Helicopter traffic enforcement, Victoria pool access, travel amid wildfires and Capitol Iron Building plans

As these devastating wildfires on the mainland continue to wreck havoc on communities, many of us here on the Island are reconsidering our summer travel plans. Road Safety at Work is urging drivers to avoid unnecessary travel near wildfires. Program director Trace Acres is joins to talk through what you need to consider before taking that ferry over.  Apparently dangerous driving has become such an issue in the Nanaimo region, RCMP have resorted to bringing in a helicopter in a recent enforcement frenzy. Police say on Sunday they partnered with Comox Air Services 8. During the operation, they observed 46 traffic violations, issued 33 charges under the Motor Vehicle Act, issued 8 warnings, served one 90-day Immediate Roadside Prohibition and impounded four vehicles. Nanaimo RCMP operations officer Inspector Donovan Tait is joins for more. As technology and a tremendous human effort has struggled to keep up with growing wildfires on the mainland, many of us are wondering what more we can do in the face of even more intense wildfire seasons yet to come. The Council of Canadian Innovators is a technology business advocacy organization, and their director of B.C. affairs has penned an Op-Ed in the Vancouver Sun addressing that question, arguing we need to resource new initiatives that could help manage ignition risk. Kiersten Enemark joins to make the case for the province and feds to establish a Wildfire Innovation Fund.  It looks like there will be a bit of a gap between the Crystal Pool closing in late September, and the re-opening of the old Y-M-C-A building– which will soon be known as the Victoria Recreation Centre— as it won’t be back in action until early 2027. This follows a significant water leak at the Victoria Recreation Centre earlier this summer, which was originally envisioned to be the plan B during construction of the Crystal Pool Replacement project. Victoria’s director of parks, recreation and facilities Derrick Newman joins. We’ve gotten word on plans for the old Capital Iron building, with Midland Appliance saying it is taking over and will open a new luxury showroom at the site in the fall. Mike Kozakowski from Citified also joins to chat about this latest development (pun intended) and remind us of what changes are in store for the area as well.