Good morning {{First name}}!

Things are looking a little greener today as Victoria celebrates St. Patrick’s Day. Whether you’re Irish by blood or by spirit, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the culture.

Grab a cold pint of Guiness at a local pub, join an evening St. Paddy’s run, or catch live performances at Langham Court Theatre.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

Today: 🌧 12 / 9

Tomorrow: 🌧 15 / 9

Day after: 🌧 14 / 11

7-day forecast

This summer will mark five years since the brutal heat dome hit BC, killing hundreds of people and billions of coastal creatures. The 2021 weeklong climate event caused an unprecedented rise in temperatures, with some areas hitting a staggering 50C on land. 

Prior to the heat dome, there was little understanding of how an extreme heat event would affect BC, leaving the province unprepared for the environmental consequences. But a new study, led by UVic researchers, is helping to shed light on how just deadly the dome was—and which animals were able to survive it.

The study, led by Julia Baum, a UVic biology professor and founder of the school’s Baum Lab, explored the heat dome’s effects on several species and ecosystems. Baum’s team examined changes to populations during and after heatwave, comparing the results to pre-dome stats.

The researchers relied on remote sensing—scans of the Earth from satellites or aircraft—a meta-analysis of field data, computer modelling, and media reports to gather a big-picture understanding of what kind of damage the heat dome did to BC’s ecosystems.

“With little forewarning, we relied on whatever studies were already underway or observations made during the event,” Baum said in a release.

But even with the variety of data explored, Baum says her team has likely only “scratched the surface of the heat dome’s ecological effects.”

The researchers found that an animal’s chances of living through the dome’s conditions depended on its ability to seek shade, regulate its temperature, and whether cover was available. 

“Basically, any animal that couldn’t escape the heat was hard hit by it,” Baum said. “This included mobile animals at vulnerable stages of life, such as baby birds that couldn’t yet fly and were trapped in their heat-retaining nests.”

More than three-quarters of the species studied were negatively affected by the torrid temperatures. Nearly all Bay mussels—92%—were wiped out, as was more than half of the thatched barnacle population.

However, some animals managed to survive—and even thrive—in the heat dome’s aftermath. 

Read on to learn more about the study’s findings and how the province can prepare for future damaging climate events.

Witty’s Lagoon: Sitting Lady Falls parking lot closed for paving March 30-April 2. [CRD map]

Sidewalk closure on Dallas, between St. Lawrence and Simcoe, for one month. [Info]

Victoria road closure: Fisgard at Government through Friday. [Info]

Victoria lane closures though Friday:

Saanich Road closures through Friday:

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Organizers of what they’ve dubbed “10 hot days and nights of the coolest music in town” have completed their lineup of 50 bands and artists set to play Victoria and Esquimalt at the TD Victoria International JazzFest in June. 

The Island’s longest-running, multi-day professional music festival turns 43 this summer with a slightly smaller, internationally flavoured roster.

“We're making up for that in the quality of music, the variety of genres, and the diversity of the locations from where the artists originated or reside,” JazzFest spokesperson Kristen Binley tells Capital Daily.

More than 200 musicians in 42 bands from all over the planet—from Hungary and Cuba to Denmark and Korea, and of course, the US and Canada—will perform here June 19-28.

Previously announced headliners include The Miles Electric Band, featuring Emmy- and Grammy-winning producer Vince Wilburn Jr.—Miles Davis’s nephew and M.E.B.’s founder—on drums. The band will perform music to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Miles’s birthday, which will have been just four weeks earlier.

Other headliners who will play the Royal Theatre include Oregon’s most famous “little orchestra," Pink Martini, which last performed here 11 years ago; the UK-based septet Kokoroko; and BEATrio, which combines the sounds of banjoist Béla Fleck, harpist Edmar Castañeda, and drummer Antonio Sánchez. 

Traditionally, the festival is focused downtown, but this year, the music party shifts to Esquimalt’s Bullen Park for the second weekend (June 26-28) of matinees and evening shows.

The just-announced Funk ‘n Soul in the Township series promises three high-energy evenings of dance-heavy music, including a triple header on the Friday.

“That's where we attract a lot of the bigger crowds for our free-to-the-public series in the afternoons, but also those three evening performances of funk and soul,” Binley says.

More free, outdoor afternoon shows are scheduled for the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park (June 20 and 21), while the fest’s Presentation Series offers smaller, intimate shows at Hermann’s, Studio 919 at the Strathcona Hotel, and The Coda.

Binley says those smaller club shows are the real gems. 

“That's what always appeals to me most every year, because that's what's really hot in jazz right now,” she says, adding the jazz/world fusion band, Djabe, and Grammy-winning guitarist Mark Lettieri of Snarky Puppy fame are can’t-miss performers.

Tickets go on sale March 27.

PHS Community Services Society supports thousands of underserved vulnerable people every day, many who need significant health supports—and you can help make a real impact.

Registration is now open for our 2026 PHS Run Team. Join PHS in Vancouver on race day (Sept 27th), or participate remotely from Victoria, or wherever you are. Every runner receives a personalized online fundraising page to help PHS reach our $30,000 goal.

Funds raised directly support emergency needs, by providing essential items like mobility aids, meal replacements, non‑prescription medications, food, socks, underwear, toiletries and more.

Be part of a community making meaningful change.

Click here to register today, or donate to our PHS Run Team to help reach our goal.

Learn more: [email protected]

🍀 It’s St. Patrick’s Day!

🐐 Beacon Hill Children’s Farm is open for the season—and has seven baby goats ready to meet visitors. [BHCF]

💰 Don’t miss out! The Pot of Gold 50/50 raffle closes March 17. Get tickets now for a chance to win big and help Island kids!*

🐳 Second largest animal on earth: Whale watchers were in for a treat over the weekend when they spotted a massive fin whale southeast of Victoria. The only animal that beats its size is the blue whale. [Eagle Wing Tours]

🎞️ Tea Creek: A free film about Indigenous food sovereignty in Victoria. [April 1, City Hall]

🧑‍🏫 Glenlyon Norfolk School empowers students to lead with confidence. Attend an upcoming Open House to see how IB learning and belonging shape extraordinary futures.*

🚍 2 new double-deckers hit the pavement for BC Transit.

*Sponsored Listing

Navigation apps sending commuters down roads not meant for heavy traffic
Those trying to avoid the “Colwood Crawl” and other busy commutes in Greater Victoria are being sent through small roads in the District of Highlands, leading to snarled traffic on quiet streets. Apps like Siri and Google Maps have been offering alternative routes to drivers, including down Millstream Lake Road, which is partially single-lane. Residents say drivers are ignoring the speed limits, heavy vehicles are getting stuck, and backed-up traffic has blocked those trying to leave their homes. Highlands’ council is asking residents for ideas and feedback for addressing the problem. [CHEK]

Nuova Gestione: Il Terrazzo has new owners after 30 years
Shellie and Mike Gudgeon have sold the esteemed Italian eatery to a group of investors guided by Top Shelf Management, which oversees Boom + Batten, Glo, the Loghouse Pub, and Med Grill in Oak Bay. The new owners say they don’t plan to change anything and that Shellie will stick around to help with the transition. The changeover will be official on April 7. [Victoria Buzz]

Hospital district board looks to redevelop Oak Bay Lodge into a ‘campus of care’
The Capital Regional Hospital District has set aside $200K to locate a developer willing to resurrect the dormant facility and turn it into a hospice and clinic to provide long-term, adult, and restorative care. The hospital district bought the 1.6-ha Cadboro Bay property in 2020 after the lodge’s 200+ residents moved to The Summit on Hillside and the centre closed. The deal stipulated that the land be used for the public good. [Times Colonist]

🏃 St. Patrick's Day 5K Fun Run: Join an evening of movement, laughter, and community while supporting the Victoria Native Friendship Centre. The run begins at Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort tonight. 6-9pm. [Info]

🪡 Make Your Own Leather Belt: Design and build a custom leather belt in this hands-on workshop at MakeSpace North Park tonight. 6-9pm. [Info]

🎹 Louise Rose: Celebrating Black Irish Music: Canadian jazz legend Louise Rose will perform solo piano and vocals at Hermann's Jazz Club tonight. 7-9pm. [Info]

🍀 St Patrick's Day Party: Join the Hounds of Cuchulain and the Victoria School of Irish Dance for a night of energetic Celtic music, dancing, and raucous revelry at Langham Court Theatre tonight. 7-10pm. [Info]

🩰 Ballet Étoile presents Cleopatra: See ancient Egypt come to life in this acclaimed production at Mary Winspear Centre, today and tomorrow. 7:30pm. [Info]

🎷 Victoria Jazz Jam Session: The Tom Vickery Trio hosts Victoria's monthly jazz jam at The Coda tomorrow. 6:30-8:30pm. [Info]

🎸 Goo Goo Dolls: The popular band will perform with openers Dashboard Confessional at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Thu. 7:30pm.

🎵 Walk Right Back: The Everly Brothers Story: See the musical tracing the Everly Brothers' rise from humble country roots to superstardom at McPherson Playhouse. Sat. 7pm. [Info]

Sunday’s headlines: Toxic drug deaths down 10% in January across BC; Weekly roundup; and CRD budget goes up, bringing property taxes with it. [March 15]

Mostly Harris Green: 1,300 BC Hydro customers were without power on Sunday. [CHEK]

Today: Ginger Run moved to Cadboro Bay from UVic. [Times Colonist]

BC’s ambulance and paramedics union ratifies agreement with province. [CTV]

The beauty of herring roe, seen in Nanaimo. [Facebook photos]

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