Good morning {{First name}}!

As I write this note, a newly launched fundraiser to save Hermann’s Jazz Club and View Street Social is gaining serious steam—by the time this newsletter makes its way to your inbox, the club may have already reached its goal.

Check out our second story for more details.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

Today: ⛅ 8 / 4

Tomorrow: ☀ 11 / 4

Day after: ☀ 11 / 4

7-day forecast

This Saturday’s Palestinian march to and from the BC legislature will be the last with a police accompaniment, something its organizers said they never asked for and something the police service said it can no longer provide.

Effective April 4, police will no longer be providing traffic control for the street portion of the demonstration, VicPD announced yesterday. 

“This decision is not about the cause itself,” VicPD Chief Fiona Wilson said, adding the force remains committed to supporting the right to peaceful protest.

“This is about balance and about our responsibility to ensure that we can continue to meet all public safety needs across Victoria and Esquimalt.”

VicPD said it had dedicated more than 10K hours of officer time to the weekly marches, which begin and end at the legislature and usually last several hours. 

“Fatigue and burnout are real concerns,” Wilson said. “We have a duty to ensure our members are supported, healthy, and able to serve our communities over the long term.”

Letters of explanation were distributed to the City of Victoria, Jewish and Muslim community representatives, Palestinian march organizers, and the BC legislature, said Insp. Connor King, VicPD’s point person on operational planning. 

“This isn't a budget decision for the Victoria Police,” King said. “This is 100% an officer wellness decision.”

It’s also a decision that comes with some incongruity.

VicPD says the marchers asked for a police presence, and in return, Victoria’s finest asked the marchers to stop, citing safety concerns when the moving protest meets traffic.

But march organizers beg to differ. 

“The rally organizers have never asked for police presence,” said Maureen Stone, a spokesperson from the Palestine Solidarity Group / Coast Salish to Palestine.

“Whatever hours and monies that VicPD has chosen to spend on accompanying the marches is VicPD's decision alone.”

Read the full story here.

Saanich single-lane traffic: At 3940 Interurban, near McKenzie.

E&N Trail delays: Potential delays between Hereward and Devonshire. 9am-3pm. [CRD]

Saanich Zero Waste Strategy survey. [Until April 7]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

Support local journalism by supporting Capital Daily. Become a Capital Daily Insider member today and help bring local stories to life.

Many music lovers in Victoria were shocked last week to hear of Hermann’s Jazz Club’s impending closure at the end of next month. Within hours of the announcement, local musicians and club patrons shared their heartbreak over losing the 45-year-old institution.

That outpouring reached the board of Arts on View Society, the operators of Hermann’s who made the difficult decision to close the club and its neighbouring View Street Social—and made them reevaluate the venue’s future.

“Over the past few days, we’ve received an incredible number of emails, messages, and conversations from people who care deeply about Hermann’s and View Street Social,” the society shared on social media. 

“You want a chance to save it. So we’re giving you that chance.”

On Tuesday afternoon, the society launched a fundraising pledge campaign to gather the $450K needed to keep the View venue open.

The decision to close the jazz club and View Street Social was largely motivated by a lack of money. Arts on View Society said it spent 18 months trying to “stabilize” the organization and its budget, but the financial challenges “inherited from previous leadership” were too significant to overcome. 

The fundraising campaign, if successful, would help the organization pay down inherited debt, update equipment, and make necessary repairs to the “long-neglected” building, the society said.

The community wasted no time showing its support—by 3pm yesterday, the campaign received $400K in pledges. 

There are still 31 days left to raise the full amount. Arts on View Society says if the goal isn’t reached, no pledged money will be collected and Hermann’s would be on its way out. 

“For 45 years, Hermann’s has been a place where music lives. Where people connect. Where moments happen that don’t happen anywhere else,” the society wrote in a Wednesday update about the campaign.

“We can’t do this without you,” it said. “Let’s see what this community can do.”

The society took over operations for the club in 2019 after Hermann Nieweler—its namesake—passed away in 2015. The building that houses Hermann’s, View Street Social, and The Coda upstairs has been city-owned since 2024, when it was bought from Nieweler’s estate for $3.95M. 

When the Arts on View Society announced the closure last week, Victoria Coun. Matt Dell shared on social media that the space would remain a music venue regardless of Hermann’s future.

As the Toronto AIDS hospice, Casey House, prepares for the historic visit of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1991, residents and staff are inspired to beat the odds as a plague continues to ravage a generation.

This potent and moving drama by Nick Green vividly captures a moment in time when a rebel Princess, alongside fearless caregivers and advocates, reshaped the course of a pandemic—and how those stricken by the virus found hard-won dignity, community and love in the face of astonishing hardship.

The Belfry Theatre offers pay-what-you-want tickets to all performances.

🚘 Headlight glare too much? Take the Transport Canada survey here.

🌱 Discover the ease, beauty & benefits of native plants at Swan Lake's Workshops. Designated best place to learn in the CRD—reserve your spot today!*

🔵 “Blue alien pancakes”: Vellela vellalas, AKA by-the-wind sailors, are popping up on BC’s coastal beaches. [Facebook photos]

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

🍸 Free Spirit Victoria is today. [Info] 

*Sponsored Listing

Shawnigan Retreats offers the perfect cozy retreat for family gatherings or romantic getaways. Nestled by the serene Shawinigan Lake, our luxurious accommodations feature a sauna, hot tub, games room with ping pong, cards, and board games, and even a private pickleball court. Enjoy nearby hikes through breathtaking nature and unwind in comfort. With space for up to 18 guests, Shawnigan Retreats promises an unforgettable experience.

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

As hiking season nears, popular Juan de Fuca trail shows no signs of reopening
Severe storms in early 2025 washed out multiple sections of the trail, which is known among hikers worldwide as one of the best trekking routes in Canada. The trail typically draws close to 50K visitors a year, but it may be closed for the second summer season. Touring companies that make their revenue by transporting hikers to the location or by offering guided tours say the prolonged closure is hurting their businesses. Parks staff say people are still accessing the trail despite the closure, leading to concerns of further damage that could delay its reopening. [Times Colonist]

Aging UVic ice rink to stay open 1 more year 
Significant repairs have bought some time for the skating area in the soon-to-be-demolished Ian Stewart Complex. The rink was meant to close this month to make way for new housing, but it will now stay in operation until March 2027. A minor ammonia release—a hazard linked to refrigeration systems—prompted the mechanical repairs, extending the life of the 56-year-old rink. There are no plans to replace it once the building closes for good next year. [Victoria News]

VIU Mariners are Canadian women’s hoops champions
For the second time in their history, Vancouver Island University’s women’s basketball team are national champions. The Mariners beat the Fanshaw Falcons from London, Ont., 72-58 in Saturday’s Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) final in Montreal. VIU defeated St. Thomas 56-41 in the quarterfinals and eked out a 62-56 decision over Cégep de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in the semis. The Mariners last won the CCAA title in 2023. [CHEK]

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🎨 Community Day: Seas the Break: Three days of drop-in spring break fun, including family-friendly crafts and games, at the Maritime Museum of BC. Today through Saturday. 9:30am-4:30pm. [Info]

🎵 Postsecondary Thursday Lunch Concert: VCM postsecondary students perform works-in-progress in this free lunchtime concert at Alix Goolden Performance Hall today. 12:30-1:30pm. [Info]

🎺 Jeremy Price: Lee Morgan Legacy: See the Vancouver-based project presenting the music of jazz trumpet legend Lee Morgan at Hermann's tonight. 7-9pm. [Info]

🦇 Mr. Crowley's Ozzy Experience: See North America's premier Ozzy Osbourne tribute, including classics from Black Sabbath and Ozzy’s solo work, at McPherson Playhouse tonight. 7:30pm. [Info]

👠 War on the Catwalk: Hosted by Alyssa Edwards, this drag extravaganza features live performances by RuPaul's Drag Race US stars, including Jewels Sparkles, Bosco, and Daya Betty, at Royal Theatre tonight. 8pm. [Info]

😂 Hecklers Presents: Mark Forward: See the comedian known for his work on Letterkenny, Fargo, and John Oliver’s New York Stand-up Show at Hecklers Bar & Grill tonight. 8pm. [Info]

🎶 Alan Doyle with The East Pointers: Great Big Sea's Alan Doyle brings his foot-stomping "Already Dancing" tour to the Royal Theatre tomorrow & Saturday. 8pm. [Info]

😆 Bruce McCulloch: The Dark Purple Slice Tour: Kids in the Hall's Bruce McCulloch brings his one-man show to McPherson Playhouse tomorrow. 8pm. [Info]

Wednesday’s headlines: Phillips Backyard Music Festival lineup announced; No Tyrants protest in Victoria, one of thousands happening in North America; 35th anniversary of Michael Dunahee’s disappearance. [March 25]

Victoria man killed in a workplace incident is remembered by his wife and kids. [CHEK] A GoFundMe has been set up to help his family.

Fernwood Funday will bring vendors, food, and community fun to the neighbourhood in June (replacing the cancelled FernFest). [Info]

20 years after Queen of the North sank, questions still arise. [CHEK]

John Mulaney plays Victoria in November. Tickets on sale tomorrow.

45th Paddle for the Kids for Easter Seals Summer Camp. [Donate here] 

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