Good morning!

Ocean Week Victoria kicked off on June 1, and the community is putting on some exciting events to get locals in the spirit of environment conservation. With activities going until June 9, make sure to read all about the local events and more in today’s edition of the newsletter.

— Emma

NEWS

First Aframax marks beginning of TMX tanker traffic in the Salish Sea

The Salish Sea witnessed a historic event as an Aframax tanker embarked on its journey from Vancouver to China, loaded with heavy oil from the Trans Mountain pipeline. These vessels, favoured by oil shipping companies, boast capacities ranging from 80,000 to 120,000 deadweight tons. 

Despite its initial $4.5 billion price tag in 2018, the Trans Mountain project's cost surged to $34 billion, leading to heightened scrutiny. With its expanded capacity, TMX can now handle up to 890,000 barrels of oil and refined products daily, a significant increase from its initial 590,000 barrels per day. The Canada Energy Regulator greenlit TMX's operation on April 30, paving the way for tankers to navigate the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

However, environmental concerns loom large, particularly regarding the transport of heavy diluted bitumen (dilbit) through delicate marine ecosystems. 

Garry Fletcher, a board member of SeaChange and Friends of Ecological Reserves, emphasized the need for comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation measures. Indigenous communities, environmental organizations, and concerned individuals have urged authorities to prioritize spill response protocols and cross-border coordination, citing the potential catastrophic consequences of a spill.

Despite efforts to enhance marine safety through compulsory pilotage and advanced weather monitoring, uncertainties persist. The implementation of initiatives like the Maritime Situational Awareness Initiative (MSAI) and QR code-based coastal mapping tools underscores the ongoing commitment to minimize risks. 

Nonetheless, the specter of increased tanker traffic in the region underscores the imperative for continued vigilance and collaboration in safeguarding the Salish Sea's fragile ecosystem.

Head to The Westshore to read Sidney Coles’ full story.

EVENTS

Ocean Week Victoria promotes environment conservation with area-wide events

World Oceans Day is coming up on June 8, and with a desire to bring awareness and accountability into protecting the oceans around us, Greater Victoria has a series of events to educate its residents. 

World Oceans Day was first proposed in 1992 at the UN Earth Summit by a Canadian delegation, and designated by the UN in 2008. Ocean Week Victoria is part of Ocean Week Canada’s national initiative, created in 2020 to bring awareness to ocean health conservation. This year, partnering with over 25 organizations, Ocean Week Victoria will put on over 30 events from June 1 to June 9. 

With a variety of educational opportunities to check out, The Westshore has put together a list of all the events local to the area. For those willing to make the commute, Capital Daily also has a full list of all the events on their website.  

In-Person Activities

World Oceans Day: Make sure to take advantage of Fort Rodd Hill’s ocean-themed day for World Oceans Day on June 8. Going from 10am to 4pm, visitors pay the museum admission fee to check out the historic seaside site. 

Natural History Speaker Series: Whales: Learn about the whales that visit or live in Island waters at the Sooke Region Museum this June 8 from 3 to 4pm. Locals are free to attend.

Read Your Way Around the Ocean: Throughout Ocean Week, Greater Victoria Public Libraries will have a special Ocean Week book display for locals to educate themselves and learn about the oceans around them. Different branches will highlight different books. 

Online Activities

Land To Sea: Food Webs in the Great Bear Rainforest: On Tuesday, June 4 at 7:30pm, join this free virtual webinar about the vital connections between the land and sea environments. 

Marine Conservation Amidst Climate Change: Learn more about innovations in conservation and small steps to take in preserving ocean environments at this June 5 virtual presentation. Going from 7 to 8:30pm, this event is free to attend. 

United Nations World Oceans Day Celebration: Enjoy a free early-morning virtual celebration for World Oceans Day on June 7 from 7 to 10:30am. 

Ocean 98.5 Ocean Week Trivia: Test out your ocean trivia knowledge with Ocean 98.5 for a chance to win some prizes. Trivia kicked off Monday this week and will run until Wednesday.

BC Environmental Film Festival Screenings: For the entire month of June, BCEFF is offering a free online screening of 10 ocean-themed films on their website. These films are free for anyone to check out. 

Around the 'Shore

🏳️‍🌈 Langford’s new street flags: To celebrate Pride month and National Indigenous History Month, the City of Langford has swapped out its street flags with new specially designed flags, conceptualized by Russ Chipps, Chief of Sc’ianew First Nation (Beecher Bay) and designed by his daughter Jeannie Chipps. The flag, which is designed with Rainbow Trout artwork, is currently hanging and can be seen on Goldstream Avenue lampposts. [Victoria Buzz] 

💧 CRD gives watershed tours: The Capital Region District has been holding five-hour tours throughout the spring to educate the public on water resources and the process it takes to get them to residents’ taps. The Sooke reservoir is currently the main water source the community uses throughout Greater Victoria, and the CRD team is hoping people learn more about the water system. [Vancouver Island Free Daily] 

🚙 Drivers affected by Sooke road work: Work on Charters Road has already begun to affect local drivers, with gridlocked conditions that have greatly increased commute time. The construction work causes drivers to solely use Highway 14, which causes congestion and long drive times. [CHEK] Check out our story from last week with details on the Charters Road closure here.

Community Events

🎸 Youth rock club: Join the EMCS society this June 5 for their drop-in youth rock club. Created as a rock-band session for kids ages 12-18, enjoy a jam session from 4 to 6pm every Wednesday. Drop in is $5. 

👟 Metchosin 10km walk: Enjoy a 10km walk in Metchosin this June 5. Starting near 4457 Happy Valley Rd., registration begins at 8:45am, with the walk going from 9 to 11am. Anyone interested is free to join, and the group usually stops for a coffee after the walk. 

🌙 Thursday night market: This June 6, head to the Sooke Region Museum for their Thursday night market. Going from 5 to 8pm, check out a range of delicious food, local crafts, and live entertainment. The event is running every Thursday until Sept. 5, so there are plenty of opportunities to visit the market.

What’s Offshore?

No ships today!

Westshore Snaps

Esquimalt Lagoon. —Sheena Sinoski, Langford

That’s it!

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