Feb 24 - Flights a go at YYJ amid Eastern storm

Good morning !

Another Olympics is behind us. While the women’s and men’s hockey finals didn’t go as many of us had hoped, Canada still took home 21 medals, including five golds.

I’m going to miss pretending that I know anything about free skiing or figure skating!

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 8 / 5

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 8 / 7

Day after: 🌧️ 9 / 7

7-day forecast

NEWS

YYJ update: storms in the northeast and a crisis in Mexico

A mammoth snowstorm that has pummelled the northeast US and parts of Canada and forced the cancellation of 10K+ flights has not caused major disruptions at Victoria’s international airport. 

“That said, significant weather events elsewhere in the country can have downstream effects as airlines adjust their broader networks in response to conditions,” said Victoria Airport Authority spokesperson Erin Brocklebank.

“This may result in delays, cancellations, or schedule changes.” 

The blizzard—a bomb cyclone dubbed Winter Storm Hernando—began slamming New England and the Atlantic region on Sunday, whipping up strong winds and dumping as much as three inches (7.5 cm) of snow per hour, with some areas, like Rhode Island, receiving 80+ cm. The system has moved into the Maritimes, creating unsafe travel conditions, and is expected to stick around until tonight before it heads out over the North Atlantic.

Airlines have cancelled flights, and train service has been suspended in affected areas. The US National Weather Service described travel conditions as “extremely treacherous” and “nearly impossible.” 

5K Canadians among those hunkered down in Puerto Vallarta, as violence rips through the Mexican city

Flights scheduled between Victoria and Puerto Vallarta were cancelled on Sunday “due to a security situation in the Puerto Vallarta area that is impacting flight operations,” Brocklebank said.

In Puerto Vallarta—a favourite holiday spot for Canadians—cars were burning, streets were deserted, and the airport remained closed yesterday, one day after drug cartel violence erupted in the Mexican tourist city. 

Canada’s federal government advised Canadians to find safe shelter as cartel members started fires and blocked streets after Mexican special forces killed their leader, “El Mencho.” 

As of late yesterday, the Canadian government had not arranged evacuation flights for the 26K+ Canadians known to be in Mexico, one-fifth of whom are in Jalisco state, where the resort town of Puerto Vallarta is located. Some airlines, including Flair, say they have rebooked Canadian passengers on return flights for today.

“Passengers [with tickets for Mexico] are advised to contact their airline directly for the most up-to-date flight information before coming to the airport,” Brocklebank said.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Traffic lights down at Blanshard and Caledonia today, westbound traffic is prohibited. Work will last approx. 1-3 hours. [City of Victoria]

Construction on Cook: Intermittent lane closures, parking restrictions between Bay and Maplewood until March 6.  

Single-lane alternating traffic: 100-block of Gorge Road East, now through March 6. [City of Victoria]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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NEWS

At-home care program for seniors to expand throughout the Island

A virtual care program that allows seniors to age at home, rather than in a long-term care facility, is becoming available to more people in the province, and Island Health is one of three health authorities where expansion is underway.

The Long-term Care at Home (LTC@Home) program sets seniors up with monitoring technology at their home for virtual care. This technology allows health-care teams to keep an eye on seniors in need of full care. It can track falls, activity levels, medication adherence, indoor temperature, and wandering.

It’s not surveillance—no cameras or microphones are invading the privacy of the seniors. Instead, discreet sensors are placed throughout the home and seniors can wear a pendant that allows for two-way emergency calling. 

Health Minister Josie Osborne says expanding the program allows more seniors to “remain safely at home,” which should reduce the pressure on hospitals.

“Meeting the needs of a growing and aging population means delivering care in smarter, more flexible ways, including right in seniors’ homes,” Osborne said in a release. 

Leah Hollins, board chair at Island Health, says LTC@Home is “an effective service for eligible seniors” who are waiting for placement in a care home or who will soon need full-time care.

The pilot initially launched in 2024 at Saanich’s Broadmead Care Society and a seniors community in Delta. Since its launch, 70+ seniors have benefitted from the Saanich-based program. 

The initial pilot focused solely on seniors living near the participating long-term care communities, but the next phase will be more expansively delivered through health authority teams.

The province says it’s aiming to expand the support to “as many as 2,700 seniors” by 2028. Island Health says the program will be available throughout the Island.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🌼 Spring wildflowers make their first appearance in Nanaimo. [Facebook photos]

💪 Local Champions: Community leadership program: [City of Victoria]

🎯 Prepare today so you can lead tomorrow. Grow your career with relevant topics, expert-led courses and employer-valued skills with Continuing Studies at UVic.*

💗 Support Tumbler Ridge. [Charities]

💼 Rising Economy 2026 Conference. [March 10, 11]

^{*Sponsored Listing}

🗞️ In Other News

Eastbound section of Island Highway will be closed for the next 2 weeks
A segment starting opposite Four Mile Pub—between Stewart and Plowright—in View Royal will be a construction zone until March 6 as BC Hydro crews do some maintenance work on the underground transmission infrastructure. The eastbound lane of the Island Highway toward Craigflower in Esquimalt will be shut down. Detours have been set up at Burnside West and at Helmcken Road, both diverting traffic toward Highway 1. Bus stops will remain in place, and BC Transit service won’t be disrupted. [View Royal]

2 prominent Victoria businesses are closing after the bank calls in loans
Westcoast Appliance Gallery and Capital Iron Home Store are ceasing operations immediately. The companies’ owner, Fred Aram, says the Royal Bank called in its loans at the end of last year, has frozen the companies’ accounts, and is arranging for a court-appointed receiver to take control of business decisions. Aram took over Capital Iron on Store in 2022 after the company filed for bankruptcy after 80+ years. Westcoast Appliance had been operating since 1984. ​​​​[Times Colonist]

Thousands of fish eggs found dead after Sidney yacht fire
Cleanup efforts following the Feb. 1 fire at Van Isle Marina are showing signs of progress, but volunteers have recorded abnormal egg mortality throughout the harbour. Tsehum Harbour is a popular location for smelt spawning, but after oil spilled from the three sunken yachts, volunteers from Peninsula Streams Society found most of the eggs dead on Feb. 5. That’s more than 3K smelt eggs. Samples were taken and may be tested for hydrocarbons. [Peninsula News Review]

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🗓️ Things To Do

🖤 Black Pioneers on the Saanich Peninsula: Catch the last week of this exhibit, exploring the lives of Black pioneers on the Saanich Peninsula at the Sidney Museum. Now through Feb. 28. [Info]

🎶 UJAM Club Night: Heart & Soul: Universal Jazz Advocates & Mentors Society hosts a fun night of music at Hermann's tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

🎵 String of Legacy: Kora Sounds & Ancestral Rhythms: The African Arts & Cultural Society will present a powerful evening celebrating legacy, resilience, and African musical traditions at the Charlie White Theatre tomorrow. 7:30pm. [Info]

🎻 Pacific Baroque Festival 2026—Concert #1: Iberian Splendour: Organist Abraham Ross will present baroque organ music from Portugal and Spain at the Christ Church Cathedral tomorrow. 7-9pm. [Info]

🧵 Fabric Printmaking Workshop: Create your own printed tea towel or tote bag at the Maritime Museum of BC. Thursday. 5:30-7:30pm. [Info]

🕺 Swing Dance Party with the Atomic Cocktails: Slim Sandy's Atomic Cocktails will play swing tunes from the 1930s and 1940s at The Coda. Thursday. 6:30-8:30pm. [Info]

🎭 Les Misérables School Edition: St. Michaels University School presents the beloved musical—featuring an all-student cast and crew—at McPherson Playhouse. Thur.-Sun. Various times. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Sunday’s headlines: Branch trimming pickup happening Monday; Weekly roundup; BC paramedics union reaches tentative agreement with province. [Feb. 22]

343 Islanders killed by toxic drugs in 2025: Lowest death toll in years. [Capital Daily]

Missing person: Miroslav, 68, last seen at the Swartz Bay terminal. [VicPD]

Avalanche risk after mid-Island snowfall. [CHEK]

Educators say BC budget doesn’t address the financial crisis in post-secondary schools. [Times Colonist]

Turquoise waters: Herring spawning creates spectacular visuals at Salmon Beach. [Facebook photos] 

Black History Month reads for adults, teens, and kids. [GVPL book lists] 

Garden City Grooves Festival. [March 19-21]

That’s it!

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