Central Saanich ponders plans for more dwellings
Plus Victoria's favourite castle reverts to part of its past, ferries workers union says membership at risk on the job
Good morning !
The BC Ferries workers’ union says some members have been assaulted recently—allegedly spat at, attacked with a skateboard. Yeah. A skateboard.
Rightfully, BC Ferries says this won’t be tolerated.
Have you seen anybody visibly upset while waiting for a ferry?
🌡️ Weather Forecast
Today: 🌧️ 14 / 10
Tomorrow: 🌦️ 16 / 10
Friday: ⛅ 15 / 10
🚘️ Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
NEWS
Central Saanich looks for balance between housing, food and farmers’ incomes when rezoning agricultural land
Recent moves to revitalize Agricultural Land Reserve legislation will allow landowners in Central Saanich to build and rent garden homes and secondary suites, but what does that mean for the protection of arable land—land suitable for crops—in the region?
Arable land is defined as lands where temporary crops or meadows exist for pasture for livestock, and in Central Saanich, it is protected and overseen by the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR).
The province’s Homes for People program announced in April incentivizes homeowners to build secondary housing units on their property, with a goal of helping communities to meet growing demands for affordable housing.
However, in places such as Central Saanich, homeowner participation in the housing program may also challenge efforts to fight rising food security on the Island by removing protections for agricultural arable land from the ALR. The municipality is looking for feedback from residents through a survey.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Lots of noise, no trespassing on/near Metchosin’s Bentinck Island: Kayakers be cautioned: Canadian Forces personnel will be using the demolition range near Rocky Point, so it will be noisy. 9am to 4pm through Friday.
High streamflow warning for entire Island, meaning that minor flooding in low-lying areas is possible but no major floods are yet expected. [Map]
Rainfall warnings remain in place for Island’s east, west, and centre, though none for Greater Victoria as of Tues. evening. [Map / details]
NEWS
Craigdarroch Castle unveils its new, old kitchen
The house party is almost always in the kitchen, so it was party time at Craigdarroch Castle yesterday when its restored Dunsmuir-era scullery—if you can call the kitchen of a 25K-square-foot castle such a thing—was unveiled to the media.
“I feel like I’ve just been invited to the ultimate kitchen party,” chuckled Tourism Minister Lana Popham, whose government funded $288K toward the restoration.
The kitchen, if you know the castle, is where the gift shop used to be until 2017, when enthusiastic, ready-to-spend visitors were directed to a newly built wing of an adjacent building.
“A lot of people look at the kitchen as the heart of the home,” John Hughes, Craigdarroch Castle’s executive director, tells Capital Daily.
Read the full story by Mark Brennae to find out how the team restored the circa-1890s kitchen.
⭐️ Capital Picks
🥑 This is the place: The Root Cellar at Oxford Corner in Cook Street Village—your innovative destination market for fresh locally grown produce and extraordinary food experiences. Visit the website to learn more!*
📖 Let librarian Vicki choose your next read: Comment on GVPL’s Twitter thread with your go-to book genres and get a personalized recommendation by Friday.
🏡 AirBnB condos for sale: View all the condominiums with short-term rental zoning in Downtown Victoria. View the listings, photos, and more.*
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Levidrome
Which two words spell each other backwards and are described by this clue: Turf equis
Last time: Pan’s bell fixed the mitten = tink / knit. Congrats to everyone who submitted the correct answer.
🗞️ In Other News
Police sniff out suspects in perfume theft
Two youths have been arrested in a fragrance theft of $3K after turning themselves in at West Shore RCMP. The robbery happened two weeks ago at a Shoppers Drug Mart on Jacklin. [Times Colonist]
Parksville pushes for residential treatment centre
Council unanimously agreed to allow an application for a 19-bed addictions facility. While most concur it’s needed, some residents don’t think the centre should be built in the downtown tourist area. [Nanaimo News Now]
Saanich council makes changes to reduce ‘doxxing’ risk
People speaking at council meetings will no longer be required to list their addresses thanks to a motion passed at this week’s meeting. Coun. Teale Phelps Bondaroff cited concerns with people’s addresses being posted online, opening them up to security risks. [Saanich News]
BC Ferries workers union says members attacked
Incidents of spitting, kicking (a vehicle) and even an assault with a skateboard are alleged to have happened. Customers angry at sailing delays are taking it out on workers, the union says. [CHEK]
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🗓️ Things to do
🍄 Fungi Fest at Royal BC Museum. Live at Lunch Fungi Fest: Mycoheterotrophs. Guest speaker is forest ecologist Andy MacKinnon. Newcombe Conference Hall, RBCM. Today. 12-1pm.
🩰 Dance Victoria presents New York’s world-class Gibney Company in a virtuosic mixed evening on Nov. 17 and 18 at the Royal Theatre. Get tickets here.*
🎃 Pumpkin Fest at Galey Farms. Corn mazes, train rides, a children’s haunted house and pumpkin picking. Until Oct. 29. [Tickets]
🎞️ Jewish Film Festival showcasing Jewish themes in film at the Vic Theatre. Through Sunday. Various times.
🎤 Hayley Sales at Hermann’s. Her timeless sound of pop mixed with soul and jazz. Tonight. 7pm. Doors at 5:30pm. [Tickets]
*Sponsored Listing
👀 In Case You Missed It
Free transit for bike riders during Go By Bike week, Oct. 16-29.
Best bakeries in Victoria [Tasting Vic]
‘Angel’ leaves $50 on doorsteps of 18 Esquimalt Rd. apartment units: Residents of the subsidized complex don’t know where the money came from but some plan to pay it forward. [CHEK]
How clean is the air in our schools? Heading into flu and COVID season, advocates say schools aren’t doing enough to fight transmissions. [Capital Daily]