April 12 - Orca boom in 2025

Good morning !

Welcome to the weekend. Today we have some good news about orcas in the Salish Sea—something I don’t often get to say about the vulnerable species—and a big career move for a former Victoria HarbourCat.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 7 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 12 / 4

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 12 / 6

Day after: ⛅️ 13 / 8

7-day forecast

NEWS

Record number of Bigg’s and Southern Resident orcas seen in Salish Sea in early 2025

This may be the “Year of the Bigg’s” in the Salish Sea, according to the Orca Behaviour Institute (OBI). 

There’s been a boom in confirmed sightings of the transient killer whales throughout the first 90 days of the year, including the two months when sightings are typically few and far between. The research institute says this could signal an early start to their typical season (daily sightings are common from April to September), which may mean sightings will dwindle sooner this summer.

This uptick in sighting frequency also brought some rarely seen orcas to the Salish Sea—siblings T30A and T30C spent “some solid time” in the sea and linked up with their sister T30B for a mini family reunion. 

But researchers were most surprised—and pleased—by the uptick in Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) sightings. 

New high for monthly SRKW appearances

“In March, we were able to confirm their presence on 20 days, the highest total for the month since we started tracking year-round Southern Resident presence 11 years ago,” OBI wrote in a statement.

There were 162 Bigg’s sightings and 23 (over 20 days) of SRKW in March.

Orcas from J-Pod and K-Pod, as well as the L12s and L54s, were seen in the first three months this year. OBI says this is the first time “in recent memory” that multiple pods have spent substantial time in the Salish Sea in early spring— “a hopeful sign” they’re finding lots to eat.

The rise in Bigg’s killer whales could be bringing down the number of sea lions, which in turn might be improving the fish stocks eaten by SRKW. The boom in pinnipeds (seals, sea lions) since hunting bans were placed in the 1970s has been linked to reduced salmon numbers. 

2025 brings hope to endangered SRKW population

OBI’s report of increased orca sightings came soon after another SRKW calf was born—J63 is the third SRKW born since Christmas and one of two to survive. So far, according to the Center for Whale Research (CWR), the two surviving calves appear healthy.

J63 looked “no more than a few days old” when it was spotted on April 6, swimming closely with its assumed mother, 20-year-old J40. This would be J40’s first calf. The current population of SRKW is estimated to be 74.

“Each new calf is vitally important to this critically endangered population—every birth counts—and we’re hopeful that this young whale will continue to thrive,” CWR said in a release.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Federal election advance voting on April 18-21, or in person now at Elections Canada offices, or by registering to vote by mail before April 22 

More paving downtown: Johnson and Pandora closed from Douglas to Blanshard. 7am-7pm.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Another ‘Cat climbs the ladder to the major leagues

Baseball fans who hear the words Eight Men Out usually think of the late 1980s film based on the dark days of baseball when members of the Chicago White Sox were found to have conspired with gamblers to throw the 1919 World Series.

But Victoria has its own version of eight men out—as yesterday, infielder Chase Meidroth became the eighth player out of the HarbourCats organization to make it all the way to The Show.

Meidroth was called up to the White Sox, where he was expected to play second base against the Boston Red Sox, the team that drafted him in 2022.

“For us, it’s pretty cool,” says HarbourCats managing partner Jim Swanson.

“We have 8 guys in 10 seasons played—that is tops for any team in any sport on the Island in moving players onto the very highest level.” [The Royals have had 10 players drafted to the NHL in the past 10 seasons, but not all have played there.]

Local play showed his ‘legitimate shot' at pros

Meidroth gave a hint of what was to come when he played some shortstop for the ‘Cats in 2019, hitting for an outstanding .424 batting average with a ridiculously high .494 on-base percentage.

“Chase was a gritty, hardworking guy for us,” Swanson says.

“You could see he had a legitimate shot at getting to the Major League Baseball (MLB) level.”

Watch this video of Sergio Santos, manager of the White Sox affiliate Charlotte Knights, giving Meidroth the good news. 

The 23-year-old Californian joins Victoria native Nick Pivetta (Phillies/Red Sox/Padres), Andrew Vaughn (White Sox), Alex DeGoti (Astros), Nathan Lukes (Blue Jays), Cade Smith (Guardians), Davis Wendzel (Rangers) and Jack Neely (Cubs) as MLB players who have played for the HarbourCats.

‘Cats season only two months away

The home opener is set for June 6, and Swanson is raring to go.

“We are going to pack the park this year,” he tells Capital Daily.

“The signs early are strong, and we really like the schedule this summer with special events and fireworks.”

This summer the team will also host the Little League Classic Showcase in July at RAP.

SPONSORED BY BELFRY THEATRE

The Belfry's new musical starts April 22

Rehearsals are well underway for the Belfry’s new musical event If You Could Read My Mind: The Songs of Gordon Lightfoot.

So how does it all come together?

"I create a blueprint—which songs in what order and who is singing them. That blueprint gets revised during rehearsal” says Co-Creator Michael Shamata. ​“ It's a very collaborative process—which continues once we're in the room with the actor/singers—they have a lot of input into the chords, harmonies, and choices of instruments."

Co-Creator Tobin Stokes added "There's certainly going to be many familiar tunes and a few surprises. There's only room for so many songs in there!"

Tickets for If You Could Read My Mind: The Songs of Gordon Lightfoot are on sale now.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🌼 Octopus’s garden at Gyro Park. [Doug Clement]

📜 Nobel-Prize winner Malala Yousafzai creates scholarship for girls from Afghanistan and Pakistan to study at Pearson College near Metchosin. [Watch Yousafzai’s speech at Pearson’s 50th]

🎭 Pacific Opera Victoria presents Rigoletto - a tragic tale of revenge and redemption. April 23-29 at the Royal Theatre. Tickets from $35 online or call 250.385.0222*

☕ Waiting for coffee: A peacock takes a peek through the window at Bubby Rose’s Bakery. [Facebook photo]

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Crown calls for longer parole eligibility for man convicted of murder in front of Lucky Bar
Mohamed Daud Omar stabbed John Dickinson in front of the Yates bar in 2022 after the two got into an altercation. The Crown contends he should receive 12-13 years' parole, rather than the minimum of 10. He automatically gets a life sentence for second-degree murder, making parole length more significant. In his argument, the Crown lawyer pointed to Omar’s history of violent crimes. [Times Colonist]

Ladysmith couple who had 177 animals seized from property convicted of animal cruelty 
In late 2023 the BC SPCA went to the “hobby farm” twice and seized 14 dogs, 59 chickens, 14 goats, 31 quails, 48 rats, and other animals. Most were found underweight or emaciated and living in unsanitary conditions. The pair have now been fined $10K each and are banned from owning, buying, or selling animals for the next 10 years. They also must pay BC SPCA $90K for the cost of caring for the seized animals. [CTV]

Nanaimo Woodgrove mall for sale as owner seeks to buy dozens of Bay stores 
Weihong Liu, who owns Mayfair, is looking to sell her other Island mall. Woodgrove, in the city's North end, has 140 stores including a Walmart, a Save-On, and (for now) a Hudson's Bay. It was built in 1981 and renovated in 2020—the year Liu bought it for a reported $200M, a value that has risen in the latest assessment. [NanaimoNewsNow]

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🗓️ Things to do

🇵🇭 Filipino Weekend Market: Celebrate Filipino culture at Centennial Square with food vendors, live music, crafts, and family-friendly fun today and tomorrow. 10am-6pm. [Info]

🍸 Victoria Cocktail Week: A week-long festival will transform the Garden City into the ultimate cocktail party, starting tomorrow. [Info]

💐 Spring Vases Craft Night: Create your own floral spring vases during this guided craft night at the Bard & Banker tomorrow. 1pm. [Info]

🎺 David Santana Quartet performs Freddie Hubbard: An evening dedicated to the works of jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard at Hermann's. 7pm. [Info]​

🎹 Angela Hewitt Plays Mozart: World-renowned pianist Angela Hewitt joins the Victoria Symphony to perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 22 at the Royal Theatre tomorrow. 2:30pm. [Info]

📚 The TC Book Sale: The biggest book sale of the year will be back at the Victoria Curling Club next weekend, with thousands of used books available for low prices. [Info]

🐴 Tally-Ho Farm Tour: Go behind the scenes and spend a morning surrounded by draft horses at Tally Ho Farm. April 26 & May 31. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: Election spotlight on Saanich-Gulf-Islands; VicPD gets a new chief; CRD crosses out X. [April 11]

Election preview: Victoria riding. [Capital Daily]

Missing teen, 16, found safe yesterday. [RCMP]

A sea of change is possible for the Island on election night, say experts. [Times Colonist]

Plant sale fundraiser for 5th Garry Oak Scouts. [Order until April 16]

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