Good morning {{First name}}!

I’ve missed a few workouts in my day, but never for that reason.
Crystal Pool is closed again today after a strange chlorine gas incident on Friday.
Eight people were taken to the hospital. Thankfully, they’re OK.
The pool won’t reopen until Tuesday. Registration for summer camp has been pushed to Wednesday.
You’ll find more details in today’s newsletter.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

Today: 🌤️ 15 / 8

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 13 / 7

Tuesday: 🌧️ 8 / 4

7-day forecast

That long baby above is the first cruise ship of the season. It arrived from San Diego via Astoria, Oregon, on Friday at 10am and was scheduled to leave for Vancouver 12 hours later, before beginning a voyage to Hawaii.

Usually, most of these ships stay in port for 3-6 hours, but this year, almost half of the 335 anticipated ship calls are scheduled to remain at Ogden Point for 10–12 hours, which could mean more passengers spending more time—and more money—in Victoria.

A Greater Victoria Harbour Authority study of the 2024 season found 72% of passengers left the ship on the Victoria stopover, and the GVHA estimates that, on average, they spent $100 (and $120 for crew). 

Last year’s cruise season carried 989,950 passengers to town, and this year, for the first time, one million are expected. One of them, Linda Shores, stepped off the Nieuw Amsterdam and into our question: “What’s the best part of cruising?”
“Just the experience of all the people and the places you go to,” responded the aptly named Vancouverite, a veteran of eight cruises. “It's different. You connect with people—you make friends with people from around the world.”

If the Nieuw Amsterdam were full, Shores would have had a chance to make 2,105 potential new friends (more if you include the 900 or so crew members).

The largest ship slated for Ogden this year—and it's scheduled for 26 stops—is the Norwegian Bliss, which can hold 4,010 guests and 1,716 crew. 

There are 39 days this season with three or more ships scheduled, bringing as many as 15K-19K potential visitors. The National Geographic Venture is the last ship on the GVHA schedule, closing the season Oct. 18.

Wanted: Joshua Armstrong, 34. [RCMP]

Crystal Pool closed; summer camp registration rescheduled. [City of Victoria]

Keating Cross Road southbound on-ramp to Hwy 17 closed today until next Monday for construction cleanup. Off-ramp remains open.

Saanich Road Closure: Reynolds at Cumberland, tomorrow and Tuesday, 9am-3 pm

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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