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- June 21 - Province signs a Sound agreement on old-growth
June 21 - Province signs a Sound agreement on old-growth
Plus: Teen taken from water in Langford dies in hospital
Mark Brennae
June 21, 2024
Good morning !
As we mark the importance, history, resilience and culture of Indigenous Peoples today, the province has announced a timely agreement with First Nations to protect some old-growth forests.
And some sad news this morning. The Belmont Secondary student pulled from Langford Lake over the weekend has died in hospital.
— Mark
Have the federal and provincial governments made enough inroads into reconciliation? |
Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
NEWS
‘War in the Woods’ battlegrounds to be permanently protected
Aerial view of Meares Island. Photo: TJ Watt / Ancient Forest Alliance
An agreement between BC and the Ahoushat and Tla-o-qui-aht Nations will permanently protect 76K ha of Crown land in Clayoquot Sound.
Ten new conservation sites will be added including old-growth forests on Meares Island and in the Kennedy Lake area that became a focal point of environmental and Indigenous rights activism against clear-cut logging in protests during the 1980s and 1990s.
The War in the Woods came to a head in 1993 when 12K protesters flocked to the area to demonstrate. Nearly 1K were arrested, leading to international news coverage that shone a bright—but negative—light on Canada. At the time, the blockades were the largest acts of civil disobedience in Canadian history, until the Fairy Creek blockades decades later.
These new conservancies will be in place starting next week as a continuation of the old-growth deferral implemented four years ago. The agreement was supported by roughly $40M in funding from the non-profit conservation group Nature United, to support the current Tree Farm Licence holder (TFL) as they remove logging areas to establish these conservancies.
“Pacific coastal rainforests, such as those in Clayoquot Sound, also hold vast amounts of carbon stored for hundreds of years” and will maintain healthy air and water throughout the community, the group said. Another $8M was provided by the province through Canada's Old Growth Nature Fund to begin restoration work in the area.
Tyson Atleo (?ikaatius), a hereditary representative for Ahousaht Nation, attributed the decision to “over a decade of community engagement, technical work, partnership building, negotiations,” and generations of effort from Ahousaht to ensure they can lead the stewardship of their territories.
“We are pleased to preserve these resources for future generations, but now call on the government, industry, and public to support our management of these conservancies into the long-term future,” Atleo said in a statement.
“These lands have benefited from the stewardship of our Hawiih [hereditary chiefs] and the lands have provided benefits to our people for untold generations,” Elmer Frank, chief councillor of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, said in a release. Frank said the conservancies ensure “clear-cut logging has no place in these important old-growth forests,” and brings BC’s laws closer to aligning with Tla-o-qui-aht laws.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Property taxes are due in Victoria & elsewhere on July 2.
Protest tomorrow: 1 Million Voices for Inclusion. [9am at VCC]
Umo Scam: BC Transit warns of an account posing as the bus service on Facebook. [Details]
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
EVENTS
AfriCa Fest runs today through Sunday
Quebec City’s AfriCa Fest hosted earlier this year. Photo: Issamba Centre / Facebook
It’s more than just an occasion to have fun and wave your arms in the air like you just don’t care—it’s a chance to learn about African and Caribbean culture, heritage, and diversity.
There are 54 counties in Africa and 26 in the Caribbean, and what better way to connect with and learn about these exotic lands while getting together with a few hundred of your closest friends? And the aromas. If you’ve ever eaten authentic foods from Africa or the Caribbean, you know there’s a lot to savour. If you haven’t, do yourself a solid and get down to Centennial Square over the weekend. It’s a cool opportunity to soak in some awesome smells and to experience African music, dance, art, and more.
“Whether you’re looking for unique gifts, handmade jewelry, or authentic African cuisine, you’ll find it all at AfriCa Fest,” says artistic director and producer, Pulcherie Mboussi.
AfriCa Fest vendors will be open from 6pm to 9pm tonight, from 11am to 9pm tomorrow, and 11am to 8pm on Sun.
NEWS
Victoria team wins Race2Alaska
Team Malolo in action. Photo: Courtesy of R2AK
Team Malolo finished the 1,200km race across the ocean with no motors in 127 hours and 36 minutes. As the first—by nearly 150km—of the human-powered vessels to get from Victoria up to Ketchikan, its crew wins $10K. In the R2AK, second place really is first loser: the runner-up prize is just a set of steak knives.
Third time's a charm
Malolo's Duncan Gladman and Paul Gibson have raced together twice—winning those steak knives in 2019 and being taken out by a log in 2022. Gladman, the skipper, told the Times Colonist he was ready to stop after that defeat but was convinced to take to sail (and pedal) this year by new teammates Becky Kelly and Matthew Macatee.
A gruelling challenge, since 2015
Every year, several dozen racers come from around the world to compete, beginning with a 64km “proving ground” from Port Townsend, WA to Victoria and then taking off from here for the main leg. Last year, Capital Daily profiled some of the local racers including the Ship of Fools and solo kayaker Scott Macdonald.
You can track the rest of the race here and watch the finishes on the R2AK Facebook.
⭐️ Capital Picks
🪶 Indigenous Peoples Day: Capital Daily’s roundup of events taking place over the weekend.
🚲 Did you win? Prize winners for Spring Go by Bike Week.
👷 Plumbers and Pipefitters reach your full potential with UA Local 324. Enjoy steady and stable employment, higher wages, healthcare benefits, pension plans, and more. Learn more.*
☕ Rhino Coffee opens a new location at Jordie Lunn Bike Park Clubhouse, the second in Langford.
🤝 Now hiring: Organizing Coordinator 1 at Dogwood.
🗞️ In Other News
Teen taken from Langford Lake while drowning dies in hospital
Seventeen-year-old Keron McKay was pulled from the water near the floating dock off Westhills on Sat. afternoon and given first aid while emergency crews arrived. According to a GoFundMe page set up for his family, the Belmont Secondary student has since died from his injuries. [CHEK]
VicPD standing behind its version of dog-shooting incident
The police force issued a statement yesterday “clarifying” what it says are the facts surrounding Mon.’s 3:30am shooting on Ellice, near Gorge E. An officer was making an arrest when a dog suddenly appeared and “lunged aggressively” toward him. The officer shot the dog. CHEK News reported the animal to be one year old and muzzled. VicPD says the dog was at least six, was not muzzled, and had a rap sheet as long as its paw—having been involved in 11 previous incidents. [VicPD]
Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen ferry gets new upper-deck pet area
Outdoor pet areas for leashed dogs and cats in carriers are now open on the Spirit of British Columbia and the Spirit of Vancouver Island. The Coastal Celebration and the Queen of New Westminster are expected to create new pet areas this summer. [BC Ferries]
Minimum wage increase for delivery and ride-hailing workers
Wages will increase to $20.88 per hour of engaged time starting Sep. 3. for those working for apps like Uber, SkipTheDishes, and DoorDash. The new regulations also include protections to safeguard tip earnings, establish a personal-vehicle allowance of $0.45/km for ride-hailing and $0.35/km for deliveries, and provide payment for termination without cause. [BC Gov’t]
🗓️ Things to do
🩰 Hot Pink: Peers Victoria Fundraiser & Cheesecake Burlesque Revue Triumph. The Cheesecake Burlesque Revue, known for its witty, whimsical, and downright fabulous routines, recently took tall honours in Las Vegas. Belfry Theatre. Tomorrow. 6pm. [Info]
🎸 Marc Atkinson Trio: As a part of JazzFest, the Hornby Island guitarist will be joined by guitarist Jody Rutherford, bassist Scott White, and emerging musician Becky Prokova at Hermann’s Jazz Club. Today. 7pm. [Info]
🎤 Gondwana: The Chile-based reggae band will headline today’s Ska & Reggae Festival concert at Ship Point, with additional performances by Big Mountain, Batuque Axé, and DJ Su Comandante Espinoza. 4:20pm. [Info]
🎵 Colwood’s Music in the Park: Freeze Frame will perform at Colwood City Hall. Today. 5:30-7:30pm. [Info]
🎹 Booker T’s Stax Revue: The Grammy-winning Hammond B3 player will be joined by his 10-piece band and an opening performance from Blue Moon Marquee at the Royal Theatre during JazzFest. Today. 7:30pm. [Info]
🎤 The Suicide Machines: As a part of Ska & Reggae Festival, the Detroit-based punk band will perform at Victoria Curling Club alongside additional performances from The Slackers, The Creepshow, Space Chimp, and DJ I-Lot. Today. 7:30pm-1:30am. [Info]
🎙️ Kristina Helene: The Victoria-based singer and songwriter will perform at Fathom Lounge during JazzFest. Today. 9pm. [Info]
🗣️ ‘In Defense of Ska’: Aaron Carnes hosts a live recording of his podcast with special guests Jay Navarro of The Suicide Machines and Vic Ruggiero of The Slackers at Victoria Curling Club during Ska & Reggae Festival. Today. 2pm. [Info]
🪶 National Indigenous Peoples Day at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. See the latest acquisition on display in the AGGV lobby, a House Post entitled, Kiss the Sky (2015) by artist, Chris Paul during today’s open house. AGGV. 10am-5pm. [Info]
🪶 National Indigenous Peoples Day at Royal Roads: Join this massive celebration with live music, performances, canoe challenges, and a fry bread station. Today. 10am. [Info]
👀 In Case You Missed It
Thursday’s headlines: Post-secondary minister demands answers from UVic in teen’s death; Tsawout (STAUTW) Nation buys back land; WestJet cancels flights in preparation for mechanics strike; And more. [Jun. 20]
New Victoria studio apartments going up for prisoners getting out. [Capital Daily]
Centennial Square stabbing on Wed. evening leaves victim hospitalized. A suspect is in custody. [VicPD]
Orcas say hello: Two curious Biggs orcas got close to a group of onlookers as they swam through Haro Strait. [Video]
Date your city: Have your say on Victoria’s upcoming Official Community Plan—with a dating app twist.
Māori people returned to Nuu-chah-nulth territory—the first cultural exchange between the two Indigenous groups since the 1990s. [Ha-Shilth-Sa]
Pacific FC loses to 10-man York United in Toronto. [Times Colonist]
That’s it!
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