Good morning {{First name}}!

Welcome to the week—did you see any lightning over the weekend? Not everyone in Victoria did, but it certainly made its impact, sparking more than a dozen wildfires on the Island.

Most of the South Island blazes are now under control or being held. Find more details on the lightning-related fires in our In Other News section. 

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

Today: ☀ 26 / 14

Tomorrow: ☀ 24 / 13

Day after: 🌦 20 / 14

7-day forecast

The new bus route will begin Sept. 8, establishing direct service between downtown Victoria and Victoria International Airport, BC Transit announced yesterday.

The new Route 72A Swartz Bay/YYJ/Downtown will provide service to YYJ during early morning and late-night travel times. Regular transit fares will apply.

Some travellers have complained about the long commute from downtown, in which they had to transfer at McTavish to take another bus the last couple of kilometres to the airport.

They’ve also complained about having to drag around their luggage, waiting in the rain or poor weather for a connecting bus (the 87 or 88) that doesn't run frequently and can necessitate a wait of up to an hour.

An airport shuttle connecting YYJ to the region shut down in November 2022. The owner, The Wilson’s Group, said it was too costly to keep the service running. 

The new service—Route 72A—will travel along the existing Route 72, between downtown Victoria and Swartz Bay, with YYJ as an added stop. Route 87 and Route 88 will continue to operate as scheduled, providing timed connections at the McTavish Exchange for trips throughout the rest of the day, BC Transit said.

Route 72A from Legislature to YYJ:

Route 72A from Swartz Bay to YYJ:

BC Transit is asking customers travelling with luggage to keep their belongings on their laps or on the floor where they do not block the aisle for other customers. On double-decker buses, customers with luggage must stay on the lower deck.

Plan your trip.

Saanich road closure: Linwood between 3338 Linwood and Holmes, today and tomorrow 7:30am-3pm.

Single-lane traffic on Tillicum between Regina and Burnside West through Friday, 24/7.

Single-lane traffic on Burnside West at Wascana today, 9am-1pm.

Cook Construction: Pedestrian detours and possible traffic lane closures between Bay and Tolmie through Sept. 4. 

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

On the water today? Check the tide times for Victoria.

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More parking spots are on the way for Victoria General, but construction could disrupt drivers in the meantime.

Yesterday, Island Health announced that work had begun to create 57 new parking spots on the north side of the hospital grounds. The work will not affect access to the hospital's main entrance or the emergency department.

The health authority said the construction will be done in phases, closing up to 15 spaces at a time. Signs and traffic controllers will direct drivers through the area "when needed."

"We recognize this work may be disruptive to patients, visitors and staff, and we apologize for any inconvenience this work may cause," Island Health said in a statement.

"While this work takes place, patients and visitors should allow for extra time to find parking or arrange drop-off and pick-up for appointments and visits where possible."

Island Health said "several trees" will need to be removed to create the parking spots. The authority said it has completed "the appropriate environmental assessments" and plans to replant 23 trees as part of the project.

The work is slated to be complete in the late fall.

🎸 The Guess Who and Chilliwack play Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre tonight. 

🌿 CRD residents are invited to attend an introductory workshop about gardening with drought-resistant native plants. Registration includes a packet of locally grown native seeds.*

📸 Government Street in 1976. [Facebook photo] 

🎤 Summer Sing Out: Outdoor Karaoke is Friday at Ship Point.

🎭 The Canadian College of Performing Arts 2026-27 season: Subscriptions available starting today. [Info]

*Sponsored Listing

Man seriously injured in Johnson stabbing 
VicPD said the man was stabbed during a fight with several people late Sunday night. All of the people involved in the brawl had left the area by the time officers arrived, according to the police, but signs of a "violent altercation" were left behind, including blood and damage to a nearby business. Hours later, the stabbing victim arrived at the hospital for treatment, with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. VicPD is now working to identify the other people involved in the fight. [CHEK]

Lightning sparks more than a dozen new Island wildfires over the weekend
As of Sunday afternoon, 42 wildfires were burning on the Island, with at least 13 new blazes discovered that day, tied to Saturday night's lightning storm. Most of the new starts were concentrated on the South Island, with several discovered along the Pacific Marine Road between Lake Cowichan and Port Renfrew. Across BC, the storm caused 7K lightning strikes and ignited 60 new fires, though BC Wildfire Service said heavy rains in these areas reduced the severity of the fire activity. [Times Colonist]

Another BC Conservative resignation and a promise to form a new party
Ian Paton, the MLA for Delta South, is the latest to leave the party, and he plans to help form a new one. Paton says he doesn’t like the way incoming leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay is running the BC Conservatives, so he’s going to sit as an independent. Yesterday, Paton told reporters the “new coach isn’t quite working out.” He said he and Peter Milobar, a Kamloops MLA who quit the party on Aug. 14, intend to form a centrist party for “politically homeless” voters, with Milobar likely interim leader. [Black Press]

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😆 Comedy on the Run: Join NEED2 at Front Runners for a run or walk, followed by some standup comedy today. 6pm run. Comedy at 7pm. [Info]

♀️ Victoria Women’s Circle: Join this event for women seeking sisterhood, community, and a place to be real at Blue Moon Collective (Cadboro Bay) today. 6:30-9pm. [Info]

🤣 Before Lafter: Enjoy an evening of 19+ comedy at the Fernwood Inn tomorrow. 8pm. [Info] 

🪶 Grandmothers’ Basket Workshop: Join artists Virginia Gillespie (words) and Elizabeth Carefoot (fabric arts & objects) for an interactive workshop focused on expressive arts and dialogue at Gage Gallery. Friday. 1:30-4pm. [Info]

🧵 Nature’s Ink Textile Transformation Workshop: Rescue clothes from the landfill and give them a stylish twist at workshop at the Sooke Region Museum. Saturday. 10am-1pm. [Info]

🤠 Country Roads Festival: Multiple-award-winning Doc Walker and Aaron Pritchett headline at this festival in Starlight Stadium. Saturday. 3:15pm. [Info] 

💬 Local Connect Fest: Find folks who match your vibe at Paul Phillips Hall. Sunday. 12pm-3pm. [Info] 

Sunday's headlines: Fundraiser launched for family of Goldstream drowning victim; Victoria company awards $25K to compostable plastic company; Canada-US trade war escalates. [Aug. 23]

Ottawa to announce retaliatory tariff details today. [CP / Times Colonist]

Vehicle and bike lane closures on Kimta for eight weeks, starting tomorrow. 9am-4pm. [City of Victoria]

Happy dance for Tango: Cat returned to family after being lost on a BC Ferries sailing. [BC Ferries]

Youth Cultural Ambassador events: Learn about Island Indigenous culture from Kwakwaka’wakw and W̱SÁNEĆ youth in the Jonathan Hunt House in RBCM. [See dates]

Library bingo: Pick up a GVPL Summer Challenge bingo card and compete for prizes until Sept. 5. [Details]

Whale watching while teeing up: Orcas put on a show for golfers in Oak Bay. [Facebook video]

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