Good morning {{First name}}!

Victoria’s flower count begins next week. If you have friends or family living out East, where winter is in full force, it might be best not to tell them that. No need to salt their wounds.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

Today: 🌦️ 10 / 7

Tomorrow: ⛅ 11 / 4

Day after: ⛅ 9 / 4

7-day forecast

The region’s tourism agency has launched a pilot fundraising program to help install more flower baskets downtown.

It’s called the Hanging Basket Donation Program, and it's a way for residents, businesses, and other organizations to help continue a tradition that began in 1937 to mark Victoria’s 75th year as an incorporated city.

“Supporting a vibrant streetscape strengthens the experience for residents and visitors,” said Paul Nursey, CEO for Destination Greater Victoria (DGV).

“This sense of place is fundamental to a healthy, sustainable visitor economy.” 

Victoria city council had to make some budget cuts last year to reduce property taxes, and one of the places it hit hard was its hanging basket program.

The cut means the city could only budget for 600 hanging baskets this year, half as many as last year.

The goal is to raise $130K, which would restore the program to its previous scale. DGV and the City of Victoria are working together to administer the flower basket fundraising program, and they’ve got some corporate support already kicking in.

The Butchart Gardens is contributing $25K, DGV and the Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) are each kicking in $10K, and the good folks at CHEK-TV have pledged $10K in promotional and financial support. 

Donations can be made in person at DGV’s Visitor Centre on Wharf, via e-transfer ([email protected]), or in person at City Hall.

Flower Count returns

The hanging basket drive coincides with another spring tradition, the Greater Victoria Flower Count, which begins on Wednesday at 7am and closes a week later, on March 11, at 4pm.

Since 1976, Greater Victoria has been conducting the Victoria Flower Count. Last year, the community counted more than 44B blooms. 

Victoria’s count as the bloomingest community winner was 30B+ flowers—nearly four times as many as runner-up Saanich at 7.9B flowers.

Ms. Moll’s class at Margaret Jenkins Elementary took home the bloomingest classroom honours. 

“Since the hanging basket program began in 1937, flowers have helped define the welcoming character of our downtown,” said Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto.

“The Greater Victoria Flower Count continues this tradition, inviting residents to celebrate our city’s natural beauty.”

Traffic lights down at Blanshard and Caledonia today. Work is expected to take 4-5 hours. [City of Victoria]

Saanich road closure: Reynolds at Cedar Hill Cross, today, 9am to 3pm.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

It must have slipped between news cycles, but earlier this month, Saanich had a change of mayors.

Dean Murdock stepped aside and into the role of mayor’s assistant to make way for Mayor for the Morning Oskar Williams.

Williams, 10, was given the big chair after winning the mayor and councillors’ holiday card contest late last year.

Wearing his mayor’s chain of office—a string of Froot Loops cereal—Oskar had a full calendar at Municipal Hall. 

The mayor for the morning:

Oskar made quite the impression with his innovative and progressive ideas and policy proposals, which include:

“He brought many thoughtful ideas, questions, and a cheerful spirit that will serve him well in his future endeavors,” said Murdock, the mayor’s assistant. 

“Oskar would be a great candidate for a future Saanich mayor.”

At the end of his tenure as mayor, Oskar was presented with a colourful sour key to the district, Saanich said in a release.

🦭 Sea lions and seagulls feast on herring during spawning season. [Facebook photos]

🐦 "Absolutely wonderful!” Final week - Maanomaa, My Brother, closes on Sunday, March 1. Pay-what-you-want tickets are available for all performances.*

🍺 Brass Monkey Taproom (formerly Moon Under Water) grand opening tomorrow. [Info]

📈 From March 10 - 11 Rising Economy unites leaders and innovators shaping Greater Victoria's future. Learn what’s actually driving growth and how to activate opportunity.*

🏒 Hockey night in Victoria: See skaters on a frozen Panama Flats in 1972. [Facebook photo]

🌈  Win big while making a difference! The Pot of Gold 50/50 supports Island kids with complex health needs. Tickets on sale until March 17.*

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BC Transit admits it should have sent replacement after bus filled with fumes
Passengers taking the Route 70 bus on Monday evening said acrid-smelling fumes were present for most of the 45-minute ride from the Swartz Bay ferry terminal. The bus driver pulled over to a pedestrian island on the Pat Bay after passengers complained of visible smoke. After conducting a visual check of the bus, the driver said it was fit to continue, and those uncomfortable with the smell could wait at the rural highway stop for the next bus, coming in 30 minutes. The next day, BC Transit said a replacement vehicle should have been sent to pick up riders. [Times Colonist]

Trial begins for man charged with double murder in Saanich
Christopher Cathcart is accused of stabbing and killing two unhoused people, one of whom was his long-term girlfriend, in separate locations in 2022. William Bradshaw was stabbed on a grass median at Blanshard and Saanich Road, where he was sheltering. Shortly after Bradshaw was killed, Cathcart allegedly chased his girlfriend, Stephanie “Jade” Elk, into a stranger’s home on Bethune, where he stabbed her 21 times. Prosecutors say the same knife was used on both victims. One witness says Cathcart and Elk’s relationship was rocky before her death. [CHEK]

Community health workers reach tentative deal with the province
The union representing 26K health-care assistants, care aides, and supportive housing and shelter workers says it has a preliminary agreement that includes pay raises. The workers, who also support patients in treatment and mental-health programs, have been without a contract for more than a year. Their representative, the Community Bargaining Association, which oversees seven unions, says it will share the information with members in the coming weeks and then announce a date to vote on ratification. [BIV]

Mateína’s new Zero Sugar line delivers smooth, organic energy from yerba mate — no crash, no weird ingredients. With clean caffeine and theobromine, it supports lasting focus and mental clarity. It’s plant-powered fuel that helps you stay sharp, alert, and energized — without the sugar. Try it out today.

📊 Digital Marketing Masterclass: Learn about social media strategies, Google Ads, SEO, and 2026 marketing trends at Mary Winspear Centre today. 9am-3pm. [Info]

🎻 Pacific Baroque Festival 2026—Concert #2: Suave Melodies and Spanish Follies: La Modestine trio performs intimate baroque music at Alix Goolden Performance Hall today. 11am-1pm. [Info]

🎵 Post-secondary Thursday Lunch Concert: Victoria Conservatory of Music postsecondary students share their musical works-in-progress at Robin & Winifred Wood Hall today. 12:30-1:30pm. [Info]

🧵 Fabric Printmaking Workshop: Carve your own ocean-inspired linocut stamp and create a printed tea towel or tote bag at the Maritime Museum of BC today. 5:30-7:30pm. [Info]

🎶 Kelby MacNayr presents Love Songs featuring Sara Marreiros: An intimate evening celebrating romance through the Great American Songbook, with vocalist/drummer Kelby MacNayr and Sara Marreiros at Hermann's tonight. 7pm. [Info]

💃 Swing Dance Party with the Atomic Cocktails: Slim Sandy's Atomic Cocktails play swing tunes from the '30s and '40s at The Coda tonight. 6:30-8:30pm. [Info]

🎭 🇫🇷 Les Misérables School Edition: St. Michaels University School will present the popular musical, based on the Victor Hugo novel, with a student cast, crew, and orchestra at McPherson Playhouse tonight. 7:30pm. Running through Sunday. [Info]

🎞️ Titane: See the 2021 thriller from France/Belgium, in French with English subtitles, in Clearihue C112 tonight as part of the Écrans/Scènes Festival at UVic. 6-7:30pm. The free festival will run through April 15. [Info] 

Wednesday’s headlines: Bill inspired by Island boy’s death passes second reading; Wild ARC in search of volunteers; Island Highway construction put on hold. [Feb. 25]

The Saanich school district might introduce school bus fees next year. [CHEK]

Person arrested Tuesday after brief standoff in Rockland. [Times Colonist]

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

See a sea turtle? The DFO is collecting data about sea turtle sightings on BC’s coast, with nearly 250 reports recorded over the last century. [Fisheries and Oceans]

Arrange a Neighbourhood Grant. [City of Victoria]

Sooke Job Fair: [March 20, 1-5pm]

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