Good morning {{First name}}!

I hope you’re all staying cool during this heatwave. It may not be summer until Sunday, but spring seems to have made an early exit.

Daily temperature records were broken across BC over the weekend, including here in the capital city. You can find more details on that in our In Other News section.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

Today: ☀ 24 / 11

Tomorrow: ☀ 21 / 11

Day after: ☀ 24 / 14

7-day forecast

It wasn’t long ago—around 50 years—that massive kelp forests floated near the surface across more than 550 ha of the northern Salish Sea, near Comox and Denman Island. But today, none of these forests remain, having been wiped out by climate change over the decades.

The loss is worse than scientists previously thought. According to a new study from UVic, most of the kelp loss occurred between 1972 and 1984, long before most people were aware of global warming.

“We’ve been living with a completely warped sense of what ‘normal’ oceans look like,” said Brian Timmer, the study’s lead author and UVic PhD student.

“What we previously thought of as a baseline for the extent of our kelp forests was already post-collapse.”

Timmer says the bulk of research on local kelp forest losses has focused on recent marine heat events like the record-breaking “Blob” in 2014–2016, assuming these were the main drivers of the ecosystem’s decline. But his team found that the historical baseline for the area’s kelp was 10 times larger than previously thought—and most of it was lost decades before the Blob arrived.

Timmer discovered the data discrepancy when he came across unpublished aerial photos of the Salish Sea kelp forests, taken in the summer of 1972, and undigitized reports within UVic’s archives. When compared to aerial images taken in 2023, the difference is visible.

Timmer was able to confirm the loss was heat-related using historical temperature data from lighthouses throughout the Salish Sea. By the time the majority of the kelp had disappeared in the late 1970s, the northern Salish Sea was “substantially” warmer than it had been in the early 1900s. And the water hasn’t stopped heating in the decades since.

Without accurate historical baselines to measure from, researchers might underestimate how much environments have degraded due to global warming, the study explains.

“Our research shows how important it is to have better baselines when investigating climate change impacts so that we can make informed decisions about conservation, restoration, and climate action before further irreversible damage occurs,” said Timmer.

Point Ellice Bridge closed in both directions tonight, tomorrow night, and Thursday night, 7pm-7am. [City of Vic]

Cook southbound closed between Bay and Hillside for the rest of the week. 7am-7pm. [City of Vic]

Beach advisories issued for Glen Lake Park and Saanich Inlet (near Stelly’s X-Road) due to high bacterial levels. 

Botanical Beach closed this weekend. [June 19-21]

Have your say: CRD transportation plan survey open until July 5.

No. 85 Bus route disruptions for West Saanich Road construction beginning June 29. [Plan trip here]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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Fire crews were called to the Chinatown temple—a national historic site as of 2025—yesterday afternoon after reports of smoke coming from its roof. 

The fire was quickly extinguished, and the extent of the damage remains unclear, according to the temple’s operators. 

The Victoria Fire Department told CHEK News that the blaze burned through the ceiling. Fire damage was contained to the top floor—where the temple resides—but water and smoke damage extended to all three floors. The building is also home to Smoking Lily, a local retail store.

Tam Kung Temple is the oldest Chinese temple in Canada, its first iteration dating back to the 1870s, and the building that houses it today was constructed in the early 1900s.

Last year, the temple’s volunteer operators sought to raise money to cover the cost of multiple maintenance projects. They were vying for a top Canadian heritage prize that came with a $50K reward. The temple came in second place, taking home $10K. 

The building previously survived a fire in the 1980s that destroyed much of the temple’s original tapestries.

The temple’s roof was repaired in 2023, a project that cost $600K.

Mateína’s new Zero Sugar line delivers smooth, organic energy from yerba mate — no crash, no weird ingredients. With clean caffeine and theobromine, it supports lasting focus and mental clarity. It’s plant-powered fuel that helps you stay sharp, alert, and energized—without the sugar. Try it out today.

🐲 Dragon Boat Festival: This Saturday in the Inner Harbour. [Info]

🎷 TD Victoria International JazzFest kicks off Friday. [Info]

🍺 Brewery & the Beast is on Sept. 27 at Starlight Stadium.

🏒 The original Victoria Memorial Arena, towed, before it was demolished in 2003. [Facebook photos]

Heat wave breaks records over weekend—and it’s not even summer yet 
The temperature hit 30.2C in Victoria on Sunday, breaking the record of 28.6C from that date set in 1999. Port Alberni was the Island’s hot spot. It hit 35C in PA on Sunday. Nanaimo was next at 33C, while the thermostat read near 30C at Qualicum Beach and 27 in Tofino. In total, 26 BC heat records fell over the weekend. Lytton was the hottest, reaching 36.8C. [Times Colonist]

Commercial trucker arrested after driving the wrong way on Westshore highway
RCMP say it appears the driver, 52, was confused when he drove northbound in the southbound lane of the Trans-Canada Highway, near the Helmcken exit, on Saturday. Drug and alcohol impairment was ruled out. The driver told police he’s from the Vancouver area. The truck was towed, and he was hit with more than $500 in fines and nine penalty points on his driving record. [RCMP]

3 rushed to hospital after single-vehicle crash on the Malahat 
Primary and advanced-care paramedics were dispatched at 4:30pm on Sunday, and all three people were taken to the hospital in stable condition. Video footage shows the car appeared to have lost a tire, but the cause of the crash is unclear. The collision blocked southbound traffic, but was soon reopened to alternating traffic until the damaged vehicle was removed. [CHEK]

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🎸 Lonnie Glass: Catch this lunchtime concert at Ship Point, featuring local guitarist Lonnie Glass, today. 12–1pm. [Info]

🏆 Franco Fan Zone: Watch France vs. Senegal en français with your amis at Maison de la francophonie de Victoria today. 12pm. [Info]

🎶 The Broken Soles: The duo will perform as part of the city's featured busker series at Ship Point today. 4–5pm. [Info]

🎵 Blasé Blasé: The local jazz, soul, and funk act will perform at Ship Point today. 5:30–7pm. [Info]

🎷 Reynolds Secondary Night of Vocal Jazz: The vocal jazz ensembles will close out the festival season with jazz standards and pop arrangements at The Coda tonight. 6–8pm. [Info]

🎼 Clarinet Choir Open House: Join this open sight-reading session for anyone curious about joining the Clarinet Choir at Victoria Conservatory of Music, tonight. 7–8:30pm. [Info]

🛍️ Bastion Square Market: This vibrant outdoor market will fill Bastion Square with local vendors tomorrow through Friday. 11am–6pm. [Info]

🎤 Bonnie Raitt: Live 2026: Thirteen-time Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bonnie Raitt will bring her singular blend of blues, R&B, and rock to the Royal Theatre tomorrow. 7:30pm. [Info]

⚽ Canada vs. Qatar—Live Viewing: Catch the World Cup match on the big screen at Market Square on Thursday. 3–4:30pm. [Info]

🎺 TD Victoria International JazzFest: Victoria's longest-running professional music festival returns for its 42nd year, Friday through June 28. [Info]

Sunday’s headlines: 25 Islanders killed by toxic drugs in April; Weekly roundup; Local author helps pen Soundgarden biography.  [June 14] 

Port Alberni man fined $2,500 for killing neighbour’s dog. [CHEK]

Beachlands: From gravel pit to 2,850 homes. [CTV]

Abigail’s Hotel off Quadra is named Canada’s best hotel for 2nd straight year.  

Staying cool in Saanich: Find free and fun ways to access AC in the district here.

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