Good morning {{First name}}!

Looking for new friends? Some say Victoria can be cliquey and cold. I don’t know. I heard the same thing about Toronto when I lived there.
Verdict: unresolved.
But if you are searching for new buds, you may want to consider joining a “cohort.”
In our first story, Robyn explains how that works, while in the second I write something for the birds.
Yeah, I know. What else is new?

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

Today: 🌦️ 11 / 7

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 10 / 7

Friday: 🌧️ 9 / 8

7-day forecast

There’s been much talk lately about a growing loneliness epidemic.

Loneliness was declared a global public health concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2023, when 16% of people worldwide—that’s one in six—said they experienced that feeling. 

In Canada, the number is slightly lower overall: 13% (one in 7.7) of those aged 15 and older said they deal with loneliness, according to Statistics Canada. But this percentage grows significantly when looking at young adults—one in five people aged 15 to 24 say they always or often feel lonely. 

Older adults also face an increased risk of loneliness, with 43% of Canadians aged 50 years+ at risk of social isolation, according to the National Institute on Aging.

It’s clear that people everywhere are struggling to connect, and Victorians are no different. But a small group of locals wants to change that.

LampPost Social is a platform dedicated to building community in Greater Victoria. It began as a newsletter for finding local events, but has since grown into a multi-platform hub for making connections in the city. 

Founded by Simon Larocque and Jared Leary, LampPost hosts events, shares tips for making friends, and started a friendship-building program called Cohorts.

LampPost Cohorts gathers up to 12 people to take part in different activities over the course of six to eight weeks in the hope that it will lead to long-term friendships.

“We do pottery painting, run and cold dip, pub crawls, bowling, craft night, game night with just this array of people,” Larocque told Capital Daily. 

So far, Larocque estimates that approximately 150 to 200 people have gone through the Cohort program, and “a ton” of friendships have blossomed as a result.

“You end up really seeing this crew of people that want to get out and want to meet one another,” he said.

Read on to learn more about LampPost and the team working to strike lasting friendships in Victoria.

Construction begins on Oak Bay neighbourhood bike lanes this Monday. [Info]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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Hummingbird Hill, named for the rufous hummingbirds that return to that spot from Mexico and the southern US each spring to feed on local flowers, will be permanently protected by the BC Parks Foundation.

The site—some 15 km from downtown Victoria as the hummingbird flies—will serve as a bird sanctuary and headquarters for the Rocky Point Bird Observatory (RPBO) and will support education, research, and community programs.

“Protecting stopover spots like this helps birds complete their epic journeys across continents,” said BC Parks Foundation CEO Andy Day.

The 21-ha (51-acre) property went up for sale, and the Metchosin Foundation approached the BC Parks Foundation to help conserve it.

The BC Parks Foundation bought the site for $2.5M through a partnership with the Wilson 5 Foundation, the Metchosin Foundation, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, and community donors.

It includes a single-family home and outbuildings that will be converted into a research centre for the observatory.

The property sits next to the Galloping Goose Regional Trail within the Bilston Creek watershed and features Douglas fir forests, Garry oak meadows, and multiple small ponds. 

The area's meadows, ponds, and forests provide a home to all kinds of birds, including northern saw-whet owls, turkey vultures, golden-crowned sparrows, and the eponymous hummingbirds.

“Our researchers are pleased to find that this site has healthy, abundant numbers of rufous hummingbirds, whose population has dropped by half since 1970," said Rosa Munzer, RPBO president. “It's encouraging to witness their resilience here.”

The RPBO has been tracking bird migration across the southern part of the Island since 1994. Its four monitoring programs and 125+ volunteers collect data on owls, songbirds, hummingbirds, and seabirds from the Salish Sea.

Licensed banding workers gather information—including pollen from songbirds and ticks for Lyme disease research—from thousands of birds every year. 

Larger mammals, such as cougars, bears, deer, and elk, also inhabit the park.

“Preserving Hummingbird Hill is something positive and real that benefits birds, wildlife, and people now and in the future," said Day.

It’s an ecologically sensitive area, so access is restricted. However, the RPBO offers guided walks, and the adjacent Galloping Goose Trail is open to all.

At the heart of Royal Bay, Arden introduces a new standard for rental living. Stunning seaside apartments with condo-level finishes surround a landmark clubhouse focused on wellness and connection, just steps from beaches, trails, and retail. It’s elevated living, built for all of life's chapters.

🎸 Sebastian Bach tonight at Capital Ballroom. [7:30pm]

🏈 BC Lions vs. Edmonton Elks in Langford, May 23. Tickets on sale March 31.

🆘 Support T-Bone Wilson, local mentor, coach, and nonprofit founder, as he seeks treatment for stage 4 cancer. [GoFundMe]

🔥Heated in Victoria: Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams spotted at YYJ. [CHEK]

🎺 Victoria Symphony 2026-27 season plans.

🏆 Greater Victoria Sports Award winners announced.

🤣 “Baram and Snieckus are as much fun as you can have without taking your clothes off.” —Toronto Star. Big Stuff opens March 10.*

*Sponsored Listing

Join us at our Canadian Club of Victoria Luncheon Meeting on Tuesday, March 13, from 11:45am to 1:30pm at the Hotel Grand Pacific, where Moira will be speaking about One Headstrong Heiress: The Conundrum of Kathleen Dunsmuir.

Deadline to register is Monday, March 9, at noon. Non-members are welcome to attend. Details here.

Police are on the lookout for distracted drivers across the region
They started in Victoria on Monday, and yesterday it was Saanich, where the police concentrated forces, watching for drivers on their phones and other unsafe practices. On Monday, VicPD issued 25 tickets—each for $368—for illegal use of an electronic device. On Tuesday, Saanich traffic officers handed out 17 similar tickets in just over one hour at McKenzie and Quadra—even though volunteers were stationed metres ahead, reminding motorists to drive safely. The crackdown will shift to the Westshore today, and tomorrow it’ll centre on North Saanich and Sidney. [Times Colonist]

A spike in pollen levels likely has a few Victorians’ noses out of joint
If you have allergies, you’re likely used to this sniffy dance every spring. It seems it’s an earlier battle this year, however, as pollen counts have hit upper levels. Aerobiology Research Laboratories (ARL) rated yesterday’s pollen forecast for Victoria as “high.” That represents a measurement of 81 to 200 grains of pollen per cubic metre of air. We buried the lede because today’s forecast is “very high,” meaning concentrations could exceed 200 grains per cubic metre. Sorry and gesundheit. [CHEK]

Chief coroner announces inquest into Tumbler Ridge shooting
Dr. Jatinder Baidwan, BC’s chief coroner, said the inquest will focus on mental health, public safety, and how the teenage shooter was able to access the firearms that killed two adults and six children in the small northern town. The inquest will result in evidence-based recommendations to prevent a similar incident from happening. A date for the inquest will be set once the investigative phase has concluded, Baidwan said. [BC Gov’t]

Good Samaritan finds a wad of cash at a downtown ATM
Stumbling upon a large stack of cash at a money machine could have been an automatic win for an automated teller user on Douglas near Fort. But instead of pocketing it and walking away, the good Samaritan called the police and waited. VicPD said they are holding onto the “hundreds of dollars” found at an ATM last Saturday at approximately 6:10pm as they await the rightful owner. [VicPD]

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🎤 Italian Art Song Competition: Victoria Conservatory of Music voice students of all ages perform and compete in this annual competition. Drop-in attendance is welcome. Alix Goolden Performance Hall. Today. 5-9pm. [Info]

👻🎶 Danny Michel: The genre-defying singer-songwriter and Juno nominee brings his adventurous sound and charming stage presence to Sidney in support of his latest album, Ghost Town. Charlie White Theatre. Today. Doors 7pm, show 7:30pm. [Info]

👯 GALLIM Mixed Program: New York contemporary dance company GALLIM, led by choreographer Andrea Miller, makes its Victoria premiere with a bold mixed program exploring movement, music, and emotion. Royal Theatre. Friday & Saturday. 7:30pm. [Info]

👐 David Santana Trio: Chilean-born, Victoria-based jazz guitarist and composer David Santana leads his fiery trio through an evening of original jazz. Fathom Lounge. Saturday. 7:30-10pm. [Info]

😆 Hecklers Presents: Graham Clark: Standup comedy from Graham Clark, one of Canada's sharpest comics and a regular on CBC's The Debaters and Just For Laughs. Hecklers Bar & Grill. Saturday. 7pm and 10pm. [Info]

🐒 Jane Goodall: The Hope. CFUW Victoria presents a film to celebrate International Women’s Day with a screening of the National Geographic documentary about the life and influence of the esteemed late wildlife conservationist. Vic Theatre. March 8. 2pm. [Info] [Free]

🐰 Easter Egg Hunt: The Peninsula Celebrations Society invites families to hop over for some Easter basket-filling fun. April 5. Dominion Brook Park. North Saanich. 12pm. [Info]

Tuesday’s headlines: Daylight saving time to be permanent in BC; Indigenous tourism could be the new forestry industry; Victoria restaurant fined $7K for serving beer to a minor. [March 3]

Victoria's Chris Wilson is getting more than 15 minutes of fame on This Hour Has 22 Minutes. [Times Colonist] 

Fake gold schemes are becoming a provincewide issue. [RCMP]

Recall: Compliments Organic brand Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt due to undeclared almonds. [Gov’t of Canada] 

Visible song: A red-winged blackbird’s breath can be seen while it chirps in Saanich. [Facebook photo]

Support Ian and Carolynn McDowell, pillars of Victoria’s music scene, as they face medical and financial hardship. [GoFundMe]

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