Good morning {{First name}}!

Did you catch last night’s partial lunar eclipse?
The Earth’s shadow covered 96% of the moon’s surface.
There’s chatter on social media about orcas swimming right by the stargazers gathered at Clover Point.
Magical.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

Today: 🌤️ 21 / 11

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 19 / 12

Sunday: 🌦️ 18 / 13

7-day forecast

Two new washrooms in busy foot-traffic areas along Dallas have opened, replacing a pair that ranked among the city’s worst for accessibility.

The city has replaced the loos on the Cook/Dallas border of Beacon Hill Park and at Holland Point Park. Both washrooms scored a 1 out of 3 in the city’s 2022 washroom audit.

The facility at 2 Cook in Beacon Hill Park’s southeast corner had poor pathway accessibility, and the women’s washroom’s entrance was not visible from the street.

The facility near the duck pond at Holland Point had obstructions along its pathway, and its ramp was deemed substandard.

Most of the city’s public park washrooms were built and installed between 1960 and 2021, the city said. Many of the older ones need significant renovations to meet current accessibility standards. Work will begin soon to replace the washroom at Ross Bay Cemetery.

The two new gender-neutral washrooms cost approximately $650K each, said city spokesperson Colleen Mycroft.

City crews still need to remove the original buildings and do some landscaping at those sites.

Cook Closed: Southbound from Hillside to Kings, today 9am-7pm.

2.2% is the maximum allowable rent increase for 2027. [BC Gov’t]

Province ends state of emergency; wildfire risk remains. [BC Gov’t]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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

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For the sixth straight year, commemorative banners honouring local veterans and their families will be displayed on main road lampposts across the municipality leading up to Remembrance Day.

The personalized banners feature a loved one’s name and military service information on a remembrance-themed design replete with poppies.

“My father was throughout his life so very proud to have served in the Navy. I felt having this memorialized on a banner was a fitting way to honour him,” said Esquimalt Mayor Barbara Desjardins.

“Every family has a story, and it’s very heartwarming to see the banners and hear the families’ connections to the program,” she said.

The banners are printed locally and sold on a cost-recovery basis for $135. Since the program's launch in 2021, 64 banners have been purchased, including 10 so far this year.   

“Sales are currently a bit behind previous years, but with almost two weeks left, we’re cautiously optimistic about the uptake,” said Tara Zajac, Esquimalt’s communications manager. 

The banners are displayed near CFB Esquimalt and along Esquimalt and Craigflower roads in late October and early November and taken down just before the winter holiday season. They’re flown for three years and then returned to the owners. 

“I must tell you how meaningful the banner program has been for my family,” one resident said. 

“As we approached November each year, we anxiously awaited the banners going up and went out of our way to drive past them as often as possible. We felt it was a real honour for some very special members of our family whom we miss greatly.”

Individuals being honoured must have served in Canada’s Armed Forces or Merchant Marine, or as a Canadian citizen in an allied nation’s armed forces.

The banners are on sale until Sept. 9. To order one, visit Esquimalt.ca/banners.

The PHS Run Team has raised over $10,000, but there's still a long way to go to reach the funds needed to expand PHS's food program, and we need your help.

Every day, PHS provides more than 3,900 meals, including over 2,000 hot meals, to thousands of people who are our supportive housing and shelter residents and program participants. Most don't have access to kitchens or cold storage and need nutritious ready-made meals.

Please click here to donate to the PHS Run Team as they participate in the Under Armour Eastside 10K on Sunday, Sept. 27.

🤠 Country Roads Festival is tomorrow at Starlight Stadium.  

⚽ Pacific FC hosts HFX Wanderers FC at Starlight Stadium, Sunday at 3pm. [Dog Days]  [You+1 ticket]

⛵ Victoria Classic Boat Festival is Sept. 4-6. [Register here]

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

🎭 Victoria Fringe Festival continues across the city.

*Sponsored Listing

Home invasion reported in Vic West, several arrests made
VicPD officers—including members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team—responded to a call on Belton near Craigflower at 7:20pm Wednesday. Police said they initiated a tactical response due to concerns that armed individuals had broken into an occupied home. Several people were arrested at the scene, and the investigation is ongoing. VicPD said there appeared to be no "broader risk" to the public. [VicPD] 

Unfair for Victoria to take on ‘other people’s problems,’ says VicPD deputy police chief 
Jamie McRae is referring to out-of-province offenders with warrants out on them. The deputy chief constable says BC’s Fugitive Return Program can be unworkable and needs to be updated. McRae says VicPD has been successful only once so far this year—in 30 attempts—in returning a fugitive to the place where they were first charged. McRae says—unless we’re talking homicides—a fleeing offender often has a good chance of avoiding prosecution forever. [Times Colonist]

Island construction: industry warns of cost hikes from US trade dispute 
BC’s construction industry is warning about rising costs and supply chain delays because of Trump’s tariffs. The US president’s tariffs went into effect Aug. 22—and Canada plans to match them beginning Sept. 8. The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) says to expect increased costs on “virtually every project” in BC. The Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA) says it is encouraging contractors and builders to buy Canadian, but that isn’t always possible. [CHEK]

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🫒 Greek Fest: A vibrant celebration of Greek culture, featuring authentic Greek cuisine, live traditional music and dancing. Greek Community of Victoria. Today-Sunday and Sept. 4-7. [Info]  

❓Bingo Night: Questions about music in Round 1. All Taylor Swift in Round 2. Victoria Cider Co. & Beacon Brewing. Tonight. 5-7pm. [Info] 

🎤 Summer Singout: Outdoor Karaoke. Sing your favourite songs, enjoy delicious eats from food trucks, and stop by the ASIA in Victoria booth at Ship Point. Today. 5-7:30pm. [Info]

🎶 Live Music Nights at The Oaks: Vinyl Wave with Tom and Dave play at the Oak Bay grill. Tonight. 7-9pm. [Info] 

🎭 Spamalot: The popular Monty Python musical opens at the Royal Theatre tonight. 7:30pm. Shows tomorrow and Sunday. 1pm & 7pm. [Info]

🎞️ Shrek: Catch this outdoor movie screening at Bullen Park tonight. 8:30pm. [Info]

🎸🤠 Backcountry Fridays: Whiskey Business helps provide a lively country night of dancing and late-night bar energy. Duke Saloon. Tonight. 9pm. [Info]

🎶 Electronic Music Night: Dubversified Culture presents their 9th Anniversary Showcase featuring MC Grim Sickers from the UK. The Downbeat. Tonight. 9pm. [Info]

🎵 Plow: See the Vancouver alt-country group, joined by local indie artists Silverware and Christopher Atkins, at The Coda. Sunday. 6:30pm. [Info]

Thursday's headlines: Hermann's Jazz Club eyes fall reopening; BC Transit cancels multiple trips due to 'fleet constraints'; Sea lion freed at Race Rocks after weeks tangled in plastic. [Aug. 27]

2 fatal crashes on the Island; 3 people dead. [CTV] 

2K+ rides on Lime Bike's first weekend in Victoria. [Times Colonist]

Got tree trimmings? Wild ARC needs donations of fresh cedar branches for its enclosures. All sizes are welcome, especially larger branches (7-10 feet long).

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma: The horror comedy—shot at camps in Sooke and Shawnigan Lake—is playing at Capitol 6 and SilverCity this week. [Trailer]

Saanich Fair is next weekend, Sept. 5-7.

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