Oak Bay council remains deadlocked on future of proposed bikeways
Moves to push forward a pair of bikeway projects in Oak Bay fell flat at a council meeting.
After over two hours of debate, council voted to defer the matter, quashing hopes that the projects would advance on May 12.
The long discussion revolved around a motion that, if passed, would have given staff direction to modify proposed plans for the Henderson and Haultain-Estevan bikeways –nudging the projects ahead following a council deadlock at a previous meeting.
Starting in the Village, the Henderson bikeway would run north-south through Oak Bay, ending near Camosun’s Lansdowne campus, while the Haultain-Estevan route would stretch east-west along Haultain and Estevan streets to Willows Beach.
Kick-started in 2022, the proposed projects would help address a lack of formalized cycling pathways in Oak Bay, bolster intersection safety and improve connectivity to regional paths, according to the district.
Over the past three years, the bikeways have received mixed feedback from the public.
“As a mother of two children who fall within the Oak Bay High catchment, the Haultain-Estevan Avenue infrastructure will make a huge difference for the safety of my children when they are high school aged,” Victoria resident Kalie Wilson said in a letter to the district.
“Currently, the proposed route improvements would make our regular commutes to our nearest library in Oak Bay much safer. They would also make some of my children’s favourite bike trips to Willows Beach and Carnarvon Park much safer.”
CHEFFE, a group of residents who live on Carrick, Haultain, Eastdowne, Fair, Florence and Epworth streets, has spoken in opposition to parts of the projects.
“We support bikeways on our streets, but they have to work and be safe for everyone,” the group’s spokesperson Bruce Kilpatrick said in a news release. “The only way to ensure that is to work with the people who actually live there and know the issues day to day, not just push
ahead as if this were simply lines on a map.” The residents want to see plans rejigged to address vehicle speeding and “hazardous” intersections. They would also like more stop signs worked into bikeway designs and an enforceable parking strategy created to “stop streets from becoming narrow and unsafe tunnels of parked vehicles.”
Debating the motion, councillors also expressed a range of opinions. While Couns. Hazel Braithwaite, Cairine Green and Esther Paterson detailed their concerns on how the bikeways could negatively impact residents, Couns. Andrew Appleton, Carrie Smart and Lesley Watson spoke largely in support of the projects.
Before the motion died, council passed several amendments, one of which directed staff to return to council with a nature-oriented design for the Carrick Greenway – a block-long path open to cyclists and pedestrians, buffered on each side by vegetation and trees, “that balances enhancing the greenway as a pocket park,
Liam Razzell
The proposed Henderson and Haultain-Estevan bikeways face an uncertain future. (Liam Razzell/Oak Bay News)
Barking up the wrong tree: Day of the Dog moving from Oak Bay to Saanich
An event that would have brought an estimated 10,000 people and hundreds of dogs to Oak Bay Avenue is moving to Saanich.
Leo Powell, who co-founded the Day of the Dog festival 14 years ago with Jordan Illingworth, has withdrawn his application to host the gathering in Oak Bay.
The move came May 8, two weeks after he received a letter from the district that he thought gave him the green light to move ahead with the Aug. 17 event, which would have seen Oak Bay Avenue, between Foul Bay and Elgin roads, temporarily closed to traffic.
“Staff have completed the review of your application to intermittently occupy Oak Bay Avenue …between the hours of 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. for the purpose of the above noted event,” reads the letter. “I am happy to advise that this event has been approved.”
But Powell soon learned from Oak Bay that he needed council approval to host the event, in addition to the support of the Oak Bay Business Improvement Association (BIA), which represents some 150 member businesses in the district.
“I was reached out to by another member of Oak Bay, saying the BIA is not happy and you need their endorsement and you have to go to council, and if you don’t have their endorsement, there’s a very good chance it’s not going to happen,” said the organizer.
Oak Bay manager of communications Hayley Goodgrove said Powell was notified on April 30 of the requirement for a council resolution.
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According to the organizer, he contacted the BIA soon after receiving this information.
The BIA’s president Martin Cownden told The Oak Bay News that he had concerns about the event.
“The businesses on Oak Bay Avenue were not endorsing the closing of the street for an event that didn’t pertain to any of the businesses on Oak Bay Avenue,”he said. “There has to be community
OfficialCommunityPlanQuestionnaire
The District is updating the Official Community Plan alongside the Zoning Bylaw. The OCP is more than a document, it’s the community's vision for the future. Help guide planning and land-use decisions in Oak Bay.
engagement and there was none.”
In an email to The Oak Bay News, Mayor Kevin Murdoch explained that the district doesn’t need the BIA’s consent to host gatherings. While it does consider the opinion of the group, in addition to those of individual businesses and locally impacted residents, council approval is needed to OK all events that involve the closure of Oak Bay Avenue, as per the district’s Streets and Traffic Bylaw.
“There was a procedural error and the letter was sent prior to approval of the road closure by Oak Bay council. No permit had been provided to the applicant. The district apologizes for the error and is reviewing our process moving forward,” said Goodgrove.
A meeting took place on May 12, where the organizer and the BIA would have a chance to speak to council about the event. Because Powell pulled his application, the issue was removed from the agenda.
On May 9, Powell signed a contract with Galey Farms to host the gathering on the company’s Blenkinsop Road property. The gathering is still set to take place on Aug. 17.
MeetingsandEvents
2025CommunityQuestionnaire
Liam Razzell
The Day of the Dog’s organizer withdrew his application to host the canine-friendly celebration in Oak Bay. (File photo)
Dozens of yachts will fill the Strait of Juan de Fuca from May 23 to 25, ready to race for glory at the Swiftsure International Yacht Race.
Hosted by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, the annual event tests sailors’ endurance and strategy in three trials: the Swiftsure Lightship Classic (138 nautical miles), the Cape Flattery Race (100 nautical miles) and the Juan de Fuca Race (75 nautical miles).
So far, 98 boats, operated by experienced amateurs and long-time professionals, are registered.
While the Cape Flattery and Juan de Fuca races take between 10 and 15 hours to complete, the Lightship Classic is a 24- to 36-hour test, which means sailors race through the night.
racers. Starting at 7 p.m., a live band will play on the dock.
Palmer, who has competed in the Swiftsure more than 40 times, is one of the sailors taking part in this year’s middle-distance race. Part of what draws him and dozens of others to take part in the world-renowned events is the excitement they boast.
“It’s funny – I think it’s a diversion,” he said.
“When we’re racing, I’m not thinking about work or worrying. It’s a getaway. We’re just focused on the job at hand.”
“I enjoy getting all my buddies together, people I’ve raced against, people I’ve raced with. We have a good time, you know,” he added. But it’s not all fun and games.
“Some nights you have surprisingly good visibility if there’s not too much cloud cover and there’s a moon out,” said Kirk Palmer, who oversees the event’s organization. “Sometimes, if it’s cloudy and it’s kind of dark and the visibility is poor, you’re blasting along and you basically can’t see anything.”
All three of the races begin just off Clover Point on May 24. The Lightship Classic starts at 9:05 a.m., Cape Flattery Race at 9:15 a.m., and the shortest race at 9:25 a.m.
On the day prior, May 23, the Inner Harbour’s gates will be open until 9 p.m. so the public can check out participating yachts and chat with
“When it’s really windy, that’s when it’s challenging – just trying to keep the boat balanced and not flipping over on its side,”he said. “There are a lot of things you have to do at the same time. That’s the most exciting part.”
The shorter races end at the Inner Harbour on May 24, with the Lightship Classic racers coming in on May 25. Race officials in Esquimalt will keep track of boats crossing an invisible finish line between McLoughlin Point and the Ogden Point Breakwater.
Last year’s winners are set to receive awards at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club on May 23, from 2 to 5 p.m.
Greater Victoria News Staff
Yachters enjoy the 75th Swiftsure International Yacht Race. (The Oak Bay News file photo)
Former Oak Bay teacher charged with sexual exploitation
Bailey Seymour
A Greater Victoria School District teacher was arrested and is now awaiting trial after being charged with three counts of sexual exploitation and two counts of telecommunicate to lure a child under 18.
In early 2024, the Saanich Police Department’s Special Investigations Section received information alleging a teacher had engaged in sexual interactions with her students. During the initial investigation, more alleged victims were identified, leading to a second, separate investigation.
On Feb. 15, 2024, officers arrested 36-year-old Marnie Burnham, who also taught under the name Marnie Forin. She was charged with the five offences and released with conditions, including no contact with her alleged victims, not to be on school property, and no contact with anyone under the age of 18.
The school district also noted that she is on unpaid leave and has signed an undertaking not to practice under the Teacher Regulation Branch.
According to a letter from Deb Whitten, superintendent of SD61, there were “concerning allegations of inappropriate conduct regarding a teacher who has taught at Oak Bay High School and Mount Doug Secondary School,” though Burnham is not mentioned by name.
“In response, the district immediately commenced an investigation and reported the matter to local police, who also opened an independent
investigation. The district also notified the Ministry of Education and Child Care and the Teacher Regulation Branch,” noted Whitten.
In a news release, Saanich police thanked those who came forward with information, and said there may be more who have yet to do so.
Police urge anyone who was under 18 and had contact “of a sexual nature”with Burnham/Forin before December 2024 to email specialinvestigations@SaanichPolice.ca.
“As student safety and well-being is our highest priority, students are always encouraged to report unsafe or uncomfortable behaviour to a parent/ caregiver, staff member, or other trusted adult. We acknowledge and commend the courage of any person who comes forward to speak about their personal experiences,” noted Whitten.
while providing improved and safe access as a transportation corridor for all users.”
This is an especially contentious aspect of the proposed Henderson route.
“The trail features large outcroppings of bedrock that display Ice Age glacial striations and serve as a natural play space for generations of children. Significant portions of these would be removed to accommodate the proposed bikeways, as would nearly half of one resident’s front lawn,” Kilpatrick told The Oak Bay News in an email. “(The) Carrick Trail is also an evolving pollinator corridor under the municipal Coolkit program, containing Garry oak trees, with additional native plants coming in the near future.”
Because the original motion failed, the amendments died, too. Not long after, Ap-
pleton stressed that compromise is needed to push the projects ahead. “This was the route that was put forward by council, and we need to be very transparent and honest with the community that any of those options that we select will require compromise,” he said.
While Braithwaite agreed, she emphasized that the compromises didn’t go far enough.
“There will be a lot of compromise, but I’m not sure if this compromise is enough of a compromise that I would like to see moving forward,” she said. “I’m also in support of the bikeways, but this particular plan – I don’t think it’s quite right yet.”
Mayor Kevin Murdoch closed the debate with a message to the residents who attended the meeting. “Thank you to those who came out… and sorry for the lack of direction and clarity at this point, but we will get there,” he said.
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OAK BAYNEWS
OUR VIEW
United effort needed to face threats to Canada
When Canadians are facing a threat or a perceived threat from what was once their closest ally, it is important to face the challenge together.
This is not happening, and the results could be disturbing.
Prime Minister Mark Carney met with the U.S. president earlier this month in Washington, D.C., where the two leaders discussed trade pressures facing the two nations. The meeting comes as the two countries are engaged in a tariff war, and following earlier comments from the U.S. president, referring to Canada as the 51st U.S. state.
“Our old relationship with the United States, a relationship based on steadily increasing integration, is over,” he said following the April 28 federal election.
And yet, despite this changing and uneasy relationship with the U.S., some in Canada are disillusioned with the country.
A Leger poll suggests only 52 per cent of Canadians were satisfied with the outcome of the election, and a Nanos Research poll said that 29 per cent of Albertans lean towards separation from Canada. This figure cannot be ignored.
“A large majority of Albertans are so deeply frustrated with the results of last week’s federal election,” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said this month. “Alberta will be taking steps to better protect ourselves from Ottawa.” When one province speaks of protecting itself from the federal government, something has gone wrong.
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Parti Québécois, has applauded Smith. The Parti Québécois held referendums on Quebec sovereignty in 1980 and 1995, and the present leader has promised another referendum by 2030 if the party forms government in that province.
When statements about separatism and protecting a province from the federal government are voiced, the result makes Canada appear to be a house divided.
And a divided house will not be able to stand against an adversary who has spoken repeatedly about annexing this country.
Canada needs a united voice.
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OPINION
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COLUMN
Political preferences no cause for fractured relationships
I’ve never been especially concerned with who the members of my family, or my friends, chose to vote for.
Didn’t change how I felt about them, or affect our relationship, even an iota.
When I was 18 and able to vote for the first time, I proudly asked my Mum if I could put up a sign for my favoured candidate (don’t even recall who it was all these years later). It caused a minor kerfuffle when Dad initially balked, given it wasn’t the preferred candidate (the one he was voting for).
In the spirit of compromise, we talked about his reasons for supporting his candidate, and I mine.
While we didn’t agree (I do recall his reasoning being far more well thought-out than mine), it ended with us having the only yard with signs in duelling corners of the front yard.
We laughed about that many times over the years.
find it a tad unbecoming, but they were still your buddy in the end.
If I know someone, a sign in their front yard declaring a personal preference doesn’t change how I feel about them as a person.
I’ve voted for various parties and an array of candidates over the years, at all levels. I have friends who have run for office, friends who have held office. I’ve been asked about potentially running by folks on opposite sides of the political spectrum – and am pleased with that because I’ve never shared how I vote at any given time. Mostly because it shouldn’t be of paramount concern, but also because my job has always dictated that I display impartiality and I take that seriously.
understand that life is about nuance and dealing with absolutes is fraught with peril. Someone whose views aren’t exactly the same as your own isn’t automatically the enemy. But as social media becomes more pervasive, it gets harder and harder to escape the noise. And online, it can get wild. There’s little middle ground. So much polarization, so much tribalism. If someone is not on the ‘correct’ team, everything they say is wrong. And if someone is on the ‘correct’ team, everything they say is golden. ‘Owning’ the other side becomes the only goal. Reasoned discourse becomes less and less a possibility, as folks seek only information or other opinions that confirm their own.
And there’s legitimate loathing, hatred and vitriol on display daily.
I have a variety of friends whose political views or personal beliefs differ from mine. Doesn’t matter a whit. It was like if a friend was a fan of a different sports team, you might
Katherine
Engqvist Managing Editor 250-480-3278
katherine.engqvist@blackpress.ca
Now, I’ve long since understood that politics can be an unsavoury at times and it can stir up plenty of emotion. But I’ve never seen things as absurd as they’ve been in the last decade or so – and it continues to get worse.
I have to say I still believe most people are inherently decent, happy to focus on themselves and allow others to do likewise. They
Often stoked by rage farmers online, with the sole goal of sowing discord. It has to be difficult to get truly effective leadership (from any party) given the ‘anyone who disagrees is the enemy’ nonsense.
And the horse is out of the barn now. I’ll be fascinated to see if anyone can ever get it back inside.
Philip Wolf is the editor of the Parksville Qualicum Beach News.
Philip Wolf Between The Lines
Gordon Pritchard took this photo of a Cooper’s hawk in Estevan Village Park.
Guide dog’s calm confidence leads Victoria woman on a path of independence
Tony Trozzo
Carly Griggs remembers the moment everything changed.
It was 2017, and she had just returned home to Victoria from Oakville, Ont. after three intensive weeks of training with her first guide dog, a small, fast standard poodle named Jupiter, who was trained to help her with her vision loss.
“All of a sudden, I felt free,” she said. “I could just go out and do whatever I want, whenever I wanted.”
It marked the beginning of a journey that’s brought independence, confidence and connection – all delivered on four paws.
Since that day, Carly has had three guide dogs from the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides: Jupiter, Clifford, and now Kobe, her current partner for nearly three years.
Living with just four per cent of her vision, Carly was initially hesitant to even use a white cane.
“I didn’t want anyone to know I couldn’t see,” she said.
But after tripping off curbs, bumping into people, and nearly spilling her ever-present cup of tea one too many times, she decided it was time for a change.
“I knew I didn’t want to be a cane user forever,”she said. “So I became a good cane user so that I could apply for a guide dog.”
That decision led her to the Lions Foundation, the only program in Canada training standard poodles – an essential detail for Carly, who has allergies and works as a registered massage therapist with clients
struction zone, he’s unfazed. “He loves solving puzzles,” she said. “He’s just a little bit more thinking about things – a little more laid back.”
That confidence has reshaped Carly’s life. She’s active in her work, regularly out in the community, and now, she’s looking forward to participating in this year’s Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides, happening May 25 at Esquimalt Gorge Park and Pavilion.
The annual event raises funds to support the Lions Foundation’s seven dog guide programs, which include services for people with vision loss, hearing loss, autism, epilepsy, diabetes, and other medical or physical disabilities. Each dog is provided at no cost to the person matched with them.
“There’s so much training, so much care that goes into these dogs,” she said. “And it’s all possible because people give.”
Each walk is locally organized and backed by Pet Valu stores across Canada. Since launching in 1985, the Walk for Dog Guides has raised more than $23 million, helping match over 3,000 Canadians with professionally trained service dogs.
This year’s Victoria-area walk will follow a scenic route through Esquimalt Gorge Park, beginning at 10 a.m. Participants – and their dogs – are encouraged to register online or sign up in person the morning of.
Advice,nomatterwhichwayyouturn,it’sfree fortheasking.Whenitcomestohealthadvice, sometimesitisdifficulttodeterminethedifference betweenrightandwrong.Here’sasamplingof mostcommoneyeandvisionmyths:
“Don’twearyourglassessooften,you needtoexerciseyoureyes!”
Wearingglassesdoesnotweakenyoureyes.The onlythingthathappenswhenyoudon’twearthem isthatyoudon’tseeaswell.ANDwearingglasses doesn’tmeanyouhave“weak”eyes,either.
“You’llhurtyoureyesifyoureadinthe dark!”
“Work for him, I guess,” she laughed.
Clifford, her second guide dog, shared that intelligent, slightly cheeky streak. But both Jupiter and Clifford had to retire early after being attacked by other dogs – something Carly says is an unfortunate but not uncommon risk for working guide dogs.
Now, with Kobe by her side, she’s found a steadiness that makes every day easier.
“We kind of laugh – his nickname is Slow-be,” she said. “But he’s just even-keeled. He hasn’t let anything shake him, even after two attacks
For Carly, the walk is more than a fundraiser – it’s a celebration of the independence and connection her guide dogs have given her, and a way to help others experience the same life-changing support.
All proceeds go directly to the Lions Foundation’s training programs. Whether it was Jupiter’s playful detours, Clifford’s smarts, or Kobe’s steady presence, each of Carly’s dogs has given her more freedom, more confidence, and more connection with the world around her. “I can’t imagine my life without a guide dog,”she said. “They’ve changed everything.”
Toolittlelightdoesnotdamageyoursight anymorethantoomuch(donotstaredirectlyintoa brightlightorthesun,whichmaycausepermanent damage).
“Getbackfromthetelevision!Sittingtoo closewilldamageyoureyesight!
Thereisnoharminsittingclosetoatelevision. However,ifyouoryourchildroutinelyfindit necessarytositclosejusttosee,it’sprobably agoodideatomakeanappointmentforaneye examtoensureyourvisionisuptosnuff.
“Ineedbifocals!Ididtoomuchreading andcloseworkovertheyears.”
Wrong,youcannotwearyoureyesoutbyusing them,andyoucertainlycannotpreserveyourvision bylimitingyourreadingorclosework.Theneedfor bifocalsorreadingglassesisanaturalpartofthe agingprocess.Ifyouhavedoubtsaboutanyvision andeyeadvice,besuretoaskyourOptometrist.
inquirsunglassesyoung
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Carly Griggs got her first guide dog in 2017 and says they’ve helped her regain her independence. (Tony Trozzo/Victoria News)
Oak Bay Starbucks workers file to join United Steelworkers Union
Liam Razzell
Workers at the Starbucks in Oak Bay could soon count themselves among a growing national movement of unionized baristas.
On May 14, the United Steelworkers Union (USW), which represents 850,000 members from a range of sectors in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean, announced that the Oak Bay Avenue location has filed to join the 83-year-old group.
This follows the unionization of Starbucks locations in Ontario, including those in Ajax, Kitchener, Waterloo and Toronto. According to a Starbucks spokesperson, the company operates more than 900 stores in Canada, 15 of which are represented by the USW.
“These recent victories underscore the momentum building among Starbucks workers across the country who are organizing for better wages, fair scheduling and respect on the job,”the USW said in a news release.
Scott Lunny, the union’s Western Canada director, expressed excitement about the application.
“We’re pleased the Oak Bay Starbucks workers have chosen the USW to represent them,”he said in the same news release.
“This is an inspiring step for baristas across the country who are organizing for better working conditions. When workers come together, they have the power to win real changes from fair pay to decent schedules and respect on the job.”
According to the USW, workers at the Oak Bay Starbucks have successfully reached the threshold for automatic certification – criteria B.C. outlines online.
“If 55 per cent or more of employees in a workplace indicate their intent to unionize by signing union membership cards, a union will be certified and no further vote is required,” reads the prov-
ince’s website. “If between 45 per cent and 55 per cent of employees sign union membership cards, a second step consisting of a secret ballot vote is required for certification.”
A decision from the B.C. Labour Board on the certification variance is pending.
Lunny told The Oak Bay News that the USW would help those working at the Oak Bay location “have voice on the job and to have a say over working conditions.”
“There are some health and safety concerns and other concerns about the application of some of the policies that Starbucks has and how they implement them,”said the Western Canada director, though he couldn’t detail the employees’concerns.
Lunny added that the union wants to create one collective agreement for all of the Starbucks stores looking to join the USW.
The same Starbucks spokesperson told The Oak Bay News that it respects the decisions of its workers hoping to unionize.
“Starbucks Canada can confirm that our Oak Bay store in Victoria, B.C. has certified. We respect the right of all partners (employees) to make their own decisions regarding unions, whether they favour or oppose representation, and will continue to work with our partners to make Starbucks the best job in retail,” she said.
This won’t be the first Starbucks in Greater Victoria to seek a union agreement. In 2021, the Douglas and Alpha streets location in Victoria settled a collective agreement with the international coffee giant.
Workers at the drive-thru location unanimously ratified a three-year deal that the USW said protects against workplace violence and aggression, offers leave following domestic violence and calls for wage increases of up to $2.47 per hour based on years of service.
Friday,June6
•MidwaywithShootingStarAmusements4-10pm
•EntertainmentwithSpecialGuestsandfeaturing JOSHWARRENBAND4-10pm
Saturday,June7
•MidwaywithShootingStarAmusements10am–10pm •TorchRunforSpecialOlympicsstartingparade10:15am•Parade10:30am
•Entertainment12noonto10pmfeaturingBLACKANGUS
Sunday,June8
•MidwaywithShootingStarAmusements10am-7pm •OakBaySeaRescuedemo•Mayor’sFloatingTeacupRace •Entertainment10am–6pmfeaturingDONLEPPARDBIGBAND •RaffleDraw6:30pm
SaturdayandSunday
•EsquimaltLionsPancakeBreakfast7-11am•Kids’CraftTent •BaronofBeef•IceCream•KiwanisTeaRoom•SaanichLionsCorn-on-theCob
—Detailssubjecttochange—
(The Oak Bay News file photo)
TrueNorth TrueFlavour.
Nature’s aquarium opens up but it comes with a warning
Tony Trozzo
Get ready for a tidal rollercoaster – Greater Victoria is about to see its lowest tide of the year, followed by some of its highest, all in a matter of hours.
The tides around the region are set to swing dramatically at the end of May, driven by a rare and powerful alignment of lunar and solar forces.
According to the Canadian Hydrographic Service, water levels are expected to dip to –0.22 metres at 10:46 a.m. on Wednesday, May 28 – the lowest of 2025. A day earlier, on Tuesday, May 27, tides will fall to –0.19 metres at 10 a.m.
In sharp contrast, high tides will peak at 2.99 metres earlier Wednesday at (May 28) 2:01 a.m. and 2.93 metres in the early hours of Thursday (May 29).
“These extreme tides are the result of several astronomical factors combining at once,” said Denny Sinnott, supervisor of tides, currents and water levels with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
“We’ll see a New Moon on May 26, which means the sun, moon, and Earth will be in near-perfect alignment.”
This alignment creates what’s known as a spring tide – a term that refers to the tide “springing forth,” not the season. These tides occur twice a month and bring slightly higher highs and lower lows than usual. But in this case, the spring tide’s effects are intensified.
“The moon will also be in perigee – the closest point in its elliptical orbit around the Earth – on May 25,” Sinnott said.
the New Moon alignment increases the pull even more.”
Adding to the mix, the moon will reach its farthest point north of the equator on May 28. This positioning further enhances the gravitational effect over Victoria’s coastal waters. Sinnott noted that the combination of all three events – perigee, New Moon, and the moon’s northernmost point – creates an unusually large tidal range.
“There can be a day or so lag in the tide’s response to these astronomical conditions, which is why the extremes appear around May 27 to 29,” he explained.
For shoreline visitors, this rare tidal event offers an excellent chance to explore tide pools and marine life typically hidden underwater. But Sinnott cautioned that these wide-ranging tides can also generate stronger-than-normal currents.
“It’s a great time to poke around the shoreline, but always be aware of your surroundings,”he said.
“When the moon is closer, its gravitational pull on the ocean is stronger. Combining that with
The Canadian Hydrographic Service publishes tide tables and real-time data to help mariners, beachgoers, and coastal residents plan ahead. With such significant shifts expected, checking tide charts is more important than ever.
The lowest tide of the year is expected for Wednesday, May 28. (Photo courtesy of Sooke Harbour website)
Fighting fire with fire: UVic study outlines benefits to planned fires
Evan Lindsay
Does fire have a bad PR team? Researchers at the University of Victoria (UVic) think maybe so.
A new study – titled Beneficial Fire in British Columbia: An Exploration of How Fire Can Contribute to Wildfire Resilience – by the POLIS Wildfire Resilience Project, out of UVic’s Centre for Global Studies, finds that ‘beneficial fire’ will be essential to reducing wildfire risk and promoting wildfire resilience.
While it may sound counterintuitive, the report explores the concept of beneficial fire in an attempt to shift away from the view that fire is strictly bad. In fact, fire is essential to many B.C. ecosystems, and these researchers are encouraging greater use of fire as a positive force.
“To promote wildfire resilience, society can increase the amount of beneficial fire and reduce the amount of detrimental fire,” said Kevin Kriese, report co-author and senior wildfire and land use analyst at the POLIS Wildfire Resilience Project.
For the past decade, B.C. wildfires have broken numerous records. 2023 was the worst fire season in B.C. over the past decade, with 2,293 total fires trumping 2022’s 1,801 and marking a 242 per cent increase in the number of fires from 2020, which saw 670 fires – the fewest from any one year between 2012 and 2023.
“Addressing this wildfire crisis will require a whole-of-society approach that includes improving governance, expanding proactive strategies that mitigate risks to ecosystems and
communities, improving knowledge of wildfire and growing capacity among governments, communities and industry,” UVic stated in a media release promoting the study.
The POLIS Wildfire Resilience Project proposed the working definition of beneficial fire as “planned or unplanned wildland fire that has positive effects on ecosystem processes and functions and has acceptable risk to human communities. Beneficial fire typically includes cultural fire, prescribed fire, and managed wildfire”
Employing beneficial fire is a strategy that Kriese says is gaining traction.
“There are a growing number of projects across B.C. led by Indigenous governments, the provincial government and local communities that are putting fire back on the land. This is cause for optimism,” he said.
When communities take steps to reduce risks from wildfire, such as engaging in FireSmart projects, with the right conditions some wildfires could be allowed to continue and accomplish important ecological work.
In their report, the authors recommend four opportunities for action to advance beneficial fire as part of a whole-of-society strategy to promote wildfire resilience in B.C., in particular they highlighted a need for better information and awareness about the benefits of fire, which in turn could help communities make more informed decisions when dealing with fires and assessing their risks and benefits.
“Ultimately, it’s communities that evaluate and manage risk and trade-offs to determine what kinds of fire are beneficial, so strong place-based governance is a priority,” said Andrea Barnett, report co-author and project facilitator and analyst at the POLIS Wildfire Resilience Project.
“Through place-based planning and decision-making, communities can become more wildfire resilient. They can assess to decide where and when to promote more beneficial fire or continue to suppress fires that have unacceptable risk.”
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Safety means road closures as runners take to Oak Bay streets
Oak Bay News Staff
A variety of road closures come to Oak Bay on Sunday, May 25, as runners and walkers of all ages take to the streets for the 19th annual Oak Bay Half.
Starting and finishing in Oak Bay’s Windsor Park, the 19th annual event includes a half marathon, 10-kilometre run, four-person relay and one-km kids run. Participants hail from across Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
Runners also raise funds for charity partners –Santas Anonymous and Easter Seals of British Columbia & Yukon.
Organizers plan to minimize traffic interruptions while still maintaining the safety of the participants.
The race starts at 8 a.m. from Windsor Road
at Windsor Park and has a four-hour time limit.
The last participant will be on the course by noon. The route includes full road closures between 60 minutes and three hours, except Newport Avenue at Oak Bay Avenue, which will be closed for approximately 30 to 45 minutes, then re-open.
The start and finish will see Windsor Road, between Transit and St. David, closed from 6 a.m. to noon. The rest of the route is broken down into smaller closures.
Windsor/Transit to Windsor/Hampshire from 7:25 to 8:35 a.m.; Windsor/Hampshire to Beach/ Monterey to the finish 8:05 to 11:05 a.m.; Beach/ Monterey to Beach/Windsor from 8:10 to 10:55 a.m.; Beach/King George’s Terrace to Beach/Rut land 8:20 to 10:25 a.m.; and Beach/Rutland to Beach/Exeter/Lansdowne 8:30 to 10 a.m.
Learn more at oakbayhalf.com.
THURSDAY, JUNE 12 (3:30-7:30pm)
The Oak Bay Half Marathon is on May 25. (Matt Cecill/Oak Bay Half)
Inquest jury recommends how to prevent future deaths after
UVic overdose
A coroner’s inquest into the 2024 death of an 18-year-old student at the University of Victoria has ended with the jury making 10 recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future.
The inquest into the overdose death of Sidney McIntyre-Starko’s wrapped up on Thursday, May 15, at the Burnaby Coroners Court after two weeks of hearing testimony from witnesses to the death, first responders, school representatives and government workers.
On January 23, 2024, McIntyre-Starko and another student collapsed onto their dorm floor after they were exposed to fentanyl. A third student who was also impaired managed to call 911 and tell an operator they needed emergency help. It took more than seven minutes to dispatch paramedics, according to records shared by UVic.
Her loved ones called for the coroner’s inquest, saying McIntyre-Starko’s death may have been prevented had she received naloxone and CPR in a more timely manner.
The jury’s first recommendation was directed to Education and Child Care Minister Lisa Beare, urging her to advise school districts to teach students CPR and how to use AEDs, provide training on administering nasal naloxone, and deliver presentations on drug identification and the risks of substance use.
The second recommendation, to Beare and the Minister of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills, Anne Kang, was that both ministries create a program involving in-person, informative presentations about the drug crisis using real stories from survivors or family members of loved ones lost, available to all post-secondary and high schools.
UVic was recommended to create a mandatory orientation that includes how to contact 911 and campus security, information on naloxone and using AEDs, information on safe drug testing and the drug crisis, and a one- to two-page course summary for future reference. It was asked to implement the course within campus security training.
Kang and BC Emergency Health
Services (BCEHS) were recommended to consult with post-secondary schools and municipalities to install unique addresses in multi-building complexes and to include those addresses in official maps, require schools to update maps annually and to install a building map on the back of each campus resident’s door.
Kang’s ministry was also advised that campus security at post-secondary institutions should be provided with additional equipment, including supplemental oxygen, naloxone, AEDs, OFA2 (occupational first aid) training, and oxygen and pulse finger monitors.
Campus security should be allotted work time each semester to review training materials, protocols, and best practices. The jury also recommended installing cameras in public areas. In the event of a serious incident, security should conduct post-incident debriefings. Additionally, if naloxone is administered on campus and the individual does not go to hospital, security should follow up with the person 30 minutes later, and twice more at 30-minute intervals.
Because the paramedic did not have McIntyre-Starko’s name when she was admitted to the hospital, the BCEHS was asked to review policy on obtaining patient identification. It was also recommended to update the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system and upgrade its website so that data can be publicly available.
They were also recommended to incorporate an internal timer to monitor how long call-takers take to obtain locations of incidents, which could alert supervisors if the process is too slow.
The inquest jury recommended that the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch review the Medical Priority Dispatch System – used by emergency dispatchers to assess call urgency – to ensure that when multiple unconscious patients are reported, it triggers an immediate delta-level response and prompts a follow-up question about potential drug involvement.
McIntyre-Starko was a first-year general sciences student who loved to play board games with family, read fantasy books, and craft and build furniture, according to a website set up by her family.
Bailey Seymour
The inquest into the death of 18-year-old Sidney McIntyre-Starko has come to an end. (File photo)
Ocean Week Victoria Colouring Contest
May 14 - 30, 2025
Dive into Ocean Week Victoria, June 1 - 8! Explore, learn, and celebrate the ocean with events for all ages. Visit oceanweekvictoria.ca
Prizes Include:
2 passes to Eagle Wing Tours
2 passes to Wildplay Family Pass (2 adults + 2 children) to Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea $100 Hillside Gift Card
Name: Phone: Email:
Oak Bay News Staff
The Garry oak meadows and fields of camas in Oak Bay’s Uplands Park have been freed from some pesky intruders.
Volunteers with the Greater Victoria Green Team and Friends of Uplands Park Society converged on the park May 10 to remove 56 bathtubs (nine cubic metres) of invasive plants and dead wood debris, revitalizing 100 square-metres of forest.
“Many Garry oak trees were freed from ivy
vines climbing up their trunks and threatening their health,” according to a release from Kaitlin Warren, program manager with the Greater Victoria Green Team.
The 29 volunteers spent the day removing invasive English ivy and invasive daphne plants, including a dozen who were making their first visit to the park along Beach Drive.
“Surrounded by blooming camas flowers, community members of all ages, backgrounds and
UVic Vikes quartet heading to Brazil for 3x3 basketball championship
Tony Trozzo
Four standout players from the University of Victoria men’s basketball team are trading the Pacific coast for the Brazilian capital later this month, as they represent the Vikes at the 2025 FISU America 3x3 Basketball Championship.
Renoldo Robinson, Shadynn Smid, Ethan Boag and Griffin Arnatt will represent Canada in Brasilia from May 29 to June 1, with Vikes lead assistant coach Josh Reddy taking the reins as head coach.
The four players – three of whom hail from Vancouver Island – are coming off a national U Sports title and will now test their mettle in a quick-fire format that’s gaining steam on the global stage.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity,”Reddy said. “Just carrying on from the great year we had and giving four of our top guys a shot to now play international – it’s a great chance to keep pushing the vision Murphy’s (Burnatowski) brought to the program, and to give the players a glimpse of what the professional setting could look like.”
The 3x3 format, played on a half-court with one basket and no breaks after made shots, has become a fan favourite for its speed and intensity. Games are capped at 10 minutes or 21 points – whichever comes first – and physicality is dialed up a notch compared to the traditional 5-on-5 game.
Robinson, a U Sports First Team All-Canadian and one of the team’s emotional leaders, grew up playing 3x3 in his hometown of Montreal and sees this as a full-circle moment.
“I never thought I would be going to Brazil, so this is an exciting opportunity for me,”Robinson said. “I hope to take from this the experience of playing against the universal hoopers and to see their styles, because it’s a world event with so many teams from other countries. I’m also looking forward to the food and people, as well as the beauty of Brazil, and I also want to go hiking there because we have a couple of days off.”
Robinson, Boag, Smid and Arnatt are no strangers to each other on the floor, and Reddy believes their chemistry is a key reason they were selected.
“They play really well together,” Reddy said.
“Each of them brings a different strength to the table. In 3x3, it’s more dynamic – fast-paced, interchangeable, and about being able to guard everyone. These guys can switch, process the game quickly, and just go.”
To help them prepare for the style of play in Brazil, the group got some valuable advice from someone who knows it well – former Vikes star Diego Maffia. A five-year veteran of the program and Victoria native born in Brazil, Maffia offered insight into what the players can expect.
“Diego told them the play over there is really physical, really fast,” Reddy said. “He said it’s a different kind of intensity – guys play with flair, but there’s a lot of pride and toughness in it too. He told them to be ready for contact and to stay composed, because the crowds are loud, and the game doesn’t stop. It was awesome for the guys to
experience levels became one with nature as they stepped into the forest to liberate many Garry oak trees from the choking grasp of ivy vines and from the forest floor,” Warren said in the release.
The volunteers’ efforts build on the continuing work of the Friends of Uplands Park. Group co-founder Margaret Lidkea joined in the effort to share her expertise and inspiring stories about the restoration work that has been happening in the park for over 30 years.
hear that from someone who’s not only played at a high level but understands what it’s like over there.”
The FISU America event features over 100 university athletes from 12 countries and serves as a qualifier for the 2025 FISU 3x3 University Basketball World Cup.
With a 10-day trip that includes training, competition, and a chance to bond off the court, Reddy sees this as a critical building block for the program’s next generation.
“This is the next core,” he said. “Last year we had Diego, Sam (Maillet), Geoffery (James), and Aaron (Tesfagioris) – now it’s these four guys. Their confidence, their chemistry, it’s only going to grow.
“We’re going to rely on them a lot next year, and this trip just tightens those relationships.”
The team departs May 24 and returns June 4. Opening ceremonies take place May 28, with games tipping off the following day.
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Four players and one coach will represent UVic at the 2025 FISU America 3x3 Basketball Championship: (from left) Ethan Boagg, Renoldo Robinson, Josh Reddy, Griffin Arnatt and Shadynn Smid. (Photo courtesy of UVIC Vikes)
Volunteers remove invasive plants from Uplands Park. (Courtesy of Greater Victoria Green Team)
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Home Improvement Without Sweat, Swearing, or Sledgehammers
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May is National Home Improvement Month, which, for many people, means wandering aimlessly around home improvement stores, buying things like grout, which they can’t define, and threatening their families with “just a small weekend project” that mysteriously takes 11 months and requires six YouTube tutorials, three tetanus shots, and a new marriage counselor.
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