Tues. June 6 - Your driver has arrived

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning !

Uber will launch today in Victoria. When we asked readers if you would use the ride-hailing service, nearly 2,000 of you responded. Of those responses, 1,300 were a resounding yes, while the others were almost an equal split between no, or only if you were stranded.

So we’re wondering—how many of you are planning to continue taking cabs around town?

NEWS

Shelita Cox bids farewell to Drag Sundays

After more than five years of hosting the staple weekly drag event at Paparazzi Nightclub, Shelita Cox has said goodbye to Drag Sundays. The final show capped off this weekend with 19 local drag artists performing.

Cox announced the end of the showcase series in an emotional video on Instagram last week, saying she made the decision moments before posting, after speaking with Paparazzi’s management and close friends.

Cox pointed to a “multitude of factors” for ending the show, from fewer queer patrons at the bar to the polarizing discourse this changing demographic has created within Victoria’s queer community.

“Us gays love our opinions,” Cox joked. “It’s gotten to the point where people don’t necessarily know what they’re angry about and it’s thrown me in a really awkward position.”

The discourse has caused an emotional burden for Cox as the producer of the long-running drag show, saying “it’s too many pieces for me to try to put together and that leaves the option of ending the show.”

This is a blow for Drag Sundays regulars, who refer to the show as “church” for being their weekly fix of queer culture and community engagement.

Read the full story at Capital Daily.

Capital Bulletin

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny. High 25C / low 11C.

🚗 Uber launching today: The first rides will take place today at noon at the Harbour Air Seaplanes Terminal. Uber was approved May 10 for a licence transfer from the Passenger Transportation Board.

🚧 Traffic delays on Church Road: Delays are expected June 6 to 8 between Wadams and Throup for boring work related to a roundabout construction project.  

📚 Oak Bay Library reopening today: The Greater Victoria Public Library’s branch will open today at 10am after being closed in January when asbestos contamination was discovered.

🚨 Missing person: Christine Pash, 30, was last heard from on May 28. [Saanich Police]

NEWS

Sidney drops proposed downtown bike lanes plan

Two bike lanes included in Sidney’s Draft Active Transportation Plan have been removed from the plan’s priority items following mass public objection. The plans for protected bike lanes on Fifth between Sidney and Orchard and painted bike lanes on Bevan between First and Seventh have been recharacterized as long-term items that will be considered at a future date.

This removal is in response to disapproval of the project outlined in a public engagement survey, which received over 1,000 responses, and several hundred letters written to the municipality. The survey found that 46% of respondents did not want any projects conducted in Sidney to improve cycling.

The primary concern about cycling projects outlined in the survey was the potential loss of available parking in the downtown core. Respondents were concerned that loss of parking could have a negative impact on downtown businesses as many visitors drive to Sidney. Concern was also voiced over the impact on seniors, who often are unable to cycle and depend on accessible parking downtown. Residents over 65 make up 41% of Sidney’s population.

A third proposal for a painted bike lane on Mills Road has been completely removed from the drafted plan.

Capital Daily reported last year on the challenges to Victoria's cycling infrastructure. Although the CRD has the most bicycle commuters per capita in Canada, many roads and intersections remain dangerous for cyclists. Municipalities like Oak Bay have also resisted building bike lanes, creating gaps in the CRD’s cycling network. Oak Bay has added just 500 metres of bike lanes in the last 11 years.

By Sarah Madsen

SPONSORED BY THE ROOT CELLAR

Locally grown goodness from your locally owned green grocer...

Time spent gathered around the table is what connects us as people, families, and communities. Step into one of the two Root Cellar markets here in Victoria to experience it, including their second location in Cook Street Village.

Both markets offer Vancouver Island’s largest selection of locally grown, organic, and conventional produce as well as full-service butchers, delis, artisanal grocery, and more. Poised at the intersection of Victoria’s urban and agricultural regions, their McKenzie Corner flagship, founded in 2008, is also home to the Potting Shed, a boutique florist and beloved garden centre.

Cultivating a strong appreciation of fresh local food and sustainable food systems in the community is a responsibility the award winning Root Cellar takes seriously.

Discover it for yourself at TheRootCellar.ca.

Capital Picks

🌊 Ocean Week radio trivia: Tune into Ocean 98.5 today to answer some ocean related trivia and win prizes.

🎵 Using nothing but Joni’s songs, a story emerges—of love, loss, and longing—transforming a concert into a moving and exuberant piece of theatre. Learn more.*

🏺 Guy Hollington at The Avenue Gallery: This featured artist specializes in blown glasswork, with his current series exploring elements of chance and new possibilities.

🤝 Now hiring: Account Coordinator at Capital Daily.

*Sponsored Listing

In Other News

🚿 Unusual organisms found in Victoria drinking water
A Saseenos resident discovered millimetre-long worm-like organisms in their washroom sink. The CRD has said that the organisms are likely drain worms, which often live in plumbing fixtures, and are harmless. [Victoria News]

🐞 Colwood releases thousands of ladybugs to protect trees
The ladybugs are intended to combat pests including aphids, and are being used as an alternative to chemical pesticides. The city also plans to release aphid midges to manage aphid damage. [CTV] Capital Daily reported last month on environmentally friendly ways to preserve the CRD’s Garry oak ecosystem.

SPONSORED BY UNITED WAY SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND

Thank you for your support

United Way concludes the mental health campaign, thanking all who fostered a supportive environment for young minds to thrive, grow, and overcome life's challenges on Southern Vancouver Island.

To those who helped, thank you!

In Case You Missed It

⛵ Victorians racing to Alaska: Four Victoria teams are competing in the Race to Alaska (R2AK), a physical endurance race that forbids vessels from using motors. [Capital Daily]

🏠 Explore the facts and fiction of 15-minute cities in the virtual, live Rising Economy podcast on Jun. 13, with regional urban planning experts.*

☀️ Victoria weather records: During May, Victoria’s mean weather was above 13.4C, the sixth time it has been so high on record.  

*Sponsored Listing