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- Oct. 12 - Greater Victoria gets passing grade
Oct. 12 - Greater Victoria gets passing grade
Advocates slam new restrictions on drugs. Indigenous stories book club. Grizzly bears in need of protection.
Capital Daily Team
October 12, 2023
Good morning !
Today we look at Victoria’s report card for 2023—overall, we got a passing grade of ‘B’ for quality of life, but there are plenty of areas of improvement needed for the capital, particularly for housing and cost of living.
Do you think a B grade is accurate? |
— Robyn
Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes
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🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (2/10). Current smoke forecast.
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NEWS
Greater Victoria scores ‘B’ for quality of life in latest Vital Signs report
Housing still a major concern for respondents. Photo: James MacDonald / Capital Daily
The annual pulse check for the city helps give an overall look at its vitality according to its citizens. This year’s report surveyed more than 5,300 people—the highest in Vital Signs’ 18-year history.
Overall quality of life in Greater Victoria scored a B grade, a decrease from the 2022 grade of B+.
On track with previous years, the two most pressing issues continue to be cost of living and housing. Respondents said the best aspects of living in Greater Victoria are the natural environment, the climate, air quality, and walkability.
The top five ways to make Greater Victoria a better place, according to respondents:
Affordable housing and more rental options
Social issues (e.g. mental health, homelessness)
Improved public safety
Better public transportation
More affordable cost of living
Housing has remained a sore spot for the city since the grading began, with this year’s grade falling at a D—though this is an improvement from last year’s F-grade—with 76% of respondents saying the availability of affordable rental accommodations is below average or poor.
The cost of living has continued to rise in the capital—the living wage for Greater Victoria in 2022 was $24.29, a $4 increase from the 2021 living wage and over $7 more than the current minimum wage. The living wage for 2023 will be released next month.
The standard of living held steady at B-, the same score received last year.
There were some improvements to GV’s grades—health and wellness increased from a C+ to a B- and environmental sustainability from a B- to a B. But safety, learning and sports and recreation each saw half-grade decreases.
By Robyn Bell
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Hit and run: Police seek details after pedestrian was struck at Jutland and Cecelia. Pedestrian was sent to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
District of Saanich looking for youth representatives for its advisory board. Applications open until Nov. 10.
NEWS
Forcing illicit drug users to the shadows is dangerous, says local outreach worker
Photo: Eric Plummer
The BC government’s tightened restrictions on where one legally can use illicit drugs such as opioids, crack and cocaine could lead to more clandestine use of those drugs—and possibly more overdoses—according to at least one outreach worker who should know—she’s OD’d twice.
“We can't respond to an overdose because we're not visible on the street,” says Karen Mills, co-founder and lead co-ordinator for Victoria’s Peer2Peer Indigenous Society.
Mills says the proposed prohibitions will bring an increase to bylaw and police enforcement, potentially driving homeless people to use drugs in secluded areas.
“They're going to be dying alone.”
On Jan. 31, the BC government decriminalized personal possession of opioids (heroin, morphine, and fentanyl), crack and powder cocaine, methamphetamine (meth), and MDMA (ecstasy) in amounts of 2.5 grams and less.
Last week, it announced its proposed amended public drug-use regulations, which would put illicit use more in alignment with the limits of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis.
“I feel like we're going backwards,” Mills said. “When you're homeless you have no safe place to consume substances, and so you’re going to be out in the public.”
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⭐️ Capital Picks
📚 GVPL’s Indigenous stories book club will run every second Saturday, starting this weekend.
📸 Photo: Beautiful sunset in Chinatown.
🌼 Refresh your perspective on your current career or dive into new directions with Continuing Studies at UVic. Enrich your skills and receive valuable training.*
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🗞️ In Other News
Vandals break windows, damage 9 vehicles in Langford
The vandalism happened on Grob Court just before 4am Monday. One witness told RCMP they saw 2-4 males take off in separate vehicles. One of the suspects sprayed a witness with what police believe was bear spray as they were driving past.
New public washroom in Sidney doubles in price to $810K
The restroom is to be built adjacent to the waterfront near Seaport Place. Some of the money to pay for it will come from a federal government accessibility fund. [Peninsula News Review]
Leading bear expert says starving grizzlies need protection
Biologist Wayne McCrory says the skinny bears don’t have enough salmon to eat—an indication a huge amount of protection work needs to be done. McCrory says it’s in “crisis mode.” [Toronto Star]
Feds reject order to protect last spotted owl known alive
The Trudeau cabinet has refused an emergency order to save the endangered bird’s BC habitat from logging. “How is the fact there is only one wild-born spotted owl left in Canada not the definition of an emergency?” asks the Wilderness Committee, one of the petitioners. [The Narwhal]
7th annual Cst. Sarah Beckett Memorial Scholarship awarded
Kendra Hamilton is this year’s recipient of the $2K endowment in the name of the 32-year-old RCMP officer who was killed on duty in 2016. Hamilton, a Claremont Secondary grad, is taking psychology and criminology at Wagner College in New York.
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🗓️ Things to do
Die Walkure: Wagner’s epic opera will premiere at the Royal Theatre. Performance at 6pm.
Michael Kaeshammer: The acclaimed pianist will perform his usual range of jazz, classical and pop music at McPherson Playhouse. Show at 7:30pm.
Hellbound: Burlesque Tribute to Metal Music: Rock out at this show featuring burlesque, drag and all things metal at Victoria Event Centre. Show at 8pm.
The Victoria Festival of Authors runs Oct. 11-15, with thirty-five diverse writers of poetry and prose. Free tickets for virtual and in-person programming! Check out all the events taking place.*
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👀 In Case You Missed It
A black bear walks into a Lake Cowichan gas bar: Check out the video of the bear looking for treats, and settling for—you guessed it—gummy bears. [CHEK]
Discover hidden treasures with Victoria’s Second-Hand Shop-Around event.
Surely you’ll slow down to see it: A new wood carving on the side of Highway 14 west of Sooke has caught some eyes. [CHEK]
Saanich Fire chief calling it quits: Michael Burgess has been chief for 34 years. He has announced he will retire in Jan. A new Saanich Fire chief is expected to be in place in the coming months.
That’s it!
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