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- Feb 22 - Toxic drug deaths decreased in 2025
Feb 22 - Toxic drug deaths decreased in 2025
Weekly roundup. Mobile branch chipper will pass through Victoria tomorrow.
Capital Daily Team
February 22, 2026
Good morning !
It’s set to be a busy Sunday in downtown Victoria. The Lunar New Year parade is happening in Chinatown today, celebrating the beginning of the year of the horse. It’s one of the most beautiful celebrations in Victoria, with plenty of art and culture to take in.
And if you’re up extra early today and looking for something fun to do, the Sticky Wicket will be open—and serving food and drinks—at 4:45am for its Gold Medal Game watch party. Go Canada!
— Robyn
Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes
🌡️ Weather Forecast
NEWS
343 Islanders killed by toxic drugs in 2025, lowest death toll in years
Josie Osborne announces funding for naloxone kits. Photo: Province of BC / Flickr
Last year, 1,826 people in BC were killed by toxic drugs—the lowest annual total since 2020—according to the BC Coroners Service (BCCS). It’s a 21% drop compared with last year’s drug death toll, 2315, with nearly 500 fewer deaths.
Still, that’s nearly double the number of drug-related deaths in 2016—the year the opioid crisis was declared a public health emergency in BC—when 997 people died from drugs provincewide.
On the Island, 343 people lost their lives to toxic drugs, 94 of whom were in Victoria. Nanaimo had the second-highest death toll on the Island with 76, and Campbell River had the third at 43.
It’s the first time in two years that fewer than 450 people died due to drugs on the Island.
The most recent BCCS report also shared the monthly drug death toll of the last three months of 2025. On the Island, 28 people died in December, 25 in November, and 30 in October. Approximately half of these deaths occurred on the South Island.
Youth drug deaths (18 years old and younger) increased slightly to 26, up from 21 in 2024. This is still lower than the number of youth deaths in 2021 through 2023.
While the drop in the number of deaths is a positive trend, the loss of life has still been felt deeply among Victorians. On Thursday, a community memorial was held at St. John Divine Church to honour five people who were killed by toxic drugs in the city over the last month. The next memorial is scheduled for March, and already, there are six people to honour.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
High-risk missing person: Miroslav, 68, last seen at the Swartz Bay terminal. [VicPD]
Lunar New Year Parade and Blessing: Event from 11:30am-3:30pm in Chinatown today. Expect rolling road closures on Fisgard, 6am-5pm. [Details]
Dallas closed at South Turner, tomorrow through next Monday, 7am-3:30pm.
Saanich road closures:
Near 2827 Colquitz, tomorrow and Tuesday, 8am-4:30pm
Palmer at Quadra, tomorrow through Wednesday, 9am-3:30pm
Saanich single-lane alternating traffic:
Reynolds between Cedar Hill Cross and Cumberland, tomorrow through Wednesday, 8:30am-3:30pm
Quadra between Glenora and Union, tomorrow through Wednesday, 8:30am-3:30pm
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
