Good morning {{First name}}!
If you’re a music fan who hasn’t had a chance to check out this year’s JazzFest or Ska & Reggae Fest, today’s your last opportunity to take in some of the summertime tunes.
If you’ve been to either, let us know what the highlight was for you!
— Robyn
Today’s approx. read time: 7 minutes
🌡 Weather Forecast
NEWS
5 years later, the heat dome's death toll still demands action, marchers say
Photo: Shutterstock
Five years ago today was the hottest day recorded in Victoria’s history. The temperature hit an all-time high of 39.8C (103.6F).
The reading was measured at the Gonzalez Point weather station—which has been tracking our region’s weather since 1874—on the most sizzling day during the scorching heat wave that hit the Island as part of the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat dome.
More than 1,400 people across the continent died of heat-related causes, including 619 here in BC.
This afternoon, a group of people will march in their memory. Beginning at 2pm, they’ll walk from the sundial at Ogden Point to Mile Zero.
“If we don’t remember and honour the people who died five years ago, we won’t do what is needed to prevent future deaths,” said Julie Johnston, a spokesperson for Seniors for Climate Victoria, one of several groups involved in the march.
The groups say the continued burning of fossil fuels will only mean more heat waves and more deaths.
“Many of the things we need to do to reduce deaths during heat waves, such as planting thousands of trees along new bike and roll lanes and switching to electric heat pumps, also reduce carbon pollution,” said Eric Doherty, a spokesperson for Climate Justice Victoria, one of the event’s organizers.
“We know what needs doing; what is needed is the political will.”
The BC Chapter of the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment and allied organizations credit Victoria’s city council for recently ensuring rental homes remain at or below 26C during extreme heat and say more has to be done.
“We can’t adapt our way out of this,” said Dawn Moorhead of Victoria Coolkit, a community-led climate action group. “It’s imperative we come together and act to protect what we love by lowering greenhouse gas emissions.”
⚠ Capital Bulletin
Cook-Hillside intersection closed today for milling and paving. 7am-7pm. [City of Vic]
Lane closures and delays on Cook this week: Between Hillside and Summit, Monday through Friday. 7am-7pm. [City of Vic]
Today is the last day of Victoria JazzFest and Ska & Reggae Fest.
Canada Day is this Wednesday: See the Inner Harbour celebration schedule here.
High-speed internet coming to Galiano and Saturna islands. [CRD]
HarbourCats vs Bellingham Bells at RAP today. 1pm.
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
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