Thurs. June 8 - World Ocean Day

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning !

Today is World Ocean Day, the highlight of this week’s World Ocean events. It’s the perfect opportunity to learn more about the waters around our little island—or prove your extensive knowledge of oceans at Bard and Banker’s trivia night.

After a decade of living in landlocked cities out east, I’ve loved reconnecting with the ocean life that surrounds us, from the harbour seals in our marinas to eagles nesting in the trees. I hope you get out and enjoy our big blue backyard today (and every day)!

NEWS

Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club meets with Health Canada after exemption application rejected

The Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club’s (VCBC) met with a Health Canada panel yesterday to review the Cannabis Act, a week after the club’s application for exemption from the same act was rejected. Health Canada maintained that VCBC had not proven the exemption was necessary for medical purposes. VCBC has sought permission to sell medical cannabis products with THC higher than 10mg, the current maximum concentration, to accommodate customers requiring higher concentration for medical use, including to treat cancer and chronic pain.

“It’s really ironic that one week after we get turned down from the exemption another branch of Health Canada is reaching out to us for help to see how they could make their program more like ours,” said Ted Smith, founder of VCBC.

Smith hopes that the panel will recommend a series of changes to Health Canada, including higher THC dosages and licensed storefronts for medical use.

Read more on the consultations and exemption request at Capital Daily.

Capital Bulletin

🌤️ Today's weather: Mainly cloudy. High 23C / low 13C.

🔥 Campfire bans take effect today: The Category 1 open fire ban applies to all public and private land in the Coastal Fire Centre.

🚧 Highway 4 closed at Cameron Lake Bluff due to wildfires: A detour will route traffic via Bamfield while the highway remains closed. This summer is estimated to be the worst wildfire season that Canada has seen.

⛵ Race to Alaska second leg starts today: The race to Ketchikan kicks off today at noon in the Inner Harbour. Racers will row or paddle 1,142km from Victoria to Ketchikan. Read more on the R2AK and its local competitors here.

🧾 New South Island Indigenous Business Directory: The directory will include Indigenous businesses from graphic design and catering to engineering and project management.

Happy hour

Check out these deals around town today:

🍺 All Swans beer is $6.50 from 3 to 6pm*

🦪 Find a buck fifty a shuck at Ferris’ from 3 to 5pm*

🍽️ Get bites from $3 at Part and Parcel from 3 to 6pm*

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NEWS

Publicly-funded counselling to expand on the Island

Island residents dealing with moderate mental health and substance use issues will soon have increased access to publicly funded counselling services, according to Island Health. From expanded services to newly added programs, 11 counselling providers are set to receive a total of $2.2M a year to meet the needs of at least 1,500 clients.

Existing organizations that receive funding, including Umbrella Society, Pacific Centre Family Services Association, and Cool Aid Society, will be able to increase their staffing and offer expanded programming.

Cognito Health, Trafalgar Addiction Treatment, and EHN Outpatient Services will be added as new services thanks to the funding, following multiple Requests for Proposals submitted by Island Health in 2022.

Six of these programs will serve the South Island, including two virtual services for people living anywhere on the Island.

A key focus of the funding is to expand culturally-specific services to address the disproportionate impact of mental health challenges on Indigenous people. Victoria Native Friendship Centre will increase these cultural services in the CRD, with Tilicum Lelum Aboriginal Society serving central Island Indigenous patients.

These services can be accessed through physician referral or self-referral, with up to 12 counselling sessions covered. Island Health points out that while not everyone will need all 12 sessions, some may need continuous treatment and accommodations can be made on a case-by-case basis to extend care.

Island service providers to receive funding:

• Virtual services: Cognito Health and Trafalgar Addiction Treatment Centre

• South Island: Pacific Centre Family Services Association, Sooke Family Resources Society, Umbrella Society, and Cool Aid Society

• Central Island: EHN Outpatient Services in Nanaimo

• North Island: Crisis and Counselling Services in Port Hardy

• Tofino/Ucluelet: West Coast Community Resources Society

• Indigenous services: Victoria Native Friendship Centre and Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Society in Nanaimo

By Robyn Bell

NEWS

Someone in Greater Victoria has a $35M lottery ticket

The holder of a ticket purchased here—numbers 4, 7, 13, 16, 31, 32, and 39—will split the $70M Lotto Max jackpot with a person in Ontario, and has 52 weeks to claim their prize.

This win comes just two months after Sidney bookkeeper and amateur crabber Scott Gurney came forward to claim the $55M Lotto Max jackpot from Feb. 28, whose winning ticket he bought at the Save-On-Foods on Beacon Ave. That resulted in a few cases of mistaken identity for Greater Victoria’s other Scott Gurney, who is also a lottery player and was inundated with congratulatory calls.

SPONSORED BY 8X REAL ESTATE

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Schedule a downtown walking tour with Dustin to see what downtown Victoria has to offer.

Capital Picks

🎈 The Monster in Royal Athletic Park: For the first time in Canada, The Monster’s 300m bouncy course will be available. June 8-11. [Tickets]

🏠 CKT is looking for host homes to host Japanese students from Aug. 2 to 14 (12 nights). If you're interested in hosting, contact Yuri at [email protected] by June 20. Hosts will be compensated. Seniors, single families with/without kids are welcome.*

📖 A Ribbon of Highway book launch: Russell Books will host the launch of Taylor Roades’ new photography book that features images from across Canada, including 15 island locations. [Details]

🎙️ Fuat Tuaç at Hermann’s Jazz Club: Enjoy a program of vocal jazz in Turkish, English, and French for Tuaç’s new album The Immigrant today, 5:30pm. [Tickets]

🧰 U.A. Local 324 has plumbing and pipe fitting positions available right now! They provide steady and stable employment with higher wages and generous benefits. Learn more.*

🤝 Now hiring: Office administration, receiving, shipping at Anchor Marine Electric.

World Ocean Day:

🦀 Intertidal walk: Participate in a beach walk, intertidal talk, and scavenger hunt today at Cattle Point. [Details]

🏖️ Beach Clean-up at Clover Point Park: Help clean up garbage from the beach today, 3-5pm. Activities will also be available for kids including colouring and interactive sessions on the ocean and marine life.

🌊 Ocean pub trivia at Bard & Banker: Test your ocean knowledge and win prizes today at Bard & Bankers’ Sam McGee Room, 6:30pm.

*Sponsored Listing

In Other News

⛺ Latest sweep moves campers from Topaz Park
Police and bylaw officials moved in on Tuesday to take down encampments, saying they had received complaints and safety concerns from sports teams using the park. Advocates told CHEK that many campers had been evicted from a housing facility nearby, and said people will continue to relocate from spot to spot outdoors until the province provides enough affordable and supportive housing. [CHEK]

Tuesday’s enforcement focused on moving tents along, but past sweeps have been accused of damaging, losing, and withholding property.

⛴️ BC Ferries’ Pacific Buffet will not reopen
This week’s announcement cited food and labour prices, supply chains, and insufficient use (about 9% of passengers) for not reopening the buffet that was shuttered in early 2020 at the pandemic’s onset. BC Ferries now seeks public input on what to put in the space; previous rejected ideas include a sports bar, gym/spa, casino, and wedding/reception space.

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Consider a complimentary consultation to learn about Ultherapy at Philosophy MD. Rebates up to $500 available until June 30.

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In Case You Missed It

🔥 Canada’s worst wildfire season? Dire federal predictions arrive as major blazes rage across Canada, with eastern fires’ smoke clogging Toronto, Ottawa, and New York skies. How will this affect the Island?

🕹️ Quazar’s Pop-up Arcade now open at Bay Centre. Find newly acquired and restored retro games from the 80s and 90s not seen in the arcade.*

🪺 Crows dive-bombing downtown: Nesting season has the birds behaving extra aggressively to pedestrians. [CTV]

⚖️ Don’t let a driving prohibition ruin your life. The lawyers at Acumen Law Corporation have successfully defended thousands of DUI/IRP cases. Learn more at VancouverCriminalLaw.com.*

*Sponsored Listing