Good morning {{First name}}!
If you’re wondering why the city seems busier than usual, Victoria has apparently welcomed a whopping 30K cruise ship passengers this weekend.
It’s shaping up to be one of the busiest weekends of the summer—today alone is expected to bring nearly 9K tourists. Of the 10 cruise ships stopping by, most are coming from or going to Alaska.
Hopefully this means plenty of patrons for our downtown businesses.
— Robyn
Today’s approx. read time: 7 minutes
🌡 Weather Forecast
NEWS
BC toxic drug deaths drop to lowest
monthly number since 2020
Ambulance at Royal Jubilee Hospital. Photo: Shutterstock
Island Health continues to have the second-highest toxic drug death rate in the province this year—and it recorded the second-highest number of deaths in May, according to the BC Coroners Service (BCCS).
In the first five months of 2026, 141 Islanders were killed by unregulated drugs, including 53 in Greater Victoria.
Across BC, 109 people died of toxic drugs in May—an average of 3.5 deaths a day—marking the lowest monthly death toll since February 2020. This brings the total number of drug deaths in the province in 2026 to 630—nearly 20% fewer than the 775 deaths recorded in the first five months last year.
In May, Island Health and Vancouver Coastal Health both had the second-highest number of toxic drug deaths in the province, with 23 lives lost in each authority. Fraser Health had the highest number of drug deaths, with 35.
Island Health is the only BC health authority where fentanyl remains the leading cause of drug deaths; other authorities are seeing higher numbers of deaths linked to cocaine, methamphetamine, and fluorofentanyl (a synthetic opioid more potent than fentanyl).
The BCCS says the death rate among people aged 19 to 59 has declined significantly in the province since 2021, while the death rate among people 60+ has remained “relatively stable.”
⚠ Capital Bulletin
Road closures for today’s Pride Parade. [VicPD]
Victoria Pride Parade and Festival details.
Johnson Street Bridge maintenance begins tomorrow: Expect lane reductions and delays through the end of summer. [City of Vic]
Banfield Park dock closed due to sewage discharge. [Island Health]
Local Folk Summer Fair at Sea Cider today. [Info]
2026 WCL HR Derby and All-Star Game take place Tuesday and Wednesday at RAP. [Info]
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
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