Good morning {{First name}}!

Our first story is more of a bulletin as Saanich Police search for a missing teen.
Robyn has a piece about our recent hot weather, and further down, you’ll see a story about shops in Oak Bay receiving a series of obscene phone calls. The targeted businesses are all owned by women. It’s gotten so bad that one store isn’t answering the phone these days.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

Today: 🌤️ 19 / 9

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 17 / 10

Friday: 🌥️14 / 9

7-day forecast

Saanich Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating 16-year-old Kallie, who was last seen on Monday at approximately 4:30pm. Her last known whereabouts were a residence on Ashgrove near Fort.

Kallie is described as an Indigenous female, 5-feet 3-inches tall, with a slim build, brown hair, and brown eyes. She was wearing a red wig at the time she was last seen.

Anyone who may have seen Kallie or knows her whereabouts is asked to contact Saanich Police at 250-475-4321.

As of August 2024, Saanich Police no longer shares the last names of people who are the subject of missing persons releases unless there is an investigative reason to do so. VicPD has been following this edict since late 2023.

Saanich Police say the impact of having a full name published can last forever. So for privacy reasons and to ensure the well-being of the missing and their family, it only releases an individual’s first name, a description, and a photo, it said. 

Provincewide emergency alert test on phones, radio, TV today at 1:55pm.

PKOLS/Mount Douglas Park parking lot and possibly some trails closed tomorrow as a new telecommunications tower is installed. 

Galloping Goose Regional Trail west of Six Mile has reopened. 

VicPD seeks dashcam video in arson investigation.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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Last weekend’s hot temperatures may have brought some early beach days, but they also raised alarm bells for those concerned about climate change.

That unease had some merit—31 wildfires were sparked across BC, including two on the Island. Another wildfire was detected yesterday near Nanaimo.

BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) has indicated it will be putting various campfire bans in place in the province starting tomorrow, including in the Coastal Fire Centre. 

In April, researchers warned that the Island’s low snowpack—it’s one of the only regions in BC to have a snowpack below half of the average level this year—could indicate upcoming summer droughts, which can increase wildfire risk.

But local climate experts want to assure people that this weekend’s springtime heatwave isn’t necessarily our new normal, and it may not be an indicator of a brutally hot summer.

Jennifer Lohmeyer, BCWS information officer for the Coastal Fire Centre, says this year’s wildfire trends are “not atypical for Vancouver Island.”

So far, the Island has recorded 12 wildfires in 2026, all of which have been caused by humans or unknown factors. It’s not clear yet whether this summer will bring more blazes than usual.

“While the Coastal Fire Centre has experienced a warming and drying trend for the past three weeks, it is too soon to determine what type of fire season we will have,” Lohmeyer told Capital Daily. 

How severe this fire season gets will depend on how much rain the region gets in May and June. 

Charles Curry, a UVic researcher and regional climate impacts lead at the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium, says the record-breaking temperatures over the weekend were remarkable because they were a novelty.

On Sunday, Victoria’s Gonzales Point recorded its highest temperature for that date in 123 years, and Port Alberni—the Island’s usual hotspot, says Curry—recorded its highest in 66 years. But the previous days didn’t topple any temperature records. 

Curry says that a larger concern is the upward creep of BC’s mean temperature. Read on to see what that could mean for future record-breaking weather events.

Experience the splendour of spring at The Butchart Gardens, where the season unfolds in a breathtaking display of colour. Tulips are at their peak, with hundreds of varieties blooming in unison to create sweeping ribbons of vibrant energy across the landscape.

Rhododendrons burst into full brilliance, showcasing over 350 varieties and 2,000 shrubs carefully cultivated over a century to enrich The Gardens’ vibrant landscape.

Mark a special occasion with Afternoon Tea in the Dining Room, or savour a more relaxed meal in the Blue Poppy Restaurant—the perfect way to complete a day immersed in spring’s beauty.

Don’t forget to enjoy a refreshing gelato in the Italian Garden and browse the Seed & Gift Store for a keepsake to take home.

❤️ GVPL shared book recommendations for Red Dress Day yesterday, highlighting the history of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) in Canada. [Details]

💐 The Root Cellar is your go-to this Mother’s Day—think stunning bouquets, locally made chocolate, brunch essentials, and more, all thoughtfully gathered in one place. *

🦜 Esquimalt Buccaneer Days start tomorrow. 

🥁 The Victoria Highland Games Tartan Parade is Saturday.

🎭 The Victoria Gilbert and Sullivan Society presents The Gondoliers! Four performances in Oak Bay and Sidney, May 9, 10, 16, 17—grab yours now! *

🏃 The Royal Victoria Marathon Speaker series starts on Monday.

*Sponsored Listing

JUNO Award-winning comedian Ivan Decker returns to Victoria on Friday, June 12 with his Million Dollar Comedy Tour. Catch his brand new hour live at the McPherson Playhouse. All ages welcome. Tickets available now at jflvancouver.com.

Women-owned businesses in Oak Bay receiving harassing phone calls
The businesses say the frequent phone calls, often including sexual comments, began in March and have become increasingly disturbing in content. Sometimes the caller, whose number appears as private, will phone 20-30 times in a row. The Oak Bay Business Improvement Association (BIA) says it’s heard these concerns from half a dozen businesses, mainly women-owned. Lazy Susan’s on Oak Bay Ave. says it has had to stop answering the phone. Oak Bay Police have opened an investigation after receiving three official harassment reports. [CHEK]

Organizers cancel this year’s Oak Bay Tea Party Parade
They cited rising costs, a dearth of volunteers, and new provincial safety protocols installed following last spring’s car-ramming tragedy that killed 11 people at a Lapu-Lapu Day event in Vancouver. The Tea Party itself is still a go on the June 5-7 weekend, and organizers said they hope to bring the parade back next year. The Esquimalt Buccaneer Days Parade, originally scheduled for this weekend, was also scrubbed, with the hopes it will return next year. [Times Colonist]  

Jet skier slams into grey whale feeding off the Vancouver coast
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is investigating to determine whether the whale was injured in Monday’s collision in waters off Stanley Park. The impact’s force sent the watercraft operator into the water. He was picked up by a nearby sailboat and taken to the hospital in serious condition. Vancouver police are working with the DFO to determine whether charges are to be laid. Whale watchers are required to stay 100 metres from a whale. Failure to do so could result in a $100K fine. [CTV]

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🎨 Watercolours for Wellness: Healing Ocean: Therapeutic arts practitioner Helga Strauss will lead this watercolour session at Emily Carr House National Historic Site today 10am–12pm. [Info]

🫖 A Cup of Love: Mother's Day Teapot Crafting: Kids aged 6+ can design and decorate a paper teapot keepsake to give for Mother's Day in this hands-on 30-minute crafting session at Staples Victoria, Store 64 today, 5–7pm. [Info]

✍️ The Writer's Notebook—Writing Workshop: This session will kick off a six-week, in-person writing seminar open to all levels. Every Thursday through June 11. Mary Winspear Centre, 6:30–8:30pm. [Info]

🎵 Jack de Keyzer: The two-time Juno and seven-time Maple Blues Award winner will bring his powerhouse blues band to the stage at The Coda tomorrow, 7–9pm. [Info]

🎭 Harold Night: Garden City Improv weaves together characters and storylines from a single audience suggestion at Theatre SKAM tomorrow, 8–9pm. [Info]

😆 The Crowd Work Show: Comedians Nash Park and Alex Forman take the stage with no material prepared, relying entirely on crowd interaction for a rowdy, hilarious night at The Mint tomorrow, 8pm. [Info]

🎞 Green Valley: Film and fundraiser. The debut feature documentary from Victoria-raised filmmaker Morgan Tams, who explores Blue Jay Lake Farm, a remote, self-sustaining community. Vic Theatre. May 22. 6:30pm. [Info] 

Tuesday’s headlines: Longtime Langford councillor dies suddenly; Victoria council to consider funding FernFest; record-breaking weekend temperatures. [May 5]

Times Colonist book sale raises a record $300K for literacy projects, school libraries. [Times Colonist]

New exhibit at Victoria Chinatown Museum. [CHEK]

Tumbler Ridge survivor Maya Gebala has hopefully undergone her last surgery, says her mother. [Global]

May plant sales: Victoria Compost Education Centre and the Ross Bay Villa Society are each hosting sales this Saturday. 10am-2pm.

Emergency Preparedness Week: Subscribe to Vic-Alert.

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