Good morning {{First name}}!

A solemn way to begin, with news of a familiar face and great Canadian who has died.
Longtime news anchor Lloyd Robertson was 92.

Yesterday, the Snowbirds filled the sky; today there’ll be a bit more wildfire smoke from the BC mainland and Washington state.
The good news is Environment Canada pegs the Air Quality Health Index for Victoria at level 3 out of 10, low risk.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

Today: ☀️ 26 / 14

Tomorrow: ☀️ 27 / 14

Friday: ☀️ 24 / 17

7-day forecast

It was the only piece Wendy Chartrand decided to submit in the Sooke Fine Arts Show—and the response has been “unbelievable,” she says.

“I would never have imagined my painting would resonate with so many people,” she tells Capital Daily.

As reported last week, Chartrand’s portrait of US President Donald Trump—“The Don of Dung,” which was painted with horse manure—sold for $1,800 on the show’s first night. 

The artwork’s story has been shared with millions on the Yahoo Entertainment news portal, and the partially poopy portrait has caught the attention of The Daily Beast and online influencers, such as political commentator Harry Sisson.

Chartrand owns horses, and she used some of their manure to whip up a homemade watercolour, “which seemed appropriate considering the subject,” she wrote on its tombstone label at the arts show that wrapped up in Sooke Aug. 3.

“The portrait was my way of venting, and if people can relate and find humour in it, mission accomplished,” the Metchosin artist tells Capital Daily. 

Chartrand said it was interesting to watch the public’s reaction to the piece and to hear their comments.

“I guess a brush can carry a lot of weight.”

Chartrand has heard about her painting from people in India and Iceland, and she even had an inquiry from a journalist in Greece.

“The portrait sparked conversation and controversy, too—and isn’t that what art is about?” 

As for the painting’s next destination, it’s expected to be placed in a fitting location, Chartrand said.

“I haven’t met the purchaser but am told that they plan to hang the portrait above the toilet in the bathroom,” she said.

Witnesses sought in possible hate-motivated offence at Vancouver near Queens. [VicPD]

Cook construction: intermittent lane and crosswalk closures, Hillside to Summit through Friday.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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

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

The historic estate in the Burnside-Gorge neighbourhood “will cease operations as a public heritage destination,” the provincial government announced yesterday.

The heritage site that offers a glimpse into mid-19th-century life in Victoria is back under provincial control after being run by Métis Nation British Columbia for nearly two years. 

It’s the fourth operator change since 2023, when the Vancouver Island Local History Society (VILHS) terminated its contract a year early. The museum closed for two months that year before it was taken over by interim operator Forager Foundation and by Métis Nation BC in 2024.

When the provincial government announced the transition from VILHS to the Forager Foundation, it stressed the need for public access to the museum.
“Point Ellice House belongs to the people of British Columbia,” it said at the time.

This latest changeover will close public access to the museum, starting Aug. 21. The BC government will take over site management on Sept. 2. The province said it’s “reviewing options for reopening” and will share an update “once a decision has been reached.”

Construction on Point Ellice House was completed in 1862. It was home to Charles Wentworth Wallace and his wife, Catherine, daughter of John Work, chief factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company.

The O’Reilly family bought the home in 1867 and expanded it. It was sold to the province in 1975.

That same year, the house became a heritage site. It’s been a National Historic Site of Canada since 1966, and for decades, a must-see for history buffs and a destination for school groups and tourists.

In 2023, its previous executive director, Kelly Black, told Capital Daily the museum was chronically underfunded, and predicted future organizations would likely struggle to maintain the site if they depended on the province.

Wednesday through Sunday nights until Sept. 5, take in a live performance from the outdoor stage at Butchart Gardens. Nestled amidst lush trees, the stage plays host to a variety of talented performers. Concerts start at 7:30pm. Complete lineup available here. Entertainment is included with the price of admission.

🌃 Island Star Party 2026 is Friday & Saturday nights in Saanichton. 

🎨 Bowker Creek Brush-Up Arts Show and Sale is Sunday, behind Oak Bay High.

🍸 Art of the Cocktail is Oct. 24. [Tickets on sale]

🥍 Victoria Shamrocks 15 Nanaimo Timbermen 6 in playoff series opener last night.

🏠 Seniors and their families are thinking ahead about a home’s long-term fit for aging in place. This free screening guide helps with the process.*

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BC Transit wants to double Greater Victoria fleet, but is short on space
The transit agency outlined long-term plans to expand its bus fleet to about 650 vehicles from 328 and to increase the number of trips—including 24-hour service to the airport—in a presentation last week at a Victoria Regional Transit Commission meeting. However, the agency said this won’t happen until a third transit centre is built to house the additional buses. The agency said it is projected to run out of space for its fleet in the next two years. A new facility to be built in Saanich is not expected to open until 2032. [Times Colonist]

WestJet slowly stabilizing after tentative deal reached in short flight attendant strike
The work stoppage lasted only 28 hours, but disruptions to some air travellers' plans continue, with flights still being delayed or cancelled and some passengers remaining stranded. The airline says it’s in a “recovery phase following a labour disruption.” More than 900 flights have been cancelled since Aug. 1. Cirium, an aviation analytics company, said it figured a regular flight schedule should resume today. However, the carrier did not immediately confirm that. [CBC]

4 Greater Victoria golf courses make the cut in Canada’s Top 100 
BC courses—including the Victoria Golf Club (14), Royal Colwood (36), Bear Mountain’s Valley course (62), and Bear Mountain’s Mountain course (79)—took 17 of ScoreGolf’s 100 slots. ScoreGolf’s rankings are published every two years, and they are highly regarded among linksters. Scores are determined by a panel of 90 golf experts who award points in categories such as course beauty, design, challenge, and fun factor. Cabot Cliffs in Inverness, NS, was ranked No. 1. [Black Press]

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🍷 2026 Cowichan Valley Wine Festival: A month-long journey through the Cowichan Valley wine region, with 11 wineries to explore throughout August. Various wineries. All month. [Info]

✂️ Bastion Square Market: A local market running every Wednesday through Sunday in August. Bastion Square. Today. 11am–5pm. [Info]

🎈 Tricky Magic Show & Balloon Animals: A free children's magic and entertainment show as part of the Wednesday summer series running through August. Cameron Bandshell. Today. 11am–12pm. [Info]

🧘 TFA Fitness: Drop in for a free outdoor fitness class with The Fitness Academy. Bring your own mat if you can. Ship Point. Today. 12–1pm. [Info]

🎩 Massimo Calabrese: A free busker performance as part of the city's featured busker series running Tuesdays through Thursdays all summer. Ship Point. Today. 4–5pm. [Info]

🌇 Oaklands Sunset Market: A weekly evening market running through Sept. 2, with food trucks, local vendors, a beer garden, and live music. Oaklands Community Centre. Today. 4:30–8pm. [Info]

👐 Suzie Q & Co: A free jazz, blues, and pop concert as part of the city's evening series running Tuesdays through Thursdays through Labour Day. Ship Point. Today. 5:30–7pm. [Info]

🎶 Free Concert: CFUV 101.9 FM presents a free, all-ages outdoor concert featuring Grave Infestation, Dungeon Serpent, Altered Dead, SKULL, Pepper Spray, and Destructive Interference. Centennial Square. Today. 6–10pm. [Info]  

🌸 Summer Lavender Festival: As buds become blooms, the fields are at their peak in early July through mid-August, and the lavender-drying barn’s walls are floor-to-ceiling in lavender. Bilston Creek Farm. Thursdays-Sundays for the next 2 weeks. 10am-5pm. [Info]

Tuesday’s headlines: Snowbirds’ final full show in Victoria;  Weekly roundup; August events in Greater Victoria. [Aug. 2]

VIDEO: Car flips onto roof after collision with ambulance Sunday at Bay and Blanshard: minor injuries only. [CHEK]

300+ Mexican firefighters arriving in BC to fight forest fires. [CityNews]

Being back in Victoria for final show is flying full circle for Snowbirds’ former captain. [CTV]

World’s largest multinational maritime training exercise: CAF members return to Esquimalt. [Black Press] 

Saanich man builds fence with history in mind. [Times Colonist]

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