Jimmy Thomson

Canada is set to make a massive protected area official — and it’s underwater

The Tang.ɢwan-ḥačxʷiqak-Tsig̱is marine protected area will be 133,000 square kilometres, covering underwater mountain ranges and alien ecosystems Cherisse Du Preez was staring at a monitor on the bridge of the coast guard ship John P. Tully as a…

Oak Bay library branch closed for asbestos testing

The branch will be closed until Feb. 6, provided no more contamination is found The Oak Bay branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library is closed for the next week for asbestos testing. The District of Oak Bay said in a press release on Friday that…

BC announced 395 new childcare spots in April—only a fraction are nearing completion

The one daycare centre that’s nearly open will be “upholding Christian values” Danielle M.’s job search began, as many do, with a desperate hunt for childcare. Having freelanced for a few years while raising her kids, the mother of three (who asked…

From church tax breaks to income-tested speeding tickets, a Saanich councillor has ‘transformative’ motions to bring to the provincial stage

Teale Phelps Bondaroff has bold ideas for his provincial counterparts to consider at the next Union of BC Municipalities meeting—if he can get Saanich council to agree on them first Newly elected Saanich councillor Teale Phelps Bondaroff already has…

Victoria's year in photos

Photographer James MacDonald looks back at the past year in Victoria The Songhees Nation's first community powwow in 20 years was held on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Royal Athletic Park. Photos: James MacDonald / Capital Daily We…

How does a ship’s crew spend Christmas?

They may be away from home, but the crew of the Maersk Trader is making the most of the holiday ashore More than a dozen commercial ships are spending Christmas off the eastern shores of Vancouver Island, between Ladysmith and Victoria. Some are…

Stay home, province urges Vancouver Island drivers

Freezing rain could turn parts of Island highways into a skating rink on Friday coming into busy Christmas weekend First responders deal with an accident on the Patricia Bay Highway in slippery conditions Tuesday evening. Jimmy Thomson / Capital…

Victoria median house price drops below million-dollar mark

For the first time in nearly two years, the median sales price of a Greater Victoria and area single-family home dropped—just barely—under $1 million. The median price for November, according to the Victoria Real Estate Board, was $999,900. That…

BC quietly removes all requirement to self-isolate when COVID-positive

The change marks the end of mandatory COVID-19 public health measures in the province, but was not prominently featured in any government communication For the first time since the pandemic began in March of 2020, if you have COVID-19, you’re no…

It’s rude, irreverent, and possibly the funniest thing in Victoria: Atomic Vaudeville is back

A cross between South Park and the Muppet Show, with real people “Jesus fuck!” is the first thing I hear as I reach the top of the long staircase into Britt Small’s Chinatown apartment. It’s rehearsal time, and R.J. Peters is staring in shock at an…

Election analysis: Marianne Alto is Victoria's next mayor—and Stew Young is ousted in Langford

For full election results, see our election page, here. Langford’s mayor of 30 years has been unseated, along with his council. Scott Goodmanson, a political newcomer, will be Langford’s new mayor, supported by Langford Now’s full slate of candidates…

Get to know who’s running for your local school board

You’ve seen Capital Daily’s database for council candidates and now we’re bringing you a tool to get to know the candidates running to be school trustees! On Oct. 15, trustees for three local school boards—School District 61 (Greater Victoria),…

Council candidates near consensus on mental health support and safe supply—and divided on involuntary treatment

At a forum attended by 15 candidates, public safety discussions exposed a wide gulf in plans and priorities Fifteen candidates running for Victoria council went head-to-head on Tuesday in an after-hours event at KWENCH. The event was hosted by the…

Suspended school board trustees McNally and Paynter reinstated by BC Supreme Court

A BC Supreme Court judge has overruled a decision by the Greater Victoria School District (SD61) to suspend two school board trustees. The judge determined that the board went beyond its authority in removing the elected officials over accusations of…

The Capital Daily Candidate Database

Publisher’s note: Capital Daily has been reaching out to local candidates about our survey, both directly and over social media over the past month. A majority have filled it out, but we have yet to receive responses from several campaigns. To date,…

A new ‘non-partisan’ slate in Victoria's election has extensive ties to the People's Party of Canada

VIVA Victoria's municipal and school board election effort is in line with successful conservative movements elsewhere—prompting some progressive candidates to join the race At the end of a narrow trail into a Sooke backyard, signs bearing the face…

Daughters of Victoria man who went missing in Spain criticize embassy for inaction

Scott Graham has been missing for nearly two months. His daughters say the Canadian embassy could have done more when he needed help Scott Graham appeared in the Canadian embassy in Madrid on July 15th, with a visible wound in his head and missing…

New podcast dives into police-manufactured legislature bombing plot

Pressure Cooker presents a fascinating, deeply researched, and complex telling of the RCMP entrapment of John Nuttall and Amanda Korody “I know what’s up,” proclaims John Nuttall early on in the second episode of CBC’s new five-part podcast series,…

Camper awakens to a bear on his tent

The bear was probably passing through his Lake Cowichan campsite—a well-worn bear trail, he says he was told John Smith was fast asleep in his tent near Lake Cowichan last week when he awoke to a strange sight: something heavy and soft pushing in…

A raucous hearing—and generational divide—as Victoria City Council listens on Missing Middle initiative

Oh, hi there. You must really care about municipal politics. Want more coverage? Sign up today to be a Capital Daily Insider and help us hire a dedicated municipal reporter to bring more important council stories to light. Thursday night marked the…