June 12 - Bridging the Goose gap between Westshore and Saanich

Good morning !

Today, we’ve got good news for those who use the Galloping Goose and for those looking for some extra Canadiana this Canada Day.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ⛅ 19 / 11

Tomorrow: ⛅ 18 / 11

Saturday: 🌤️ 19 / 10

NEWS

New bridge will link up Westshore and Saanich sections of Galloping Goose

The province announced plans yesterday to make the trail a little safer for the 3K daily commuters who use it to get around. The new crossing bridge will be built over the intersection of Tillicum and the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH), a few blocks from where the Saanich trail crosses into View Royal.

The crossing will allow cyclists and pedestrians to cut across the busy streets without waiting for traffic signals. 

Shorter cycle commute from Westshore

It’s part of the BC’s push for more active transportation routes connecting the CRD. As part of CleanBC, the province is aiming for active and public transportation to make up 30% of all travel in the province. Shortening the length of commutes—the bridge will replace one of the last signalized crossings on the Galloping Goose between Victoria and the Westshore—and increasing safety could lead more people to use the trail to travel between municipalities.

The planned bridge will be 100 metres long, with two lanes—each 3 metres wide—that will connect to bus stops and sidewalks.

Work is slated to begin early next year, with completion set for summer 2027. While it’s constructed, the trail will be detoured onto the shoulder of the TCH, with a concrete barrier to protect from highway traffic.

Multiple Goose crossings underway

Work began in March on another major overpass intended to keep cyclists and pedestrians from having to cross a busy road. This one is in Colwood, bridging the Island Highway. Without an overpass, trail users have had to leave the All Ages & Abilities separated path to detour at Wale Rd., where they wait at the light, cross the highway, and then go up the sidewalk. 

Construction on the 38-metre, $6.3M bridge is slated to wrap in Nov. 2025. Read more about it here.

Pop-up open house about Tillicum project

The pop-up will take place just off the trail—northwest corner of Tillicum and TCH—next Wed., June 18, for users of the Goose who would like more information. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

All four Island wildfires under control or being held as of yesterday. [BC Wildfire]

Summer’s early arrival: Summer solstice—the longest day of the year—will happen June 20, instead of the usual June 21, for the second year in a row. [Black Press]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

BC musicians to headline Victoria’s Canada Day party

The all-day event in the Inner Harbour is free and will feature a variety of musical genres, family activities, and a fireworks finale.

The headliner will be Delhi 2 Dublin, a four-member band out of Vancouver known for their high-energy Bhangra, electronic, funk, reggae, hip hop, and Celtic fusion. 

“This year’s theme, Stronger Together, invites residents and visitors to reflect on our shared spaces and celebrate the diverse stories that connect us,” said Mayor Marianne Alto.

Victoria indie-folk band MIINA, an offshoot of the celebrated five-piece band Carmanah, will support. The five-member group led by singer Laura Mina Mitic is known for its folk and soul rock sound, with bold melodies and heartfelt lyrics.

The gritty Blue Moon Marquee, which brings its audience on a genre-bending ride of blues, folk, jazz, swing, and jump blues, took the 2024 Juno Award for Blues Album of the Year. 

Victoria-based JAXXEE will belt out her moody and sultry vocals a la Donna Summer, while Tk The Artist—whose live performances have been described as soulful, groovy, emotional, and powerful—will bring his blend of sounds and rhythms. You may have caught the Nigerian-born Tk at the Philips Backyard Festival last summer.

The day opens with a welcome from the lək̓ʷəŋən Traditional Dancers, followed by performances from REACH!, Bagatelle, and Victoria’s youth poet laureate Shauntelle / Huupʔaqsa / TSAYŁE Dick-Charleson. Radio host DJ Boitano will emcee the event, which will not feature a drone show this year, after high winds forced their cancellation last year.

The seven-minute, $25K drone show never got off the ground when high winds swept through the area. 

There also will be action at Ship Point on Canada Day, as hometown buskers will perform from 11am to 4pm.

To see event information, or to get involved as a volunteer, visit canadadayvictoria.ca.

NEWS

CRD gets go-ahead for $3M upgrades to Sooke’s SEAPARC and its skate park 

The Sooke Skate Park is at the end of its usable life and is closed, and the CRD is going to borrow about $1.1M for final design work and construction on its replacement. Completion is slated for later this year.

The CRD also wanted $2.2M for mechanical changes at the neighbouring SEAPARC Rec Centre, which is responsible for 16% of district facilities’ total greenhouse gas output. The regional district wants to halve that output by sending waste heat from the refrigeration plant over to the pool and hot water system—rather than sending it outdoors through the cooling tower. 

The goal is to make these changes before components such as the air-conditioning and dehumidifiers start to age out in the coming years. But SEAPARC's capital reserve didn't have enough money. So the CRD will borrow funds—costing households an estimated $34 annually in Sooke, and $23 in the JDF Electoral area, by 2028. 

Through the Alternate Approval Process, the borrowing wouldn't have been approved if 10% of the area's voters (1,826 people) submitted forms against it.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🪱 Unique caterpillar found on a flower in Saanich. [Facebook photos]

🎸 Big Sugar and Trooper at Great Canadian Bash. [June 28 in Langford]

🎵 From protest anthems to iconic artifacts, Beyond the Beat explores how music shaped movements. An exhibition from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, May 30–January 5.*

🧵 Pacific Design Academy info session today. [6-7pm at PDA]

☕️ Coffee Nirvana awaits! AeroPress delivers silky-smooth perfection without the grit or bitterness that ruins mornings. Trusted by 55K+ coffee fanatics worldwide! Experience the revolution TODAY!*

^{*Sponsored Listing}

🗞️ In Other News

New outdoor pickleball courts for Colwood
In response to demand for more places to play, West Shore Parks & Recreation has opened six state-of-the-art courts designed to serve both casual and competitive players. The courts feature lower fences for better spectator views. Four of the courts can be reserved for two hours for $16. There’s a ribbon-cutting ceremony set for tomorrow at 10am. [Release]

Furniture truck driver forced to leap from rolling rig in Fairfield 
There were no injuries, Trail Appliances says, and it is investigating why the truck began rolling backward down a driveway and into a nearby property on Tue. morning. [CHEK] 

2 men fined $40K for illegal prawn fishing off Ladysmith
The men were found guilty of hunting in closed areas three years after the DFO was alerted of the illegal activity. The majority of the fine ($30K for fishing, and $8K for selling the prawns) was slapped on Scott Castle. He directed the boat’s captain (Terry Lorenz, who was only fined $3K) into a closed part of Stuart Channel. Catching prawns in closed areas can prevent populations from being able to mate. [DFO]

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🎓 Graduation glow-up awaits

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🗓️ Things to do

🐐 Beacon Hill Children’s Farm 40th anniversary celebration: Learn all about the animals living at the farm, take part in a scavenger hunt, and colour animal artwork today. 10am-5pm. [Info] 

⚾ Morning baseball at RAP: HarbourCats host Nanaimo at 11am.

☀️ Summer at Ship Point: Grab some local bites and hear live music by soul rockers Ranger in the Inner Harbour today. 11:30am-8pm. [Info]

🎛️ Shambhala Pre-Party: Get in the festival groove with headliners No Thanks and Neon Steve at Capital Ballroom tomorrow. 9pm-2am. [Info]

🎹 Pablo Cardenas presents “Gershwin in Havana”: See the Cuban pianist take on Gershwin’s classic tunes, with a roster of talented local singers, at Hermann’s tomorrow. 7pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Wednesday’s headlines: BC Ferries chooses China for new ships; Saanich family and police help in US sex offender case; Summer shines in Saanich pool. [June 11]

Edmonton family flies to Vic for mystery box. [Times Colonist]  

Transportation minister questions BC Ferries’ call to China for new ships. [CTV / CP]

Architectures of Protection exhibit at AGGV. [Until Oct. 26]

Eagle attacks heron nests in Beacon Hill Park: Hear the herons scream as they shoo the predator away. [Facebook video]