Good morning {{First name}}!

Just for fun, I dare ya to do a little jig when you walk into the office (or the kitchen) today. It’s International Dance Day.
I know—there’s a day for everything, but this one really works.
Dancing is good for the blood flow and tells your brain that you are alive and ready to take on the world.
If you’re so inclined, there’s a Dance Day workshop in Oak Bay.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

Today: 🌤️ 20 / 8

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 20 / 8

Friday: 🌤️ 16 / 10

7-day forecast

Organizers of a long-running pro-Palestinian march said they want police back patrolling their weekly protest, and they planned to file a complaint with BC’s Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) over a perceived pro-Israel bias.

On March 25, VicPD announced it would no longer staff the weekly pro-Palestinian marches—something it had been doing for more than two years. VicPD said the decision was made to ensure it wasn’t overworking officers who generally were taking on extra shifts as overtime.

The group said it never requested a police presence for its marches but would ask the OPCC to determine whether the police force is justified in withdrawing its services. 

“This is an obligation, not a community invitation to be present,” said march organizer Maureen Stone, supported by about a dozen boosters, some waving Palestinian flags, outside VicPD’s headquarters on Caledonia. 

Stone said her group also was concerned that VicPD Chief Fiona Wilson, at the time deputy police chief of the Vancouver Police Department, had tagged two Israeli lobby groups—the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and the World Jewish Congress (WJC)—in a social media post about International Holocaust Remembrance Day in 2024. 

Stone said that was an indication Wilson supports those groups—and she said that ideology may have been passed through the ranks.

“A reasonable observer would infer that Chief Wilson’s personal political commitments have improperly influenced VicPD’s operations,” she said. 

VicPD denied that yesterday.

“The decision to transition away from dedicated traffic support is based solely on operational realities,” the police service said in an emailed response.

“It is important to be clear that while the right to peaceful protest is protected, there is no Charter right to dedicate police traffic control or escort services.”

BC Highway Patrol to concentrate on high-risk driving and motorcycles for month of May.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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That bit of good news for hikers and campers came yesterday from the parks ministry, stating it expected to announce a confirmed reopening date in mid-May. 

The popular 47-km trail on the Island’s west coast was officially closed in October 2024, following severe storms that downed trees, damaged bridges and boardwalks, and caused washouts and unstable slopes, leaving some areas impassable and unsafe for hikers. 

“Repairs are being completed in phases, prioritizing the major infrastructure required to safely restore hiking along the full length of the trail,” the ministry said in a release yesterday.

This includes:

The ministry estimates it will cost $950K to rehabilitate the trail, and the money will come from the federal government’s Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements program.

The repair work will continue through the summer and fall, with final touches such as resurfacing worn or eroded sections and repairing damaged railings and small bridge components, the ministry said.

“People hiking the trail are advised to use caution, follow all signs, and be prepared for brief delays as crews work to improve the trail’s safety and long-term durability,” it said. 

BC Parks said it is working in collaboration with the Pacheedaht First Nation, on whose traditional territory the trail is located.

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Explore Shawnigan Retreats and plan your getaway today. Learn more about Shawnigan Retreats.

🎶 The Victoria Symphony Spring Gala is tomorrow at the Empress. Virtual Auction open until Sunday. 

✨ Design Victoria is on tomorrow through Sunday.

🌹🎵 Mother’s Day Concert in Playfair Park. May 10, 2-4pm.

Oak Bay moving ahead with its own deer contraception program
For three years starting in 2019, veterinarians vaccinated deer with an immuno-contraceptive—and it worked. The number of fawns born in the first year in Oak Bay dropped by 65%. But provincial funding ran out, and the urban deer problem has returned, so Oak Bay plans to begin a new contraception program in the fall. Mayor Kevin Murdoch figures there are as many as 120 urban deer in the municipality “at any given time.” [CHEK] 

Longtime Canucks and HNIC broadcaster John Garrett dies
In a statement released yesterday, Sportsnet called Garrett’s passing at the age of 74 “sudden.” The former NHL goaltender had been working as an analyst during the first round of the NHL playoffs. Cheech, as Garrett was affectionately known, spent six seasons in the WHA and six in the NHL. He finished his playing career with the Canucks in 1985 and was on Hockey Night in Canada the following season. In 2002, he began a 20+ year stint on the Canucks’ broadcast team. [TSN] 

Province says it won’t buy the Whitecaps, but will help soccer team lower costs
The Major League Soccer team has been for sale since December 2024, and says revenue limitations at the provincially owned BC Place Stadium have made it difficult to attract buyers willing to keep it in Vancouver. MLS Commissioner Don Garber yesterday called the situation “critical.” Ravi Kahlon, BC’s jobs minister, noted the team currently gets free use of the stadium, an arrangement that could be extended another year. Published reports suggest the league is looking to relocate the team, possibly to Las Vegas. [CTV / CP]

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🎵 French Art Song Competition: VCM voice students perform French art songs for feedback and prizes from professional adjudicators. Come watch at the Alix Goolden Performance Hall. Today. 5–9pm. [Info]   

🍷 Quails' Gate Wine Experience: An intimate long-table dinner pairs five courses of seasonal, locally sourced dishes with Quails' Gate wines. The Arbutus Room, Brentwood Bay Resort. Today. 5:30pm. [Info]

🖌️ April Paint Night at Ryes & Shine: A guided step-by-step painting experience with all necessary materials, aided by artist Kelsie Gibson. Ryes & Shine Craft Distillery. Today. 6pm. 19+ [Info] 

🧁 Esquimalt Farmers Market: The outdoor market season is here, featuring local produce, food trucks, and live music. Memorial Park. Tomorrow. 4:30-7:30pm. [Info] 

🖼️ Art Show and Sale: Cordova Bay 55+ Association Art Group. Featuring original artwork, art cards, and a wide variety of artistic creations in various mediums, including watercolour, acrylic, oil, pastel, collage, and mixed media. Cordova Bay Elementary School. Saturday. 10am-3pm. [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. Sunday. 1-5pm. [Info]

🦭🎩 A Night of Magic: Centre for the Salish Sea Fundraiser. An evening of wonder, featuring internationally acclaimed sleight-of-hand magician Jason Verners. Sidney’s Centre for the Salish Sea. May 9. 7-10pm. [Info] 

Tuesday’s headlines: Hermann’s hits donations target; BC Coroner raises IPV alarm; and Man arrested in Sooke in Alberta murder investigation. [April 28]

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

2K rooms, please: It’s prime time to build up to 20 hotels in the region, says the tourism board. [Times Colonist]

Platinum performance: Silver Threads Services for Seniors celebrates 70 years. [CHEK]

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

Mature Drivers Education talk today in Oak Bay. 

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

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