Cliffside rescue, wildfire smoke haze and an abundance of local excitement heading into the weekend

Ryan & Sports Guy Steve talk gas prices and field questions from listeners about sports news. Plus, local hoaxes and legends on International Serpent Day.  Meanwhile, Air quality is remaining top-of-mind as hazy skies have made it to much of Vancouver Island. Overnight here in Victoria we saw the air quality health index peak at four, or a moderate health risk. What’s the latest and what should we expect over the weekend? Donna Haga is a meteorologist with the provincial government with the latest.  The Mosh the Rock Island MetalFest is returning to Fred Milne Park in Sooke this weekend, and organizer Royal Savoie from Royalty Entertainment joins to run through what we need to know before we go. Plus, the latest Stats Canada jobs numbers are in with unemployment in B.C. falling to 6.2 per cent, and we’ve gotten word Minister Ravi Kahlon isn’t able to talk job numbers this week, so B.C.’s forestry minister and local MLA Ravi Parmar is taking it on. It’s a good time to talk to him, as wildfires blaze in much of the province and we’ve just welcomed the wildfire crews from Mexico to help. Yesterday brought relieving news for the friends and family of a 25-year-old hiker from Courtenay, when an RCMP helicopter found him on a cliffside in the Paradise Meadows-Mount Albert Edward area. He had been missing since Monday when he had reportedly decided to stay behind as his hiking partner made an ascent. It was a huge search and rescue effort, and Comox Valley Search & Rescue manager Paul Berry walks us through what happened.  The David Foster foundation’s celebration of 40 years of fundraising to support children and families of organ transplant recipients is set to be it’s last gala, followed by a huge concert open to the public at the inner harbour on Saturday.  The weekend is kicking off with a red-carpet event at the Victoria Conference Centre today. Foundation CEO Mike Ravenhill checks in ahead of the big weekend.  Plus, Dallas joins for CFAX 1070's Friday morning local food feature, with what you need to know about the Cadboro Food Festival, fusion food truck eats, soup dumplings, Pickle Fest. Is Victoria becoming one of the chicken hubs of the world?