Good morning {{First name}}!
I hope you’re all holding up well in this heatwave! Temperatures today and tomorrow could hit 30C before they begin to drop. By Saturday, we’ll be back to our usual 22C July days.
Our second story looks at one of the consequences of hot weather: higher electricity use. As more people are running AC units at home, BC Hydro is kicking off a plan to provide backup power during periods of high demand.
— Robyn
Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes
🌡 Weather Forecast
NEWS
90+ violations found during Island roadside
fisheries blitz
Photo courtesy of DFO
It’s that time of year again when you can get pulled over on the highway for fish—as the drivers of 200+ cars and trucks were reminded on Sunday.
That afternoon, Vancouver Island fishery officers conducted an eight-hour roadside enforcement blitz on highway feeder routes between Victoria and Port Hardy. They set up eight checkpoints and, in tandem, checked 85 boats.
They uncovered 90+ violations—along with an undisclosed number of processing and undersized fish violations.
“Most of the violations that were found weren't the result of illegal activity while fishing but rather just the improper processing of the catch before it was being transported home,” DFO spokesman Shaun Tadei told Capital Daily.
“There is always room for improvement, but we found compliance to be fairly good overall,” he said.
This blitz was timed for the first weekend after conservation measures and retention prohibitions on Chinook salmon were lifted. The idea was to remind recreational fishers of the rules and regulations around all fish species, with the summer fishing season upon us.
Penalty amounts ranged from written warnings to violation tickets and the seizure of fish. The minimum fine is $230 for improper processing for transport and usually ranges up to $575 per violation, Tadei said.
DFO officers from detachments in Victoria and seven other coastal communities, along with the Victoria-based DFO Whale Protection Unit and the National Fisheries Intelligence Service (NFIS), teamed with the RCMP, the BC Conservation Service (BCCOS), and the Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) agency to inspect for violations under their separate mandates.
⚠ Capital Bulletin
Be water safe: 40 drowning deaths in BC since May 1.
Saanich road closure: Palo Alto, through Thursday, 8am-3pm.
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
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NEWS
BC’s first major battery energy storage site to
open an hour outside Victoria
As more people move to BC—and our seasonal weather becomes more extreme—electricity use is on the rise provincewide. To help manage this, the Island will soon be home to an important new energy source.
The provincial government announced yesterday that BC Hydro will build its first utility-scale battery energy storage project in Duncan, creating a backup system for when electricity demand peaks. The facility will be built on BC Hydro-owned land near the Vancouver Island Terminal Substation, a major power hub for the Island.
The facility will be able to store 100 megawatts of battery power, which can be saved during low-use periods and added back to the grid during peak demand. This can help ease the province’s power grid, preventing blackouts.
BC Hydro says it eventually plans to have at least 500 megawatts of extra battery power at sites across the province, starting with this Duncan project.
The provincial government said the Island is a region experiencing fast population growth and housing and economic development, so electricity use is on the rise.
At the end of this month, the hydro company will begin the procurement process to identify companies capable of building the facility. Once a shortlist is made, these companies will be asked to submit proposals.
BC Hydro will own and operate the facility, which is slated to be up and running by 2030.
Electricity demands expected to peak this week
The announcement came the same day BC Hydro warned that energy use was expected to soar this week. The company said the heatwave—which began yesterday and is expected to last through tomorrow—will likely lead to record electricity demand in BC.
The company said power usage could surpass the current record of 8,652 megawatts, set in August 2025. This peak is lower than the typical highs seen during winter months. However, BC Hydro said it reflects a shift in how British Columbians use electricity in the summer, with more people investing in air conditioners.
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🗞 In Other News
Trump hitting Canada with more tariffs, including on hockey sticks
The US announced it would impose tariffs of 50% on multiple Canadian exports, including hockey sticks, wine, and cement, in the next 30 days. Many products that were previously tariff-free under CUSMA would be targeted; energy, potash, critical minerals, and fish would be exempt. The Trump administration says the tariffs are a response to Canada’s “discrimination” against US alcohol, motor vehicles, and dairy. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the US tariffs were the latest in a series of actions that violate CUSMA. [CBC]
Colwood’s controversial ‘rollercoaster’ slide to be replaced
The slide in Quarry Park was closed last year after a woman broke her leg in two places, among other reported injuries. At the time, the city said it would investigate whether the slide was too fast for riders. Now, a year later, Colwood confirmed it’s in the process of replacing it with a slide modified for improved safety on the slope and angles. There will also be more age restriction signs, limiting use to ages five through 12. [CHEK]
Victoria Grizzlies sign goaltending grandson of Ken Dryden
It remains to be seen whether Hunter Dryden has the acumen of his famous Montreal Canadiens grandpa, but he comes to the Grizzlies standing six feet four, the same height as the Hockey Hall of Famer, who died last September at 78. Hunter, 19, has attended the elite Taft School in Watertown, Conn., for the last three years. He also is the son of Tammy Shewchuk-Dryden, who was a member of Canada’s 2002 Olympic gold-medal-winning women’s team and the first non-goaltending female to play in the prestigious Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament.
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🗓 Things To Do
🎤 Goldfinch Open Mic Night: Live local music, laughter, and creativity at the Goldfinch Arts Centre tomorrow. 6:30-8:30pm. [Info]
🎶 Marina Avros: Catch this free lunchtime indie folk concert at Ship Point today. 12–1pm. [Info]
🤠 Slim Sandy & Willa Mae: See the rockabilly performers in this free busker concert happening at Ship Point today. 4–5pm. [Info]
🎸 Shark Bite Spite: Enjoy indie rock music at this free concert at Ship Point today. 5:30–7pm. [Info]
🎵 Ty Koch with Charis Tazumi: Singer-songwriter Ty Koch will take the stage with support from Charis Tazumi at The Coda tonight. 6:30–8:30pm. [Info]
💃 Ballroom in the Square: Join the Victoria Ballroom Dance Society for an hour-long beginner lesson followed by social dancing at Centennial Square tonight. 6:30–9pm. [Info]
🎭 Pop-Up Opera 2026: Pacific Opera Victoria singers will appear in parks, plazas, markets, and public spaces across the Capital Region for unexpected moments of beauty and connection. Tomorrow through July 28. [Info]
📚 Book-ISH: This book drive and sale supports accurate, inclusive, and affirming sexual health education programming at Island Sexual Health, happening at Books & Shenanigans. Sunday. 11am-4pm. [Info]
👀 In Case You Missed It
Sunday’s headlines: Where to find farmers markets in Victoria; Weekly roundup; TEDxVictoria speakers announced. [July 19]
Cemetery angels clean Ross Bay gravesites. [Black Press]
Snowbirds say goodbye to Victoria next month. [CHEK]
Road closure: Cedar Hill, from Cook to Finlayson and down to Hillside, today. [City of Vic]
Intersection closure: Store and Pembroke today. [City of Vic]
Driving on the Malahat’s gravel roads in the 1920s. [Facebook photo]
Summer library programs for babies and young children. [GVPL]
Stylish ostrich statue seen at Sabayons in the Bay Centre. [Facebook photos]
That’s it!
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