Oct 19 - That ship has sailed

Good morning !

Last night was the closing of Victoria’s cruise ship season, and it looks like it was a pretty good one.
We have our weekly roundup and the latest from a James Bay writer.

Go Jays.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️13 / 8  

Tomorrow: ⛅ 11 / 8

Tuesday: 🌥️13 / 8

7-day forecast

NEWS

Victoria's cruise season ends with nearly 1 million passengers

The Norwegian Encore pulled out of port last night, dropping the curtain on the 2025 cruise ship season, which will go down as one of its most successful.

The large vessel—it has a two-level go-kart racetrack on its top decks—with room for 4K passengers and a crew of 1,700+ represented the year’s 311th and final ship call to the Breakwater District at Ogden Point.

The Encore brought the last of approximately 990K passengers to the city, with many looking to drop some dough.
According to the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA), those disembarking the big boats spend on average $100 in Victoria and the area.
The number of people who leave the ship generally varies with the timing of the port call, the GVHA said, but this year, approximately 70% of passengers disembarked, a spokesperson said.

The ships also brought 377K crew members to Victoria. The average cruise crew member coming to shore spends $140 per visit, according to the GVHA’s 2023 economic impact study.

“The cruise ship industry continues to provide a significant economic benefit to Greater Victoria,” said GVHA acting CEO Judith Ethier.

Final statistics aren’t in yet, but the GVHA said 2025’s results compared favourably with 2024’s, when 970K passengers arrived on 316 ship visits.

The cruise ship season began on March 6 with the arrival of the Disney Wonder.

The eight-month season featured five inaugural calls—ships visiting for the first time. The GVHA also relaunched Market on the Pier, an artisan bazaar that drew passengers at the Ogden Point terminal. 

“We are very grateful for the ongoing support of the cruise lines and the numerous businesses and organizations in Victoria who work so hard to provide an engaging experience for cruise visitors,” Ethier said in a release.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Missing person: Ashley Bosma, 40, from the Comox Valley, was last heard from on Oct. 13. [Comox RCMP]

Paving on Esquimalt Road from Dominion to Lampson. [7am-3 pm weekdays until Oct. 28]

Saanich’s Commonwealth Pool to partially reopen tomorrow. 

Crystal Pool site evaluations: Intermittent street closures around the pool and limited parking as the site is checked tomorrow and Tuesday. [City of Vic]

Partial parking lot closure in Devonian Park while crews work in the area, tomorrow through Friday. [CRD]

Trail resurfacing work in Mill Hill Park: Crews will be on the Auburn Trail Wednesday through Friday. [CRD]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Weekly roundup: YYJ PA system hacked with pro-Hamas message, licensed professionals join BCGEU strike, Southern Resident orca population continues to struggle

Southern Resident orca census confirms population growth remains stunted
The 2025 Orca Survey, conducted earlier this summer and released this week by the Washington state-based conservation group Center for Whale Research (CWR), has found that there were 74 Southern Resident killer whales alive as of July. This is a slight uptick from the 2024 census number, but low birth rates and a high number of deaths continue to prevent the population from growing beyond 75 whales. Currently, there are 27 whales in J-Pod, 33 in L-Pod, and 14 in K-Pod. CWR researchers say immediate action and policy changes must happen to save these salmon-eating whales from extinction. [Full story]

Tiny Town temporary housing to close next spring
BC Housing aims to shut down the shipping-container village on Caledonia near Royal Athletic Park at the end of next March, according to a letter the Crown corporation sent to neighbours. The letter said the city, which owns the land on which the housing sits, has allowed residents to stay until the spring, even though permitting was to expire at the end of September. The city said the permit has been renewed three times since the project opened in 2021. There are no immediate plans for the lot, the city said.

Victoria’s YYJ among 4 North American airport PA systems hacked with pro-Hamas messaging
YYJ‘s public address system was hacked on Tuesday, with “an unauthorized audio message” championing Hamas and attacking US President Donald Trump broadcast throughout the airport. Similar incidents occurred Tuesday at airports in Kelowna, Windsor, Ont., and Harrisburg, Pa. A YYJ spokesperson said airport staff were able to shut off the message and switch from its hacked cloud-based PA system to a manual one. The incident happened around 4:45pm Tuesday and lasted roughly six minutes, with no disruption to flights, the airport spokesperson said.

Transport Canada lands on North Saanich’s case after OCP slip-up
The federal department has written to the North Saanich council asking it to change the municipality’s new Official Community Plan (OCP), which lists Victoria’s airport (YYJ) for multi-family industrial and commercial use. Transport Canada owns the land and leases it to the Victoria Airport Authority; residential use is not within its mandate. The in-council conversation led to a remark from Mayor Peter Jones—for which the mayor refused to apologize—that raised eyebrows. Coun. Jack McClintock called the comment “unprofessional.” Jones conceded the comment was “stupid” and blamed his own dry sense of humour. 

1,700 licensed professionals walk as BC government workers’ strike intensifies
The union representing licensed professionals stepped up their job action this week, after they said talks broke down on Tuesday. The bulk of the 26K+ public sector workers on strike belong to the British Columbia General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), which took job action on Sept. 2. Now, almost all of the Professional Employees Association’s 1,800 workers have joined the picket line. An estimated 100 essential workers—including some psychologists and pharmacists, and the people who monitor for flood risk—remain on the job.

Record $7.5M donation to fund enhanced cancer care, more robotic surgery
The anonymous donation to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation, which raises money for the Royal Jubilee and Vic General, is the largest sum received in its 36-year history. The donor will match contributions up to $7.5M. Two robotic devices are being sought by the foundation: one for gynecological procedures and the other for neurosurgeries. These less-invasive operations are not currently available for Island residents, who must travel to the mainland for treatment.

Federal government returns 80 ha of land to the Snuneymuxw First Nation
As part of a claim settlement that dates back 171 years, three parcels of land totalling 80 ha in Nanaimo are being turned over by DND. Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty and Snuneymuxw First Nation Chief Mike Wyse released a joint statement effectively settling a dispute that goes back to 1854, when the federal government failed to set aside village land for the First Nation as agreed to in a treaty. The Snuneymuxw will also receive $42M in compensation.

NEWS

From chemo to cut-outs: Jean Paetkau's journey to her new book A Gnome With No Comb!

Victoria author Jean Paetkau has another book out.

It’s not a murder mystery, although there is one in the works; it’s a children’s book, and it’s the fruit of a painful time.
Enduring chemotherapy and not up to the physical and mental drain of weaving together the narrative for another novel, Paetkau put her computer aside and broke out the scissors. 

“I got some colored paper and some design paper,” she tells Capital Daily.
“On my sort of better days from chemo, or on my slightly worse days, I would just sit there and cut pictures to go along with it, and that allowed me some distraction from, you know, the suffering that comes with chemo.”

She describes her body as being “in a storm of suffering, and I could barely write.”
She says the illustrations she created allowed her to escape through her imagination.

Her new poetry picture book allows readers to do the same.

A Gnome With No Comb! is a Dr. Seuss-esque early-reader, inspired by some of the young people Paetkau has met as she continues her cancer journey. 

It was just released, a week and a half ago.

A Gnome With No Comb! explores issues “like feeling different or left out,” the Amazon webpage says. “It was especially written to bring joy to children who have lost their hair due to chemo or alopecia.”

“I was a 54-year-old woman who lost her hair, and I thought, ‘Gosh, how hard is this for kids to lose their hair?’ You don't see a lot of, you know, bald heroes in picture books.”

It’s Paetkau’s fourth children’s book, but unlike the first three, which her son and daughter illustrated, the artwork in this one was created by their mother.

“So, the challenge to me was, how do I take this sort of rhyming, rollicking story and illustrate it, because you need illustrations for kids, obviously.”

Her arts and crafts efforts prevailed.

The book’s artwork is funky and imaginative. It can draw you in and keep your attention.
Its colours pop.

Meantime, Paetkau is working on the third installment of her Breakwater Mystery series.
Following the successful Blood on the Breakwater and the follow-up, The Sinking of Souls, the next adventure of radio reporter-sleuth Helene Unger should be completed this spring and could be ready for release in the fall.

Paetkau is on immunotherapy, a treatment where the patient's own immune system is used to fight cancer, as opposed to chemo, which directly attacks cancer cells.
She says at times, she can feel “like garbage,” and chronic fatigue and migraines are her all-too-often companions.

“Being done with chemo and surgery does not mean that you're, you know, air quotes, well, she tells Capital Daily.

Over a portion of August, Paetkau raised $10,380 for ovarian cancer research by posing in vintage dresses at the Breakwater.

“I have too much fatigue from the ongoing immunotherapy, so I can’t run or cycle in a race,” she says.
“So I wanted to give back in a way that was joyous but reminded me of who I am.”

On Oct. 30, the Canadian Cancer Society is scheduled to hold the cheque presentation at the Vancouver Island Cancer Lodge on Richmond, near the Jubilee Hospital.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🦌 I’m walkin’ here: An elk was captured crossing a road in Youbou. [Facebook photo]

🛩️ I’m flyin’ here: Seair Seaplanes launches daily Vic-Van service tomorrow.

⏳ Vintage Vic: See Douglas and Yates in 1943. [Facebook photo]

🔕 Silent auction for WIN—Women in Need Cooperative. [Ends tomorrow] *Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

BC and the BCGEU agree to non-binding mediation
The province requested mediation on Thursday night as the strike approached its eighth week. Two veteran mediators have been selected to oversee the process. On Friday, the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) said the mediation would begin as soon as possible. Picketing will continue throughout the talks, the union said, with approximately 25K BCGEU public service workers and 1,700 licensed professionals from the Professional Employees Association (PEA) involved. [Times Colonist]

The main road into Bamfield is to reopen on Friday after months of no access
That opening day is still on track, though the province says heavy rain in the forecast could lead operations to be paused. Hazardous trees and debris are currently being removed after the Mount Underwood Fire shut down the main road in August. While traffic will be permitted to flow through on Oct. 24, there will be daily closures from 9am to 3pm starting Oct. 27 to allow crews to complete hazardous-tree removal. All planned closures and updates will be posted online at drivebc.ca. [BC Gov]

Fast sale means new View Royal digs for military families 
As part of a move to find more housing for Canadian Armed Forces members and their families, the Defence Department bought a four-storey housing complex for $23.3M. It has 37 move-in-ready units and 47 parking spots. The sale was completed in just five weeks. The Canadian Forces Housing Agency said areas needing housing the most will be addressed first, and new housing will be built in additional locations. [Black Press]

🗓️ Things To Do

🎃 Halloween Weekends at Bilston Creek Farm: Hunt for the Golden Pumpkin, enjoy photo ops and games, plus the Kids’ Halloween Experience with pumpkin hunt and mini witches broom making. Bilston Creek Farm. Today & tomorrow. 11am-5pm. [Info]

💃 Weekend of Tango with Jorge Olguín: Continue Saturday's circular movement technique and explore how simple Vals movements can be adapted for tango. Alive Tango Victoria. Today. 11am-12pm (solo), 12:30-1:30pm (couples). [Info]

🧵 Sewing Makerspace: Get expert help from tailor and upcycler Heather Ireland with your fabric projects using the provided sewing machines and equipment. DIY Room, Metchosin Arts & Cultural Centre. Today. 1-2pm. [Info]

🎬 Victoria International Jewish Film Festival: Enjoy incredible Jewish-ish films for everyone at this 11th annual festival with free admission and donations appreciated. Vic Theatre. Through Thursday. [Info]

🧁 Community Bake Sale: Support language revitalization, food sovereignty, and humanitarian aid with sweet and savoury goods from local makers, warm drinks, and good music. Print Hole, Today. 5-8pm. [Info]

🎭 Kenny vs. Spenny Live In Victoria: The infamous Canadian comedy duo returns after two decades with their outrageous, highly offensive comedy show featuring competitions and humiliations. Capital Ballroom. Tomorrow. Doors 7pm, show 8pm. [Info]

🎃 Treat Street Halloween Spooktacular: Little ghosts, goblins, and princesses are invited to a safe, family-friendly trick-or-treating event. Visit local businesses and treat stations for free fun for the whole family. Downtown Sidney. Friday. 4:30-6pm. [Info] Sponsored Listing

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: Gov’t workers’ strike escalates; Victoria Hospitals Foundation receives record $7.5M donation; A marathon going through the garbage left at the RVM running race.  [Oct. 17]

Where to see fall colours in Greater Victoria. [Capital Daily]

Another emergency weather response plea to municipalities from the Victoria mayor. [CHEK]

Sarah McLachlan is back, and so is her voice. [Times Colonist]

Saanich Peninsula Hospital: Some service changes expected during ventilation upgrade; Emergency Department operations to continue as normal. Through Oct. 27. [Island Health]

Ucluelet makes the top 10 list of the best destinations for 2026 on Expedia.
Sponsored Listing

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