May 24 - New Royal Roads campus to honour John Horgan

Good morning !

Welcome to the weekend! It’s a busy one with Swiftsure races and the Awakening Chinatown Festival taking place. Read on to learn more about these popular annual events.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️ 18 / 10

Tomorrow: ⛅ 17 / 11

Day after: ⛅ 17 / 10

NEWS

Royal Roads names Langford campus after John Horgan

“John from Langford,” as the former BC premier liked to call himself, will now have a permanent fixture in his hometown named after him. 

Horgan was premier from 2017 until 2022, and Canadian ambassador to Germany from 2023 until his death from thyroid cancer last November. 

“I think it would have brought that signature smile to his face to hear about this campus opening in his community,” said Premier David Eby, Horgan’s successor as BC NDP leader. 

The university plans to open the John Horgan Campus in downtown Langford—within Goldstream Village—for the fall semester. Students will be able to take classes from Royal Roads, UVic, Camosun, and SD62 in fields including business, environmental sciences, and social sciences. Class sizes are expected to be small. 

The school has also created a scholarship in his honour: the John Horgan Entrance Award will provide financial support to new undergraduate students studying at RRU Langford. 

“John was a tireless champion for expanding access to post-secondary education in this community,” said Philip Steenkamp, president of Royal Roads. Steenkamp said he is personally supporting the award with a $25K donation. 

Horgan’s family was in attendance at the unveiling of the planned campus signage yesterday.

“This would have meant the world to John,” Ellie Horgan, his wife, said. “His love for Langford, for education, and for young people all come together in this campus.”

Horgan was also honoured last Dec. with a public memorial at Colwood's Q Centre, attended by about 3K locals and then-PM Justin Trudeau.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Road closures tomorrow for Oak Bay Half Marathon.

CRD is accepting applications for the Sarah Beckett Memorial scholarship. [Details]

NEWS

80th Swiftsure International Yacht Race sets sail this weekend

Take a look at the ocean today or tomorrow and you’ll witness a sea of sails as the Pacific Northwest’s premier boating races take place all day.

Clover Point is the best spot to watch as multiple talented sailors jockey for position to start their races, which can often finish with a difference of mere boat lengths.

“It gives the public an awesome opportunity to witness and watch the strategy unfolding by the competitors right off Clover Point,” says Dale Gann, commodore for the Royal Victoria Yacht Club which hosts the races.

“Swiftsure is historically known as a race that certainly challenges the skills of the sailors,” Gann says. “They’ve got to do their homework and be prepared for just about every possibility, and they face unpredictable wind and tide.”

Over the years participation has grown from 10 boats back in the 1930s, when the race was a competition to Swiftsure Bank and back that was set up by the Victoria and Seattle yacht clubs. The 80th Swiftsure International Yacht Race—a staple on the US Memorial Day weekend—will feature 98 boats from California, Seattle, Vancouver, and all over the Island. 

They’ll compete in three trial races:

• the Swiftsure Lightship Classic (138 nautical miles)

• the Cape Flattery Race (102 nautical miles)

• the Juan de Fuca Race (79 nautical miles)

Those last two take roughly 12-15 hours to complete but that first one, the Swiftsure Lightship Classic, goes overnight and could take as long as 36 hours. All three begin just after 9am off Clover Point.

The Lightship Classic rounds a virtual mark at Swiftsure Bank, while the Cape Flattery Race rounds at Neah Bay at the tip of Washington state, and the Juan de Fuca Race rounds a mark at Clallam Bay, west of Port Angeles. 

You can track the races here or watch on CHEK, which will broadcast and stream the event and feature drone footage.

NEWS

Celebrate culture and community at Awakening Chinatown tomorrow

This Sunday, May 25, Victoria’s historic Chinatown comes alive with colour, sound, and celebration for Awakening Chinatown 2025. It's a free, family-friendly event where locals come together to share stories, traditions, and the energy that makes Victoria’s Chinatown a special place.

Hosted by the Victoria Chinatown Museum Society (VCMS) in partnership with lead sponsor RBC and Chinatown businesses, the event offers a dynamic mix of cultural performances, interactive activities, and opportunities for connection—all taking place on and around lower Fisgard.

A tribute to one of North America’s oldest Chinatowns

Victoria’s Chinatown isn’t just a local treasure: it’s the oldest Chinatown in Canada and the second oldest in North America, after San Francisco. With deep historical roots, it has long been a centre for Chinese culture, trade, and community life on the Island. Today, it remains a vital part of the city’s cultural landscape.

Awakening Chinatown began as a way to reinvigorate and spotlight this legacy, bringing together generations of families, artists, and business owners to share in the pride and heritage of this iconic neighbourhood. This 2025 edition promises to be the most lively yet.

Find out what you can expect to see, hear, and eat on lower Fisgard tomorrow.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🥕 New farmers market in town: The PKOLS Market will have its inaugural summer at Lambrick Park in Gordon Head. Opening June 29, it will run every Sun. until Sept. 7. [Learn more] [Full list of this summer’s farmers markets]

🐳 The difference between Bigg’s and Southern Resident killer whales, seen side by side. [Facebook photo]

🎾 Since 2013, the Society for Kids at Tennis has transformed underserved children's lives through sport. The program took off in its first year, providing tennis lessons to around 2,000 children yearly. Recently, the program passed the 20,000 participant mark. Read more about how retired physician Sy Silverberg and his wife came up with the idea.*

🇨🇦 Volunteers needed for Victoria’s Canada Day celebrations. [City of Victoria]

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🗞️ In Other News

3,800-year-old wooden tool found among items at archeological wet site up Island
K’ómoks First Nation is celebrating the find, which was protected from decomposition while buried under a water-logged site. The discovery was made during work on a Comox Valley sewer system update. The tool—a wooden wedge used to split logs to make building materials—was the oldest among other thousand-year items, including plant-based ropes that traditionally were wrapped around the tool. RBCM is working with the nation to determine the plant materials and methods used. [CHEK]

Two arrested after reports of BB gun being fired at people in downtown Victoria
Police say there were reports of a man firing BB pellets at people near Discovery and Blanshard, by a tent encampment. One witness said he shot pellets at one person but didn’t hit anyone, while another said he wore a mask and drove a U-Haul. A man and woman were tracked to a home on Richardson, where they were arrested. One encampment resident says there’s been an increase in violence directed at homeless people downtown recently. [Times Colonist] 

John Wilson named Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce CEO
Wilson is the CEO of Wilson’s Group of Companies, a past-chair of the chamber’s board of directors, and was the BC Conservative candidate for Esquimalt-Colwood MLA last fall. He takes over from Bruce Williams, who announced in Dec. he was leaving the post. Current Chamber Chair Christina Clarke said Wilson was selected because of his business acumen and his connections to the region’s decision makers. He has 35+ years of experience in the ground transportation and tourism industry, and has served on numerous boards and committees. [GVCC]

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🗓️ Things to do

🏃 Healing Hearts Run 2025: The run raises funds for and awareness about the profound impacts of infertility, and pregnancy and infant loss, taking place Royal Roads today. 10:30-1pm. [Info]

🎉 Spring Into Westhills Block Party: Family-friendly fun in Langford with live music, food trucks, vendors, and activities for all ages at Ledgestone Crescent & Atlas Park today. 11am. [Info]

🎨 Scattered Artists Spring Art Tour: A self-guided art tour featuring 32 artists across eight home studios in Saanich—explore original works, textiles, jewellery, pottery, and more today. 11am. [Info]

🍤 Spot Prawn Festival: A two-day seafood celebration featuring grilled whole prawns, signature dishes from top local chefs, and live music at Finest at Sea, today and tomorrow. 11am. [Info]

📺 F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Trivia: Think you know Ross, Rachel, and the gang? Gather your crew for a themed trivia night dedicated to the hit sitcom at The Mint today. 7pm. [Info]

🧸 Ultimate Toy Fair: A two-day event featuring a wide array of toys, collectibles, and games at Pearkes Arena today and tomorrow. [Info]​

🎶 Hope & Belonging Benefit Concert: Hear live music in support of Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees (VICCIR), at United Commons Centre today. 7pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: New recycling program for electronics and soft plastics; BC to Washington visits drop by half on May long weekend; CRD to borrow $33M to buy Sooke land near district’s water supply. [May 23]

Province puts pressure on Oak Bay to make changes to housing approval. [Capital Daily]

H Mart grand opening: The Mayfair Mall grocery store welcomed customers on Thu. after years of delays. [Victoria News] 

Fly fishing in the early 20th century: See people fishing at Cowichan River in 1934 and 1943. [Facebook photos]