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Butchart Gardens has cancelled its Saturday fireworks show for the second week in a row due to BC’s current state of emergency, but it sounds like all the other magical aspects of the Gardens’ summer season will be there tomorrow.

Live music, picnics, and beautiful florals—who needs fireworks anyway?

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

Today: ⛅ 26 / 16

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 23 / 15

Day after: ⛅ 21 / 15

7-day forecast

Plans to establish a wilderness school on Crown lands in East Sooke were shot down by the province this week.

One with Nature Corp. had applied to use just over 71 ha of Crown land in East Sooke Regional Park for programming. Plans included constructing a dock, at least one building or shelter, and removing trees. 

In March, One with Nature's owner, Vitaliy Svetlichnyy, told CHEK the school was unlikely to build all of the proposed structures due to cost constraints. 

The province said it found the wilderness school's plans to be "incompatible with the existing conservation, recreation, and stewardship objectives of the area," and rejected all three applications.

In its decision, the province pointed to strong public engagement, saying it received 3,255 responses, 3,216 of which opposed the applications. A petition with 8,700+ signatures opposing the project was also considered, said the province.

Consultations with First Nations were factored in as well. Two nations formally opposed the applications, saying the project could impact treaty rights, cultural and archaeological values, and environmental resources.

The land-use application was submitted in 2022, and in 2025, the province asked the CRD for feedback on it. The regional government said it responded with "strong" opposition and cited several reasons, including concerns about the impact on nearby public lands managed by the CRD.

"East Sooke Regional Park is one of the CRD’s busiest parks with nearly 250K visits annually," the CRD said in a statement.

"The proposal intersected two official trails, including the busiest trail within the park, and had the potential to impact public use and access."

The CRD said it agrees with the province's decision that "the applications did not represent an appropriate or beneficial use of the Crown land in question."

Svetlichnyy said in a social media post that his ultimate goal with his school is to “[protect] nature through education."

One with Nature has been running bushcraft and survival-skills courses for adults and children since 2020. The wilderness school will continue offering programs at its Metchosin training field on Nield.

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CORRECTION: A story that appeared here on Thursday incorrectly said riders must be 18 to use the new Lime e-bike system. They must be 16 or older. Capital Daily regrets this error.

Lane closures and delays on Esquimalt Road, from Mary to Russell, including sidewalk closures. Today, 9am-3pm. [City of Victoria]

Single-lane Traffic: Tillicum, between Regina and Burnside West. Today through Tuesday, 24 / 7. [Saanich]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

Support local journalism by supporting Capital Daily. Become a Capital Daily Insider member today and help bring local stories to life.

Island hikers interested in exploring 5040 this summer have less than two weeks left to trek there—starting Sept. 1, access to the popular peak, as well as Cobalt Lake and Triple Peak Lake, will be closed until Oct. 3.

The Ministry of Forests will be replacing a bridge on the Marion Main Forest Service Road (FSR) that has reached the end of its service life.

Located between Port Alberni and Ucluelet, the Marion Main (FSR) bridge was built in 1988. The ministry said the bridge replacement is required to ensure continued safe access.

“The road will be closed to hikers and vehicles during the replacement,” said the Ministry of Forests in an Aug. 14 information bulletin 

“The replacement has been scheduled in September 2026 to meet the requirements set by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to reduce effects on fish and fish habitat,” the ministry continued.

The bridge closure starts at 6.3 kilometres up the Marion Creek FSR and the 5040 trailhead is located about three kilometres further along the road from the bridge site, said the ministry.

Full story here.

The PHS Run Team has raised $8,000, but there's still a long way to go to reach the funds needed to expand PHS's food program.

Every day, PHS provides more than 3,900 meals, including over 2,000 hot meals, to people living in extreme poverty.

Get involved today!

🐛 Turquoise banana slug seen in Strathcona Provincial Park. [Facebook photo]

🩰 Save with Early Bird tickets to Royal Winnipeg Ballet's Nutcracker accompanied by Victoria Symphony. Nov. 27–29 at the Royal Theatre. You have until Sept. 17!*

🏈 Westshore Rebels host Okanagan Sun tomorrow. [Info]

🏡 Adult children of seniors are helping their parents decide whether to age in place. This free guide helps everyone figure it out together.*

🏃 Triathlon Super Sprint & Relay National Championships: In Victoria on Saturday & Sunday. [Info]

*Sponsored Listing

Saanich police investigating four fires in one week
Saanich police and fire are jointly investigating multiple recent fires. On Monday, Saanich Fire crews tackled a Galloping Goose trail blaze that caused a tree to go up in flames and a fire in Gorge Park. Less than 24 hours later, crews responded to two suspicious fires on Mount Tolmie, one of which grew to 550 square metres in size and got close to nearby homes. A Recyclistas bike shop worker says there have been three additional fires near the Saanich store since June; he suspects arson. [CHEK]

$6K+ in jewelry stolen during Oak Bay open house
Oak Bay Police are investigating the theft of about $6,200 in jewelry, reported Aug. 12. Police believe the items were stolen during an open house while visitors toured the home. OBPD warned that open houses can create theft opportunities and are urging homeowners to secure or remove valuables beforehand, use safes, and discuss visitor sign-in and monitoring procedures with their realtor.

Pilot reported bad weather before fiery crash last month in the San Juan Islands: report
A Kenmore Air float plane crashed July 23 near Sucia Island after the pilot diverted from Roche Harbor to avoid a thunderstorm, injuring all 11 aboard. An NTSB preliminary report says the plane descended nose-high at low altitude before its wing hit water. All passengers escaped before a fire destroyed the fuselage; boats and rescuers responded. The plane was the same model as one that crashed in Puget Sound in 2022, killing 10 people. [Times Colonist]

🎸 James Vickers Band: See the up-and-coming Canadian rockers at The Coda tonight. 6:30pm. [Info]

🧑‍🎨 Art Battle Victoria: In three fast-paced rounds, artists battle the clock and each other to create their best work in just 20 minutes at Magic Box Studios tonight. 7pm.  [Info]

🎶 DOGS: The rock band performs with support from Anton (acoustic set) and Renny B (synth set) at Little Fernwood tonight. 7-11pm. [Info]

🖤 Black Goth Meetup: Make new friends who share your taste in music, and get ready to dance the night away at Black and Here Community Centre tonight. 5-6pm. [Info] 

🧘 Rooftop Pilates + Mindfulness: Start your day with mindful movement. Inside, in front of lululemon, due to possible poor weather tomorrow. 9-10am. [Info]

🤖 Cybertronic Spree: Party like it's 1986 with this Toronto band of Transformers at Capital Ballroom tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

💃 Bachata Outdoor Social: Join the last summer bachata night on the Songhees Walkway, starting with a beginner lesson and ending with a night of dancing tomorrow. 6-8pm. [Info]

🎵 Freeze Frame: The band will perform on the Butchart Gardens stage tomorrow. 7:30pm. [Info]

Thursday's headlines: Lime e-bikes rollout in Victoria and Vic West; 12 Island beaches under no-swim advisories; Canada's 4th worst wildfire season. [Aug. 20]

Victoria installs signs along Dallas to help emergency responders. [Details]

Sooke business damaged in early morning fire. [CHEK]

Mammoth tooth fossil found on a Gulf Island beach. [Facebook photos]

Summer Reading Club feedback survey: Share your experience—and your kid's—with Greater Victoria Public Library. [Survey]

Country Roads: Langford Country Music Festival: Saturday, Aug. 29, at Starlight Stadium. [Details]

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