Good morning {{First name}}!

It’s Friday the 13th again. We had one last month, and there’s another in November.
I say today brings luck and good vibes, and we’re all going to have a massively amazing day. 🍀
A fella can manifest, right?

Some Saanich parents may not be counting themselves terribly lucky this morning.
Wait ‘til you see what they’re going to have to pay to send their kids to school in an orange bus.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

Today: 🌧️ 6 / 1

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 8 / 1

Sunday: 🌧️ 5 / 4

7-day forecast

Inspired by a similar program in Toronto, Island Health has adopted a strategy to mitigate the effects loud noise, bright lights, and long hospital waits can have on seniors, especially those living with cognitive or sensory challenges.

“Comfort carts” are packed with a couple of dozen or so items that can greatly contribute to a senior’s physical ease: soft and weighted blankets, neck pillows, sleep masks, even stuffed animals and therapeutic dolls. 

“We are working hard to improve the experience for seniors in emergency departments,” says Dr. Savannah Forrester, an Island Health emergency physician who has a background in geriatric emergency medicine.

Last spring, Island Health approached Victoria’s Eldercare Foundation, a nonprofit that’s been working to improve the quality of life for seniors on Vancouver Island since 1982. Foundation donors came through to support the $163K program, which is a first for BC.

Tom Arnold, the foundation’s executive director, tells Capital Daily that it’s not uncommon for seniors to arrive at the emergency room without their hearing aids or reading glasses—and the comfort cart offers both.

It also has adult colouring books, playing cards, and AM-FM radios—items that won’t reduce the wait but can alleviate anxiety.
And to communicate more effectively, pocket talkers—portable sound amplifiers the size of a deck of cards—are also available free of charge.

Nurses and hospital staff will offer these comforts to seniors, who can also request them. “There are therapy dolls for seniors that might be in a situation where they're feeling confused, feeling agitated, [to] provide them a little bit of calm,” Arnold adds.

The carts recently arrived at 12 Island hospitals, as well as Salt Spring’s. The Jubilee, Vic General, and Saanich Peninsula received theirs this week.

Arnold says excellent care is about looking at the whole person, not just their physical symptoms. 
“What I think this program does is it will restore comfort and dignity to seniors who are struggling during their emergency room visit.” 

Victoria lane closures:
Cook, from Bay to Lang, through March 20.
Blanshard from Pembroke to Caledonia, both directions, through March 20.
Bay at Blanshard, northwest corner, through March 20.

Saanich Road closures:
Kremlin between Broadmead and Kisber, 4pm-8am (overnight), through March 20.
Kisber at Kremlin, 24 hours, through March 20.

VicPD business scam warning.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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Every March, while the rest of the country shovels its way out of the driveway and dodges slushy puddles, flower aficionados in these parts take a light-hearted look at the blossoms that beautify the city and signal the anticipated approach of spring. 

With the cherry blossoms vibrant on View, the magnolias already magnificent, and the daffodils dazzling, it’s time to check in on the annual Greater Victoria Flower Count, which wrapped up on Wednesday.

The numbers are huge. The total number of blooms counted this year was 86,268,791,360. That’s a lot of numbers. Let’s call it 86 billion—almost twice as many as last year, when a total of 44 billion blooms were counted.  

This year’s flower count (March 4-11) was the 51st and, as usual, was organized by Destination Greater Victoria (DGV) with the generous help of local businesses. 

The goal is to remind folks to stop to smell the roses, or crocuses, and to get a little buzz going in the tourism industry during the quieter shoulder season.

According to the Greater Victoria Flower Count website, Saanich is the 2026 count’s bloomingest community with 43 billion+ flowers counted. That was far ahead of runner-up Victoria’s 15 billion+, followed by North Saanich, which was a mere 141 million behind.

Many schools take part in the count, and the students who seemed to have their eyes closest to the ground this year are in Ms. Ng’s class at Campus View Elementary.

In other Garden City flower news, workers continue to assemble flower baskets at the Beacon Hill Park Nursery for Victoria’s hanging basket program, which has been around since 1937, when Victoria turned 75.

Budget cuts meant the municipal government only had money for half the usual 1,200 or so planters that adorn downtown lampposts. DGV and the City of Victoria have launched a donation program, looking to raise $130K.

Donations can be made in person at DGV’s Visitor Centre on Wharf, via e-transfer through [email protected], or in person at City Hall.

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🏅Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce 2026 Business Award finalists.

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🎶 Victoria Folk Fest returns to Royal Athletic Park on July 4. [Details]

🌇 Discover rental living at Arden, perfectly placed steps from beaches and trails in the heart of Royal Bay.*

🚴 Galloping Goose reopened between Cecilia and Viaduct Park after closing Jan. 27

💰 The Pot of Gold jackpot's over $11,000! One ticket could mean a big win for you—and vital support for Island kids with complex health needs.*

💭 FernFest survey: How would you replace it?

🏒 Vancouver Giants at Victoria Royals tonight at 7:05pm.

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Saanich parents: prepare to pay 16X more for the school bus
Currently, it costs $25 per student per year to take the bus, but that’s going up to $400 per student for the first two children and to $200 for a third child. The fee will max out at $1K for those with more than three kids. SD63 says the increase will help offset the growing cost of school programming. It will be introduced in two phases: families will pay 50% of the increase ($200 for the first two kids, $100 for a third) for the 2026/2027 school year, with the full hike coming into effect in 2027/2028. The school district says it will offer a monthly payment plan. [CHEK]

YMCA-YWCA says so long to its downtown location
After 61 years, the Y offered its final day of programming yesterday in advance of its move to the Bay Centre for an anticipated April 9 opening. In 2018, the land at 851 Broughton was sold for $22M to Concert Properties, which wanted to put up two high-rise housing buildings. That project is on hold while the city uses the old Y to replace Crystal Pool, which is slated to close this fall. Construction to replace that facility on Quadra is expected to take five years. [Times Colonist]

Fatal Tofino plane crash caused by poor maintenance and pilot inexperience
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board (TSB) blames overdue maintenance and the pilot’s lack of emergency procedural training for the July 2024 crash, which claimed the lives of the aviator and one passenger. The Portland, Oregon-bound Cessna suffered an engine-area fire during takeoff, then crashed on the way back to the airport. According to the TSB’s report, the pilot had never performed a flight simulation for low-altitude engine failures. An inspection of the plane’s exhaust system—meant to occur regularly to prevent engine fires—was long overdue, the board said. [CTV]

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💍 Crafted Farmhouse Market: A boutique artisan market featuring handcrafted jewelry, home décor, clothing, artwork, and small-batch treats with local food trucks and live music. Mary Winspear Centre. Today 5-9pm & tomorrow 10am-5pm. [Info]

🍁🎵 The Legacy of Lightfoot: BC songwriters Oliver Swain and Dylan Stone lead an all-star ensemble through the full arc of Gordon Lightfoot's iconic catalogue. Hermann's Jazz Club. Today. Doors 5:30pm, show 7-9pm. [Info]

🎶 Gabe Elias, Evan Cheadle + Shoecraft: An evening of psych folk and indie rock from Victoria songwriters Gabe Elias and Evan Cheadle, joined by Everett, Wash. band Shoecraft. The Coda. Today. Doors 6pm, show 6:30-8:30pm. [Info]

😂 Canadian Steam: An irreverent comedy show blending improv, sketch, music, and dance from a cast with credits from Just for Laughs, Second City, and CBC. Charlie White Theatre. Today. Doors 7pm, show 7:30pm. [Info]

🎬 The Place You Gave Us: Improvisational theatre duo Burger & Briggs blend movement, dance, and improv in a show about the places that hold our stories. Intrepid Theatre. Tonight & tomorrow. 8pm. [Info]

🐳 Mini Mariner Mornings—Whale of a Time: A drop-in morning program for children ages 3–8 exploring the world of whales through hands-on activities, painting, and whale song listening. Maritime Museum of BC. Tomorrow. 10-11am. [Info]

🌸 Hanami Blossom Market: Join us for the return of the cherry blossoms and experience a few hours filled with fun flavours, the capsule collections of 70 artists, and a chance to sing karaoke. Fernwood Community Centre. Tomorrow. 11am-4pm. [Info]

🎤 Miss Emily: Two-time JUNO-nominated blues powerhouse Miss Emily performs in support of her latest album, The Medicine, praised for its emotional depth and raw vocals. Hermann's Jazz Club. Tomorrow. Doors 5:30pm, show 7-9pm. [Info]

🎸 Paul Black Band: Victoria blues-rock artist Paul Black performs music from his latest album Beautiful Sin, a decade in the making and full of heavy guitar textures and heartfelt storytelling. The Coda. Tomorrow. Doors 6pm, show 6:30-8:30pm. [Info]

Thursday’s headlines: Locals organize a 5K for Rwandan youth; FernFest 2026 cancelled; StubHub ordered to pay for misleading Taylor Swift ticket sales. [March 12]

Deadly bat fungus moves closer to the Island. [Capital Daily]

Saanich songwriter has a track featured in the new Netflix show Vladimir. 

A star in a shell: Sand dollar teeth inside a clam shell make for a pretty beach find. [Facebook photo]

Bahamas announces the Canadian leg of tour, starting in Victoria Sept. 18. 

Heated Rivalry’s Hudson Williams leaves Victoria with some kinder words.

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