Good morning {{First name}}!

Big changes are happening down south. With a significant portion of the government set to change in the US after this week's elections, I wonder if the trade war might finally cool down. I'm sure some Americans are hoping to see Canadian tourism return to the US after a nearly two-year boycott.

Thankfully, that tension hasn't hurt Victoria's visitor market—the city has had one of its most lucrative tourism seasons this year and, for the first time, surpassed 1M cruise visitors.

As the capital region's travel sector grows, new development proposals have been submitted for a downtown Victoria hotel and a shopping complex near YYJ. Read on to learn more.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

Today: ⛅ 13 / 9

Tomorrow: 🌧 15 / 9

Day after: 🌧 14 / 10

7-day forecast

November in Victoria is a month for gathering in from the cold. The calendar starts quietly with Remembrance Day concerts and craft fairs, then the energy builds as holiday shows and Nutcracker performances arrive. 

In between are album release parties, comedy nights, and sing-alongs that fill the city’s stages and church halls. Catch a tribute to your favourite artist—from Ozzy Osbourne to The Beach Boys—see a thought-provoking play, or support a local fundraiser.

It’s a good time to find your people, grab a seat, and let the city's entertainment keep you warm and cozy.

Read the full list of events here.

Blue-green algae advisories: Main beach at Lower Thetis Lake, Prior Lake and the east end of Durrance Lake in Mount Work Regional Park, and for the Brookleigh Boat Launch at Elk Lake, and for Beaver Lake. [CRD/Island Health]

Westshore noise alert: DND is using the land-based demolition range on Bentinck Island today, 8am-5pm. [Details]   

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

On the water today? Check the tide times for Victoria.

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The plans call for a 17-storey building in the footprint of the Plaza Hotel, which was destroyed by fire in May 2019.

The corner of Pandora and Government has been a walled-off wasteland since. Developer Ocean Gate tried to put up a hotel there but couldn’t get its zoning approved.

The land was bought by Victoria-based developer Redbrick, which on Tuesday released what it and fellow local developers Aryze have in mind for the prominent corner block across from Chinatown.

The plans include:

The proposal is in the early stages, so Redbrick, Aryze, and architectural designers Olson Kundig are at the public consultation stage. Formal applications to the city lie ahead.

Redbrick wants to call it The Westholme, after the original hotel that opened on the property in 1911. 

Aryze notes that while the city’s hospitality industry navigates a gap in hotel supply, a property already zoned for hotel use has been lying dormant since 2013. 

Victoria’s Official Community Plan calls for an additional 1,500 hotel rooms by 2035. 

“Westholme would help respond to that need by adding year-round accommodations that support visitors, residents and the broader community,” Aryze said back in June when it originally released its proposal for 603 Pandora.  

More hotels and another multi-storey inn in James Bay

The other proposed multi-tiered hotel would be built by the legislature at Menzies and Quebec. 

Citified.ca says it would be 11 stories with 144 hotel rooms. The site also points out the old BC Power Commission Building at 780 Blanshard and Fairfield is on track to be converted into a 126-room hotel. 

A Hyatt hotel (167) is being built on Broad, and a Suites by Marriott (103) is going up on Goldstream in Langford. A Marriott near YYJ (129 rooms) opened in May.

🐟 Dance of the herring: See the unique movement patterns of a school of herring—and the cormorant trying to eat the fish—near Comox. [Facebook video]

🗑️ Free pop-up yard waste drop-off in Langford [The next 3 Saturdays]

🏈 118th Canadian Bowl: Westshore Rebels host Regina Thunder in the Canadian Junior Football League’s finale on Sunday at Starlight Stadium. 

🎖️ Free BC Transit for armed forces members next Wednesday for Remembrance Day.

New commercial centre proposed for airport lands in Sidney
The submitted venture calls for a grocery store, restaurant, coffee shop, and up to 42K square feet of retail space. It would all be housed in four buildings on Stirling, off Beacon West, near the new Marriott hotel. Sidney’s town council will discuss the proposed project in chambers on Dec. 7, and the public is invited to weigh in at the meeting. The blueprint would need to get clearance for takeoff from the Victoria Airport Authority. [CTV]

Westshore RCMP complete drug bust, 2 arrested
Acting on reports of suspicious activity and suspected drug trafficking, the RCMP says it raided a home near Jacklin and the Langford Parkway on Oct. 22. Police said the operation turned up 10 grams of suspected cocaine, approximately 2L of suspected gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), about five grams of suspected psilocybin, a small quantity of suspected methamphetamine, drug trafficking equipment, a 12-gauge shotgun, and more than $1K in cash. A man, 44, and a woman, 37, were arrested and later released. Charges had not been laid as the investigation continued. [RCMP]

Young returns to Langford mayor's seat as council sworn in
Stew Young returned as Langford’s mayor Monday night, sworn in with six councillors. Young won about 64% of the vote to return to the seat he held for 30 years before losing to Scott Goodmanson in 2022. Young says his priorities as mayor are to stabilize taxes, bring in more businesses, and plan for a new sportsplex in north Langford. The only agenda item at Monday's meeting was pay raises for the mayor and councillors; the council voted unanimously to defer this decision to the new year. Victoria's council will be sworn in this evening at its inaugural meeting. [Times Colonist]

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🪩 Bee Gees Revisited: Hear the sounds and harmonies of the Bee Gees' biggest hits in this tribute act at McPherson Playhouse tonight. 7:30pm. [Info]

🤘 Got Stones: This high-energy Rolling Stones tribute performs at the McPherson Playhouse tomorrow. 7pm. [Info] 

🦇 Bourne to be Ozz: Canada's Black Sabbath and Ozzy tribute act will be at the Charlie White Theatre tomorrow. 7:30pm. [Info]

🩰 Christos Papadopoulos: The Lion and the Wolf: See choreography from the revered Greek contemporary dance at Royal Theatre. Tomorrow & Saturday. 7:30pm. [Info] 

🎭 Remembering Mary's Wedding: This popular Canadian play will reflect on love, loss, and remembrance at the Baumann Centre. Tomorrow, 7:30pm; Saturday, 4pm. [Info]

🧶 Creative Craft Fair: The 47th edition of this three-day craft fair, with artisans selling gourmet food, fine art, clothing, jewelry, and more at Pearkes Rec Centre. Tomorrow–Sunday. [Info]

🕯️ Diwali Show 2026: Celebrate the annual festival of lights, with local artists performing Indian classical, folk, and Bollywood music and dance at The Farquhar, UVic. Saturday. [Info]

Wednesday's headlines: Victoria Hospitals Foundation sets ambitious $43M fundraising goal; Privacy watchdog investigating Crime Stoppers cyber breach; Swim clubs struggling with Crystal Pool closure. [Nov. 4]

Suspected grizzly bear attack kills mother and daughter near Bella Coola. [Times Colonist / CP]

Former Victoria masseur loses sexual assault appeal. [CHEK]

Possible cougar sighting in Central Saanich. [Black Press]

Expect commuter delays in the Westshore southbound on the TCH, particularly near the Island Hwy. interchange, due to ongoing Hwy. 1 bus-on-shoulder construction. 

Win GVPL's best books: Enter for a chance to take home all nine titles shortlisted for the 2026 Victoria Book Prizes. Open to library card holders aged 13+. Ballots available through Nov. 13. [Details]

Second-Hand Hope: Thrift With Purpose at the Bay Centre is Nov. 23 to Dec. 6.

Dinner & A Show: ABBA by the Dimes Trio at Elements Casino tonight.

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