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Hats off to all firefighters—the men and women who rush into burning buildings to haul people out.
In this Fire Prevention Week, we salute the heroes from Metchosin Fire Rescue, who pulled off the daring, treat-fueled rescue of a Nigerian dwarf goat from a cliff ledge near Matheson Lake.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

Today: 🌤️ 18 / 9

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 18 / 10

Friday: 🌦️ 15 / 9

7-day forecast

Tomorrow, the current Victoria council will meet for the last time, and three council members, including Mayor Marianne Alto, are looking to make good on one aspect of the city's Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan. 

Alto and councillors Matt Dell and Susan Kim will bring forward a motion that would ask staff to explore creating one or more dedicated spaces for unhoused Victorians to access during the day, when most sheltering options are limited or closed.

"It is increasingly clear that without a destination for folks to go when asked to move from street spaces, no real change will be made to street accessibility," the motion reads. "If we seek to relocate street occupants as part of reclaiming access to public boulevards, we must think about where those folks can go."

Opening a daytime space would be contingent on Island Health committing operational funding to run services in the facility for at least 18 months, according to the motion. The city would also need permission to use an existing property owned by BC Housing, a non-profit, or the provincial government. 

Day spaces "must include supports and services that respond to at least some of the needs of folks now seeking comfort on local streets," the motion reads. 

Alto said that, during her time as mayor, she has "written to ministers of health, housing, social development, public safety and the premier" to call for provincial support to address homelessness and street disorder in Victoria.

"A day shelter will maintain community, give people places and spaces to go other than parks, boulevards, or businesses," Alto said in a social media post. "It will fill some gaps in the system."

The idea for a day shelter was "repeatedly" brought up during the creation of Victoria's Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan, according to the motion. 

The plan called the current shelter system "unsustainable," with unhoused Victorians "removed from shelters during the day having nowhere to go." The city put $10M toward launching the first phase of the plan last summer.

Advance voting today in municipal election, at Victoria Conference Centre, 8am-8pm.

Election coverage: CHEK-TV to broadcast provincial leaders’ debate on Oct. 14.

Yates closed today, between Government and Wharf, for paving from 9am to 3pm.

Road closure: Wascana between Burnside West and Maddock West through Oct. 23, 8am-3pm.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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

Seven reported fires have been linked to batteries that were charging, short-circuited, or had been tampered with so far in 2026 in Victoria, according to the city.

Ubiquitous devices such as cellphones, laptops, and power tools use lithium-ion batteries, which can overheat, catch fire, and even explode if overcharged or damaged.

This being Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 4-10), the City of Victoria and District of Saanich want to spread the theme “Safe charging is a superpower” with these reminders that can protect against a fire:

The next Canadian Club of Victoria speaker is renowned historian John Adams, presenting Ghost Stories of Victoria.

Come join the Canadian Club of Victoria Luncheon Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 11:45am to 1:30pm at the Hotel Grand Pacific.

The deadline to register is Friday, Oct. 9 at noon. Non-members are welcome to attend. Details here.

🏃 Royal Victoria Marathon events are this weekend. [Registration]

⚾ Fall Indoor Training Camps are open for registration. [HarbourCats] 

🏠 The Victoria Fall Home Show is Oct. 16-18 at Pearkes Rec Centre.

🏫 Camosun College Open House Oct. 17, 11am-3pm. [Interurban Campus]

📚 See your book in the library: GVPL is now accepting applications for the 2027 Emerging Local Authors Collection. Apply before Jan. 17.

Early rollout of free RSV vaccine leaves seniors waiting
It usually costs $300, but the BC government is making the vaccine free for some seniors this year. It’s just taking time to get to them. The rollout began Sept. 22, but it’s not clear how many of those older than 75, or 60 for First Nations, actually got it. Some seniors have been receiving texts indicating they are eligible for a free vaccine, but those texts don’t say where to get it. The BC government has since released a statement saying there is enough for all those eligible, with seniors in long-term care homes and assisted living facilities having priority. [CHEK]  

Washington state resident charged in Tumbler Ridge shooting
Yesterday, US authorities arrested James Cody Bryant, 30, in Bellingham, on charges of conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country. They allege Bryant spent at least six months encouraging Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, before she opened fire at a high school in Tumbler Ridge in February, killing nine, including herself, and wounding 25. Bryant is accused of offering to livestream the attack, sending money, giving tactical advice, and explaining how to delete messages without alerting authorities. The RCMP is also considering charges. None of the allegations have been proven in court. [CBC]

Little lizards from Italy eat slugs and bugs, making their mark on the Island
About a dozen European wall lizards were intentionally released in 1970, after a roadside zoo—Rudy’s Pet Park—in Central Saanich closed. Now, up to 1M of the invasive species are believed to be roaming BC, mostly here on the Island, according to a vertebrate zoology expert at the Royal BC Museum. The lizards are thriving, competing with other species for space and food, and threatening invertebrate populations. The Invasive Species Council of BC says no management programs are in place to oversee the lizards’ population growth. [Times Colonist]

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🔮 Victoria Psychic Fair: Explore tarot, mediumship, palm reading, and more at this metaphysical fair at the Bay Centre. Final day today. 10am-6pm. [Info] 

🎞️ Far From Home: One family and the Tibetan nation are bound together by love, identity, and their fight to resist erasure. Cinecenta at UVic. Today & tomorrow. 5:20pm & 7pm. [Info]

🎻 Cascadia Strings: Wild Horizons: Hear the works of Dvořák, Haydn, and more, performed by Victoria musicians at The Coda. Today. 6:30pm. [Info]

 🎤 TEDxVictoria: Thinkers, innovators, and creators speak about how we can navigate our shifting world. UVic’s Farquhar Auditorium. Today. 9am-4pm. [Info] 

🎲 Game Night: Black Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. An evening of board games, appetizers, conversation, laughter, and connection. Interactive Board Game Cafe. Tomorrow. 6-9pm. [Info]

😆 Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: Quick-witted, improvised comedy at the Royal Theatre. Friday. 4:30pm. [Info]

🎶 The Fruit Bats: The American folk-rockers will perform new music at the Capital Ballroom. Saturday. 8pm. [Info]

🖼️ Art Crawl: Check out unique works from 100+ creators at two Victoria arts hubs at 780 Blanshard and 1101 Yates. Saturday. 2-8pm. [Info] 

✍️ The Victoria Festival of Authors: The Island’s largest celebration of books and writers enters its 11th year. Various venues. Oct. 12-18. [Info]

Tuesday’s headlines: September was a real estate buyer's market in Greater Victoria; 20 years of Women in Need; First accessible bike trail to open in Sooke. [Oct. 6]

OBITUARY: Bob Saunders, longtime Greater Victoria philanthropist, dies at 91. [CHEK]

Fewer options on ballot for SD61 board under new ward system. [Times Colonist]

The Victoria International Jewish Film Festival is Oct. 10-15. [Info]

Saanich Heat Pump Financing Program. [Deadline: Oct. 13]

The Big Snow of 1916: See people shovelling Government Street more than 110 years ago. [Facebook photo]

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