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If you're planning to cast your ballot in the municipal election this Saturday, BC Transit wants to make getting to the polls a little easier with free rides that day. 

Advance voting days have passed, so Oct. 17 is the last chance to have your voice heard—at least at a local level. We'll be doing this all again for the provincial election a week later. 

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

Today: ⛅ 18 / 7

Tomorrow: ⛅ 15 / 11

Day after: ☀️ 15 / 8

7-day forecast

More than 1K British Columbians died of toxic drugs in the first eight months of the year, according to new data from the BC Coroners Service. 

The Island Health region lost 40 lives to toxic drugs over the summer, with 17 killed in July and 23 in August. That includes 17 deaths in Greater Victoria: five in July and 12 in August.

Throughout BC, 239 people died from drug poisoning this summer—113 in July and 126 in August—equating to 3.6 and 4.1 deaths per day, respectively.

In July and August, 188 people killed by unregulated drugs were male, and 51 were female.

So far this year, Greater Victoria recorded the third-highest number of drug deaths, with 80. Vancouver had the highest number with 237 lives lost, followed by Surrey with 82. 

Island Health had the second-highest rate of unregulated drug deaths, with 34 deaths per 100K people. Northern Health had the highest with 43 per 100K.

This year, the number of unregulated drug deaths has been trending downward. Researchers told CTV this could be due to a combination of factors, such as expanded access to treatment, improved naloxone availability, and supervised consumption sites. New substances have also entered the street supply, which may be decreasing the concentration of fentanyl.

However, BC Emergency Health Services says overdoses were on the rise in the first half of the year, despite a drop in the number of deaths. 

This year, fluorofentanyl—an opioid analogue that can be more than twice as potent as fentanyl—has become the leading substance linked to unregulated drug deaths in BC. It was found in 68% of cases. 

Today, Victoria will honour five locals killed by the poisoned street supply in the last month, with a memorial at St. John the Divine Church on Quadra at 1pm. Organizers say donations of refreshments and flowers are welcome. 

Island View Beach area closure: Geotechnical work will take place near the campsite, now through the end of the month. [CRD]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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

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In this Saturday’s municipal election, Victorians will be voting for one mayor, eight councillors, three CRD directors, two school district trustees, one amalgamation referendum—and zero squirrels.

You may have noticed, among the sea of election signs, both municipal and provincial, stand a distinct few depicting a furry rodent in a white T-shirt.

“Squirrel for Mayor. Keep Victoria Wild,” read the signs, handcrafted by Victoria’s Carollyne Yardley, an artist-researcher whose work has been internationally recognized. 

She made only a “small number” of signs, and “some appear to have been collected like a limited-edition art drop,” she says.

"I'm delighted people enjoy them, although I’d appreciate them finishing their public exhibition before entering private collections," adds Yardley, who is also a director of the Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society and co-chair of her neighbourhood’s land use committee. 

Yardley uses art to examine the health of urban forests. Community engagement is integral to her projects, as are her interests in where we plant our trees and how humans and animals share space in nature.

Squirrel for Mayor is a canvas, not a campaign. Yardley’s website describes it as a research-creation project that uses art, humour and civic engagement to push the idea of building better places to live for everyone—including the animals that live alongside us.

She says it began in 2022 as a blog because “urban forest policy can feel technical and remote, even though it shapes the neighbourhoods we live in.” 

“The best cities think in acorns, not election cycles,” Yardley says.

Much like Mr. Floatie flushing out the CRD’s need for a sewage treatment plant, a squirrel running for mayor can get people talking—even if the cute little rodent isn’t on the ballot.

Yardley says she’s heard from parents whose kids have noticed the cartoony signs and become curious about the election. “That’s a lovely outcome: a little humour opening the door to conversations about how local democracy works,” she says. 

“Ultimately, I hope people get informed, get involved and get out and vote.”

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🐻 Patience pays: An Island black bear skillfully catches a salmon swimming upstream. [Facebook video]

🎬 The Antimatter 2026: The media art festival runs today through Oct. 25 online and at Deluge Contemporary Art. 

🎭 One woman, her husband, and lover are caught in a game of cat and mouse. Betrayal, Harold Pinter's masterpiece, starts October 27 at the Belfry.*

🛥️ Argonaut II Tours: Oct. 24 at Ship Point. [Maritime Museum of BC]

🎃 Carr House Howl-o-ween Pet Parade: Happening Oct. 31, 2-4pm. [Register your pet]

*Sponsored Listing

Victoria dance instructor found guilty of sex with underage student
David Beales, 40, a Victoria ballet instructor, was found guilty yesterday of sexual interference and sexual exploitation of a teenage student. Beales, who owned a ballet school in Vic West, was accused by a former student who said the two began a sexual relationship when she was 15 and he was 33. The presiding judge deemed Beales' account unreliable and the dancer a credible witness. Text messages corroborated her testimony. He was acquitted of making explicit material available to a child, as he was no longer her teacher at the time. He faces one to 14 years and remains on release conditions until sentencing. [CHEK]

Man reportedly pushed car into water at James Bay boat launch
First responders and emergency vehicles descended on the boat ramp adjacent to the Helijet terminal at Camel Point, just a few blocks from the legislature, yesterday, in response to a vehicle in the ocean. A witness told the Times Colonist that a man pushed the car down the ramp and walked away. BC Emergency Health Services said they sent two ambulances to the scene but did not take anyone to the hospital or provide any medical care. VicPD said the vehicle was unoccupied and later towed from the water and that they would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident.  

Saanich off-road cycling race returns from hiatus with new safety measures
More than 300 cyclists are registered for Sunday’s Tripleshot CrossFondo 45-kilometre and 25-kilometre events, which begin at Layritz Park and take riders into the woods. The region’s lone mass-participation off-road cycling event paused last year following a tragedy in 2024, when Lindsay Burgess, a two-time BC cyclocross champion, was struck and killed at the corner of Central Saanich and Tanner. New safety procedures include adding chutes to narrow pathways so participants slow down ahead of intersections. [Black Press]

🎵 Album Release Party: Dana Sipos explores themes of impermanence and metamorphosis on her new album Golden Molten at Church of Truth in James Bay tonight. 7pm. [Info]

☕ Caffe Fantastico Unplugged: Turn your phone off and connect with neighbours at this tech-free gathering at Caffe Fantastico in Quadra Village tomorrow. 6:30pm. [Info]

😂 Maria Bamford: The comedic legend will bring her unique standup to the McPherson Playhouse tomorrow. 7pm & 9:30pm. [Info] 

🥌 Grand Slam of Curling: The world's best curlers, including Olympic medalists, will compete in this special tournament at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Today through Sunday. [Info]

🤠 Owen Riegling: The Canadian country singer will bring his award-winning music to the McPherson Playhouse. Sunday. 8pm. [Info]

🍸 Art of the Cocktail: Enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in this tasting fundraiser for the Victoria Film Festival at Crystal Garden. Oct. 24. [Info] 

📖 Sci-Fi Book Launch: Local author Jaye C. Watts will celebrate the launch of The Old World, the second book in his dystopian sci-fi trilogy, at TheDock Oct. 30. [Info]

Wednesday’s headlines: One millionth passenger cruises into Victoria; Mail-in ballots are in the mail; Woman found dead at Central Saanich dump. [Oct. 14]

Woman found dead at Central Saanich waste disposal identified, police to notify next of kin. [CHEK]

Witnesses sought in a physical incident Tuesday morning on Government near View. [VicPD] 

North Saanich fires planning director who is also running for mayor. [Black Press]

Council approves 60-unit condo development on a current James Bay parking lot. [Times Colonist]

Petition to Rename Vancouver’s YVR to Terry Fox International Airport. [Details] 

Recess in 1909 Victoria: Central School students play in front of the original 1865 building. [Facebook photos]

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