Victoria Viewpoints: Thursday-Friday, July 20-21, 2023

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for  Thursday-Friday, July 20-21, 2023 

British Columbia Port Workers Strike

Archive of notes on the labour dispute available here.

BC Wildfires

Southern BC under heat warning as hundreds remain in evacuation limbo 

Family remembers Alberta pilot who died fighting wildfire as big man with big heart 

Multiple homes threatened by growing St; Mary's River fire in southeastern BC 

Wildfire crews fight wildfire with fire to protect, secure, Cranbroook airport 

Ottawa working to prevent further wildfire tragedy after deaths: environment minister 

'He was a real life hero ... the love of my life': Wife of Alberta helicopter pilot 

More International firefighters arrive in BC to help in historic wildfire season

Crews battling new wildfires 'highly visible' from Kamloops and Highway 5

Lower East Adams Wildfire continues to grow as evacuation alerts issued

628 lightning strikes in Southern Interior sparks BC Wildfire concerns 

Almost 1.5 million hectares burned in BC since April 

Revelstoke to hold memorial procession service for BC woodland firefighter killed on the job

Wildfire shuts down highway to Bella Coola again as new evacuation alerts, orders pup up in BC

BC to hold memorial procession for teen wildfire fighter who died in service to the province  

Crews from 5 countries step into battle: How firefighters work together on BC's frontlines 

Globe and Mail

Police launch tip line in missing BC children's alleged abduction

Environment Canada issues blistering heat warnings for BC

BC directs Surrey to replace RCMP with municipal police force 

Surrey's shift to municipal police force offers valuable lessons, experts say 

University of British Columbia announces neuropsychologist as new president 

CBC

Large number of Hells Angels expected across Lower Mainland for gang's 40th Anniversary in BC
Week-long fireworks celebration over English Bay begins this weekend 

BC judge rejects pseudolegal lawsuit based on 'extremely peculiar' idea from the conspiracy world 

Man arrested in connection to suspicious death of 22 year old woman in Prince George 

Police release photos of 2 men likely travelling with BC mother accused of abducting her children 

Ale-tercation brewing at Vancouver beer house over decade  old mural

Victoria music school, advocates call on province to house people sleeping rough in city's downtown

'Showing the world who we are'

Fraser Valley transit strike ends as union ratifies agreement 

Sparks fly as Canadians descend on Seattle for Taylor Swift concert, Blue Jay games this weekend 

BC Ferries blocks bookings for some sailings as it rearranges cancelled reservations 

BC landlords warn renters against installing AC units in mid-summer

19 fires set in 4 hour period overnight in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, Chinatown: fire department 

Can a heat pump beat the heat and wildfire smoke at home?

Benoit-Antoine Bacon named as new president of University of British Columbia 

Vancouver Sun 

Vancouver's annual fireworks competition gets underway this weekend 

BC actors union votes to extend contract with American producers 

Dead BC gangster named in civil forfeiture lawsuit filed this week 

Desk thumping comes at a high cost in Victoria 

Broad political support for Mike Farnworth on Surrey policing

Politicians 'must be open to critique': Vancouver staff respond to council's effort to stifle criticism

Victoria Times-Colonist 

Driver hit by vehicle  ring wrong way on Nanaimo Parkway has died: police

Ferry reservations out of Swartz Bay to the mainland are filling up quickly 

'Good progress' on Highway 4 rock scaling, says ministry

Police watchdog probes Parksville incident

Bylaw prohibiting sheltering in some Victoria parks on hold 

Royal BC Museum new acting CEO says she'll continue work to modernize displays 

$53.5M boost for Lochside and Galloping Goose trails takes step toward reality 

Ferry reservation slots filling up fast with Coastal Celebration off duty 

Moving from parks to interim sheltering to address a humanitarian disaster  

Victoria News

Langford Senior sleeps in car thanks to destructive trees she can't remove 

No reservation? First ferry of the day from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen is noon 

'Disgusting': Victoria cyclists say nails, screws deliberately put in bike lane

Victoria Police issue warning, tips after spree of bicycle thefts 

Victoria pushes back tentative date for banning shelter in some parks 

'Disheartening' : New Saanich policy sees amenity fees cut by 60%

Likely no earthquake risk from storing CO2 under ocean off Vancouver Island

Greater Victoria's second mobile health clinic added to help vulnerable 

Improvements at BC Ferries a 'top priority' of government: Premier Eby

Premier drive up with $270 million for new clean energy automotive centre

BC wants federal clarity on the future of the Canadian Mounties 

Global

BC Amber Alert: New photos released as children remain missing 

BC nurses, wildland firefighters owed thousands due to payment backlogs: Union

BC man threatens hunger strike over noisy neighbouring. pickleball court 

Long waits at BC borders as big events draw Canadians south 

RCMP make arrest in deadly Prince George home invasion 

Metro Vancouver asks for limited water use amid 'unseasonably' warming dry conditions 

BC Interior regions under heat warning, temperatures expected to hit ups to 38 C

CapU strike appears over a School, support workers reach tentative deal 

IIO deploys to Parksville after arrested man suffers 'serious injury'

Mounties safely dispose of potentially explosive situation at Keremos landfill 

Vancouver orders removal of 'iconic' rat mural at Commercial Drive brewery 

'There's going to be movement; VPD unsure how SPS decision will impact its staffing 

New passenger only ferry between Nanaimo and Vancouver to pen bookings next week 

The Tyee                                       

For Renters, the Air Conditioner Wars are heating up

Long COVID is disabling kids. Why we ignore it

Fifteen lessons from 'Bracing for Disasters'

Is Danielle Smith going to blow up Alberta Health Care?

Toxic Drugs killed 184 British Colombians in June

BC's Rural Emergency Room Crisis 

How One First Nation is bringing Vancouver Waters back to life 

CHEK TV

10 days until homeless: Greater Victoria family faces an 'out of control' rental market 

Lighting and widening plan for CRD trails starts down new path

IIO investigates after man sustains serous injury in Parksville

Vehicle backlog continues at BC Ferries following ongoing mechanical issue 

HMCS Cowichan 'disappears' from long-term berth

Northeastern Salish Sea temperatures boiling kelp alive  

'We see people suffering': Organizations call for help for people living on Pandora 

Island reached level 5 drought earlier than usual 

Miscellaneous

Police launch tip line in missing BC children's alleged abduction 

Environment Canada issues blistering heat warnings for BC interior regions 

University of British Columbia announces neuropsychologist as new president