Aug 20 - New BC travel restrictions

Good morning !

Thank you for your responses yesterday talking about friends and family affected by the mainland fires. Just over half of the 900+ readers who responded to yesterday’s poll had someone affected in the Interior, with a few dozen more knowing someone affected in the north or elsewhere.

The new travel restrictions are another way the fires are affecting many Islanders; let us know if you’re one of them.

— Cam

Today’s approx read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️ 26 / 11

Tomorrow : ☀️ 22 / 13

Tuesday: 🌦️ 21 / 13

7-day forecast

 🌫️ Air quality: Risk listed as minimal (3/10) despite visible smoke, which the smoke forecast projects to increase later today and remain, more lightly, tomorrow.

🚘️ Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

BC wildfires: New travel restrictions begin,
while Island sends firefighters to help

Travel restrictions in interior BC

The province used its state-of-emergency powers yesterday to ban non-essential travel to temporary accommodations (such as hotels and campsites) in the Okanagan, where major fires rage near Kelowna and Kamloops. Travel through the region is not restricted but officials are asking people to avoid it, and to leave the area if currently staying recreationally.

Premier David Eby and Emergency Management minister Bowinn Ma said on Sat. that spaces are needed for evacuees, who numbered over 30,000 at that time, with another 30,000 on alert. Some of the 20,000 people evacuated from Yellowknife, NWT, have now come to stay on the Island.

The emergency state will last the next two weeks, then can be extended.

Island firefighters go help

While preserving most capacity for current or potential Island fires, multiple Island fire dept.s including Saanich, Comox, and Central Saanich have sent personnel to go help in the Kelowna area. But Saanich Assistant Deputy Chief Craig Ford told CTV they have to still be very ready to fight fire here on the Island. He called this the worst risk level he’s seen in 20 years, with “large tracts of land that are not immune to what's happening in the Okanagan” this week.

Island fires lower-level, but rising recently

There are currently 12 fires on the Island, and another pair close by on Quadra Island and at nearby Phillips Arm. Strathcona park has 7 in it or close by, including the now-395-hectare Mount Con Reid fire and 107ha Wolf-River-area fire.

By Cam Welch

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Missing youth located shortly after Saturday’s police alert.

Blue-green algae bloom continues at Prior Lake; people and pets should not swim.

Mill Hill park’s parking lot closed to public on Mon. and Tues. for prep and paving.

NEWS

Local rugby teams can secure Olympic spots today in Langford

Going undefeated on opening day has put Canada’s men’s and women’s Sevens rugby teams in position to book their Paris 2024 tickets in today’s games. The teams are based in Langford and this weekend are hosting an international qualifying tournament there, with an Olympic berth going to the winner.

The women’s team won its three games (against St. Lucia, Jamaica, and Mexico) a total of 192-0. Oak Bay’s own Sophie de Goede, one of the top players in the world, scored multiple tries. The men went 38-0 vs. Barbados but had a tougher time with Jamaica before a late try gave them the 21-12 win.

The women begin their semifinal today at 1:35pm and the men begin at 2pm. There are some Sunday tickets left, and CBC Sports will stream the games.

“You’re playing for all of those people as well as yourself”

The championship games will be 4:30 and 5:30pm. The men’s team’s Thomas Isherwood told The Westshore that winning top spot would be “massive not only for me but also my team, my family and friends, and everyone who’s been a part of my journey.”

“[It’s] such a pleasure to be in this situation and represent everyone who’s fought for me, and now I get to fight for my country.”

The teams also held a summer camp at the stadium in advance of the tourney (watch below).

With files from Emma Boyne

NEWS

“Stumped” couple create a gnome home—and a neighbourhood trend

It began with dead trees and presumably an axe or chainsaw, and has become a neighbourhood curiosity and talking point.

When a View Royal couple chopped down some old trees in their backyard, it left an unsightly stump they had to look at whenever they peered through their park-facing living room window.

That’s when Carmell Nesbitt got an idea. It’s an idea you may have seen in various neighbourhoods in Greater Victoria. But now it’s bringing tiny doors and windows—and just maybe tiny creatures behind them—to another part of the region as neighbours follow the Nesbitts’ example.

Read Emma Boyne’s gnome story here in The Westshore.

SPONSORED BY PACIFIC OPERA VICTORIA

Full-Flavoured Opera on sale now

Pacific Opera Victoria's season of full-flavoured opera is on sale now! 3-opera subscriptions starting at $75, single tickets starting at $30.

Wagner’s Die Walküre | October 12 – 21, is a bold and robust masterpiece of musical storytelling, the iconic score of Wagner’s Die Walküre is a rich and sumptuous feast for the senses.

Golijov’s Ainadamar | February 21 – 27, is a delicious journey into the true story of playwright Federico García Lorca, Golijov’s Ainadamar explores his life through the eyes, and voice, of his muse – Catalan actress Margarita Xirgu.

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Buy tickets and subscriptions here.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🌌 Where to find bioluminescence: Islanders recommend locations, from the Gorge to Hornby Island, where they’ve been able to see luminous waters on recent nights. [Facebook thread]

💖Healthcare with heart, for little kids (and big ones too). A specialized team focused on prevention. On call and easy to access when you need it. Sprout is healthcare with heart.*

🎹 Preschool, child, and youth programs: Register for programs like piano classes, babysitting lessons, dance classes, and more. (Victoria)

🤝 Now hiring: North Jubilee Neighbourhood Coordinator at North Jubilee Neighbourhood Association.

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Trudeau leaves Tofino, ending Island vacation: The PM flew out Friday as scheduled, after vacationing since Aug. 10, and headed to Edmonton centre where NorthWest Territories residents have been evacuated to during wildfires. [CTV]

6 from UVic at World Rowing Championships: Vikes alumni will row in women’s pair, four, and coxed eight in Belgrade, Serbia, from Sept. 3 to 10. Meanwhile, current UVic rowers continued the program’s dominance with medals this month at the Henley Regatta for the Vikes and for host St.Catharines, the hometown team of three men's team rowers. [Vikes]

🗓️ Things to do

🍴 North Saanich Flavour Trails Festival: Follow a self-guided tour today through North Saanich to discover 18 food maker and producer venders, plus community events at Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture including tours and zucchini racing. 11am-2pm. More details at Tasting Victoria.

🌻 Saanichton Sunflower Festival: Ocean View Estates hosts photo-worthy sunflower walks, with a beer garden and street food on site. [Info]

🎉 Redfern Parkfest: The free neighbourhood party today at Redfern Park will include bouncy castles, live music, a barbecue, and more. 11am-4:30pm.

🧶 Fibrations Festival: This celebration of fibre arts at the Fernwood Community Centre today will include vendors, a toonie raffle, and hands-on activities for kids. 10am-5pm.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Saturday headlines. Smoke reaches Island. Iconic corner building, unused for 20 years, could be redeveloped under new plan. Victoria’s baseball coach named league’s best. [Aug. 19]

Friday’s headlines: New hotel airport confirmed, weekend events, seniors home gets provincial funding for renovations, and more. [Aug. 18]

Wanted man: VicPD announced a Canada-wide warrant on Friday for Jeremy Fry. He beached conditions while on parole for second-degree murder nearly 40 years ago. [Image]

Spiders under domes: Locals have been spotting the namesake webs of Sierra Dome Spiders in Gowlland Tod and other local hiking areas.

10 millionth cruise passenger arrived in Victoria last week, after 54 years of the ships’ visits.

Victoria’s 1980s “Satanic Panic” is the subject of Satan Wants You, a new doc centering on how local book Michelle Remembers sparked an international paranoia. Capital Daily spoke with the directors.

That’s it!

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