Aug 18 - YYJ lands new hotel

Good morning !

We’re heading into another weekend of hot, sunny weather. But on the other side of it are days with temps we’re more accustomed to—you know, 22, 23C.

So if you’ve had enough of this heat, relief is on the way. If you haven’t, there’s still a wicked weekend of weather ahead!

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️ 23 / 12

Tomorrow: ☀️ 26 / 14

Sunday: ☀️ 28 / 11

7-day forecast

🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (2/10). no smoke expected.

🚘️ Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

New Marriott to land near YYJ

A new hotel for air travellers to YYJ is closer to getting off the ground after the Victoria Airport Authority (VAA) confirmed it has hired Canadian developers the Kothari Group to build it.

The three-storey, 129-room hotel will be built on 1.4ha of commercially zoned land at the corner of Highway 17 and Beacon Avenue West in Sidney.

“The addition of the TownePlace Suites Hotel at YYJ will provide travellers and visitors to the region with convenient access not only to the airport and Sidney, but also to the many amenities and services in the area and the Pat Bay highway into Victoria,” said Geoff Dickson, VAA president and CEO.

The hotel, which will operate under the Marriott banner, is billed as the region’s first extended-stay hotel, which means the rooms are larger than in regular hotels and have fully equipped kitchens so guests can cook their own meals.

“It has great value for the guests who are looking for a long-term stay but do not want to eat out all the time,” Andy Zhao, a spokesperson for the Kothari Group told Capital Daily.

The fully equipped kitchens will complement one- and two-bedroom rooms in the hotel, which also will feature a fitness centre, swimming pool, and meeting space.

Marriott and the Kothari Group updated the hotel’s exterior design to ensure it would be an architectural fit in the neighbourhood, the release said.

Unlike most international airports Victoria’s doesn’t have a hotel on its grounds, so this will bring Victoria in line with its competitors, said Paul Nursey, CEO of Destination Greater Victoria.

“This will make travel more comfortable, easier and provide a greater range of choices and amenities,” he said in a release. Construction will begin soon with an expected completion date of spring 2025.

“Typically, a hotel construction project takes approximately 18 months to reach completion,” Zhao said

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

RCAF Cyclone helicopter will land today near the Work Point property of CFB Esquimalt during a demonstration of the Raven Program, 12:30pm.

EVENTS

Weekend events happening around the city

Summer festivals and events continue this week celebrating all things music, arts, and community. We’ve compiled a selection of some of the best activities you may want to check out while taking advantage of the sunshine.

Tour de Victoria
Presented by non-profit Ryders Cycling Society of Canada, the mass cycling event starts from the BC legislature tomorrow with eight routes for cyclists of varying experience, including a free kids ride. The 160km Factor ride begins at 7am.  

The Function Festival
The city’s first festival celebrating BIPOC music and arts returns for its second year tomorrow at Ship Point Harbour. The main music stage features Kyle, Zach Zoya, Khanvict, and more. Vendors, food trucks, a DJ tent, a barber shop, a kids zone, and a live art installation also will be among the activities.

Redfern Parkfest
The South Jubilee free neighbourhood party takes place at Redfern Park Sun. from 11am to 4:30pm. A bouncy castle, lawn games, raffle prizes—plus live music from Zuza and Izzy, Mbira Spirit, Sara Rose, and more. Refreshing drinks at a beer garden and a barbecue from Little Piggy Catering. There will be an unveiling of a new community garden at Redfern Commons. From 1-3:15pm, it’s BARKfest!, a series of dog competitions including a costume contest, dog agility races, and a best-trick contest.  

Fibrations Festival 
This annual free celebration of fibre arts in Fernwood will host more than 60 artists from across North America. The event at Fernwood Community Centre on Sun., includes experience workshops, demonstrations, vendors, a toonie raffle, and hands-on activities for children. From 10am to 5pm.

Lighthouse Brewing Co. Block Party 
In celebration of the craft brewery's 25th anniversary, the company is hosting a community party tomorrow in Esquimalt at 836 Devonshire Rd., from 3-9pm.

NEWS

Seniors home gets well-timed cooling following province-funded renovations

Residents of Campbell Lodge can keep cool this summer thanks to completed renovations funded by the province through the Capital Renewal Fund, a 10-year, $1.36-billion investment to preserve and improve existing housing units.

The Collinson Street building for seniors and people with disabilities has been known to offer residents affordable, wheelchair-accessible living quarters—but units were unbearably hot even in the winter, according to BC Housing, which operates the building.

As temperatures rise, cooling systems in homes are becoming increasingly crucial for those sensitive to the heat— more than 600 people died in BC during the 2021 heat dome, most of whom were elderly or had medical issues that made them more vulnerable.

Campbell Lodge, which features 100 units, was built in 1978, so some service components, such as temperature control, needed to be replaced. Work began last year and recently was completed, with residents able to remain in their units.

Renovations included new heat pumps in each unit to keep suites cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Insulation also was upgraded to control temperatures and to reduce heating costs, along with mould and drafts.

In a statement, Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto called the project “a great example of how we can adapt to and upgrade existing housing to continue to meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents.”

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🎧 Discover musicians coming to Victoria with Record Shop, a website created by Victoria-based software developer Devin Bushey, that creates playlists with upcoming performers’ music.

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🗞️ In Other News

Warming water worse on coral than we thought: UVic study
The probe found one of three genetic lineages among a species of lobed coral to be very sensitive. That species suffered major reductions when a 2015-16 El Niño caused a heat wave near Australia. Read the study here.

Hullo says it’s clear sailing from here
Strong winds and a power outage delayed Monday’s planned launch of the Nanaimo-Vancouver ferry service by two days, and after successfully launching Wednesday, the company had to scrub two afternoon sailings because of a technical issue on the ship. [CHEK]

VW workers ask Saanich council to rethink bylaw amendment
The GAIN auto group employees appeared before council earlier this week to oppose the proposed amendment which would prohibit vehicle sales on a selected section of Douglas. [Times Colonist]

Cowichan River warms, as do calls to close the river to fishing
Water temperature hit 24C earlier this week, prompting river steward Joe Saysell to plead with the Fisheries ministry to not open the river to fishing on Sept. 1. Saysell said he’s seen an alarming increase in the number of dead mussels and crayfish along the shore. [CHEK]

SPONSORED BY UNITED WAY SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND

Project ReConnect 2023: Empowering Community

On August 22, 2023, the Downtown Service Providers Committee revitalizes Project ReConnect, a cherished annual service fair held at Royal Athletic Park. Aimed at supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty, the event offers free resources, medical care, ID replacement, personal care services, and more. Sponsored by UWSVI and the Victoria Labour Council, this one-day, one-stop event is expected to welcome 200-300 attendees.

🗓️ Things to do

🎥 Free-B Film Festival: Free movies at Cameron Bandshell at Beacon Hill Park continues today with Paris When It Sizzles, 9pm.

🍴 North Saanich Flavour Trails Festival: Follow a self-guided tour through North Saanich to discover 18 food makers and venders, today until Sun.

🎸 Freeze Frame at Butchart Gardens: The ’80s tribute band will perform tonight on the open-air stage, 8pm.

🖼️ Light, Steel, and Imagination: The photography and metal work art exhibition opens today at Tulista Park in Sidney until Aug. 24.

🎙️ Lauren Bush at Hermann's Jazz Club: The vocalist will perform music from her new album Tide Rises tonight. Doors 5:30pm, show 7-9pm.

🎤 Ternion Sound at Capital Ballroom: The trio will be supported today by Nahlith, Bumba, and NoName. Doors 9pm, show 9:30pm.

🎵 All Together Now drop-in choir: Sing along tonight with a live band at the Victoria Event Centre, 7-10:30pm.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: Arrests at Fairy Creek, August’s average rental prices, nurse imposter charged for View Royal offences, and more. [Aug. 17]

See a jellyfish with tentacles—likely a Sea Nettle—that washed ashore in Port Hardy. [Photo]

Oak Bay woman loses $20K in romance scam after being manipulated over eight months and convinced to send money to a man she met online.

BC Hydro records largest energy use during heat wave as residents attempt to stay cool. [CHEK]

That’s it!

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