Dec 17 - Island whales become TV stars

Good morning !

This weekend, some Island-area whales are getting their star turn in one of the most popular nature programs ever filmed.

More on that below, plus news on UVic’s emissions plan, carollers helping the food bank, and today’s fog.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☁️ 9 / 4

Tomorrow: ☁️ 9 / 6

Tuesday:🌧️ 10 / 6

7-day forecast

NEWS

BBC’s Planet Earth does a deep dive on whale poo in Island waters

In 2018 the whale researchers at MERS, near the northern tip of the Island, didn't expect to get a call from the world's most famous nature documentary series.

But BBC's Planet Earth crew was very interested not only in Island waters’ humpbacks, but also in how the whales got food into their bodies—and out. 

These local giants now play a starring role in the latest season's 7th episode, which debuted yesterday on BBC America.

What brought these whales this breakout role? Their resiliency, for one: bouncing back after near-extinction. Their innovativeness, too: devising a new feeding style seen nowhere else.

And don't forget the part that they, and their waste, play in capturing and storing carbon.

Read the full story at Capital Daily to learn about that carbon capturing, that unique feeding style, and how the researchers and film crew captured it all.

NEWS

Electric boilers expected to cut UVic campus emissions by half

The Government of Canada recently announced the opening of applications for the latest round of its Low Carbon Economy Challenge, with up to $170M up for grabs for projects deploying proven, low-carbon technologies.

This launch highlighted UVic’s progress on a project to electrify a portion of the district energy system that services 32 buildings across its main campus.

Supported by up to $2.4M from the 2022 Challenge Fund, UVic is replacing one existing natural gas boiler with electric boilers, which will reduce consumption of natural gas and its overall greenhouse gas emissions, helping to save on costs and creating a cleaner campus.

UVic says the funding will help it cut emissions 50% compared to 2010 levels, and will bring it to that milestone before the target date of 2030. In 2010 the plant emitted 9,200 tonnes of CO2 per year, while the changes are expected to cut out 5,200 tonnes per year—the equivalent of not driving 1,200 gas cars, UVic estimates.

Read more on this and other local tech and innovation stories in Victoria Tech Journal.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Fog advisory continues until about noon today. Visibility has been near zero in parts of Greater Victoria & on Malahat.

Weather this week: Cloud & rain. Mostly 4C to 10C.

Victoria 4, Tri-City 3 in Royals’ last hockey game before holidays.

NEWS

Carols for a cause: New concert helps food bank at a dire time

The Choral Evolution choir is performing in Sooke on Wednesday, and they’re adding something special in support of the food bank. The sing-along show will feature popular Christmas carols for the audience to join in on, while giving all donations to the Sooke Food Bank. 

These are difficult days for food banks like Sooke’s. Per Food Bank BC, food bank use is up 57% since 2019 while donations are down 30%. Food bank reliance can often rise during the holidays in particular, and the carol concert aims to help fill the community’s pantries and hearts at a time when both may be depleted.  

“It’s not just the idea of giving the money to the food bank, but also the sense of community getting together and singing,” said Joscelyn Gagnon, who recommended that the choir do an event giving back this season. 

“There [are] people who are very lost this time of year, so it's such a wonderful heartwarming thing to share with the community.”

Read more on the choir and the food bank at The Westshore. Plus: other Westshore news including the opening of new affordable Indigenous housing and a delay in renaming a park after a former councillor.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🐺🐺 A mother wolf and child photographed amid Island greenery. [Facebook photo]

🎀 The local foodie’s gift guide: Stuff stockings with specialty local chocolate, seasonings, liquor, dinnerware, gift baskets, and more. [Tasting Victoria]

⛄ Walking in a winter wonderland. Tall Tree’s nature therapy offers a new path to healing for kids, youth, and adults outside the clinic walls.*

🍜 New venture from Nubo opening in Cook St. Village on Feb 1. Taisho Japanese Grill & Bar will take over the space of Collective Wine Bar.

🤝 Now hiring: Manager - The Dining Room Restaurant at The Butchart Gardens

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

A year after wedding in palliative care, Oak Bay couple reports cancer reprieve
In 2022 Dennis Stacey was rushed from a hike to the ER and diagnosed with a heart tumour. He proposed to his partner immediately, and they were married within hours. But after heart surgery and experimental treatments, he's still alive. [CTV] 

Italian restaurant’s co-founders step away after 27 years
The rustic, local, seasonal Cafe Brio makes everything in-house from scratch, from the table bread to the cured meats that accompany an antipasto board. But starting next  month, it will be doing so without Greg Hayes and Silvia Marcolini. [Tasting Victoria]

Stop calling yourself an engineer, BC Supreme Court tells peninsula PPC candidate 
The unlicenced David Hilderman described himself as such, based on his schooling and general type of work, when running for Saanich - Gulf Islands. A judge sided with BC's professional engineering association against him. [CP / Yahoo]

🤝 Now Hiring

Thinking of making your next career move? Let us help!

• Sales Development Representative at Waterworth

• Dental Assistant (3-4 days) at Oaklands Dental

• Executive Director at Capital Bike

• Accounting Technician at Westin Bear Mountain Resort & Spa

• Cooks at The Butchart Gardens

Looking for more openings? See 40+ jobs open now on YYJobs.

Hiring? Post your job to have it featured here, and fill your opening fast!

🗓️ Things to do

🎄 Sleigh the Day: This afternoon of holiday festivities includes craft making, caroling, artisan vendors, and hot beverages. On Government between Humboldt and Courtney. Today. 1-4pm. 

🛍️ Last Minute Market at Phillips Brewing & Malting Co’s Showcase Gallery featuring over twenty vendors, music, and beer. Today. 1-5pm.

🏛️ Old Fashioned Christmas: Helmcken House is hosting music, first-hand Christmas accounts, and decorations. Today. 12-2pm.

🎥 Love Actually at Cinecenta: The classic Christmas film will be shown at the UVic theatre. Today and tomorrow. 7pm. 

🎵 MPS Music Bingo Fundraiser: Test your music knowledge and raise funds for MPS research at The Fernwood Inn. Tonight. 7-9pm.

🎙️ Lorraine Nygaard Quartet: The band presents “Cosy Winter’s Night” at Hermann’s Jazz Club. Tonight. Doors 5:30pm, show 7pm.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Should Islanders be able to sell water in bulk from their property? A Comox Valley dispute heads to BC’s Supreme Court to help answer that question. [LJI / Capital Daily]

The best holiday treats at 12 of the best local bakeries. [Tasting Victoria]

Major overnight crash in Saanich badly damages car, injures 2 teens, and takes out hydro pole near Elk Lake. [CHEK]

A battle at sea: Close-up photo of the sea lion vs. octopus incident.

How a pair of shoes kickstarted Victoria’s Black history. [Capital Daily]

That’s it!

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