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We’ve got an update on the ongoing saga of the Victoria School Board vs the Ministry of Education. Spoiler alert: the school board won.

Plus, today’s second story offers a warning to those seeking Island destinations made famous on social media—make sure your car can handle rough road conditions before you head out.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

Today: ☀ 19 / 10

Tomorrow: ☀ 25 / 11

Day after: ☀️ 25 / 11

7-day forecast

The province’s lawyers conceded BC’s case against the fired Victoria School Board trustees after finding the Ministry of Education “failed to fully provide all necessary documents,” including text messages between senior government officials.

“The decision by the province today is the responsible step after acknowledging these significant errors,” Education Minister Lisa Beare said in a statement yesterday.

“These errors came to light in the last few days. The court will decide what happens next in the coming week at the scheduled hearing, and we will respect that process.”

Text messages between senior officials at the Ministry of Education and VicPD, and the special adviser appointed to the SD61 board—which were not previously disclosed—were discovered by the province's lawyers on Saturday, compromising the fairness of the case.

Board fired over disagreements on police in schools

The trustees were fired from their positions last January after disagreements between the board and ministry regarding the School Police Liaison Officer (SPLO) program. 

In the fall of 2024, the ministry ordered the school board to work with police to develop a safety plan for Victoria schools, urging the board to bring back SPLOs. 

The board said it complied and submitted options for a new school safety plan. However, the ministry said the trustees failed to collaborate with the police and a ministry-appointed special advisor, and fired the board en masse.

The trustees disagreed with the decision, launching a court challenge last April. 

In October, the province was ordered to turn over documents related to its decision, which it did in March. Beare said she had “recently been advised” by her staff that the ministry “inadvertently failed” to fully provide all documents, “compromising the fair and timely adjudication of this case.”

“The effect of this action would reinstate those trustees to School District No. 61,” Beare said. “This is not the outcome we were working toward.”

The trustees will remain in their positions until the Oct. 17 municipal election.

Nicole Duncan, SD61 board chair, says the result was a “complete vindication” for the board. She argues that the ministry hasn’t been transparent about its “true objectives” for the requested safety plan.

“The government never had a lawful basis to fire us.”

Read the full story here.

Galloping Goose closed, between Sooke River Road and the south side of the Charters Trestle, today through Friday. [CRD]

Saanich bike lanes: Help identify suitable streets in this survey, open until June 7.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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Social media promotes a remote beach at the northwestern tip of the Island as a must-see “hidden gem.” 

Go online and hear the tale of a Hawaii-like paradise with soft, pale sand, tide pools, and shoreline for as far as the eye can see. 

What it fails to mention is that getting there can be a bit of a challenge.

The journey to San Josef Bay, near Cape Scott Provincial Park, follows a long, rough route through an active forest area.

The roads aren’t terribly hospitable, and there’s no cellphone coverage, so good luck if you blow a tire.

John Tidbury, a Port Hardy councillor and operator of the North Coast Trail shuttle service, says increasingly, he’s finding himself having to stop to help motorists either struggling or simply stranded along the route.

Read the full story here.

200+ free concerts, performances and events across Victoria — all in one place. Featuring events funded or supported by the City of Victoria, from park concerts to harbour evenings, plus drop-in dance, fitness and family-friendly fun.

👉 victoria.ca/cityvibe

🎞️ Quazar’s gets the Hollywood treatment: The downtown arcade was recently transformed into a New York subway station for a film production. [Quazar’s Arcade]

🎉 Some Kinda Fun, the Belfry's 50th Anniversary Bash this Saturday, features songs from the theatre's past, and some very special guests. Get your tickets!*

🏕️ Revamped Tribune Bay campground on Hornby Island now open. [BC Gov] 

🌹 Beginning Thursday, The Butchart Gardens welcomes visitors Wednesday–Sunday for dinner in The Dining Room Restaurant and Night Illuminations, celebrating the arrival of summer evenings.*

🚴 GoByBike Week starts on Saturday. Free transit for cyclists.

🌿 New from Mateína: A zero sugar, organic yerba mate that delivers clean energy — no crash, no weird ingredients. Just plant-powered fuel that works.*

📸 Patrick Arena—where the Victoria Cougars won the Stanley Cup in 1925—before and after it burned down in 1929. [Facebook photos]

*Sponsored Listing

Sooke family of 4 displaced by Sunday house fire
Three of the family members were at home when the fire erupted around 4pm and managed to escape safely with no injuries. The cause is under investigation, but initial evidence shows it may have started in a greenhouse on the property before spreading to the house and nearby trees. The displaced family is now being helped by Emergency Support Services. [Black Press] 

Republic of Korea Navy submarine arrives at CFB Esquimalt: longest trip in South Korean history
The submarine ROKS Dosan Ahn Changho and frigate ROKS Daejeon arrived in Victoria on Saturday for a joint exercise with the Royal Canadian Navy over the next two weeks. The vessels began the 14K trip on March 25 and completed the first trans-Pacific crossing ever by a Republic of Korea Navy submarine. The visit comes as Canada moves to replace its aging Victoria-class subs with a fleet of up to 12 new subs. South Korean companies are among the interested builders. [CHEK]

Weekend gala raises $1.4M for cancer care in Victoria
Saturday’s Miracle Gala, hosted at Royal Roads, brought together 250 community leaders who together raised $1.43M for surgical cancer care at Victoria General and Royal Jubilee hospitals. The money will fund 60 surgical oncology tools identified as essential priorities by local surgeons.

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🎶 Voices in Motion Concert: See the multigenerational choir that brings together people with memory loss, caregivers, and youth at Gage Gallery today. 11:30am-12:30pm. [Info]

🚶 Free Waking Tour of Victoria: Start at the BC legislature, explore the Inner Harbour, Fairmont Empress Hotel, Bastion Square, and Chinatown on this three-hour tour today. 10am. [Info]

🎵 Allied Harmonies: The Naden Band Welcomes the Republic of Korea Navy Band: Hear music spanning from Gordon Lightfoot to BTS, while raising funds for Wounded Warriors Canada, at Royal Theatre today. 7pm. [Info]

🎹 Yves Léveillé Quartet Phare: The Montreal pianist and his acclaimed jazz quartet will offer an evening of lyrical, refined modern jazz at The Coda tonight. 9:30pm–12am. [Info]

🤣 Sloppy Seconds After: This late-night comedy open mic invites performers to try new material in short sets at The Mint tonight. 10pm. [Info] 

🛍️ Key Vintage Market: More than 3K vintage pieces will be on sale at Phillips Brewery Front Yard. Saturday & Sunday. 12-8pm. [Info]

🎼 To Hope and Back: See this concert based on the story of SS St. Louis, the ship that carried nearly 1K Jewish refugees from Germany in 1939—no country, including Canada, would allow the vessel to dock. Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, Uvic. Sunday. 3pm. [Info]

Sunday’s headlines: Weekly roundup; E.J. Hughes’ painting sells for nearly 5 times the estimated value; 2 VicPD cruisers crash into each other. [May 24]

Pickleball is booming, and Victoria wants to lead the way. [Capital Daily]

Voting day lineups: City of Victoria plans changes to reduce wait times at the polls. [CTV]

Recall: Kirkland Signature Women 50+: may contain the presence of foreign matter (metal fragments). [Health Canada]

Canada Strong Pass: Enjoy free entry to national parks, museums, and historic sites from June 19 to Sept. 7. [Details]

Birdman—a new downtown restaurant from the team behind Wind Cries Mary and Rudi—is now open.

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