a job, securing work experience where participants feel valued or retaining a job they enjoy,” said Kayla Grosfield, director of programs at John Howard Society of Victoria.

As for employers, Grosfield said they’ll focus on supporting them with the tools and resources to make changes toward more inclusive and accessible workplaces, particularly with Covid-19 recovery in mind. According to Grosfield, the John Howard Society is the only organization in Victoria offering this program.

NEWS

Ice cream Sunday: 6 places to get cold local treats this warm week

With local heat set to hit 26 degrees this coming week, it’s officially ice cream season in the South Island.

There’s no better time to feel cold relief after a hot day at the beach, to not care when the melting dessert runs down your hand—or to be devastated when you lick the ice cream right off the cone and watch it hit the pavement.

Tasting Victoria rounded up six of the city’s best spots to get ice cream, from pints and soft serve to sandwiches and pies.

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Capital Picks

🎉 Folktoria: This multicultural celebration includes performing arts, dance, and food at Centennial Square. [Details]

🚲 Oak Bay Bikes Block Party: To celebrate the end of GoByBikeWeek, Oak Bay Bikes is hosting a celebration of cycling with free lemonade and a bike-decorating station for kids. 11am-2pm.

☕ Oak Bay Tea Party: The Mayor’s Floating Teacup Race is among today’s events. Saanich’s Dean Murdock and Oak Bay’s Kevin Murdoch have faced off in a fundraising drive to help send locally made prosthetics to Ukraine. Today the loser will have to use a prosthetic arm to row himself in a fibreglass teacup race.

🏳️‍🌈 Hotel Zed is proud to be a safe space for all LGBTQ+ rebels. With a rainbow of amenities and policies to protect against deadnaming and other biases, there’s room for you here.*

👗 The ReLove Market: This vintage and secondhand pop-up market takes place today in Market Square. 12-5pm. [Details]

👟 Victoria Gutsy Walk: The 5k walk today at Cedar Hill Golf Course’s chip trail will raise funds to support Crohn’s and Colitis research, 9am. [Details]

🌹 Cowichan Family Life Garden Tour: Today’s pop-up tea garden features artists and live music. 10am-4:30pm. [Details]

🤝 Now hiring: Community Engagement Manager at Dance Victoria.

📽️ Pride screening of But I’m a Cheerleader: Start your Pride festivities on an iconic note with this classic ‘90s film at Vic Film Fest. 7:30pm / Tickets $13.33. [Details]

🥀 Beauty and the Beast Cocktail Party: Live out your fairytale fantasy in this immersive 90-min experience. Costumes are highly encouraged. Tickets start at $15. [Details]

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In Other News

⚾ HarbourCats win home opener as baseball returns to Royal Athletic
Victoria’s top ball club blew out visiting Kamloops 13-3 in Friday’s home opener, and followed that explosive win with literal fireworks for the Sat. game (and a 6-4 victory). The ‘Cats wrap up this series today, then welcome Wenatchee starting tomorrow. [Game schedule]

🌳 CRD may add tax levy for trail upgrades
Widening and adding lighting to stretches of the Galloping Goose and Lochside trails, both now several decades old, could cost $14M. But the CRD got none of the latest local active transport funding from BC. [Times Colonist]

⚽ Pacific FC puts younger sibling in its place again with 6-3 win
PFC beat Vancouver FC, which was launched in Langley this year by PFC’s ownership group, for a second time this year after previously taking their season-opening matchup 1-0. PFC (4-3-1) remains just one point out of first place in the CPL and has by far the best goal differential (+9).

🤝 Now Hiring

Thinking of making your next career move? Let us help!

• Community Engagement Manager at Dance Victoria

• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Cooks at Butchart Gardens

• Accountant at Victoria Hospice Society

• Spa manager at RITUAL Nordic Spa

• Office administration, receiving, shipping at Anchor Marine Electric

• QA Analyst at Megabyte Programming Services Ltd.

• Superintendent at Bird Construction

• Licensed Practical Nurse at Amica Senior Lifestyles

Looking for more openings? See 50+ jobs open now on YYJobs.

Hiring? Post your job to have it featured here, and fill your opening fast!

In Case You Missed It

🌊 Saturday newsletter: June is bursting with local events including a current festival about out “big blue backyard” (the ocean). Plus: Victoria hosts team Canada basketball. Saanich and BC attorney general pursue alleged theft of files. [June 3]

💐 Hundreds march for Carsyn Seaweed: Community members gathered to remember and seek justice after the Indigenous teen died in the Duncan area under suspicious circumstances. [The Discourse]

📈 Visit the Victoria Foundation's Vital Victoria Data Hub and dive deeper into the issues in Greater Victoria, with over 70 indicators on quality of life.*

🎡 Friday newsletter: Murdoch vs. Murdock as mayors face off for charity at this weekend’s Tea Party. Royal Roads gardens get revamp. Victoria mortgage broker loses licence and faces multiple lawsuits. [June 2]

🛥️ How to prep for oil spills in Island waters: We sent a photographer along with the spill response teams that train in Beecher Bay. [Capital Daily]

🐕 Saanich would require dog leashing in public parks under new plan. [May 31]

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