Good morning {{First name}}!

We’ve managed to avoid the (heavy and wet) snow that Port Albernians are dealing with after about six or seven centimetres of it fell there yesterday morning. They may get a bit more today.
All we’re expecting here in Victoria is a bit of rain and one step further toward summer.
Speaking of which, three more notable summertime events were announced yesterday. Please read on.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

Today: 🌧️ 10 / 5

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 6 / 4

Friday: 🌧️ 7 / 4

7-day forecast

We may have had snow warnings across the Island this week, but events for the warmer season are not too far away. Three massive celebrations coming to Greater Victoria this spring and summer were just announced, and there’s plenty of fun to be had for fans of sports, music, and food. 

An early spring start to this summer’s FIFA World Cup 2026

Join fellow soccer fans on the legislature lawn to watch two of the four European playoff finals on a big screen. The matches will determine which teams will play against Canada and Australia at this summer’s World Cup. 
This free event, on March 31, will serve as a test run for future FIFA screenings across the country.

The 2nd Annual Great Canadian Bash

Get an early start on Canada Day celebrations at this Westshore festival, happening June 27. For the second year, Starlight Stadium will host a lineup of popular music alongside a BBQ bash—all of which will be Canadian.

Our Lady Peace, one of Canada’s top-selling groups, will perform, along with alt-rock heavyweights The Tea Party. Island acts Darrian Gerard and Cold Fame will kick off the show, and a pre-party BBQ will serve up a variety of dishes, all featuring Canadian-raised ingredients from local eateries.

David Foster Foundation Inner Harbour concert

In August, there will be a weekend of festivities to celebrate 40 years of the David Foster Foundation, the Grammy winner’s charity, founded here in his hometown.

In addition to an upscale black-tie gala event at the Victoria Conference Centre on Aug. 7—where Jay Leno and Josh Groban are set to appear—Foster will perform alongside the Victoria Symphony at an Inner Harbour concert on Aug. 8. The foundation has hinted that there will be appearances from “legendary guests.”

Read on to get more details on these upcoming events.

Victoria lane closures: Cook northbound from Haultain to Hillside, no two-way traffic on southbound lanes, tomorrow through March 20.

Saanich extended road closures:
Kremlin between Broadmead and Kisber, 4pm-8am (overnight) until Friday.
Kisber at Kremlin, 24 hours, until Friday.

Saanich single-lane alternating traffic:
Admirals between Cowper and Arundel, 9am-3:30pm, until April 3.
Reynolds between Cedar Hill Cross and Cumberland, 8:30am-3:30pm, until April 3.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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The world’s best curlers are coming to Victoria this fall to kick off the Grand Slam of Curling season, featuring 32 of the top men’s and women’s foursomes on the planet.

“Greater Victoria has a strong tradition of hosting major curling events, and having the Grand Slam of Curling in the region is a great opportunity for local fans,” said Keith Wells, executive director of the Greater Victoria Sport Tourism Commission.

The GSOC Invitational will take place Oct. 13-18 at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, showcasing 16 of the men’s and 16 of the women’s most competitive teams, including world champions and newly crowned Olympic medalists.

That would likely mean appearances by Anna Hasselborg and her Swedish rink, which topped the podium in Italy last month, and Silvana Tirinzoni’s Swiss team, which took silver.
Canada’s Rachel Homan, who overcame a slow start to mine bronze in Cortina d'Ampezzo, is on the guest list for a GSOC gathering later today at Driftwood Brewery. That’s a pretty good indication you’ll see the Ottawa-born Homan here in October.
Same for Manitoban Jennifer Jones, who retired two years ago after an illustrious career that included 17 Grand Slam titles, two world titles, and an Olympic gold.

Brad Jacobs and his Ontario foursome won Olympic gold on the men’s side, so there’s a good chance we’ll see him, along with possible appearances from the silver-winning Brits and bronze-winning Norwegians.

The GSOC is an elite series of men’s and women's curling events, awarding equal purses to both teams. It was last held in BC in 2016 at the Q Centre in Colwood.

Coming back to the Island is great news for curling fans and, in particular, for the 1K+ curlers registered to the Victoria and Esquimalt curling clubs, says the Esquimalt club president, Al Teasdale.

“As the volunteer partner for the event, Esquimalt Curling Club will see a bit of a financial benefit, and we are fundraising to help pay for new curling stones at Archie Browning Sports Centre.”

Teasdale says he expects members of both clubs to be part of the ice crew, officials, or timing team. You can expect to hear them hawking 50-50 tickets.

Additional information on teams will likely trickle out at tonight’s brewery event, with more news expected in the coming months.

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Explore Shawnigan Retreats and plan your getaway today. Learn more about Shawnigan Retreats.

🥌 Grand Slam of Curling in Victoria early-bird passes on sale.

🏅 UVic’s Reach Awards: research & teaching excellence winners.

🌿 New from Mateína: A zero sugar, organic yerba mate that delivers clean energy—no crash, no weird ingredients. Just plant-powered fuel that works.*

🏃 Stronger Together 5K on March 21 for Rwandan youth. [Info]

🦭 Is there something on my face? A seal is seen covered in herring eggs while enjoying the spawning season in Island waters. [Facebook photo]

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Direct downtown-to-airport bus route not yet cleared for takeoff
According to the council’s transit commission, a BC Transit survey on this drew more responses than the city’s last budget survey. Some 84% said airport service needs to be improved, but only a bit more than half, 54%, thought doing it this way would work. The proposal calls for Route 72 to shuttle commuters to both the ferry terminal and YYJ—at the expense of two Saanich routes. The 88 between Sidney and the airport would be scrapped, and the 81 bus would cover, making for a long loop. Transit commissioners decided to delay the decision until May 12. [Times Colonist]

Washington state group files court complaint over suspended Sidney-Anacortes ferry service
US advocacy group Restore Our Ferries has filed a complaint in Washington State Superior Court, calling on the state government to order the return of the ferry route, which was suspended in 2020 after a century of service. The route once ran daily between Sidney and several US ports. In 2023, Washington State Ferries (WSF) said it was unlikely to return before 2030. Restore Our Ferries says the route is an important link for economic, social, and tourism reasons and that WSF does not have the authority to suspend it. WSF argues it hasn’t abandoned the service and still has plans for its return within the next four years. [CHEK]

Registration of US nurses in BC soars—almost 10 X—amid recruitment push
The BC College of Nurses and Midwives approved the registration of 1K+ US nurses between last April and January of this year. That’s nearly 10 times more than in previous years: BC successfully recruited 127 US nurses in 2024 and 112 in 2023. It’s unclear how many of these nurses have moved to Canada, as some were registered before starting a job. Island Health says it registered 64 US-trained nurses between April 2025 and Feb. 5 of this year. The uptick follows changes made last year to fast-track the province’s credential registration process. [CP / CTV]

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🎺 Winds & Brass Department Collage Concert: Solo and chamber performances by the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s winds & brass students spanning a wide range of instruments and experience levels. Alix Goolden Performance Hall. Today. 7-8:30pm. [Info]

🙌 The Don Leppard Jazz Orchestra: Victoria's 17-piece big band swings through Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and beyond, carrying on the tradition of Don Leppard. Hermann's Jazz Club. Today. Doors 5:30pm, show 7-9pm. Livestream. [Info]

🌈 The Wizard of Oz: Young Performers Edition: St. Margaret's School presents a jubilant 80-minute production of this classic, performed by the school's young performers. McPherson Playhouse. Today. 7:30pm. [Info]

🛹🎼 Back to the Future in Concert: The Victoria Symphony performs Alan Silvestri's iconic score live in sync with the film on the big screen, including music added specially for orchestral presentations. Royal Theatre. Today. 7pm. [Info]

🥧🧮 Pi Day Pie-eating Contest: Students are welcome to bring their appetites to faculty from the academic prep and math and statistics programs, who will serve up more than 3.14 pies in honour of 3-14 (March 14). Camosun Interurban Campus, Centre for Business & Access. Tomorrow. Noon. [Info]

🔥🐴 Shadow Puppets: Layered projections, no script. Judy Woo, Students of Colour Collective artist in residence, and filmmaker Lesley Marshall team up to showcase the Year of the Fire Horse. Tomorrow. 5pm. SOCC Lounge (B120). [Info]

🎵 VICCIR benefit concert: Together in Harmony. Jordie and Habbous (Arabic music) and Kvell’s Angels (Klezmer music) offer a vibrant program to help raise money for the Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees. St. John the Divine Anglican Church. Sunday. 7pm. [Info]

📐 Design Victoria launch party: Early bird tickets now on sale. Celebrate Victoria’s creative community at the official kickoff to Design Victoria 2026. Cantu Bathrooms & Hardware. April 30. 6pm. [Info]

Monday’s headlines: Province to create safety zones for places of worship; Military families get improved access to WorkBC programs; and a celebrity’s choice words about Victoria make headlines. [March 10]

Kayaker rescued after clinging to piling for 9+ hours near Comox. [Times Colonist]

Lane closures on Cook, from Bay to Lang, through March 20.

No left turn from westbound Hillside to Cook through Thursday.

South Island Gold Rush: See photos of prospectors on Leech River during the 19th-century gold boom. [Facebook photos]

Island firefighters raise $42K for the Tumbler Ridge community. [CHEK]

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