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Last year, 138 workers in BC died on the job.
Remember the term “occupational hazard”? Well, occupational disease—such as asbestos-related illness—was responsible for the deaths of 79 of those people.
You can find more details here.
The provincial Day of Mourning ceremony, hosted by the BC Federation of Labour, will take place on the steps of the legislature today at 12:15 pm.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

Today: 🌤️ 14 / 7

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 20 / 9

Thursday: 🌤️ 20 / 9

7-day forecast

Hermann’s said it wouldn’t announce that until it had the money in the bank—and now it does.

“Because of you, Hermann’s Jazz Club and View Street Social have a future,” Al Smith, the board chair of the Arts on View Society, the nonprofit that oversees the jazz club and the adjacent lounge, said in an email. 

As of late yesterday, the Save Hermann’s and View Street Social online drive had collected $455K from roughly 2,900 contributors, just ahead of its end-of-month deadline. 

The community stepped up—“when it mattered,” Smith said. “What you did here is extraordinary.”

Last month, Hermann’s announced, “after prudent deliberation,” it would close its doors on April 30 because it was bleeding money.

The community quickly responded with sutures via Hail Mary donations, which led to the online drive. Four weeks later, with pledges pouring in, the society said it would wait until contributions were in hand before announcing that the club would not be permanently closing.  

Hermann’s is still closing on Thursday—for 3 to 6 months—for ‘stabilizing and rebuilding’

Smith said that’ll give them time “to do what should have been done years ago.”

And that is:
• Address historical financial obligations
• Complete critical repairs and deferred maintenance
• Fully understand and rebuild the organization properly

Smith said for years, taxes, other financial matters, and needed maintenance at the club were ignored.

“What you’ve done has given us the opportunity to fix this properly and ensure it never happens again,” he said.

BC Coroners Service investigating death near Uptown. [Victoria News]

Cook construction between Hillside and Bay: Expect delays due to milling and paving work all week.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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Intimate partner violence (IPV) continues to steal the lives of too many British Columbians—and the deaths that have been studied were “overwhelmingly preventable,” BC’s chief coroner said in a report released yesterday.

Between 2016 and 2024, at least 135 people—partners, children, family members, friends, and perpetrators themselves—died as a result of IPV, the report said.

“Behind every number is a person whose life was cut short and a community that will carry that loss forever,” said Dr. Jatinder Baidwan.

The report found:
• 76% of the victims killed by an intimate partner were biologically female
• Even though they account for 5.9% of BC’s population, Indigenous Peoples accounted for 24% of IPV victims
• 74% of victims were killed in their homes

“Too often, the warning signs were present; too often, systems were uncoordinated, overburdened, or unable to respond in ways that meaningfully enhanced safety,” Baidwan said.

The report recommends that the province implement and fund:
• A clear, centrally coordinated provincial response to addressing IPV and related deaths
• A standing committee to review all IPV-related deaths
• Enhanced training for law enforcement and first responders
• An evidence-supported model that promotes grassroots and community-led approaches
• A public awareness campaign

IPV, the report said, is a global pandemic, with an estimated 316 million women worldwide subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner.

Every day, PHS Community Services Society supports thousands of extremely underserved and vulnerable people in Vancouver and Victoria, including those facing homelessness, addiction, and complex health challenges.

You can make a real impact by joining the PHS Run Team in the Under Armour Eastside 10K on Sept. 27, or by participating virtually from anywhere between Sept. 1 and 30.

Each runner receives a personalized online fundraising page to help PHS reach its $30,000 goal, which will be directed to the PHS Food Program, which provides over 2,200 meals daily to PHS residents.

Be part of a community making meaningful change through food security.

Use code 26PHS for 10% off registration and donate to PHS (registration fees are not donated to PHS).

Register or Donate Today!

🎶 Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival Choral Highlights Concert tonight at First Metropolitan United Church.

👑 Powerful, gripping, funny, and hopeful, Casey and Diana is on now at the Belfry Theatre. Pay-what-you-want tickets are available for all performances.*

🚙 Mature Drivers Education talk tomorrow in Oak Bay.

🌱 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.*

🎼 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat begins its 10-day run at McPherson Playhouse on Friday.

*Sponsored Listing

RPBO’s Victoria Bird Week runs May 10–17, 2026, following a community celebration of World Migratory Bird Day on May 9. Together, these events celebrate migration monitoring, research, and education in the Birding Capital of Canada while inviting people of all ages and experience levels to connect with birds and community.

BC moves closer to social media ban for kids, just like Manitoba
Manitoba announced on Saturday it was going to be the first province to pass a law banning young people—no age has been determined—from using social media and AI chatbots. Yesterday, the provincial attorney general said BC could be next. Niki Sharma says she will be speaking with Manitoba officials and that she has told federal Culture Minister Marc Miller and AI Minister Evan Solomon that Ottawa has to take the lead. [CHEK]

7K gather in Burnside-Gorge to celebrate Vaisakhi
Sunday was one of the most important Sikh holidays of the year, and under a sunny sky, celebrants packed Cecelia near the Gurdwara Singh Sabha Sahib to honour the spiritual birth of the Khalsa—a collective body of dedicated Sikhs—and the annual spring harvest. Celebrations traditionally take place all month long. [Times Colonist]

Man wanted for Alberta murder arrested in Sooke
Cole Erich Hill was arrested Saturday in the Jan. 21 killing of Brady Greg Snelgrove, 30, in Vermilion, near the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. Vermilion RCMP, along with Alberta’s major crime unit and Sooke and West Shore RCMP, were all in on locating and capturing Hill, 28, with no fixed address. Hill is in custody, charged with second-degree murder, and will be taken back to Alberta to face those charges. [Black Press]

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After touring local short films around the Island this month with screenings in Courtenay, Tofino, and Nanaimo, Short Circuit wraps up this weekend with our 14th annual edition in Victoria at The Vic Theatre. Plus, the return of INDIE+INDUSTRY professional development day with brunch, panels, and networking!

🎶 Soul Singing: It happens when people who care about the world get together and sing. No experience required. Church of Truth–Community of Conscious Living. Today. 12pm. [Info]

🧓 The Mayhem of Midlife—A Workshop for Women 45+: A guided workshop exploring the transitions of midlife—from empty nesting to career shifts—through reflection exercises, new perspectives, and connection with others. Karen Cator Counselling Services. Today. 5:30–7:30pm. [Info]

🎺 The Swiftsure Big Band: Featuring vocalist Brenda Morie and music director Don Bishop. Previously scheduled for Hermann’s. The Coda. Thursday. 6:30-8:30pm. [Info]

🎵 Passport to Broadway: A Musical Journey Around The World. The Peninsula Singers will take you on a tour of continents and cultures through music. Mary Winspear Centre. Friday-Sunday. 7:30pm & 2pm. [Info]

🍋‍🟩 Experience Agave: Hosted by The Local Cellar and Café Mexico, this tequila and mezcal festival brings together flavour, tradition, and community. Market Square. Saturday. 6:30-9:30pm. [Info]

🌹Mother’s Day Musical Garden Tour: Explore nine stunning private gardens across Greater Victoria, each alive with spring blooms and featuring live performances by the Victoria Conservatory of Music. May 9 & 10. 10am-4pm. [Info] 

🎞️ Green Valley: Film and Fundraiser. In their debut feature documentary, Victoria-raised filmmaker Morgan Tams explores Blue Jay Lake Farm, a remote, self-sustaining community. Vic Theatre. May 22. 6:30pm. [Info]

Sunday’s headlines: Royal Roads gets back into the military business; Weekly roundup; VicPD goes AI. [April 26]

Hartland Landfill fire: 10 hours to douse it over the weekend. Disposed battery to blame? [Black Press]

Doctors of BC not impressed with Island Health’s new hospital policy. [CHEK]

Scottish midwife not returning to Victoria and feels Canada and UBC failed her. [Times Colonist]

Military medevacs crew member from cargo ship west of the Island. [CTV]

Kara returns: The great white shark that made headlines for swimming in Island waters in March has been spotted nearby again. This is considered atypical behaviour for a female great white.

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