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The results of Wednesday’s poll question about Canada Day were very Canadian. We asked whether there was a preferred day of the week for Canada Day to fall on—and more than half of those who voted—52%—said it doesn’t matter which day.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

Today: ⛅ 18 / 12

Tomorrow: ⛅ 20 / 11

Sunday: ☀️ 21 / 12

7-day forecast

Nurses across the province are no longer performing non-nursing duties and are refusing non-essential overtime work after their union began targeted action yesterday at noon.

“This marks the first phase of a broader escalation plan that could expand in the coming days if the government does not return to the bargaining table with an offer nurses can accept,” the BC Nurses’ Union said yesterday.

The union, which represents 50K nurses, issued a 72-hour strike notice on Monday after talks with the province broke down.

"This is not the outcome nurses wanted," Adriane Gear, the BCNU president, said. We have remained ready to bargain in good faith, but the government has not responded with the urgency this moment demands.”

The nurses voted 98.2% in favour of job action, and weeks later, 67% voted to reject a tentative agreement, which they said failed to address core concerns, including the following:

“Today's job action prioritizes patient care while sending a clear message to government that it can no longer ignore the pressures facing the profession or the critical role nurses play in sustaining British Columbia's health-care system,” Gear said.

The nurses can’t legally walk off the job en masse, since nursing is deemed an essential service that requires them to maintain minimum staffing levels.

Missing teen: Isabella, 16, was last seen June 26 at midnight. [VicPD]

Pandora and Begbie-Shelbourne upgrades information session July 6 online, July 9 at Stadacona Park. [City of Vic]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

On the water today? Check the tide times for Victoria.

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The Marmot Recovery Foundation (MRF) said it released the first group of Vancouver Island marmots this season on Mount Washington. 

The four marmots were dropped off in release boxes last Tuesday, and it didn’t take long for them to begin poking their noses out of the open crates. 

“Within three minutes of their release, the boldest marmot was already peeking out the door of the release box, and within 20 minutes, all four were out exploring their new home,” the MRF said in a social media post. 

The foundation shared video footage of the endangered rodents as they began exploring their new home. “There are a lot more marmots to be released yet this summer,” the MRF said.

The foundation said it’s planning to release or relocate another 49 Vancouver Island marmots into various colonies in an effort to reestablish the alpine rodent population—the only species completely endemic to the Island, the MRF said.

In December, the MRF said there were a record 427 Island marmots living within 35 colonies—a significant sign of growth since 2003, when only 22 wild marmots remained. 

Island marmots are still considered one of the most endangered species in Canada. 

This story ran for our Insiders on June 28. Consider becoming an Insider today and be the first to receive stories every Sunday.

Canada’s major league baseball club used the occasion of Canada Day to announce it is donating a total of $300K to six Canadian baseball organizations, including one in Victoria.

As part of Canada’s 159th birthday, and to celebrate the Toronto Blue Jays’ 50th season, the MLB team had six Canadian alumni each select an organization to receive $50K from its Jays Care Foundation.

Victoria’s Michael Saunders picked the Lambrick Park Baseball and Softball Academy, which will use the money to help fund scholarships.

Saunders, who played for the Jays in 2015 and 2016, is a Lambrick Park Secondary School alumnus and played his Little League ball in Gordon Head.

Saunders called the decision “a no-brainer.”

“My dream has always been to come back home and help Victoria youth sports,” he said in an email to Capital Daily.

“This city has given so much to me both on and off the field, and because of the Blue Jays and the Jays Care Foundation, this dream has become a reality.”

The Jays said much of the money the club is donating “will grow the game from grassroots levels, but the funds will also work to support some of the country’s elite young athletes looking to take the next step.”

Russell Martin, Matt Stairs, Paul Quantrill, John Axford, and Scott Richmond were the other former Blue Jays tasked with selecting worthy recipients.

PHS Community Services Society supports vulnerable seniors facing complex health challenges who rely on specialized meals every day. 

In Vancouver, PHS prepares and delivers over 3,900 meals daily from a kitchen designed to produce 200—creating urgent safety and capacity challenges. 

Join the PHS Run Team in the Under Armour Eastside 10K or donate to their run team to help PHS reach their $30,000 goal. Reaching this goal will help unlock a $500,000 matching grant from the Al Roadburg Foundation towards PHS’ Vancouver Food Program expansion. 

Your support will help build a new commissary kitchen and ensure reliable, nourishing meals for thousands of vulnerable people who depend on this essential program. 

Please click here to register/donate to the PHS-run team today.

🪷🎶Opening night of Butchart Gardens’ summer outdoor concerts on the lawn. 

⚽ World Cup: Canada vs. Morocco tomorrow at 10am. 

🎶 Victoria Folk Music Festival is tomorrow at RAP.

Juan de Fuca Marine Trail reopens after a year of repair work
The 47-kilometre trail between China Beach and Botanical Beach had been closed for one year as BC Parks fixed boardwalks and staircases and rerouted sections damaged by severe storms in late 2024 and 2025. Seven engineered bridges were flown in and fitted, and 800m+ of stepped boardwalk and multiple staircases were installed on steep terrain. [CTV]

Victoria motion to close safe consumption site defeated 7-1
A motion tabled by Coun. Marg Gardiner to shut down The Harbour, a supervised consumption site on Pandora, was shot down by her fellow councillors yesterday. Coun. Matt Dell said the municipal inbox received 458 emails opposing the motion and only 20 in support. Last week, VicPD voiced its support of the site after the Downtown Victoria Business Association called for its closure. [CHEK]

Alberta announces partners, submits plan for pipeline to BC
It would run northeast of Edmonton to Delta, just south of Vancouver, basically following the path of the Trans Mountain Pipeline. The prime minister, who joined Alberta Premier Danielle Smith for the announcement in Calgary, said that route makes the most sense. Trans Mountain Corporation—which is federally owned—and the Pembina Pipeline Corporation would team with Alberta on the $35.2 billion project. [CP / Times Colonist]

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🎉 Junction Fest: This family-friendly festival will feature three days of bouncy castles, games, magic, circus performances, live music, and more at Junction Cidery. Today-Sunday. [Info]

🏖️ i-Land Fest: The Caribbean carnival will be at Ship Point for three days of music, food, and culture. Today-Sunday. [Info]

🎵 Music in the Parkade: The Meating, a jazz-ambient duo project, will perform a 50-minute set in UVic’s CARSA parkade off Vikes Way. Today. 7:15pm. [Info]

 🏓 Paddle Royale 2026: A one-day tournament to be held outdoors (weather permitting) and as a non-DUPR-rated event. Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre. Tomorrow. [Info]

🛼 Eves of Destruction Roller Derby League: The Hardcores take on North Island Roller Derby (NIRD) & Friends. Then, the Belles of the Brawl and Daisy Pushers face off in the Calamity Cup semi-finals. Victoria Curling Club. Tomorrow. 5pm. [Info]

💃 Saturday SBK Dance Social: Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba. An evening of social dancing begins with beginner lessons at 8pm followed by dancing at 8:30pm. Ukrainian Culture Centre. Tomorrow. [Info]

🍓 Saanich Strawberry Festival: This summertime highlight returns for its 59th year, with live music, kids’ games, and plenty of strawberries with ice cream. Beaver Lake Regional Park. Sunday. 11am-4pm. [Info]

Thursday’s headlines: 2 men charged after woman driven from Nanaimo and allegedly sexually assaulted; UVic is training people to ID AI faces; 4 area players get called to NHL. [July 2]

Canada Day: Victorians and visitors celebrate. [CHEK]

Victorians feel 3.7-magnitude quake in Oak Harbor, Wash. [Times Colonist]

Victoria youth: tight job market for young people. [Black Press]

Pride Week runs through July 12.

The Caribbean Carnival Parade is 11:30am-1:30pm tomorrow on Government.

World Cup viewing parties: Langford United and Victoria Summer of Soccer downtown.

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