Good morning {{First name}}!

The Free-B Film Festival, one of my favourite Victoria summer highlights, is returning to Beacon Hill Park in August.

Starting Aug. 7, a movie will screen every Friday and Saturday night at the Cameron Bandshell at 9pm. The lineup is a mix of crowd-pleasers—Planes, Trains and Automobiles hits every time—and classic sci-fi flicks.

Bringing a blanket and snacks is highly recommended.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

Today: ⛅ 22 / 12

Tomorrow: ☀ 21 / 13

Day after: 🌦 21 / 14

7-day forecast

Dozens of the accused are living in Victoria, and the mayor—and at least one city councillor—wants them out.

Tomorrow, Victoria city council will consider a motion brought by Mayor Marianne Alto and Coun. Dave Thompson to lobby the federal and provincial governments to help improve BC’s Fugitive Return program. 

“We already have enough to do here,” Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto tells CHEK News.

“So, if we have folks who have valid warrants in other jurisdictions, it should be the Crown and the justice system there that’s actually expending the resources needed.”

BC is the only province with its own fugitive return program, implemented in 2012 and designed to allow BC Sheriffs to escort fugitives to where they stand accused. Controlled by the BC RCMP and paid for by the province, the 14-year-old program has its share of critics.

VicPD has "not had a ton of success” with it, Deputy Chief Jamie McRae recently told the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board.

In the first six months of 2026, VicPD identified 80 fugitives with outstanding warrants in other provinces, some of whom are accused of serious crimes such as sexual assault and assaulting a police officer—but none have been sent back.

“Certainly the fact that people are evading the law, some with serious charges, does create a risk for Victoria residents—including the unhoused, who are often preyed upon by criminals,” Thompson tells Capital Daily.

“The focus of this motion is to get those who are here for one very specific reason—to avoid warrants and trial—back to their communities to face justice.”

Thompson said the motion calls for the feds and the province to figure out what’s wrong with the program and to fix it.

“Let’s start by enabling police and judges to hold people with outstanding warrants for violent and serious crimes until their warrants have been dealt with and by allocating [a] budget to immediately transport them.”

Intersection closure: Finlayson and Burnside, today through Friday. 6pm-12am. [City of Victoria]

Saanich road closure: Sea View between Miramontes and Bedford, through Friday 8am-3pm.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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If you have camping plans this long weekend, the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) wants to remind you that most fires are off limits in many areas of BC—including on the Island. 

Right now, there are Category 1 campfire bans in four out of six BC fire centres. These prohibitions are put in place when the BC Wildfire Service determines an area has a high risk of fires spreading.

Last weekend, conservation officers handed out 19 violation tickets provincewide to people caught with illegal fires, totalling nearly $22K in fines. 

“Claiming you didn’t know about the campfire ban is not an acceptable excuse,” the BCCOS said in a statement.

Fines for violating a campfire ban start at $1,150, with a potential administrative fee of $10K. If convicted in court, the fine jumps to $100K and could result in up to one year of jail time. If a campfire causes or contributes to a wildfire, the fine increases significantly to $1M, plus up to three years in jail.

The Coastal Fire Centre, which includes the Island, is currently under a partial Category 1 ban, with some areas near Campbell River still permitting campfires. Kamloops Fire Centre, Cariboo Fire Centre, and Southeast Fire Centre have complete prohibitions in effect. 

Jeremy Pauls, a BC conservation officer, told Capital Daily that all fire centres with bans had violations last weekend.

“I believe that there were definitely violations on the Island, as well as all the other fire centres as well,” said Pauls, who could not confirm the number of violations that happened on the Island.

For those with upcoming camping plans, the BCCOS says to check up-to-date restrictions here or on the BC Wildfire Service’s social media pages.

🥕 Oakland’s Sunset Market is today 4:30-8pm.

🍳 Fried egg jellyfish seen in Nanaimo Harbour. [Facebook photos]

🎵 Wailin' Jennys perform tonight at 8pm at The Butchart Gardens.

⚽ Pacific FC hosts Supra du Quebec on Friday at Starlight Stadium.  

Hikers headed to West Coast Trail should consider waiting, Parks Canada advises
The department’s visitor safety team has been swamped with evacuation requests as recent rainfall has soaked the West Coast Trail, making it impassable in some areas. Creeks and rivers are running high, and hikers should expect to wait several days for those levels to recede. Parks Canada is advising hikers to consider delaying their journeys until at least tomorrow. Hikers with reservations from July 27 through Aug. 1 can cancel and receive a full refund. [CBC]

Pickleball popularity proof in the pudding: city takes in $50K in reservation revenue
And that’s just since April 1. The Topaz Park renovations are a big part of the returns, accounting for almost 80% of that $50K ($35,015 from pickleball, $15,750 from tennis) brought in from the city’s tennis and pickleball reservation system. The Victoria Regional Pickleball Association says it was expecting an increase in city revenues, given the pent-up demand for courts prior to the Topaz Park expansion this spring. [CHEK]

Nanaimo’s Ethan Katzberg sets Commonwealth Games record
Katzberg, 24, added the Commonwealth crown to his reigning titles of men’s world and Olympic hammer throw champion with a Games record toss of 80.97 metres—almost four metres more than the next competitor’s. Seventy-four countries are competing for 645 medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. After Day 5, Australia was first with 35 gold and 80 medals. Canada was second with 13 gold and 35 medals. Third-place England had 10 gold and 43 overall medals. [CTV]

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🎤 Karaoke Idol: Head to Encore Nightclub to see the finale of this talent competition tonight. 9pm. [Info]

🎵 Kids Concerts: Madame B Musique: See this fun, bilingual and family-oriented show at Cameron Bandshell tomorrow. 11am-12pm. [Info] 

🎻 Beethoven Symphony No. 8: Canadian-Romanian conductor Andrei Feher will lead this light-hearted classical program at Christ Church Cathedral tomorrow. 7:30pm. [Info]

🦉 Creatures of the Summer Night: Join science communicator Kay for an indoor and outdoor exploration of the nocturnal creatures at Swan Lake tomorrow. 6:30pm. [Info]

💗 Legally Blonde the Musical Jr.: See the popular musical performed by Sea Star’s musical theatre campers at the Mary Winspear Centre. Friday. 6pm. [Info]

🍜 Thirsty Chef: The Drake Eatery is taking over Market Square for an unforgettable afternoon of incredible food, craft beer, and local talent in support of the Victoria Cool Aid Society. Saturday. 12-4pm. [Info]

🎶 David Foster 40th Anniversary Concert: Celebrate the foundation’s legacy at this free concert in the Inner Harbour. Aug. 8. [Info]

Tuesday’s headlines: Stadacona Park refit will be ready in the fall; Island wildfires under control; Ancient petroglyphs on Gabriola vandalized. [July 28] 

Italian Deli changes ownership after 41 years. [Capital Daily]

Missing woman: Mandeep Bains, last seen on or about July 23  at Douglas near Burnside. [RCMP]

Recall: Cadbury brand Dairy Milk Oreo bar due to undeclared pistachios. 

Flavour Trails 20th Anniversary: The food and agriculture celebration returns to Saanich, North Saanich, and Central Saanich. Aug. 15-16. [Details]

Trailer released for YAGA: The witchy series, starring Hudson Williams and Carrie-Ann Moss, was filmed in Greater Victoria. [Trailer] 

The first BC Ferries schedule: See the schedule for June 15, 1960, BC Ferries’ inaugural sailing. [Facebook photos] 

Traffic changes and delays at Boleskine and Whittier, now through early August. [CRD]

Expect major delays on Cook: 

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