Good morning {{First name}}!

Some sad news today about grey whales in Island waters. A lack of food in Arctic regions and at least one parasitic infection led to four of these creatures washing up on our shores in less than two weeks.

We often keep an eye on our local Southern Resident orcas and humpback whales, but the grey whale population is also facing a steep decline. Hearing this news the day after Earth Day is a heavy reminder that our planet needs some extra care.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

Today: 🌤️ 14 / 6

Tomorrow: ☀️ 17 / 8

Day after: ☀️ 17 / 8

7-day forecast

It’s not because the local professional soccer squad has announced it’ll play its next two home games at Royal Athletic Park, and it’s not because they just signed a local high school grad to a development contract—although that’s pretty cool, and we’ll get to that.

It’s because Pacific FC was involved in a “historic” goal that soccer fans globally are still talking about, the first to be scored professionally under a new rule that world soccer authority FIFA is testing in Canada.

“First 'daylight' offside goal scored in Canada” was the headline on the BBC. 

“Historic First in Football” screamed India’s NDTV.

If you know your footy, you’re aware that going offside isn’t as clear in soccer as it is in hockey. It’s more about where the defenders are in relation to the attacking team. 

Under the “daylight” offside rule, an attacking player is only offside if daylight can be seen between them and the second-last defender, including the goaltender.

The rule is seen as a way to increase scoring. 

On Saturday, Victoria striker Alejandro Diaz scored the first such goal in professional soccer, and as the Times Colonist reports, the tally has received all kinds of attention across the pond. 

Speaking of attention, 18-year-old Damian Jamal-Olander is getting plenty of it. By signing a development contract with Pacific FC, the former Claremont Secondary student can make four appearances with the side, maintain his amateur status, and still train with his current club, Vic West. Jamal-Olander is slated to play university soccer at California State University, Bakersfield, this fall. 

Saanich road closures: 

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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The abundance of parks and beaches in our city makes for the perfect spontaneous day out. But for some, extra planning is needed to make sure they can enjoy these beautiful spots.

Accessible spaces are crucial for many people who call the South Island home. According to the City of Victoria, 40% of residents over the age of 15 are dealing with one or more disabilities, and throughout the CRD, around one in five people can say the same. 

Finding info on whether paths or parking can suit the variety of needs people have isn’t always easy—the average public park website won’t typically outline whether trails have errant roots or if visitors have to climb a set of stairs to reach their destination.

In an effort to take the guesswork out for local nature lovers, CRD staff have been adding 360-degree visuals of the region’s parks to Google Maps Street View. 

The Street View feature is usually meant to help navigate, as its name suggests, streets—the Google car that captures the imagery can’t go where vehicles aren’t allowed. So, CRD park staff have taken it upon themselves to snap wrap-around photos so Google can stitch them together into a virtual walk-through.

Since starting the project last year, staff have captured and uploaded Street Views of 14 parking lots and day-use areas, as well as 20 km of park trails in eight regional parks. The parks were selected based on their popularity with visitors and whether they are user-friendly for all. 

Parks available to view on Google Maps Street View:

More parks will be added to Street View in the future as CRD continues its project. Find direct links to these images, as well as more info on the CRD’s accessibility initiatives, here.

🦦 You otter grab some dinner: See a river otter eating on the go near Galiano Island. [Facebook photos]

👑 As human and as funny as life—and just as fragile. Nick Green's play, Casey and Diana, opens tonight at the Belfry Theatre. Learn more.*

🎭 Grease, presented by Triple Threat Performing Arts Society, opens tonight. 

🌱 Join Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary on May 2-3 to shop Vancouver Island’s largest Native Plant Sale! Purchase native plants and support local conservation efforts.*

👠 Better Together Gala x Fashion Show is tonight.

🌿 New from Mateína: A zero sugar, organic yerba mate that delivers clean energy — no crash, no weird ingredients. Just plant-powered fuel that works.*

🍄 Guided Mushroom Walk on Saturday, 9:30am. [City of Vic]

*Sponsored Listing

4 grey whales found dead in 10 days near the Island, including 1 off Sidney
A necropsy determined the Sidney whale had an infestation of whale lice. The others were located near Clayoquot, Barkley Sound, and Bamfield. The DFO described two of the whales—three male, one female—as “extremely emaciated.” It blames some of the malnutrition on a lack of food sources in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. The grey whale population has fallen by half, from 28K in 2016 to 14K in 2024, the DFO said. [CHEK]   

Victoria woman wins legal battle over puppy’s delayed neutering 
After Karen Rogers missed an appointment to have her new husky puppy neutered, the Victoria Humane Society said she was in breach of her adoption contract and applied to the Civil Resolution Tribunal to have the dog, named Grizzly, returned to the society. But Rogers, who adopted Grizzly at eight weeks, said a vet advised her to wait until the puppy was older, closer to a year, to prevent orthopedic health issues. The tribunal ruled that although Rogers broke the contract, she fulfilled its primary goal of providing a loving home and could keep Grizzly. [Times Colonist]

Esquimalt says no to oceanographic radar at Saxe Point
Ocean Networks Canada wanted to install a radar system to capture hourly maps of the ocean’s surface near the park, which it says would help scientists, anglers, and mariners track conditions, nutrient flows, and climate change. ONC said it would cover installation and annual electricity costs. Esquimalt council flagged concerns about putting the radar system near the popular tourist area and told ONC to find a different location. [Black Press]

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🚴 Trades de France Night: Pre-season Mixer: Ahead of Victoria's month-long charity cycling challenge, trades professionals, past teams, and sponsors will gather to connect at Swans Pub today. 4:30–6:30pm. [Info]

🎸 RELICS: Playing the Music of Pink Floyd: Victoria tribute act RELICS will dig into Pink Floyd's 1967–1975 era at Hermann's tonight. 7–9pm. [Info]

💃 Solidaridad Tango: The all-female tango ensemble will bring bold, boundary-pushing interpretations of the genre to the stage at Mary Winspear Centre tonight. 7:30pm. [Info]

🎶 American Beauties: See this intimate tribute to Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, featuring Lonnie Glass, Ashley Wey, and Louis Rudner at The Coda tomorrow. 6:30pm. [Info]

🎻 Daniel Lapp's Joy of Life Concerts: Lapp will bring together a delightful mix of performers for two nights at Alix Goolden Performance Hall. Friday & Saturday. 7:30pm. [Info]

🎵 Pop Goes the Sixties!: Backbeat will perform two nights of top 10 hits from the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, and more at Mary Winspear Centre. Tomorrow & Saturday. 7:30pm. [Info]

🌷 Infiorata: Participate in a contest where teams use flowers, leaves, and seeds to design artistic creations of their choice on pavement at Sir James Douglas School. May 3. 1-5pm. [Info]

Wednesday’s headlines: Saanich teacher temporarily loses license over inappropriate communication with student; Victoria org receives funding to help electrify Canadian Coast Guard; Earth Day in Vic. [April 22]

Meet and greet with Olympians: Canada’s gold-medallist speed skaters will be at Panorama Rec Centre today. [Times Colonist]

Motorcyclists are 3X as likely to be injured in a crash as people in a car, ICBC says. [CHEK]

‘Six-figure cars’ are all the rage in BC legislature question period. [CTV]

TC 10K & Thrifty Foods Family 1.5K is this Sunday. 

New and notable adult fiction books at local libraries. [GVPL]

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