Feb 4 - February events for Victoria

Good morning !

I saw Send Help last night. I now see how watching the TV series Survivor can prepare someone who ends up stranded on an uncharted island.
Poor Gilligan was born too early.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌥️ 14 / 6  

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 13 / 6

Friday: 🌦️ 10 / 8

7-day forecast

NEWS

Events happening in Greater Victoria this February

February brings a fresh wave of energy to Victoria as love, music, and community take centre stage. The month kicks off with the Hot Chocolate Festival supporting the BC SPCA, while Family Day weekend offers adventures from scavenger hunts to free yoga sessions.

The Royal Theatre and McPherson Playhouse host everything from operas and musicals to rock legends, while Hermann's Jazz Club continues its intimate tradition of world-class performances. The Vancouver Island Whisky Festival will showcase the top spirits from local distilleries, and the Pacific Baroque Festival will bring Spanish baroque splendour across multiple venues.

Whether you're warming up with artisan hot chocolate for a good cause, discovering new music at The Coda, or exploring maritime history at the museum, February offers plenty of ways to connect with loved ones and celebrate the vibrant creativity of our community.

Check out the full list of events here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Saanich single-lane alternating traffic: 
* Admirals between Cowper and Arundel, through Feb. 27, 9am-3:30pm
* Cedar Hill at Cedar Hill Cross, today, 9am-3pm

Blue-green algae alert lifted for the main beach at Lower Thetis Lake. [CRD]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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NEWS

CRD launches campaign to stop sewer system clogs: Remember the 3Ps

Little toy cars, vapes, and AirPods have their place, and most would agree that place is not clogging up our sewer system.

But that’s what’s happening, according to a new PR campaign from the CRD that aims to remind us all that when it comes down to it, there are really only three things that should end up going down the toilet.
The CRD calls them the three Ps: pee, poo, and toilet paper.

“Everything else,” the regional district says on its website, “including wipes, dental floss, condoms, sanitary products, facial tissue, and contact lenses, should go in the garbage.”

Wipes are a bit of a sticking issue because, often, they are marketed as “flushable.”  

The problem is that while baby wipes, disinfecting wipes, and personal wipes can make their way through the toilet, unlike toilet paper, they don’t break down. They stay intact inside sewer pipes and form blockages. That leads to sewer backups and expensive repairs for the city or district. 

The CRD’s new public awareness video says each year, about 1.4M kg of solid waste is screened out of the wastewater and taken down to the Hartland dump. 

Because wastewater systems are built to transport water, toilet paper, and human waste, any blockage can cause untreated sewage to overflow into the environment, the CRD says. 

When combined with FOG—fats, oils, and grease—unflushables, such as wipes, sanitary products, and dental floss, can cause serious blockages that can damage plumbing systems, including septic tanks. 

On a larger, public scale, these blockages can damage infrastructure, leaving taxpayers on the hook for repairs.

The CRD said it knows these items arrive in the sewage, but just how much is what staff are trying to find out.

“We are also working with local municipal staff to understand how much of this material they are removing,” said CRD spokesperson Andy Orr.  

“We hope to have a better understanding of quantities and related costs later this year,” Orr said.

Other items that often get flushed but shouldn’t include disposable diapers, paper towels, facial tissues, medications, plastic items, cotton swabs and balls, contact lenses, hair, and kitty litter.

SPONSORED BY KWENCH WRITERS FESTIVAL

The future of writing is human

Professional Writing Day at the KWENCH Writers Festival (Saturday, Feb. 28) brings three critical conversations on research, voice, and AI. Hear from leading journalists, authors, and thinkers on how to build credibility, choose the right voice, and define human authorship in an ever-changing writing landscape. One-day tickets on sale now.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🌸 Cherry blossoms are in bloom and in view on View. [Facebook photos]

💗 Victoria Young at Heart Seniors Expo 2026. [Today, 11am-3pm]

🚌✈️ BC Transit service to YYJ survey open until Feb. 15.

🐦 "...powerful and moving." Maanomaa, My Brother, previews tonight and opens tomorrow at the Belfry Theatre. Pay-what-you-want tickets are available for all performances.*

🥃 Vancouver Island Whisky Festival. [Feb. 28]

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Bike and bus lanes won’t be installed on Quadra, as Saanich’s council reverses course
The original Quadra-McKenzie revamp plan called for bus lanes, protected bike lanes, and sidewalks on Quadra, but the council dropped those on Monday night. Citing public demand, the council also voted to eliminate potential “hubs” where the street connects with Beckwith and Chatterton Way and to cap building heights at four storeys along Quadra's west side, north of Saanich Road, and where it crosses Tuxedo and Ian streets on its east side. [Times Colonist]

Victoria councillor wants to see changes in vehicle design and regulations
Pointing to how 2026 began with 17 collisions on Victoria roads in the first 19 days of the year, Coun. Dave Thompson wants the mayor to lobby the provincial and federal governments to review how automobile design affects the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users. For example, Thompson says, the trend now is for larger vehicles with higher hood heights and lengths, which studies suggest lead to an increase in the severity of collision-related injuries. [Black Press] 

Food fight: BC Ferries union accuses the company of taking away kitchen basics
The BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union and BC Ferries are in the middle of contract negotiations, with no agreement in place since November. One issue raised by the union is the reduction in staffroom amenities, including coffee, kettles, and jam. The union says staff needs are being removed to solve “system-level financial challenges.” BC Ferries counters that it removed “non-essential” items over the summer, including hot chocolate, butter, and cream cheese, and that it is managing rising costs responsibly. [CHEK]

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🗓️ Things To Do

☕ Victoria Hot Chocolate Festival: Warm up with artisan hot chocolate from local businesses while supporting the BC SPCA Victoria Community Animal Centre, with participating cafés donating toward a fundraising goal. Various locations. Through Feb. 28. [Info]

🖤 Black Pioneers on the Saanich Peninsula: Learn the stories of important Black pioneers in Sidney, the Saanich Peninsula, and Salt Spring Island, including the Clanton family, who were descendants of early settlers. Sidney Museum. Through Feb. 28. [Info]

🐭 Disney's The Little Mermaid: Shawnigan Lake School presents Disney's beloved musical featuring classic songs like Under the Sea and Part of Your World, as Ariel pursues Prince Eric. McPherson Playhouse. Today-Sat. [Info]

🧱 20th Annual LEGO Brick Exhibit: Celebrate two decades of impressive LEGO builds and community creations from local builders at this annual showcase. Sidney Museum. Daily in February. Through April 6. [Info]

🍴 Dine Around and Stay in Town: Explore 60+ restaurant participants and 15 hotels offering special menus and packages throughout Greater Victoria. Various locations. Through Sunday. [Info]

🎭 The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. The Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA) Studio Ensemble 2025/26's final show is a comedic, fight-filled, and family-friendly musical about a significant lightning bolt. CCPA Performance Hall. Through Saturday. Various times. [Info]

💼 Greater Victoria Career and Education Expo 2026. See what employers are hiring for, learn about career programs, and enter or extend your education with post-secondary institutes. Bay Street Armoury. Tomorrow. 11am-3pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Tuesday’s headlines: Cleanup underway after yacht fire in Sidney; Victoria councillors want stronger federal regulations on marine vessel pollution; Saanich PD investigates three car fires as suspicious. [Feb. 3]

Eagles digesting bits of lead ammunition; hunters reminded to haul carcasses away. [Times Colonist]

Bedbug infestation forces Saanich tenants from Quadra apartments. [CHEK] 

Victoria-bound flight loses altitude in ‘Class-5’ occurrence. [Peninsula News Review]

Spiritbox: See the Victoria-born metal band perform at the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony last Sunday. [Video]

Sea wolves as seen on the West Island. [Facebook photos]

Point Ellice Bridge construction to start Feb. 16.

Beacon Bits global food tasting event on March 26.

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