June 22 - Free parks this summer

Good morning !

Today we round up the past week, which features some of the biggest local events of the season. But first, a look at something you can do with your family all summer: Visit national parks for free.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 4 minutes / 8 minutes for full edition

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️ 19 / 11

Tomorrow: ⛅ 19 / 11

Tuesday: ☁️ 21 / 13

NEWS

National parks, including Island’s Pacific Rim, are now free for the summer

As of this weekend, the new “Canada Strong” pass—which isn't an actual pass, just an automatic discount—is active. The election-promise program offers free entry to parks and national historic sites, along with travel and museum deals.

At national museums and on VIA Rail, kids 17 and under get free entry. Youth 18-24 get 50% off museums and 25% of VIA. Unfortunately, the national museums are all way out to our east, and no trains run on the Island.

That leaves us to enjoy the Island region's vast national parks and its historic sites. Camping, cabins, backcountry stays, and other overnights are 25% off, while the park / historic site entry fee is now $0. In the South Island region, here's where those will apply:

• Fort Rodd Hill & Fisgard Lighthouse in Colwood

• Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, spanning multiple Gulf Islands

• Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, in Nuu-chah-nulth territory along the Island's southwestern edge. Includes the gruelling West Coast Trail, which is currently being repaired after winter storm damage (more on that below) and has ongoing bear alerts.

NEWS

Island’s iconic wilderness trails limp into summer after heavy storm season

The iconic West Coast Trail is now nearly two months into its season. But getting the challenging 75km southwest-Island coastal path ready for up to 10K annual visitors was more difficult than usual this year. Extreme weather in fall and winter extensively damaged the trail, and even led to the summer-long closure of the neighbouring Juan de Fuca trail.

“This is the first time in a long time that I’ve seen this many issues pre-season,” Huu-ay-aht Chief Councillor Sayaač̓atḥ John Jack told Canada’s National Observer this spring, citing 100+ trees down on the trail in just one section. “The frequency and potentially the severity of weather impacts are worsening with climate change.”

Trail Guardians (the First Nations stewardship program that takes care of the trail and its hikers) pushed to get temporary repairs and detours in key locations so that the trail could open for May. But conditions are still even tougher than usual this year—in the gruelling middle section, hikers have had to wade through Walbran Creek after the cable car and inland route were taken out. 

Guardians say this year’s issues highlight that the trail is under-resourced by the government—particularly after lighthouse keepers, who helped out in some trail emergencies, were removed from two stations along its path.

Read the full story at Capital Daily. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

30% chance of showers in late afternoon / early evening.

UV index 7 (High) today.

Weather this week: Mostly cloudy but warm.

Traffic disruptions for Triathlon of Compassion: See routes here. 

False alarm at Saanich mall: Large police response found no armed robbery. [CHEK]

US bombs Iran: Pres. Trump approved strikes at 3 facilities last night, despite lack of congressional authorization. [AP]

Victoria Shamrocks win: 8-4 over Adanacs.

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