New allegations against mortgage broker

Victoria broker Greg Martel, currently a wanted man in the US and Canada, stands accused of defrauding more than 800 investors of nearly $300M through his company My Mortgage Auction Corp. (MMAC). 

Now, former employees from a separate venture accuse him of bullying and berating them, of mistreating and mismanaging them—and of not paying them for their work.

Capital Daily has obtained recordings of Martel cursing out staff of  carSHAiR, his app that allowed users to rent out their vehicles, over the costs and problems of the app’s development. 

Staff and associates from the time also spoke to Capital Daily about the app’s troubled development; Martel’s conduct; and the connections between this app, Martel’s own car collection, and the mortgage corp. 

Read the exclusive new story here.

The Vikes women’s second straight crown (and 13th all-time) further cements the South Island—home to the national rowing program and multiple Olympic medalists—as a rowing hub.

In last week’s races, Claremont grads Sophia Regosa and Paige Letham won a medal together and another in the 4+ boat. Similarly, Nicole Cusack and Mikaela Holthuis won silver together and gold with the 8+ team, which also featured solo medalist Maggie Hemphill. [Full results]

Jane Gumley wins third straight Coach of the Year award

Gumley graduated from UVic a decade ago and has rowed for the national team. She took over in difficult circumstances—replacing Olympian Barny Williams when he resigned after multiple accusations of abusive coaching—but has now won Coach of the Year every year since starting.  

UVic men take bronze

Giancarlo DiPompeo won an individual gold, and the 8+ boat won silver as the Vikes men finished third for a second straight year after winning it all in 2021.

Singer Courtney LaPlante and guitarist Mike Stringer began recording as Spiritbox shortly after getting married in 2016. 

After building an online following, they had planned to tour in 2020. But the pandemic kept them from meeting audiences—and even their own bandmate—in person for over a year.

That did little to slow what has been one of the genre’s biggest recent rises, though. 

Their 2021 album debuted at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the 2024 Grammy shortlist now has them competing with some of the biggest names in heavy rock: Metallica, Slipknot, Disturbed, and Ghost. 

Band known for atmospheric vocals & genre-bending

The band has always mixed progressive metal and metalcore with touches of other other genres entirely, from pop to new wave to industrial to R&B.

But that eclectic genre mix hit a new level this fall when the band collaborated with star rapper Megan Thee Stallion on a remix of “Cobra” which seems likely to be among February’s Grammy live performances.

Hear that collab here, and watch their Grammy-nominated song “Jaded” below.

Spiritbox - Jaded (Official Music Video)

We asked yesterday about your favourite warm autumn drinks and, with 47% for coffee and another 28% for tea, it seems most respondents prefer the classics to specific seasonal fare such as cider or hot chocolate. 

One popular write-in was the always reliable lemon, ginger, and honey combination. A few of you specified which coffees you like at this time of year—flavours such as tumeric and peppermint, and additions like plenty of frothy milk. 

Thanks for voting, and check out this roundup of local fall drinks for a few more ideas—from apple butter lattes to the (in)famous pumpkin spice—to keep you warm this November