Feb 5 - Victoria's brush with Grammy glory

Good morning !

This past weekend we covered the spring-like temperatures in town last week. But this week, weather isn’t the only spring thing arriving early: the local week-long bicycling festival has added a winter edition.

More on that below.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 8 / 1 

Tuesday: 🌦️ 8 / 3

Wednesday:🌧️ 7 / -2

7-day forecast

NEWS

Go By Bike is going all-season this year

GoByBike Week is back—but now it’s happening in the winter. The popular cycling festival has expanded to three week-long events per year.

The event was timed around International Winter Cycling Day (Feb. 10) but highlights the fact that Victorians, unlike most Canadians, can cycle year-round without studded tires.  

Started as a way to get more bureaucrats on bikes, GoByBike Week (formerly Bike to Work Week) is now celebrating 30 years in the region. Those three decades have seen a huge build-out of active transport infrastructure in the capital region and nation-leading levels of ridership.

Victoria is also looking at a motion this week to name the city Canada’s cycling capital.

Read the full story for more about what the bike week is, why it’s happening now, and how to win prizes at it.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Vancouver hosts World Cup games in 2026, including 2 with Canada's senior men's soccer team.

This week: Sun, rain, then sun again. Highs around 7C.

Last day for Saanich survey on Parks, Recreation, and Community Services. Provide input here.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Local band misses Grammy glory, but local prof gets a brush with it

Victoria singer Courtney LaPlante and guitarist Mike Stringer began recording as Spiritbox shortly after getting married in 2016. Since then, they’ve surged to fame and even secured a Grammy nomination for hit single “Jaded” (above).

At last night’s awards, though, they did not take home the Best Metal Performance title. Genre stalwarts Metallica won instead, for their latest album’s title track “72 Seasons.”

But that song’s win is partly a win for Victoria, too. A win by association, at least.

Its video stars “suitably apocalyptic” artwork by internationally acclaimed and environmentally focused UVic visual arts professor Kelly Richardson.

The video’s director and visual art curator had both been following Richardson’s work and approached her about using three of her pieces. 

Watch that video below, and see the full list of Grammy winners here.

NEWS

South Island distilleries take home Canadian Whisky Awards

Victoria’s craft scene may be best known for its beers and ciders, but last weekend the region poured Canada a reminder that its spirits are up there as well. The city hosted the Canadian Whisky Awards, and South Island distilleries prevented plenty of the event’s medals from leaving town. 

Six went to Saanichton’s DEVINE Distillery, known for sustainable spirits sourced from farms and growers on the peninsula. Its Ancient Grains ‘Young Whisky’ won Whisky Spirit of the Year for the fifth time in six years. 

Duncan’s Stillhead Distillery also had six; it uses Island ingredients and won for its Cask Strength whiskys. 

A gold went to Saanich’s Macaloney's Island Distillery, the neighbour of Twa Dogs brewery. Famous for its battle with the Scotch Whisky Association over whether some of its names were “too Scottish,” it uses traditional Scottish techniques with Canadian barley—and, in the case of its gold medalist, Washington peat. 

More about the winners, and the best local whiskys, at Tasting Victoria.

SPONSORED BY BELFRY THEATRE

Belfry's As Above starts tomorrow

As Above started with a thought-provoking podcast and a well-timed email. Playwright Christine Quintana first heard about the science of how trees communicate after listening to an episode of NPR’s Radiolab. “I was immediately fascinated with the idea of these invisible connections, all around us and below our feet,” says Quintana. “It felt like an incredibly apt metaphor for the ways that we can feel deeply connected – or disconnected – from our fellow humans.”

“I wanted to write a story that honoured the tremendous courage of those who struggle with addiction and imagines a world where deeper connections to nature are a pathway to healing.”

The Belfry offers Pay-What-You-Want tickets to all their performances. Tickets are available at 250-385-6815 or the Belfry website.

⭐️ Capital Picks

 🐢 A turtle in distress was found near Pedder Bay (Metchosin area). Thanks to helpful locals, it’s now headed to the Vancouver Aquarium for rehabilitation. [Photos]

✈ There's only one way to fly non-stop to Thailand. Escape the cold and get lost in The Land of Smiles.*

📺 Will & Grace actor in town for Victoria Film Festival; Eric McCormack spoke to CBC about his career and his past in Victoria. 

 🤝 Now hiring: Barn worker at Tally-Ho Carriage Tours.

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Pedestrian killed by pickup truck on Pat Bay
Friday's 8pm crash near Claremont and Beaver Lake killed a woman, 29. Police do not believe the driver, who cooperated, was impaired or speeding. Witnesses told CHEK the woman had darted across the road.

Floyd’s Diner opens a fifth location, in Burnside-Gorge
The popular ‘50s-style diner celebrates 20 years in business by opening up at Gorge Road East’s Vic Hotel. More on the restaurant’s new location and its menu’s signature mahoneys—in which guests gamble on what food they’ll get and what they’ll pay—at Tasting Victoria.

UVic looking at creating a Faculty of Health
The proposed faculty could start as soon as this May and would include nursing, social work, kinesiology, and public health. The faculty of human and social development would be phased out. [Times Colonist]

SPONSORED BY TACOFINO

New go-to taco and burrito spot now open

Tacofino's newst Vancouver Island location has now cracked open it's doors in Langford's Westshore Town Centre.

Known for their bold and fresh flavours, this is your new West Shore go-to spot for tacos and burritos.

Available for dine-in and take-out seven days a week from 11am-11pm.

🗓️ Things to do

 🎥 Hey, Viktor!: As a part of the Victoria Film Festival, the comedy film about child actor Cody Lightning will be shown at The Vic Theatre. Today. 3pm. 

🪕 Ukulele Strumalong: Grab your ukulele and enjoy an evening of live music hosted by Diamond Tooth Molly at The Fernwood Inn. Today. 7-9pm.

🎬 L'Océan vu du Coeur: During the Victoria Film Festival, the ocean documentary will be shown at The Vic Theatre. Today. 12pm. Another doc, the award-winning Starring Jerry as Himself, airs at 2:45pm.

🎤 Relive the Music: Enjoy the music of the ‘50s and ‘60s with this nostalgic performance featuring Tina Turner tribute artist Luisa Marshall at the Royal Theatre. Tonight. 7:30pm.

🎫 La Chimera: As a part of the Victoria Film Festival, the romantic drama featuring Josh O’Connor will be shown at The Vic Theatre. Today. 7:45pm. 

👀 In Case You Missed It

New heat records in late Jan. and early blossoms on View. Also in Sun. newsletter: New schools to manage Westshore growth. Local car sold for $3.4M.

Tofino’s Chesterman Beach is #6 in Lonely Planet's 20 best beaches.

Life on a tree branch: Close-up photos of colourful moss, lichen, and fungi.

Victoria 3 Seattle 5: The Royals lost both weekend matches against the Thunderbirds.

That’s it!

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