Good morning {{First name}}!

For some, there’s a “noon” rule about today, April 1st.
Pranks should be done before noon, and the prankster who plays after lunch is the fool.

Sounds like the loss of a perfectly serviceable afternoon of tomfoolery and shenanigans, if you ask me.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

Today: 🌧️ 9 / 5

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 12 / 5

Friday: ☁️ 10 / 6

7-day forecast

The largest park in Fernwood features mature trees, five tennis courts, and—as of yesterday—a single melted purple slide.

Sometime in the wee hours yesterday morning, someone set part of the children’s playground ablaze, forcing firefighters to battle flames in a play area that had been installed two-and-a-half years ago. 

“This is so terrible,” said one poster on Reddit.
“My daughter uses a wheelchair, and there aren't many playgrounds that are truly accessible. So upsetting.”

VicPD got a call from the Victoria Fire Department at around 1:15 yesterday morning while crews were still battling the flames. 

The main play structure has been destroyed, they said.

“Very distressing news,” another resident shared online. “My kid loved this playground. Of all the things for this lowlife to torch, a playground?”

By daylight, the play area was cordoned off with yellow police tape as officers continued to investigate the suspicious fire. 

In 2004, the Victoria Book Prize Society initially offered a single award covering fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and children’s literature.
The program has since grown: in 2008, Mel Bolen of Bolen Books helped establish a dedicated children’s book award, and last year, a standalone poetry prize was created in honour of its sponsor, Victoria poet DC Reid.

Submissions are now open for this year’s Victoria Book Prizes, with $5K on the line in three categories:

“These prizes are our way of ensuring that talent receives the recognition it deserves while connecting readers with the richness of our region’s literary voices,” said Christina Haska, president of the Victoria Book Prize Society.

Authors and publishers may submit titles published between April 1, 2025, and yesterday. A shortlist of three titles in each category will be announced in September, with winners revealed in November.

More information is available at victoriabookprizes.ca

Sooke Sinkhole: Part of Dufour is closed due to a collapsed surface. 

Keating Cross Road overpass construction resumes today.

Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park: The Brookleigh boat launch and parking lot will be closed next Tuesday & Wednesday, 5am-7pm.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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April arrives with the warmth of a season finally hitting its stride—and in Victoria, that means an Easter long weekend packed with egg hunts, farm visits, and family fun before the month opens into a rich stretch of live music, comedy, dance, and community events.
There's something on nearly every night, across every corner of the city and beyond. Come see what's happening for the month of April.

Get the full (it’s pretty exhaustive) listings here. 

🤡 April Fools’ Day is today.

🧑‍🎨 Call to Artists: Exhibit your work at the McPherson Playhouse. [Applications today-May 10]

🫁 April is Organ Donation Awareness Month. Green Shirt Day is on April 7.

❓Langford survey: Draft Arts and Culture Strategy. 

⚽ BC Lions in Langford tickets SOLD OUT yesterday.

🧑‍🏫 Glenlyon Norfolk School empowers students to lead with confidence. Attend an upcoming Open House to see how IB learning and belonging shape extraordinary futures.*

🍸 Victoria’s Citrus & Cane and Humboldt Bar make North America’s Best Bar list.

*Sponsored Listing

Victoria man facing eviction because he missed rental increase notices gets a reprieve and can stay
Mark Plank, a 63-year-old on a fixed income who doesn’t own a computer or smartphone, was unaware that his rent had gone up $24.84 per month for three consecutive months. He remained oblivious that the property management company had filed and won a Residential Tenancy Branch case against him until he found an eviction notice on his door. Being offline, he also missed his window to appeal. While Plank was scheduled to vacate his Cook Street Village studio yesterday, he instead took part in a news conference announcing management will let him stay. [Times Colonist]

‘Don’t do it,’ says business group opposed to union’s remote work request
Yesterday, we reported that the BCGEU wants the provincial government to allow members to work from home full-time to offset rising gas prices—and to conserve fuel. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says that would “deal another blow” to Victoria’s downtown businesses, which depend on foot traffic. The CFIB, which represents 100K+ small businesses, says provincial government workers already have some of the most flexible remote work agreements in the country. [CTV]

Victoria to host women’s world championships at Highland Games
Victoria will become the first Canadian city to host the event when national champs from Scotland, the Netherlands, the US, and Canada meet at Topaz Park the weekend of May 16-17. The 163rd edition of the Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival will also feature Gaelic football and hurling—one of the oldest sports in the world—as well as Buhurt fighting, which showcases combatants in heavy steel armour fighting with blunted medieval weapons. [Black Press]

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🌱 Seed-to-Sky Planting Bar: A self-directed planting station where visitors can pot an edible herb or pollinator seedling to take home, with Earth Month learning resources available. Malahat SkyWalk. Daily in April. Drop-in. [Info]

🎞️ Tea Creek: A free film about Indigenous food sovereignty in Victoria. There will be a panel discussion about regenerative and Indigenous agriculture. Ambrosia Banquet & Event Centre. Today. 5-8pm. [Register]

🪺 Easter at Merridale: Kids can pick up a coloring sheet and enter the Easter coloring contest, with all the artwork displayed and prizes awarded. Merridale Cidery & Distillery. Today-Monday. [Info]

🎶🪉 Elisa Thorn & Pesawa: A live performance by harpist and singer Elisa Thorn, along with Pesawa. Tickets are available for $20 or pay what you can. Paul Phillips Hall. Today. 8pm. [Info]

😆 Brass Monkey Comedy Night: With headliner Dylan Williams. Featuring Henok Meresa, Paola Beneras, Jon David, and Darren Millar. Brass Monkey Taproom. Tonight. 8pm. [Info]

🐰 Easter Bunny at Westshore Town Centre: The Easter Bunny is set up in Centre Court for free family photo ops—walk-ins are welcome, or book a spot in advance. Westshore Town Centre. Friday & Saturday. 12-4pm. [Info]

🎵🍴Artemisia: Light & Shadow. An Italian-themed musical dinner featuring a dramatic exploration of the life of artist and feminist heroine Artemisia Gentileschi, set to arias by famed female Baroque composers. Leonardo Da Vinci Centre. April 17 & 18. 6-9:30pm. [Info]

Tuesday’s headlines: Public service union lobbies for full-time remote work; Keaton Cross flyover construction back on; Inner Harbour Blues ‘n Roots Festival pauses after 30 years. [March 31]

A driverless dump truck slams into vehicles on the Pat Bay. [CHEK]

Langford woman astounded as Happy Valley residents pitch in for pooch’s vet bill. [Times Colonist]

UVic Real Estate Spring Social is tomorrow. [Info]

Daniel Lapp's Joy of Life Concerts are on April 24 & 25. [Alix Goolden]

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